HAD it not been for the Covid-19 pandemic Jim McCorry might still be a part of Kieran McGeeney’s backroom team – but the former Armagh assistant manager insists it was “the right time” to step away.
It was a surprise when McCorry decided to call time on his county involvement back in January, especially as it came just weeks after McGeeney had secured the services of former Kerry forward Kieran Donaghy.
It was something McCorry had been mulling over for months previously and, with the Covid-enforced delay to the inter-county season, the ex-Down boss decided it was time to go.
“There was no big fall out or big issues, anything wrong within the camp
“I said at the time it was personal and family reasons, and that’s exactly what it was. There are genuine personal and family reasons not related to Kieran McGeeney and Armagh because they are a fantastic bunch of players to work with - really dedicated guys, they drive the thing themselves, and it was great fun being with them.
“I’d done three years as assistant manager with Kieran, two years with Armagh minors, four years as manager of Armagh in the past, so I’ve done a fair bit over the years. There comes a time when it’s right to step away.
“Now, if Covid hadn’t been happening and there had been continuity there, I probably wouldn’t have made the decision. But because of Covid and the break, that was a big factor because it allowed time then for Kieran to get somebody else in.
“He’s brought Kieran Donaghy in which is a great move – that’s one of the big regrets, not being there to work with him. Ciaran McKeever has come in as well, and with the big break it was the ideal time to do it.
“It gives them continuity this year going forward and a fresh management team working together. That was the main reason for the timing, which maybe took a few people back in terms of how quickly it all happened.”
McCorry was named as the new manager of Down club Burren at the beginning of November, but says the potential dual commitment had no bearing on his decision to leave Armagh.
“Even if I hadn’t been taking on Burren this year, the decision would’ve been the same, given where I was at.
“Over Christmas we’d been doing Zooms and planning, and at that stage I was keen to get back in and work with Kieran Donaghy and Geezer, but over that period at the start of the year I made the decision.”
There is plenty McCorry will miss though, and expects it to sting somewhat when Armagh return to competitive action, most likely in May should the commencement of the National League receive the green light.
“I’m not missing it now because nobody’s back at the minute but once the League or the Championship starts, that’s when it’ll probably hurt a wee bit or I might get annoyed at myself that I could’ve stayed on.
“But then, if you left it to next year, you’d feel it then. You have to move on eventually and that was the right time.
“I have to say as well, people talk about the management team, but Armagh have a really good backroom team there, people who maybe don’t get the limelight but who are fantastic to work with and whose work is really appreciated by the players and everybody involved.
“I got phone calls from all of them when I left - I had great relationships with them, and I’ll miss that side of it.”
For now though, his focus is solely on bringing the good times back to 2018 Down champions Burren, having taking over the reins from Paddy O’Rourke.
Ex-Antrim joint manager Gearoid Adams - who worked alongside O’Rourke last year - remains on board with McCorry, with former Burren and Down forward Eoin McCartan and Stephen O’Hare also involved having played a major role in the club’s underage success in recent years.
“There was a big decision to be made in terms of going back into club football at all,” said McCorry.
“I thought maybe when I finished with Armagh I’d probably go and do what everybody else does and go behind the wire and start shouting abuse at coaches rather than receiving the abuse.
“But Burren is a fantastic club with a great history of winning championships, and they’re a club that obviously wants to progress.
“When we do get the green light to return to the football field, it’ll be great to be able to start doing a bit of coaching with the players - there’s only so many Zooms you can do.”
