McMenamin announces retirement

AFTER 13 years’ service, three All-Ireland medals and an All-Star in 2005, Tyrone’s Ryan McMenamin has announced his retirement from the intercounty scene. McMenamin made manger Mickey Harte aware of his decision late on Monday night.

“I thought about it for a long time, but I had sort of given myself a manly word last year, that 2012 would do me. So the time has come and I think it’s the right time for me to move on. After playing 13 years, you kind of think you could still play on, but I want to be fit to continue to play for Dromore and give them 100 per cent whilst I still can.”

‘Ricey’, as he is better known, has been a familiar face in the Tyrone set-up for over a decade, playing a key role in the county’s three All-Ireland successes. The civil servant, who was born in Canada, captained the Tyrone side in 2006, when he deputised for the injured Brian Dooher. That year Tyrone were ravaged with injury and their season came to a disappointing end, when they lost out to Laois in the All-Ireland qualifiers.

Despite retiring a happy man, with all his success with Tyrone, he still looks back with regret on the years were he felt they could have achieved more.

“You always look back at the ones that got away. Like maybe in ’07 or even ’04, we could have done more. You look at Dublin in 2010, where we kicked 16 or 17 wides, ultimately losing us the game. It’s the small things that happened them days that you look back and think what could have been.

“Yes, three All-Ireland medals is nice but at the end of the day, you look back and you would be kind of tinged with regret that we didn’t win more. We were definitely unlucky in years with injuries and different setbacks, but I suppose when I look back three All-Ireland medals is a nice reward.”

McMenamin started out his county career as a tenacious, tough-tackling corner back, before moving out to the half-back line. His driving runs forward helped create space for his team-mates, and his quick tongue become a prominent part of his game, as he got inside the heads of the opposition’s best forwards.

Accustomed to spending a lot of his time with the Tyrone squad, McMenamin says he will miss the camaraderie amongst the players, but urges the younger lads on the panel to knuckle down and work harder than ever before.

“Definitely I’m going to miss the banter. It goes without saying that I’m going to miss the big days, like the championship, but the friendships and craic I had will also be hard to replace. With Tyrone we always had a great bond in all the years I played. Guys like Owen Mulligan, Brian McGuigan, Big Joe McMahon and big Seán , them boys are mates for life.

“I got accustomed to seeing those boys every week and I suppose what I will really miss the most on a Tuesday night, is Mugsy’s stories from the weekend. Those stories were always a unique experience.”

McMenamin surprisingly never played minor or under-21 for Tyrone, but he believes that talent alone can sometimes be enough to win titles at that age. Now he says it’s all about hard work and commitment, but believes the youngsters in Tyrone are more than capable of stepping up.

“The future is definitely bright in Tyrone. There is a lot of talent coming through but at the same time a lot of the younger boys still have to step it up and realise that just talent will win you nothing at senior. Okay, maybe at minor and under-21 it won them All-Irelands, but at this level a lot of it comes down to sheer hard work.

“It comes down to honest graft and who wants to make the sacrifices when required. I do think the lads realise that and they are all willing to put that massive effort in.”

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has freshened up his backroom team up for 2013, bringing in his centre back from 2003, Gavin Devlin, as trainer. McMenamin knows Devlin well and believes he will benefit the squad.

McMenamin acknowledges Tyrone couldn’t have got a tougher opening draw in the 2013 Ulster championship as the Red Hand head to Ballybofey, the home of All-Ireland champions Donegal.

“Horse (Gavin Devlin) will bring his own unique management skills to the side. He is a massive asset to Mickey’s backroom team. He has already made a name for himself, as a coach of club teams in Derry and Tyrone. He will fit in well to the current set up and will freshen things up.

“One of the Horse’s finest attributes as a player was his motivational skills in the changing room before games. There is no doubt he will have these boys motivated before the big games, and what a way to get his Ulster championship management career under way.

“It doesnt come much bigger than the All-Ireland champions at home but it’s a test Tyrone will relish. I believe This Tyrone squad is defiantly capable of winning more; maybe we weren’t that far away this year.”