Kerry native Robbie O'Dwyer on taking the reins at Nemo Rangers

Micko’s son first joined the famous Cork club 27 years ago

IT'S been a dream start for Kerry-born manager Robbie O’Dwyer as he has taken Nemo Rangers to the McCarthy Insurance Division 1 football league final with some riveting displays despite fielding understrength teams.

So how did the son of the famous Kerry footballer and manager Micko end up with the Trabeg outfit?

“I started working as an 18-year-old working with the AIB in Cork and I suppose for long periods I was up and down the road from Waterville who I had played with since I was a young lad,” he said.

Joining Nemo Rangers all of 27 years ago was down to a family tie.

“John Coogan and I are married to two sisters and that’s how I joined Nemo and like many other fathers I began coaching in the juvenile section with my five-year-old son before going on to play Junior football but I decided coaching was the route I wanted to take,” he added.

O’Dwyer soon made a mark in his coaching role that started at junior level before progressing to the intermediate ranks and leading the club to minor and U21 county championships.

The only break that Robbie took from Nemo was a couple of years ago when he coached Clonmel Commercials but with his late brother 'Haulie' ill at that time he decided to step away.

“I didn’t finish out the year with Clonmel as I needed to be with my brother for the last few months of his life."

When you come from a family steeped in football tradition that experience is bound to stand to you when you take a job at the top tier with Nemo.

“My father was never one to be shouting or roaring on the sideline as he was a great man to explain on how to work on your game and pick up the skills level.

“I suppose many sons will say this but my father was always a great man to turn to in times of pressure but I think he greatest skill was how he managed players as he believed respect works two ways and people admired that side of him."

Mick O’Dwyer, a true giant of GAA, is presently in a home in Killarney.

“My dad has Parkinson’s and has been in a home for the past two weeks and when you are at the final stages of it life becomes more difficult.

“He is fighting it but finding it tough but on the plus side he is very alert and knows everything that’s going on around him but sadly the body is giving up.”

When you have been as active as Mick O’Dwyer throughout your life ending up with Parkinson’s can be hard to take.

“My dad was all about fitness and never drank or smoked and I know looking at him he is very frustrated but sadly that’s life and we have got to be there for him during this difficult period of his life."

When Robbie accepted the Nemo Rangers his first task was to make sure the foundation would be solid.

I approached key men with experience and I think that’s been key as we are all singing from the same hymn sheet and the camaraderie is excellent."

The league campaign has opened the eyes of the management as O’Dwyer explained.

“Look after last year Luke Connolly retired and Kieran Histon went to Australia and presently you have Jack and Conor Horgan injured who will hopefully be available again this season.

“Barry O’Driscoll is also injured and struggling to get back and we lost Kieran O’Sullivan who returned back to his club in Kerry so we had some thinking to do before our league campaign began.

"Just for interest I was looking at last year’s county panel and we are down 12 players from that squad so we are lucky our conveyor belt hadn’t stopped."

BOOST

Getting to the league final against Carrigaline was a great boost to the team according to Robbie.

“It is great as we are five weeks from the opening championship game and now we are scheduled to play Carrigaline in the league final and that will be a good test for us as they are a superb football side.

“Our Cork players will now be back and we have scrutinised the squad so it will be a case of making sure we are good to go for the championship as every game will be a test but at Nemo we relish those challenges."