Dublin Manager Sean Lane at full-time of the 2007 U21 Leinster Hurling Championship final. Picture Credit; Ray Lohan / SPORTSFILE

Niall Scully

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A squirrel skipped along the wall at Marlay Park. And swung onto the branches of a tree. Like Rhys McClenaghan.

Seán Lane knows the place well. He appreciates its scenic beauty.

“I was walking there this morning with a good pal of mine, Brendan Kelly. We played together at Clanna Gael and for the Dublin U-21 hurlers.

“There’s a few of us who walk there regularly. We’d get a cup of coffee and solve the problems of the world. Sure, what else would retired men do!”

Well, in Seán’s case, quite a lot.

At Ballinteer St John’s, he’s the Hurling Vice-Chairman, the Hurling Board delegate, and a member of the club’s Irish committee.

He’s a mentor with the Under-15’s, who are managed by Eoin Walsh. “A great hurling man. And a top-class manager.”

The previous night, Seán was training the senior camogie team.

Over four different spells, he spent eleven years on the club’s executive. Only stepping down last December.

He retired from work seven years ago. “Initially, I worked in finance, but I felt it wasn’t for me.”

He became the Human Resource Director at Glanbia. Then he was CEO of the Dairy Executives’ Association.

“I enjoyed working with people. I always wanted to make sure that the people I represented were treated fairly.

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“I sought to look after their interests. To get the best possible outcome for them. And, if necessary on their behalf, to bang the table!”

Seán also relished his time with Sunshine Radio. On Dublin’s Talking Sport each Saturday morning.

He did the Dublin GAA slot. He also hosted the programme on occasions.

“It was Declan Drake that got me involved. After a game in Croke Park, he asked me to do a quick interview. He then had me on the show on a regular basis.

“I got to work with so many good people. You had Reggie Corrigan and Ken Doherty. Declan was brilliant. And I have never met anyone with the football knowledge of Brian Talty. You wouldn’t meet a nicer fella.

“The programme had a good mix. It had sections on rugby, soccer, American Football and a club feature.

“Sadly, the show came to an end this year. It was very popular. We had 13,000 listeners.”

Former Dublin U-21 hurling manager Sean Lane. Picture credit: Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE

Seán was involved in sport from the throw-in.

“I was born on New Ireland Road in Rialto. My parents, John and Margaret, had a big interest in GAA.

“My Dad played junior hurling for Galway. He won Minor, Junior and Intermediate Galway Championships. And a Junior A Hurling Championship with Guinness when he came to Dublin.

“There was myself and my brother, Séamus. As kids, we were brought to Croke Park every Sunday by my parents. It didn't matter what match was on. That’s what we did on Sundays.

“On the way home, they’d buy myself and Séamus a bag of chips. That was a real treat.

“Séamus is still very much involved in Ballinteer St John’s. He was a senior football and hurling selector.

“We went to James’s Street school. A haven of Gaelic games. The school had a lot of success. We won four Dublin Championships in our days there.

“And then it was onto Clanna Gael. I was a centre-forward in football. Tony Hanahoe was my idol. I was fortunate to be in his company a few times. A lovely, lovely man.

“I looked up to Des Foley in hurling. And I especially rated Peadar Carton and Vinny Holden.”

Work took Seán to Cork. He won the Junior A Football Championship title with Mallow. And he hurled with Liscarroll.

He returned to Dublin. “I was living in Killiney. I had twelve good years with Cuala.

“I was lucky enough to be a part of their two Dublin Senior Hurling Championship wins. We also won two Senior Hurling Leagues and a Junior Hurling A Championship there.”

Cuala’s Mick Dunphy, Chairman of the Minor Board, asked him to become manager of the Dublin minor hurlers with Philip Cullen of Craobh Chiaráin.

He then became manager of the Dublin Under-21 hurlers. And on a memorable and emotional night at Parnell Park in 2007, Dublin won their first Leinster U-21 title for 35 years.

His management colleagues were Peadar Carton, John Keating, Ciarán Hetherton and Tom Ryan.

“That was one of the great highlights. Another one was Ballinteer St John’s winning the double of Dublin Senior Hurling B Championship and the League.

“And I was so pleased last season to see the Dublin senior camogie team reach the All-Ireland Championship semi-final, beating Kilkenny in the quarter-final at Croke Park.”

Seán is speaking in the Ballinteer clubhouse. Right beside Marlay Park.

“This is my 30th year with the club. We have had some marvellous times. I’d look forward to coming down here for a pint on a Sunday night to chat about all the games of the day.”

He's been living in the area for almost forty years now. Himself and Carol have raised three children – Seánie, Ciarán and Emma.

“We have three grandchildren now. They are the joy of our lives – Dáire, CJ and Daniel.

“They are in the Ballinteer St John’s Academy. Carol is great at going down to support them. Just like their own mothers, Zoe and Sara. Those children couldn’t have better mothers.

“Carol was an excellent hockey goalkeeper for Glenanne. I couldn’t have done what I have done without her backing. Between going back to college, work and the GAA.

“The grandkids also enjoy soccer, swimming and gymnastics. It’s great to see that because myself and Carol got such enjoyment from watching our own children playing hurling, camogie and football."

Knowing Seán, he can already picture the grandchildren all playing together on the same Ballinteer team!

He played hockey himself. Collecting the All-Ireland Godfrey Cup with Leinster.

And he was a goalkeeper with St Patrick’s Athletic. He played at youth level and in the League of Ireland B Division.

Jack Burkett was the manager. He won the FA Cup and the European Cup Winners Cup with West Ham.

“We were due to play Finn Harps away one Saturday,” explains Seán.

“I was picked for the Dublin U-21 hurlers against Antrim in Parnell Park on the same day. I had to tell Jack I couldn’t play.

“I couldn’t fit everything in, so, unfortunately, I had to leave Pat’s.”

He plays golf off a handicap of 14 at Edmondstown. He’s won many competitions, including the big one in 1996, the Professional Prize.

“I love going up there. It’s a beautiful course.”

Yet nothing beats the scent of the sideline. Encouraging, nurturing the generations.

“It’s wonderful to go to matches and to see how players have progressed. You’d remember them starting off as boys and girls in the club. And coming up through the ranks.”

He went to Tralee for Kerry against the Dubs. Ballinteer’s Luke Breathnach scored the winning point. Sean’s heart danced with delight.

He picks a few other Ballinteer names from the top of his hat - Jack Lundy, Jack Long, Mattthew Gardner, Eamon Naughton, Pat Coleman, Andrew O’Reilly and Orlagh Nolan.

Ellie Doran, Emily Adderley, Rachel Dolan, Grace O'Shea, Dylan Bannan, Iain Ó hEithir, Séamus Fenton, Cody Graham, Conor Quinn, Tommy Cullen, Fionn Ó Riordan and Cillian Gibbons.

He attends all the Dublin hurling and camogie matches with his daughter, Emma. Emma is a Goalkeeping Coach and a mentor with the Dublin Camogie Under-16’s.

Seán hopes to keep coaching the Ballinteer kids for a few more years.

He played for Dublin in the Minor and Under-21 Hurling Championships. And returned to manage both teams. Like Shay Boland.

He appreciates the friendships that sport has given. He still meets up with Peadar Carton. He goes golfing to Spain each year with Tom Ryan and the Na Fianna club.

He talks about the genius of Dotsy O’Callaghan, the arts and crafts of Alan McCrabbe, and the class of Paul Flynn and Bernard Brogan.

“Conal Keaney and Con O’Callaghan were the best dual players I saw in Dublin. Absolutely magnificent.”

Seán also places Diarmuid Connolly high among the Gods. He was on that Dublin side that won the historic Leinster Under-21 Hurling title.

There were tears shed in Donnycarney on that summer’s night.

A Blue-Letter day for sure in the chapters of Dublin hurling.

Another special memory is captured in a framed picture in Seán’s home.

In the photo are his Dad, John, Seán and his brother, Séamus, and Seán’s sons, Seánie and Ciarán.

Three generations who won the Dublin Junior A Hurling championship.

John with Guinness, Seán and Séamus with Cuala, and Seánie and Ciarán with Ballinteer.

“It’s a lovely family memory. And it’s something to treasure,” states Seán.

Suddenly, he looks at his watch. The time, like the years, has flown.

He skips out the door quicker than the Marlay Park squirrel.

He’s heading home. The grandkids are calling for tea.

“I have to come off the bench now and then,” he grins.

Seán Lane. Never a man to sit on the fence.