ULSTER FOOTBALL NEWS:ARMAGH'S SCORING talisman Steven McDonnell is still undecided about whether or not he will retire from inter-county football or carry on under a new manager next season. The Killeavy marksman only turned 30 in July but admits that his future with Armagh centres on who will replace Peter McDonnell as boss.
Like most observers, he had thought former Armagh coach Paul Grimley was being lined up for the position after resigning as Kildare’s assistant manager. He would have jumped at the opportunity of renewing acquaintances with the Pearse Óg clubman but with Grimley now firmly ensconced as Seamus McEnaney’s number two at Monaghan, he is not sure what is going to happen.
Former player, Neil Smyth, and Donal Murtagh, who has just stood down as Crossmaglen boss, are the names being linked with the job at the moment and McDonnell is adopting a wait-and-see policy.
“I haven’t made a decision on what happens yet” said McDonnell yesterday. “I will have to wait and see who the new manager is. Even if I do decide to continue, the new man mightn’t even want me to be part of it.
“Obviously if Paul Grimley had gotten the job I would have loved to play under him. I have huge respect for him and enjoyed playing under him when he was with us before.
“But the new man will have his own ideas of what he’ll want and they mightn’t include me.
“The county board are saying there will be an appointment by the end of the month but you wouldn’t know if that will be next week or if they’ll leave it to the last minute. I just hope they make the right choice and things drive forward, because I believe Armagh is still a team that’s capable of winning trophies. And touch wood, the minors will win next week and maybe a couple of them can come through as well.”
Whoever is installed in the hot seat will have to instil some belief into the squad, McDonnell maintains. He will also have to espouse a return to the traditional values that made Armagh one of the most feared teams in the land for most of this decade, and won them an All-Ireland in 2002.
“(A) thing that definitely dipped in the last few years is the workrate and that is definitely something we need to improve on and work at. If you look at the two teams in the All-Ireland, they are very good at winning possession back when they don’t have the ball. That’s something we need to get back.”
Whether he decides to continue or not, McDonnell has little doubt he retains the ability to perform at the highest level.
Since making his debut in the Ulster title-winning campaign of 1999, he has scored 15 goals and 111 points in championship football, winning three All Stars along the way and also helping Ireland win the international rules series last year.
Such talent is unlikely to be allowed to be confined to the club scene by whoever takes over the reins in Armagh.
“I would still feel I’m more than capable of playing inter-county football. I’ve only just turned 30. It’s funny, I looked at the Kerry pen pics before the Meath match and they have a goalkeeper who’s over 30, the three full-backs are over 30, so are two of the half-backs, two midfielders and two of the half-forwards are 30-plus.
“So if you’re telling me that once someone turns 30 they’re no longer capable of playing inter-county football, that puts the lie to that. Those guys have played some football and are still playing it, having reached another All-Ireland final. That gives me great belief.”
