How many miles to Semple Stadium?
For Peter Acheson, it’s going to be over 7000. But what’s 7000 miles when there’s a county final at stake?
Moyle Rovers are back in a county final and Peter Acheson is coming home from Dubai for it.
The south Tipperary club haven’t won one since 2009 and they’re going the extra-mile to end the wait nine years on. Ardfinnan are waiting on the other side and all will be revealed come 4.30 on Sunday afternoon.
Acheson, one of the Premier County’s most gifted ever footballers, will have covered some ground before he even graces the field of dreams and he discussed his journey home, step by step with Colm Parkinson on The GAA Hour Show on Thursday.
2.00 Thursday afternoon
“I’ll finish work in the next hour or two,” said Acheson – who works in business development with an oil and gas company in Dubai – on Thursday afternoon.
Thursday evening – Friday morning (Leaving Dubai)
“I’ll relax tonight and I’m flying at 7am tomorrow morning then. So I’m leaving my apartment at 4am Friday.”
Friday afternoon (Back in Dublin)
I’ll get into Dublin then at lunch-time, maybe around 12:30.
Friday evening – Saturday (Back in Clonmel, back for training in Moyle Rovers)
I’ll be back in Clonmel by 2.30, which isn’t too bad.
“We have club training, 8.00 Friday night, just a kick around – you know yourself, two days before the game.”
Saturday will be a day for finding his feet at home. Seeing as the time-difference is only three hours between Ireland and Dubai, the jet-lag shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
You might think the lack of sleep Friday morning will hold him back, but it’s nothing a sleep in his own bed won’t solve.
This isn’t the first time Acheson has put in the Hard Yards for his club anyway. He was home for the county quarter, and semi-finals too – so he knows well how to cope with it.
“I did it the last two trips home as well and I actually felt grand after the flight. I could have flown Thursday night if I wanted to, but I feel if I left it until Friday morning, there’ll be less jet-lag because I’ll sleep better tonight,” he said.
“I think the morning flight is a bit better for me, getting in at lunch-time, getting a proper sleep in my own bed, back home on Friday night, it shouldn’t be any issue at all.”
Sunday (Game-day)
“Then the match is on Sunday at 3.00.”
It’s all go for Acheson, but it’s nothing he’s not able for.
He’s kept himself busy on the other side of the world, linking up with Jumeirah Gaels to play Gaelic football, while some soccer on the side with the likes of Mikael Silvestre has kept him in shape.
He’ll be ready come Sunday.
You can listen to the Acheson interview from Dubai, the county final and provincial first round previews and much more talk, analysis and discussion from Thursday’s GAA Hour Show right here.
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