Football

Saval service continues as next generation of clubmen at Down GAA club embark on building project

Down's Pat Havern in action against Westmeath in the National League. Pic Philip Walsh.
Down's Pat Havern in action against Westmeath in the National League. Pic Philip Walsh. Down's Pat Havern in action against Westmeath in the National League. Pic Philip Walsh.

THE GAA is built on its people and the very capable people of Down club Saval have enhanced their reputation for looking after the building of their facilities by themselves.

Back in the 1980s, an army of local Gaels volunteered their time to build a brand new clubhouse at the Nan Sands Park grounds which was opened by then GAA president Jack Boothman. Recently a group of current clubmen followed that tradition by giving up a Saturday to carry out some socially-distanced building work at the club. Bricklayer Pat Havern was among them.

“Some of the other senior players were involved as well so it was brilliant,” said Havern, the Saval and Down full-forward.

“The rain came on about nine in the morning and it was teeming down for about three hours. But the boys worked on through it - it was great to see them all working away. My granda (also Pat) worked on the club when it was first built, so it was nice to be a part of it this time.”

Tradesmen are an increasingly endangered species on the inter-county scene and Havern admits that going out to a training session in the evening after an early start that morning, followed by a day’s work on a building site and a long journey home isn’t always an appetising prospect.

It helps that he works for his dad who is “a footballing man” but still the demands are obvious - last year Havern was regularly up at 5am and off to work in Dublin and after a day of building blocks in all weathers, a rest on the sofa might have been preferable to a two-hour training session with his county.

“It is tough going,” he admits.

“I work a lot for my da and he is lenient. He’s a football man so he’ll let me slip on early sometimes and he’ll give me jobs that aren’t as hard on you. But you’re still up early and away to Dublin or maybe down into Leixlip in Kildare and building blocks all day and then coming home… It’s hard to get yourself up for training but you go and then you’re busting your balls because you want to improve.

“Sometimes you don’t have a great training session. A training session is nearly like a match – you want to be showcasing your skills. Although you’re tired and you’re trying to prove to the managers that you’re fit to be starting games.

“It is hard on the body, I noticed when I was younger, 21 or 22, I found it easier to do that. I’m 26 now and injuries have come into it for me a wee bit so working hard and then training hard is hard to juggle. I’m just trying my best to motivate myself all the time.”

Training in lockdown means three running sessions and three gym sessions and Havern likes to throw in some shooting practice as well.

“I’m chomping at the bit to play a bit of football,” he says.

“When I’ve the running done I go and do a bit of shooting to try and keep sharp.

“Hopefully it’ll not be much longer until the football comes back and, when it does come back, you want to be on your game.”