Football

McDonnell exit opens door for McCorry return to Armagh

Stevie McDonnell has stepped down as manager of the Armagh U21 side  
Stevie McDonnell has stepped down as manager of the Armagh U21 side   Stevie McDonnell has stepped down as manager of the Armagh U21 side  

STEVIE McDONNELL says former Down boss Jim McCorry would be an excellent replacement for him as Armagh U21 manager.

McDonnell confirmed that he and Billy Joe Padden had stepped down from the role on Thursday and suggested McCorry and former Armagh team-mates Aidan O’Rourke, Paul McGrane and Paddy McKeever as possible replacements.

McCorry resigned as Mourne county boss last week after a season in charge and McDonnell feels the former Orchard manager has too much footballing know-how to be allowed to sit on the sidelines.

“I’d love to see Jim McCorry back involved with Armagh,” said McDonnell.

“He has a lot to add and I think Down burnt their bridges there too soon.

“I feel that he has a good football brain and good knowledge of club footballers throughout the country and it would certainly be Armagh’s gain if they got him on board in some capacity.

“If it was Jim or Aidan O’Rourke, or Paul McGrane, or Paddy McKeever. All of those guys would add some value to the set-up.”

McDonnell made the decision to step down to concentrate on managing his club Killeavy. After juggling both roles, he decided that he was doing neither justice.

“To do either of the jobs you have to give 100 per cent commitment, so to try and take on both of them you’re not even giving 50 per cent to either of them,” he said.

“One had to give way unfortunately. I’ve had a great time over the last two years with Armagh and gained great experience. I told the lads after we were beaten by Tyrone that I would think long and hard about my future – I gave it time, but my mind didn’t really change.

“In my own club we have a lot of young players coming up and young talent involved in the set up and I want to pass on my experience and expertise to them as much as I can.

“We have been very successful at underage level but I would like to think that we can catapult those guys up to senior level sooner rather than later.”

The St Moninna’s outfit take on Wolfe Tones in the second qualifying round in the Armagh Senior Club Championship on Saturday.

“It’s a tough game for, there’s no doubt about it,” said McDonnell.

“They’ll feel the exact same way as ourselves – that they can win it. We played out a draw in Killeavy this year and when you look at the league form Wolfe Tone’s have been more impressive. It’s all about who wants it most on the day.”

Meanwhile, McDonnell is confident that his successor in the Orchard U21 dugout will have the full support of the Armagh County Board and says there is a deep pool of talented young footballers in the county.

“I have no doubt that Kieran McGeeney is in a fortunate position at the minute,” he said.

“There is a lot of talent coming through. It’s about working with that talent and getting it to a mature level.

“Over the couple of years that I’ve been involved players that made the squad – and even players that didn’t make the squad – have an abundance of talent and have the ability to kick on and become senior inter-county players.”

Ethan Rafferty, Ciaron O’Hanlon, Aaron Findon and Micheal McKenna all played U21 football under McDonnell and featured for the Orchardmen at senior level during the summer and McDonnell says there are more to come.

“There’s plenty of other players there,” he said.

“Aidan Nugent (Cullyhanna) is one to look out for and Joe McIlroy, Brian McShane (both Armagh Harps) and Gregory McCabe (Shane O’Neill’s) are all fantastic players with a fantastic attitude and you could name player after player.

“They will make it to the senior set-up at some stage and hopefully they’ll make their mark.”