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Brendan Crossan: Down legend Eamonn Burns - the 'professor of brevity' and a good man

Former Down manager Eamonn Burns will be desperately missed after his sudden death earlier this week
Former Down manager Eamonn Burns will be desperately missed after his sudden death earlier this week Former Down manager Eamonn Burns will be desperately missed after his sudden death earlier this week

A COUPLE of months back I interviewed Pete McGrath in his home in Rostrevor.

Given that it was approaching a quarter of a century since he led the Mournemen to their second All-Ireland title in four seasons, I thought it would be good to take a trip down memory lane.

A few weeks earlier, the old band were back together again in Newry's Canal Court Hotel.

“The only time the group was physically together on the night was for photographs afterwards,” explained Pete, “and it’s only when you’re in the same room with all the players that you get the feel of that dynamic again that was there 25 years ago.

“I suppose you see the ravages of time. You don’t notice them on yourself because you’re looking at yourself every day. But when you see some of them and you think: ‘He’s still in good shape’, or ‘He’s put on weight’, or ‘I didn’t think he’d lost that much hair’...

“The same players are still saying the same things in the same way. They’re still coming out with the same quips and the way that they say the things; you can predict what he’s going to say to that particular statement. But the dynamic is still there...”

The Irish News carried a photograph, an up-to-date team photograph, of the class of ’94. Perched at the back row and wearing the biggest smile of them all was Eamonn Burns.

On Wednesday evening, I rang Conor Deegan. The initial plan was to chat about his new role as Queen’s football manager.

Instead, we were lamenting the sudden death of his former team-mate Eamonn Burns earlier that day.

“We are all destroyed,” Conor said.

Conor talked about the last time he saw Eamonn before lauding those two brilliant points he scored from midfield in the 1991 All-Ireland against Meath, arguably his best performance in a Down jersey.

Burns saved his best for the biggest days. That tells you everything you need to know about someone’s character.

I never had the privilege of reporting on Down’s glory days of the early 90s; it must have been a magical time to be around GAA journalism and to follow one of the most romantic journeys ever taken in Irish sport.

Eamonn Burns was integral to that incredible journey.

A foot soldier of the finest calibre.

Unassuming but fanatically determined.

The ultimate team player who never shied away from doing the hard yards.

Many of the Down crew of ’91 and ’94 enjoyed high profiles long after their playing days ended.

Eamonn Burns went completely off our radar until he was appointed Down manager in late 2015.

After Jim McCorry was controversially ushered towards the exit after just one season in charge, the county was in crisis mode.

The Mourne County was divided over McCorry’s departure.

Even though they’d be competing in Division One the following season, nobody wanted the job.

Whoever had the courage – and it required courage – to take the reins they knew they would have a relegation on their CV.

Burns took the job on and, as expected, the Mournemen dropped like a stone into Division Two. They suffered a Championship hammering at the hands of Monaghan and were beaten on home soil by Longford after extra-time.

Caolan Mooney was in America. Ryan and Jerome Johnston were out injured and a host of other important players opted out.

Burns was essentially a shy man. He always looked uncomfortable when tape-recorders were pushed in his direction, especially at a time when Down couldn’t buy a win.

Blink and you’d miss his post-match press briefings.

Like an over-protective father, Down secretary Sean Og McAteer would lean over his shoulder, listening intently to reporters’ questions and Burns’ answers before calling a halt to proceedings at the first opportunity.

Consequently, the briefings lacked any real enquiry or scrutiny. A couple of sound-bites and the Down manager was whisked away.

He certainly didn’t need a reporter’s sympathy, but in that first season only the coldest heart would kick the Bryansford man when he was down.

After their All-Ireland Qualifier exit to Longford, I described Eamonn in the following Monday’s Irish News as the “professor of brevity” – not in a mean-spirited way because Down’s woes didn’t lie with him.

By taking the job on, he was doing his county the biggest favour.

One out of five attempts, he’d answer your phone call.

That was the way Eamonn rolled.

The following year Down were headed for back-to-back relegations but their season turned on chiselling out a hard-earned draw down in Cork that saved them.

Players had returned to the panel in 2017, Caolan Mooney was back in harness and Connaire Harrison’s inter-county career had lift-off.

The seats in the over-spill press area of The Athletic Grounds are the best in the house. Out in the open air, a balmy Saturday evening and flanked by my colleague Cahair O’Kane and Down PRO Fiona Murphy, one of the biggest upsets in the Ulster Championship unfolded.

Down produced a mesmerising performance to topple Monaghan and reach the Ulster final.

Up to that point, Eamonn Burns never had any reason to smile as Down manager, but amid the hordes of well-wishers on the pitch in Armagh that night he wore a smile that touched his eyes.

For 18 interminable months, he looked like the loneliest man on the planet. This was his moment of glory. And who would begrudge him.

I shook his hand and pushed a tape-recorder in his direction. Ecstatic but still humble, it was one of the easiest interviews I did with Eamonn.

As Pete McGrath said in yesterday’s Irish News: “Eamonn deserved that victory.”

But he wasn’t in it for the long haul. He bowed out a year later with his head held high.

On Wednesday, I scrolled through the last text message I sent him – July 5 2018 at 6pm.

I told him he was always a “boll**ks” to get a hold of and that his answers after games were far too short. I wished him well and held out the offer of him doing a farewell interview.

Eamonn replied: ‘Thanks Brendan. You know without asking there will not be a signing off interview, or a big splash. Well, who christened me the professor of brevity? Enjoyed talking with you and other press. Enjoy your summer and take care.’

Down GAA will mourn his loss for some time to come. My deepest condolences to Eamonn’s family, his team-mates and friends.