ARMAGH boss Kieran McGeeney has a flexible approach to training – indeed, contrary to popular opinion, the Mullaghbawn native is “not a dogmatic leader”, insists Charlie Vernon.
The versatile Armagh Harps player revealed: “In terms of my own circumstances Kieran’s been more than supportive. With having a child a few weeks ago, that changes the circumstances at home and everything else.
“Some of Armagh’s training is down in Newry and I live in Magherafelt at the minute. Kieran said to me: ‘You do your training whenever it suits you and where it suits you’. He’s not a dogmatic leader. He won’t say: ‘You have to drive two hours to Newry’.
“There is a perception that you have to stick to his path but nothing could be further from the truth. Guys have families and other commitments and Kieran’s more than willing to accommodate people.
“Yes, when it gets to Championship the tune might change a bit but he’s definitely somebody that will work with you if you’re willing to work with him.”
Although Vernon missed Armagh’s golden years, he won an Ulster medal under Peter McDonnell in his first year on the panel. He’s also played under Paddy O’Rourke, Paul Grimley and now McGeeney.
Since reaching the All-Ireland quarter-finals in 2014, Armagh have struggled for consistency, making the earliest of exits from Ulster and the All-Ireland series last season.
The Orchard men begin 2017 in Division Three. Absenteeism, Vernon insists, has been the team’s biggest problem after being a kick of the ball away from reaching the All-Ireland semis two seasons ago.
“People will judge a manager on results and that’s just the way life is,” said Vernon.
“If you’re not getting results you don’t get the support. One thing about Kieran is he’s very good with people and trying to get the best out of them. That’s his gig, if you like: trying to maximise someone’s potential and bringing them on.
“I suppose where he gets the criticism is some people stepping away. But is that Kieran’s fault or not? People will throw that criticism at him. Some of it is totally unfair and some it Kieran can learn lessons from it and provide a different set of circumstances.
“In terms of the players and the group, we’re fully behind Kieran and what he’s doing and what he’s trying to do, the structures and the processes that he’s trying to put in place.
“He took over Armagh at a time when Paul Grimley had just left and we were very ambitious and optimistic. We’d reached the All-Ireland quarter-final in 2014 and we were very much looking forward to building on that relative success.
“I suppose the main reason why it hasn’t materialised is because a lot of those key players weren’t available through injury – [notably] Kevin Dyas and Ciaran McKeever – Caolan Rafferty is working in Hong Kong, Aaron Kernan had stepped away as well.
“You’re talking about top level performers. Take them out of the equation and you’re thinking: how do we fill that gap? The only thing you can do is bring new players, young players in but it doesn’t take a genius to work up that you might have to take two steps back to go one step forward. And unfortunately that’s where we are at the minute.
“Funny, we had a meeting last year and Kieran asked the group who hadn’t played at inter-county senior level before and half of the panel put their hands up.
“I was very surprised because from one year to the next, when you’re training, you don’t actually do a head count. So it actually surprised me the amount of new faces that were there.”
And while there has been much fanfare on social media about the mooted return of US-based Jamie Clarke, Vernon hopes the Crossmaglen man returns but that he “doesn’t dip in and out” of the Armagh camp.
“To be honest, I don’t know if he’s definitely coming back yet,” said the 29-year-old.
“I know social media has been fairly hot and heavy over the past few days. I’ll believe it when I see it. Certainly from the players and the fans point of view we’d be delighted to have him back.
“A player of Jamie’s quality is not to be turned away and like all good forwards he’ll create chances for himself and he’ll also create space and scores for other guys in the team.
“It’ll do no harm for even the younger guys coming through to learn from Jamie and to see how he does it. I think it could be a good thing, provided he comes back and commits and is fully behind the cause.
“You don’t want guys dipping in and out but hopefully he’s had his break and gets back at it.”
