IT’S been widely noted the Ulster Championship has, so far, failed to ignite, with winning margins across the first four weekends higher than would generally have been expected, given the parochial nature of the province.
It would be very easy for me to give my own insight into the reasoning behind this trend, but I am sure there’ll be enough column inches devoted to this topic without me adding my tuppence worth. Through no fault of my own or my club’s, we have been brought into the debate surrounding Armagh’s Ulster Championship defeat to Cavan. Personally, or as a club, we don’t need anyone to fight our corner. If we feel aggrieved, we can speak for ourselves.
My decision to retire was one I decided on by myself and, as mentioned at the time, it's not a decision I came to lightly. To represent my county at senior level was something I had always aspired to and to have played at the top level for 10 years is something I am immensely proud of.
I entered my final season with Armagh two years ago recovering from a long-standing Achilles’ injury, which led me to miss the majority of the National League. I was playing catch-up on fitness and generating playing time, but managed to get back up to speed in advance of our Championship opener against Cavan in Armagh.
During our first five Championship games, I only managed one start. Even so, I made a conscious decision I was going to continue to have a positive influence within the squad and, any opportunity I would get, I would try to make it harder for management not to start me. It was a new challenge to me but, during that time, I can safely say I was never as dedicated to my preparation.
As anyone would, I pleaded with management as the summer progressed to give me the chance to start, but they felt they had the best team starting. Players play, managers manage. I got a lucky break when an unfortunate injury to Ciaran McKeever prior to our clash with Meath afforded me an opportunity to win my place back.
I really enjoyed the final two games of 2014, even though it ended with bitter disappointment against Donegal but, after 10 years, I felt it was time to move on. Was it premature, physically? Yes, but I felt the time was right to let the newcomers take over and it was a new start for me, to devote more time to my family, business and club.
When you add up the amount of championship games our club has played in this past 20 years, what’s lost on most is to have that amount of competitive games and wins under your belt brings an inner confidence and belief to the players. When games are tight or times are tough, to have players with experience and knowhow to see out those situations is essential.
A line commonly used by many in the media that frustrates me when describing club success is that 'it’s only club football, county football is a huge step up'. How do they know? Well, I know because I’ve proudly represented both my club and county for 10 years. I can assure those in doubt that the coaching we receive at Cross and the level of detail we prepare at is on a par or above anything I’ve had at county level. It has to have been or our success would not have been sustainable.
Francie Bellew is a prime example. It was always said Francie was only a good club footballer but never up to county standard. Thankfully, Francie got the opportunity in 2002 to prove the doubters wrong at county level and the rest, as they say, is history.
In a letter Alex Ferguson wrote to Eric Cantona a few months after Cantona’s retirement, the Manchester United manager described his replacement Teddy Sheringham’s issues adapting to life at Old Trafford.
Ferguson wrote: “Players sometimes don’t realise how difficult it is to play at our level as every game is a cup final for our opponents.”
That quote is in no way meant to build Cross into something bigger than we are, but it’s the mentality we need to have when trying to stay on top. Everyone wants to knock you down. Every year brings new challenges and obstacles. Players have come and gone but, thankfully, the majority have continued to buy into the club’s ethos and continue to set the same standards for those following them.
Given our sustained success within Armagh, it is inevitable certain parts will dislike us, that goes with the territory. But it’s not exclusively an Armagh issue. In any sport across the world or within every county in Ireland, clubs have their period of dominance and success and they become public enemy number one.
Everyone wants them knocked off their perch and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, it’s human nature. Everyone likes to see the champions have their wings clipped. But in Cross, it’s our job to make sure that doesn’t happen.
There was some animosity at times towards Cross players for their absence within the Armagh squad. Some team-mates would have said it directly to me and I respected them for that. As I have mentioned previously, during my 10 years with Armagh, I was fortunate to have won seven Ulster club titles. This meant I hardly got a week’s break throughout those seasons. But it also meant I missed vast amounts of league football with Armagh, which impacted upon our squad’s development and that frustrated my county team-mates as their only concern was Armagh. It also frustrated me, but that’s an issue that can only be rectified by the GAA’s fixture committee and not the players or managers.
Being honest, I can say that, during my time with Armagh, there were times when Cross players joined the county squad and did not give it their all, but the vast majority of us did and will always do so. However, this was not a problem exclusive to Cross.
But a very important point being missed is that giving that sustained commitment required to be successful with club and county is not a personal issue with managers. It’s more to do with overlapping seasons that some players do not want to be on a wheel of competitive football consistently. I know I fully embraced it, but others didn’t want football to control their lives and who could blame them?
At present, Cross are trying to blend a new squad, with a good mixture of youth and experience. Some have had their time at county level and there is also a new generation of skilful, ambitious kids coming through who deserve their shot at county level.
This year, our club has a spread of two senior, four U21s and three minor representatives on county panels. Of course, there are others who are capable of playing at county level but, for their own reasons, have chosen not too.
The lure of retaining Sam Maguire wasn’t even enough to persuade Rory O’Carroll and Jack McCaffrey to postpone their plans for 2016, yet their reasons are readily accepted without suspicion there has been a fallout.
I would always encourage young players to test themselves at county level and embrace the challenge of competing against players from across the country. No-one can win Sam Maguire with clubs. But All-Irelands can be achieved for both club and county so let’s stop this ‘us and them’ mentality because it serves neither club nor county any good.
The best way for Armagh to change fortunes is by letting their football do the talking in the Qualifiers.
