Brothers hooked on competition

 In focus: John O'Sullivan talks to Leinster's David Blaney who is constantly vying with his brother Brian for the number two jersey

They are a remarkable family and that's without referring to a less immediate relation, Greg (he's a cousin of the boys), who won two All-Ireland senior football medals with Down, in 1991 and 1994. The rugby-playing Blaneys are no less accomplished, four brothers, James, Dermot, David and Brian who not alone have played provincial rugby but have also represented Ireland at underage level.

The Blaneys are something of a dynasty at Terenure College which each of the four boys attended. Three - James, Dermot and David - captained the senior cup team in different years. When asked the number of winners' medals on the family mantelpiece, David modestly admits he's not sure. When pressed, he ventures it's five: four schools' senior cup and one junior cup.

James played for Leinster and Munster, Dermot won several caps at underage international level, and both are now plying their trade with Terenure College in the AIB League Division Two, where the latter is captain. It is the youngest couple of siblings, David (26) and Brian (23), who occupy the representative spotlight at present as they contest the hooking berth at Leinster.

Bernard Jackman's injury has reduced the rivalry for the number-two jersey at Leinster to a two-cornered dispute. Brian is the incumbent having initially profited from an injury to his brother that kept David sidelined for a few weeks.

Leinster coach Michael Cheika said: "It's a very tight position in the team. The boys know that it comes down to training during the week. The selection is very difficult. That's a very positive thing for the team when the players are pushing each other right down to the last day before the team is announced."

David tries to articulate what it's like to vie with a brother for the same spot. "It's a funny situation because Brian and myself are very good friends on and off the pitch. I don't know how to describe it. It's difficult. It's a really long season and I'm hoping to get a few games between now and the end of the season. I'm sure Brian will get his fair share of games.

"I think that while we're on the pitch it's like it was anyone else. We've a great relationship so the minute we walk off the pitch, it's a case of well done. We treat it the same way as if Brian was Bernard Jackman or vice versa. If you treat it any other way then it would get stale. We're good friends. We train every morning together and we do extra sessions on our own, throwing and running. It's competitive but it's healthy competition.

"I have to keep my head down, keep working hard and try and force my way back into the team with whatever game time comes about. The ball is out of my hands at the moment because Brian's playing well. We have some funny video sessions because we'd be elbowing each other and the like."

For the brothers it is embarrassing at times but not malicious. Parents Jim and Dorothy adopt different methods for coping with the sibling rivalry. "My mum won't go to the matches any more. She's had enough. She gets nervous. My dad couldn't care less. He just goes: 'good luck, whoever plays, plays. I'm just coming to watch the match'. He's pretty level about the whole thing. When I was younger I used to think it was great that James was playing for Leinster and then Munster. People try and make a big deal out of it but we don't as a family."

Three hookers and a flanker: it sounds like a film. It started at school where only Dermot managed to escape to the backrow. Three of them have been in action on the same pitch on several occasions. David and Dermot in their UCD days have played against James (Shannon) and Brian (Terenure).

With three of the brothers now playing with Terenure - James, Brian and Dermot - David is hoping the Lakelands club get promoted from Division Two so that UCD can have a crack at them. Quite where you'd fit them all in is another issue. But that's for another day. A trip to Stradey Park and a clash with in-form Llanelli this weekend is the sole focus for the younger two of the Blaney quartet.