IN JANUARY, Mark Poland imagined a different sort of honeymoon. Afraid to lose too much ground on the rest of the Down boys, he packed a fitness programme and off the newlyweds went to South Africa.
The first couple of days went well. Two gym sessions completed. Two boxes ticked. It was on the third day the whole thing hit the rocks.
“I went to South Africa with great intentions,” says Poland.
“I was in the gym the first and second day and people were laughing at me… The third day I decided to go for a run in Capetown and while I was running I glanced over and noticed these boys wearing Kerry shorts.
“Turned out it was the Kerry players playing volleyball on the beach.
“They were playing volleyball and I was there running.”
Poland jogged for a few more paces and stopped. If the Kerry boys weren’t busting a gut then Poland wasn’t either.
It was his honeymoon after all.
Laughing, he adds: “I didn’t even run back to the hotel – I walked back to the hotel and had a beer. I hit the running on the head for the rest of the honeymoon…
“It was a nice break but it was hard to get re-adjusted when I came back. I weighed myself in the gym in Kilkeel and I got the shock of my life.
“Now, I wouldn’t be one for carrying weight but I certainly got my eyes open then.”
In the first two League games against Kildare and Roscommon, Poland made substitute appearances.
“I was blowing big-time in those two games, but I did a bit of work on my own and got back in against Cavan.”
The surprise about Poland is that his inter-county career dates back to 2006.
He made his Championship debut against Sligo in Markievicz Park. Poland came on for Ronan Sexton in a game that was over long before the final whistle.
It was a black day for Down football. They scored four points in 70 minutes of football. The defeat signalled the end of Paddy O’Rourke’s time in charge of his native county.
Poland was involved in Ross Carr’s squads but he could never really nail down a starting place in the team. The biggest investor in Poland was James McCartan.
‘Wee’ James knew what the Longstone clubman could bring to the table.
During McCartan’s years in charge Poland was the man who made them tick.
McCartan was happy to let the media – north and south – fawn over the playmaking skills of Marty Clarke.
The more attention was thrust upon Clarke, the better for Down, because it left Poland to do his thing.
In 2010 and 2011, Poland was arguably the more influential of the pair.
“I played under Ross [Carr] and Paddy [O’Rourke]…I made my Championship debut against Sligo in 2006. It was Paddy’s last match in charge. I came on that day. That was an eye-opener…
“[But] James was the one who gave me my chance,” he says.
“I’ve a good relationship with James and I still keep in contact with him. He was at my wedding earlier this year. He took a gamble on me and I’ve enjoyed it ever since.
“We were close, that panel was very close, but such is life. Things never stay the same. There are new players coming in who are mad keen to play for the jersey. All the boys get along well but ultimately you want to bring an Ulster title back to Down.”
From that Down team that was humbled in Sligo nine years ago, Poland, Aidan Carr and Conor Laverty – all substitutes in Markievicz Park - are the only survivors ahead of tomorrow’s Ulster Championship showdown with Derry.
When comparing McCartan and new manager Jim McCorry, Poland adds: “No two managers are ever the same. Jim’s obviously tasted success with Kilcoo and brought them on…Kilcoo were a very, very tough, dogged team to play against. But they had their flair players as well.
“They were a team that fought to the end no matter what. No team wins three county championships if they’re not a good side. They were well coached under Jim.
“People were writing us off at the start of the season saying we were doomed for Division Three and we’re now in Division One next year.”
Poland captained Down in McCartan’s last season. This year Conor Laverty has taken on the mantle with Kevin McKernan vice-captain.
Although captaining his county was a great honour, at times it weighed heavily on the 28-year-old centre-forward.
“I wouldn’t say I felt pressure. When you’re named captain it’s an honour. I sort of knew that a few of the older lads Benny [Coulter], Brendy [McVeigh] and that were maybe in their last year of their county careers and I wanted to win something, more so for those boys.
"I would say it consumed me, but I didn’t feel any more pressure.
“Conor [Laverty] is captain now. You’ve other things going on in your life, so it’s good to take a step back. Once I leave training it’s gone. I’ve learned to switch off and it is good for my football because if you don’t it can run you down, more than anything.”
Poland has overcome a freak eye injury sustained in the warm-up of the Division Two final between Down and Roscommon and will wear the number 11 jersey on Sunday. The stage is set for the best playmaker in Ulster.
