AFTER-MATCH QUOTES:AS A player, the world according to Kieran McGeeney was always a refreshing, Roy Keane-esque even, monologue that showed the Armagh captain's steely determination.
He was never satisfied in his pursuit of sporting excellence and it made him a compelling subject.
Honest words were guaranteed when McGeeney stalled in the tunnel, be it in victory or defeat, after a thrilling duel with Dublin or Tyrone or Kerry.
The Kildare football manager reminds us of McGeeney. He even looks a little like McGeeney. But he is way too relaxed to be Kieran McGeeney.
This man even cracks jokes. He seems to have crossed that difficult bridge from player to coach. This man understands he can no longer impact events on the field. Well, not physically but maybe mentally.
This version of Kieran McGeeney is learning again. It makes for equally fascinating post-match comments.
McGeeney now practises the invisible art of inspiration.
Micko (Mick O’Dwyer) is probably the best at it in the country. Belief. Micko can make you do laps and still make you feel you are the fastest man that ever existed. You are then. Belief is everything. It’s the main thing. Some people are just brilliant at it. He is one of those fellas that can make you believe you are better than anyone in the country. And once you believe that you are hard to stop.
“It is a given you have skill when you step out on that pitch but the big thing I always thought about Kerry, mentally, they are a wee bit tougher than everybody else. It’s not that they do anything different at club, minor or under-21 but once they get to senior they are a different animal.”
In six days Kildare will play their sixth game in six weeks. Are they tired? “If you believe you’re tired you are going to be tired.”
Three years on his watch, Kildare are fast approaching judgment day. They have competed against the strongest teams over the last couple of years and they know they have the ability. They know there is just something extra they have to do.
“You look at Tyrone. Their stranglehold on games, their ability to work for each other. You watch last week, Ryan McMenamin goes the length of the pitch the next thing the ball breaks down and there’s Brian Dooher marking his man in the corner. Justin McMahon does the exact same thing, next thing you turn around and (Kevin) Hughes is back at full back marking his man.
“They are willing to work for each other. If they have that type of attitude, they have the athleticism, they have the football . . .”
Without stalling he changes direction, “But, like everything else, if we lose this time next week you’ll be talking to someone else and not me.”
Finally, a surprise! A positive mention for referees amidst a summer of error and abuse: “I think Jimmy White is a good referee. He tries to let people tackle. He lets the tackle exist in the game.”
White dealt with indiscipline promptly and without an ego-driven attitude.
Is this the end of Séamus McEnaney? We have to wait for that answer. After six years of honest endeavour but ultimately no significant reward, if he goes several senior players, apparently, will follow. “I haven’t thought about it in any shape or form. Today is not the day for that. This has been a disappointing six days for Monaghan football. I am proud of them for the past six years,” he said.
