ONLY in the last few months have I really looked on in envy at the players of Tyrone, Donegal, Monaghan and Fermanagh as they made their way to Croke Park.
Any ex-player will tell you there are not enough words to describe the loss of that adrenaline buzz of county football. At the time, you actually don’t enjoy it; well, I didn’t anyway. The pressure heaped on you by the manager, the supporters and by yourself can leave you feeling tired even before a ball is thrown in. Am I fit enough? Is that injury going to hold me back? What if I play poorly?
If you win, the feeling is one of pure relief that you got off the big stage without making a complete show of yourself. But then you have to prove yourself all over again the next day. The cocky strut that comes with being a county player is merely a front for a great deal of players, who doubt everything, even their ability and right to be there.
Perhaps I am different, but I always felt I had to prove myself in every game and training session, regardless of its significance. Mentally, I never afforded myself the luxury of just enjoying the experience or taking it for granted that the manager would view me as instrumental. As soon as I did that, I thought, ‘Bang’, I’d be handed my backside. So what’s the point?
The Fermanagh players looked care-free, almost buoyed by the underdog tag against Dublin at Croke Park on Sunday. It was refreshing to see the players enjoying themselves. Last week, I predicted their manager Pete McGrath would be pragmatic, but he would go to win the game. Even the pundits could be forgiven for sniggering pre-match when McGrath, in his typically positive fashion, talked about winning the game.
Fermanagh actually had more than 50 per cent of the possession on the day. If they were guilty of anything, it was the fact they often shot very rashly, as a result of being unfamiliar with the arena as much as anything else. When Dublin attacked, they generally got a score and their conversion rate was very impressive. Yes, Dublin were the better team, but Fermanagh could have sneaked in a couple of times for goals if the player in possesssion had opted to be a bit more aware of others.
Bernard Brogan was impressive for the Dubs, but I think he is a player who tends to be brilliant against certain opposition outside the top four. You can’t sneak around behind the Donegal, Mayo or Kerry full-back lines and expect inch-perfect passes all day, as Brogan will learn later in the season.
Pete McGrath will now believe Fermanagh can make an assault on Ulster next year. He has the basis of a strong, young and mobile squad and, if they can stick together and use this season as an incentive, Pete will be confident he can deliver further progress.
Fermanagh played with an abandon and freedom rarely seen against the Dubs at Croker. They showed the rest of the country that attack is often the best form of defence. The Erne men believed they could beat Dublin and, although they were defeated, with their attitude, Fermanagh were the real winners.
Bearing in mind that two more teams are due to drop out of the All-Ireland reckoning this weekend, I have picked a few of my highlights of the year so far:
PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR: SEÁN QUIGLEY
As Owen Mulligan will tell you, when you start to get booed on Hill 16, you know you have made it.
Erratic at times with his shooting, Quigley has probably never seen the inside of a gym, yet you can only admire his brilliance. Perhaps I am the only one who thinks it was a perfectly legitimate goal when Stephen Cluxton ran into him. Put it this way, on a cold, wet night in Saval, I would love to see the referee ruling it out.
Quigley has had a brilliant season and is deserving of an Allstar nomination at the very least.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: MICHAEL MURPHY
One of the most influential players in the country, Murphy’s leap and catch against Galway was worthy of any score-of-the-year gong, while his knock-down to Ryan McHugh was top drawer.
His best position is undoubtedly full-forward. Donegal without Murphy is like Barcelona without Messi. He is that good. For me, the best player in Ireland who, because of his versatility, I rate as better than Diarmuid Connolly.
That’s probably enough now – I think Murphy is going out with someone.
OVER-30s PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: COLM McFADDEN
Last year, McFadden looked like a man who had won his All-Ireland and was happy with that. He was lambasted by the critics for a number of anonymous displays.
Yet he has been brilliant this year in a free role, playing deeper or inside as required. He is an example of how a player’s game can change in his 30s and, better still, how a manager can facilitate this.
As the saying goes, there is life in the old dog yet.
MOST CONSISTENT PLAYER OF THE SEASON: CONOR McMANUS
If anyone wants to know how Monaghan won the Ulster title, look no further than McManus. Deadly accurate and smart, he is an Allstar in waiting yet again.
Brilliant in the League as well as in Ulster, he would grace any of the top teams on current form. If he had a few forwards around him of a similar ilk, an All-Ireland medal would not be far away.
Because he is double or triple-marked in almost every game, even when he goes to the toilet, the top honours may elude him, but true football people appreciate McManus’ brilliance.
MANAGER OF THE YEAR: PETE McGRATH
Honourable mentions go to Malachy O’Rourke and Rory Gallagher, but given Fermanagh’s playing population, number of clubs etc, Pete is worthy of this accolade.
Mixing players of youth and experience, as well as physicality, will always make Pete a very pragmatic manager. He lives for the game and this is what differentiates him from a lot of other managers. He believes, so it is hard not to if you’re working under him.
He is a winner and demands nothing less.
MOST DISAPPOINTING ULSTER TEAM: DOWN
Is there any other contender? Promotion was a brilliant achievement, but the Championship was a disaster.
The team did not have much luck in their first outing in Derry, especially with the sending-off, but it was a poor match overall and neither team really deserved to win. The less said about the Wexford defeat the better.
Worrying developments on and off the field have not helped in the aftermath, with the management undecided about their position, rumours of players quitting, all of which does not exactly breed confidence.
On a positive note, not all of the county’s best players have been in the panel and new faces, with more physicality, can be added.
