Leinster Rugby v Cardiff Blues

Control the controllables.
IT’S A PHRASE
THAT HAS
SNUCK ITS
WAY INTO THE
LEXICON OF
MANY PLAYERS
AND COACHES
THE WORLD
OVER AS THEY
EMPHASISE THAT
PLANNING AND
PREPARATION IS
ALWAYS THE KEY
TO THEIR NEXT
GAME.
Niall Comerford, a winger in his
first year with the Leinster Rugby
Academy, is a glowing example of
how to keep pushing on when the
‘uncontrollables’ try and disrupt your
plans and ambitions.
At just 20 years of age, the Shankill native has
already had an impressive sporting career at
club, school, county and provincial level.
But, there’s been some disruption along the
way. Three separate events stick out, a broken
wrist, being part of the ‘2000-born’ group who
missed out on an inter-county championship,
and now, Covid-19.
Gaelic football was his first love, a member of
the Kilmacud Crokes club, he would go on to
represent Dublin at underage level, lining out at
midfield in the 2017 U-17 Leinster Final defeat
to Meath.
It would be a disappointing note to bow out
of his inter-county football career with but, he
admits, the call to join Leinster Rugby was too
good to turn down.
“I’d been playing since I was five, hurling and
Gaelic with Kilmacud. I got to play with Dublin
underage from U-13 to U-17,” Comerford
explains.
“Unfortunately, we missed out – my year, the
2000s – on minor. I really loved it but it was
difficult playing hurling, Gaelic and rugby at
the same time.
“When hurling and Gaelic finish around
October, I could go back to rugby, it was great
having sport all year round. It worked well
during the school years.
“But then, making the step up to Leinster, I had
to make a decision whether or not to go with
Gaelic or rugby. I made the decision to go with
rugby and I’ve been very happy with it.”
The dominance of Dublin’s footballers is no
secret, and comparisons have been made
between their ability to constantly refresh their
team with young talent and Leo Cullen’s ability
to do the same in Leinster.
As someone who has seen and lived the
pathway of both, transferring skills where
possible, Comerford sees a major similarity
between the two respective set-ups that is
enabling them to have continued success.
“The standards that they hold you to,” he says
is the main likeness.
“It might be an amateur sport but we were
based out in Abbotstown, which is also where
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