Sport

Where are they now? We catch up with Armagh's Ger Houlahan

Ger Houlahan was one of the stars of the Armagh team during the 1980s and 1990s
Ger Houlahan was one of the stars of the Armagh team during the 1980s and 1990s Ger Houlahan was one of the stars of the Armagh team during the 1980s and 1990s

Age: 51

Club: Pearse Og

When did you play for Armagh? 1983-2000

What do you do nowadays?

I was the head of recreation and leisure with the Armagh council, and I’m now working for the Armagh Banbridge Craigavon council.

Are you still involved in Gaelic football?

I’m in my second year coaching the Pearse Og minor team.

What do you remember about your first game for Armagh?

It was against Offaly in the National League. At that stage Offaly were winning All-Irelands and reaching All-Ireland finals so they had a very good side. There was quite a few of us made debuts that day. That team was very good in the National League during those years, very hard to beat at the old Athletic Grounds.

What’s your best memory?

Och, I suppose just the career in general. We didn’t win many medals at that stage so it was just the whole playing of the game and the camaraderie around it. It was hard football but it was enjoyable at the time. I captained the ’93 team when we were beaten by Meath in the National League final, which was a proud moment, but it doesn’t stand out because we didn’t win.

And the worst?

There was none of the Ulster finals I played in that we lost by much. As captain it would’ve been nice to win the National League in ’93, although people remember the ‘84 Ulster final [against Tyrone] when Frank McGuigan was kicking points, left and right. There were times in that match where we could’ve won it, the same in ’87 against Derry, 1990 [against Donegal]. We were always hitting the crossbar and in those days you didn’t get a second chance.

Are you glad you played in your era rather than today?

You’d always like to think you were good enough to play in any generation. You would probably have rather watched the football through the ‘90s and early 2000s rather than the dross you have to watch now. That’s not taking anything away from the ability of the players – as I said to Mickey Harte, you have to do what you have to do to win. I hate coaching my teams to play the way they play now, but that’s the way everybody’s playing. Kicking’s become a bit of a dying art, and we can’t afford to let it die.

Any regrets?

Timing is probably my biggest regret. I was so close to that 2002 team, every one that played on that team I had played with and grown up with.