Batman returns - Derry's Naoise Waldron

THE shortest route from Freshford to Owenbeg is just under 200 miles.  For Cuala’s Naoise Waldron the journey took a few extra meandering turns since his childhood days in Kilkenny. The 27-year-old Gaelscoil teacher, with roots in Loup, has now joined Derry’s hurling resurrection. Waldron is an interesting guy.  On a table at Derry’s press evening rests his red Mycro hurling helmet.  The black Batman logo adds to the intrigue. It doesn’t end there.  After a much travelled career, Waldron didn’t have any trouble settling in with the Derry squad.  Does it make him more outgoing than older brother Cian? Following a brief pause comes a somewhat wacky response: “I don’t know…they think I am socially awkward.” Waldron has a sub-plot, beyond the classroom and away from the hurling pitch.  It can’t be picked up from a text-book.  It comes from life experiences, from travel and broader horizons than most. LOUP Their mother is from Sheila Devlin from Loup.  Their father Brian, a Kilkenny native, is a friend of Liam Hinphey senior.  The families would meet regularly at Croke Park for games and après match at Meagher’s pub in Fairview– an institution on championship Sunday. Christened in Loup, raised in Freshford, college in UCC, a two-year stint to Montana, back to Ireland, teaching in Dublin and a move to Cuala.  It is a trek and a half. Saturday will be Naoise Waldron’s third visit to Croke Park, with a third different team.  Earlier this year it was in the colours of Cuals.  Before that, in 2006, it was in the black and amber of Kilkenny minors. “We got beat in the All-Ireland semi-final by Tipperary by a point.  Seamus Callahan actually came on and scored the winning point,” was Waldron’s recollection.  “I played minor with Paul Murphy, Colin Fennelly, Richie Hogan, John Mulhall, Mark Bergin and Mark Kelly. “It was a good minor team, but just didn’t get past that barrier and sure Tipperary won it.  It (Tipp) turned out to be one of the best minor teams that ever played, a lot of them went on to play senior.” When Seamus Callanan is coming off the bench, it tells you enough. The Kilkenny hurling model is the talk of the country, with much of the training done with a ball.  The minor setup was the same:  “You do your drills, a bit of running or whatever and then it was a match – 15 versus 15,” outlined Waldron.  “It was scalp for scalp, you had no friends once you crossed the line - you had to get on the team.  You were looking out for yourself really.” Waldron had already been inspired.  As a kid living in Freshford, walking down to the local field to watch Kilkenny seniors train. “There were times when you wouldn’t hear a whistle being blown,” added Waldron.  “It wasn’t dirty, it was good, hard, high-quality hurling.  Going down to watch them was savage, it was really enjoyable.” Study took Waldron to UCC and a subsequent transfer to Waterford club Ballygunner:  “I had a longer path than Cian,” he joked.  “I actually moved to Waterford when I turned 21, I won a senior and U21 medal in Waterford with Ballygunner.  We lost another final in my time there.” After four years, the suitcases were out again and relocation to the University of Montana where he spent two years.  The hurling roots embedded strongly enough for Waldron to form a hurling club – the Grizzlies, who have since won two All-American championships. Two years ago, in 2015, home came calling in the form of a teaching job in Dublin.  The Ballygunner memories were strong but with brothers Cian and Odrán already with Cuala it was the natural stopping point. OAK ROOTS All through their childhood, there were regular trips north to Loup.  Johnny McBride and Paul McFynn were the icons that stood out from Loup’s championship campaigns.  There was the memory of Derry’s All-Ireland Hurling Quarter-Final with Offaly. “We have known the Hinpheys.  Liam was from ‘The Village’ (James Stephens GAA Club) and we used to meet at matches in Croke Park,” Waldron explained.  “I remember that one (2000) vividly.  I recall when Brian Whelahan lay on the ball because he had no hurl – Derry should have won that game.  Ollie and Mickey Collins were playing that time. “We had the 1993 season on video and we used to watch it over and over in the times before Sky digital.  That was our entertainment on a rainy Saturday – watching Joe Brolly.” For all of the memories, the hints of the brothers’ transfer to Derry didn’t materialise, not until this late 2016 and a phone call to the Derry management. “My Granda, Charlie Devlin, is the Honorary President of Loup and his brother Dermot passed away last week.  We’d have really strong connections and he (Dermot) was the one to make the call to Collie (McGurk) to inform him and it was through him that we were here.” Cuala’s run through Leinster, putting Slaughtneil to the sword and their All-Ireland win left the brothers joining the Derry panel later than expected. Permanent teaching post keep them in Dublin, but it involves a six hour round trip from Cabinteely, in South Dublin, to Owenbeg. “I love coming up, you know you are coming up for a worthwhile session,” offered Waldron.  “There is serious potential here.  If you have everybody that should be hurling (out) hurling – there is the bones of a really quality team here.  We have to beat Armagh first and try and get out of division 2B – they are the next two steps.” With the conclusion of the interview, he grabs his red Mycro helmet as Kevin Kelly and Mickey Glover have another training session planned. Why Batman? “When I was growing up I was obsessed with Batman.  They used to get me Batman suits for Christmas.  Then one year, an old girlfriend bought me a yellow hurling helmet with the logo on it,” concluded Waldron. A friend working in Mycro sorted him out with a red one.  Red for Cuala and now red for Derry. “It brings something different, a bit of personality I suppose.”  Waldron joked. Naoise Waldron - from Freshford to Owenbeg, via the scenic route.  Not your average hurler.