IT may be another two months before he pulls on the bainisteoir’s bib for the first time, but new St Gall’s boss Sean Kelly admits thoughts about the role have been lurking at the back of his mind for years.
Club stalwart Kelly was confirmed as the new manager of the Milltown men before Christmas and, having given years of tireless service, his appointment seems a natural fit.
At 34 the former Antrim star is still an integral cog in the St Gall’s wheel, captaining them to last year’s county final, but the opportunity to try and lead the 2010 All-Ireland champions back to the top of the tree was irresistible.
“The longer you’re playing and the closer you come to the end, the more you think about it,” he said.
“I suppose it’s always been in the back of my head to a degree but, initially, when I’ve seen what managers have to do behind the scenes I’ve thought ‘no chance’.
“I just had a look at things in terms of where I’m at as a player, the current squad, time-wise in my personal life, and for me it was a good fit.
“Luckily enough the club was happy enough too because it’s a risky move for them, with my lack of experience.”
There is a risk for Kelly too. The St Mary’s CBS teacher is held in high regard at St Gall’s, and knows better than anybody that only success will do.
Although he is undecided on whether to continue playing, the switch from team-mate to boss can be a tricky transition but that is something Kelly is prepared for.
He continued: “You have to prove yourself all over again.
“I know as a player that you would’ve found out very quickly if a manager wasn’t up to it, so I need to get myself off to a good start because the boys have to buy in and I know they will.
“There may be difficult decisions along the way but I’m confident they know any decisions I make will be based on what I think is best for the team. As a player, the team was always the focus and it’ll be the same as manager.
“It is a risk, but it’s one I’m willing to take. Hopefully I can get something out of them. I’ve just become the senior team manager for St Gall’s, an established team, so while it’s a bit of a risk I’m also a lucky enough person to be able to walk into a job of that stature.”
Regarding his own playing days, Kelly added: “That’s probably going to have to wait for a while until I see how things pan out.
“If the team’s playing the way I want it to play and I’ve a backroom team that’s functioning the way I want it to then, while I haven’t retired, I can’t make any guarantees about playing time until I see how the season’s going.”
St Gall’s have been the dominant force in Antrim for the majority of Kelly’s career, but they now find themselves playing second fiddle to back-to-back county champions Cargin.
Kelly is quick to credit the Toome men but knows the level of expectation within his own club.
“Cargin have improved, you have to give them credit,” he said.
“Our level of performance just hasn’t been good enough. Physically, mentally and technically you have to be at the top of your game and if we’re honest with ourselves, we weren’t.
“Am I going to sit here and say I’m looking to win a championship? No. Of course at the end of the year you’d love that but at this stage we’re looking for the players to give us everything and see where it takes us.
“I’d love to walk in and everything is rosy, but it’s very unlikely to happen that way.”
