Football

Cathal McCarron backs ex-team-mate Ryan McMenamin to be a success in Fermanagh

Former Tyrone defender Ryan McMenamin will be part of the backroom team assembled by new Fermanagh boss Rory Gallagher
Former Tyrone defender Ryan McMenamin will be part of the backroom team assembled by new Fermanagh boss Rory Gallagher Former Tyrone defender Ryan McMenamin will be part of the backroom team assembled by new Fermanagh boss Rory Gallagher

TYRONE ace Cathal McCarron has backed former club and county team-mate Ryan McMenamin to be a huge success as part of Rory Gallagher’s Fermanagh backroom team.

It was confirmed on Monday night that ‘Ricey’ would be involved alongside former Erne forward Gallagher, as the three-time All-Ireland winner takes his first steps into the inter-county arena.

And McCarron, who won three county championships playing alongside McMenamin with Dromore, believes it will prove to be a wise move by Tyrone’s neighbours.

He said: “Knowing ‘Ricey’ as well as I do, he’s done a lot of club management through underage with Dromore. He’s a shrewd man, plenty of tactical awareness, and he’s a winner.

“I think he’s 40 this year and he’s playing great football with Dromore, he’s a credit to himself to be 40 and playing senior football in Tyrone. He’ll do very well I’d say.

“I suppose you don’t want to wish him too much luck because you could be playing them next year but if he turns out to be half the manager he is as a player, he’ll be doing alright.”

And, although the move appeared to come slightly out of leftfield, McCarron says he wasn’t surprised when it was confirmed by the Fermanagh County Board.

“I wasn’t really surprised no, because ‘Ricey’ has won it all,” he added.

“A lot of those Fermanagh boys would know him because he lives locally. He’ll have the respect of the dressing room which is a huge thing for any team. He’ll get the best out of them.

“There’s a different combination with Rory who was a forward and ‘Ricey’ who was a defender, but it could work.”

And while a new chapter begins in McMenamin’s storied career, the same applies for McCarron after he confirmed Sunday’s Tyrone championship defeat to Clonoe would be his last appearance in the blue of the St Dympna’s.

A transfer to Kildare club Athy, where he now lives, is expected in the near future and the 29-year-old admits it is with a heavy heart that he says farewell to Dromore.

“It was emotional because I had never prepared for it to be my last game,” said the Allstar nominee.

“I wanted to play as if it was my last game but at the same time we should’ve had that game won. We were well in control with five minutes to go, four points up, and ended up losing, so there was a mixture of emotions towards the end because I wasn’t prepared the way things worked out.

“But Dromore will be grand, there’s a bit of youth coming through and they’ll be vying for championships in the near future.

“It’s kind of surreal that you do have to leave, walk away. To me, some part of it doesn’t seem real, but it’s another chapter in my life.”

And ultimately it was the travelling up and down the road that took its toll.

He continued: “I’ve been doing a 250-mile round trip for nearly three years but I’ve a wee family now.

“When I moved down here I didn’t just want to move away because I would always have been a big club man. When I was a single man with no ties, football was above everything in life but when you’ve a family, you have to look after them.

“You’re running away during the week and then weekends, up and down, you’re not seeing them and it’s not really fair.

“I made the effort this last few years to try my best to help Dromore win another championship but I’ve a wee girl now, we’ve moved to Athy which is 20-25 minutes further down again, so it’s just not feasible going forward.”