Football is a family business for Ado
SFC final preview
When Ado Cole made his debut for Ramor United in 2006, expectations were lower than they are now. That season, they struggled badly in the championship and a tanking against Crosserlough in the first relegation play-off left them needing to beat Drumgoon in Kingscourt to stay in senior ranks.
Three points from the 17-year-old helped them do just that but it wasn’t much cause for celebration around Virginia. That was the way of it for Ado and his teammates for quite a few years until the tide started to turn.
“I’m at it 15 years now. It was all relegation finals when I first started playing, I didn’t make my first final till 2016 and we won it. It’s just great to be in another one now to be honest,” Cole told the Anglo-Celt last week.
Having sat out most of the quarter-final (“the old hamstring was at me. I wasn’t just 100pc to play and the management just said before the game there was no point in risking it”), Ado is fully fit and rearing to go for Sunday, not that he is the type to shout about it.
After many years leading the line for Ramor, he takes it in his stride.
“There is extra responsibility but there are a good lot of lads there who do the same, you have Jack there and Damien, leaders all around which definitely makes my job easier.
“It’s nice to be captain, I was captain in 2012 which is a long time ago. I wasn’t told I was captain at the start of the year, I was just given it. I found it out just before the first league game of the year.”
Ado was on board for the breakthrough five years ago, starring in the two finals against Castlerahan, and again in 2019 when the neighbours turned the tables. He hasn’t forgotten the feeling of losing that one.
“Oh no, definitely. Losing that final in ’19… That hurt, hurt, hurt. We don’t want to experience that again.
“They just weren’t the best opponents to lose to but we’ll learn from it and just move on to Gowna. I played Gowna a lot over the years, it’s probably a newer, younger team now, I wouldn’t know as many of them but they still have the experience there, McKeevers and Piersons, they’re all still there. Look, we know what we have to do.
“I saw one or two games. I didn’t see them too much to be honest. We’ll do our homework and look back on them. I know they have a few very good young lads and I know most of the older lads, they’re pacey, strong, hungry determined team so we know what we are up against.”
There’s further improvement in Ramor, their captain believes.
“Definitely, I don’t think we’ve played really to our potential. We are still getting through and winning games but it would be nice to move up another gear and hopefully that will be able to see us through.”
As for Sunday, nerves won’t affect him. Having played so much football – this will be his fourth senior final including the 2016 replay – he won’t let it faze him.
“No, when you’re at it as long as I am, nerves wouldn’t be an issue. Playing for so long, you just get used to it. It doesn’t really affect me any more.
“Playing with Cavan there brought me on, played in a lot of big games, school games, two All-Ireland finals, championship finals. You just learn to deal with it, if I’m nervous before a game I won’t play well.
“What would it mean? It would be unbelievable. They have flags and posters out already. It would be great for the community, we get great support and always have great crowds at games. It would be just great to do it for the community, it would mean the world to everyone.”
Uncle Ray is the team manager and both men are also employed with the family firm, Virginia International Logistics. A win on Sunday and he might even get Monday off…
“It puts a bit more pressure on you when he’s your uncle, trying to get him over the line. You want to do better for him,” Ado says, before breaking into a smile.
“He’s my boss at work and he’s my boss at football so I’m used to him being in charge!”