NATHAN Farry has been one of Omagh CBS’s unsung heroes as they have made it through to only the second Hogan Cup final in their history against Summerhill Colleg,e Sligo in Croke Park on St Patrick's Day.
and his performances are all the more remarkable as he is playing as a defender, a role that he wasn’t accustomed to until this campaign.
That doesn’t stop the Trillick clubman from getting forward at every opportunity and he has shown that he has an eye for a score with a brilliant point from out on the left wing in their Hogan Cup semi-final win over Naas CBS. It’s a case of doing what is good for the team and he also praises the work rate of their forward line in tracking back and helping ease their workload in defence.
“I try to get forward as much as I can and myself and Callum Daly in the half-back line take turns and if I get into the right position I will have a go for a score,” said Farry.
“There is a good understanding in our defence as when someone goes back there is always cover and that is crucial. We do it in training all the time as well, it is all about communication and it has been working well.
"Our inside forwards especially get through a lot of work off the ball and a lot of the time you will see Ruairi McCullagh back in our half-back line and it takes it all to win big games. It is good to have forwards like that as they will do what it takes for the team.
"Playing in defence has definitely improved my game. I was never normally a defender as I played in the forwards or midfield. I suppose with boys like Callum Daly, Caolan Donnelly and Thomas Haigney around you they are good men to play alongside as they always keep you right. I don’t mind defending, it’s good enough, but I would say that I preferred my years in the forward line.”
Farry has already won a number of underage honours with Trillick and is part of this season’s Tyrone minor squad and after collecting a MacRory Cup medal he is relishing appearing in the Hogan final and he feels that Omagh are playing well at the moment after coming through a severe test against St Colman's, Newry in the MacRory Cup quarter-final.
“I have no nerves yet but I’m sure as it gets closer to the game that will change,” he admitted.
“In the group stages we played well but when it got to the St Colman's game in the quarter-finals I felt that we could have played better. It was a tough test but we knew going into it that was going to be the case because we played them last year and it went to extra-time.
"They really pushed us hard but I feel that game stood to us and I think in the MacRory Cup semi-final and final as well as the Hogan semi-final we played our best football and hopefully we can continue that form.”
