Former Down footballer Kevin McKernan, pictured today for AIB ahead of Tailteann Cup final between Down and Laois this Saturday, July 13th. AIB have also today announced the return of the Volunteer VIP competition which gives GAA volunteers the opportunity to win a money can’t buy behind the scenes tour of Croke Park, on the morning of the GAA All-Ireland Senior Football final as well as tickets to the match. Details on how to enter the Volunteer VIP competition will be announced on Monday, July 15th. For exclusive content and behind the scenes action from the GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championships follow @AIB_GAA on X and Instagram and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AIBGAA. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
By Cian O’Connell
For a decade and a half, Kevin McKernan represented Down senior football team. It was always a joy.
Maintaining a proud family history with Down, McKernan relished operating at senior inter-county level. So, now McKernan is an interested observer as Down prepare for another Tailteann Cup decider against Laois.
Football still matters deeply to McKernan, illustrated by his commitment as a player to Burren and manager with Dundalk Gaels in Louth. Wearing the red and black of Down meant a lot to McKernan. “When you don't have it, you realise it was a big part of your life when it was happening, a very fruitful thing in terms of the opportunity to play football,” he says.
“The benefit that brings, being able to compete at that level, pitting yourself against the best from other counties. I always looked on it as a very special thing.
“My own father played for Down in '91, getting that opportunity to do what he did, that was the whole thing growing up - you wanted to do it. I had a very special time doing it.
“After retirement there is a bit of peace in knowing you did your best for as long as you could. You hand it to the next generation, to let them at it, too.”
How difficult was the adjustment when stepping away from Down duty? “I took my two girls to a couple of the home games, I've been to as many of the games as possible,” McKernan says.
“I'm doing a bit of coaching with Dundalk Gaels in Louth, I'm their manager, I'm trying to cut my teeth at coaching and managing, and I'm still playing with my club.
“I suppose county football when it is so hectic and busy, it is just the way I roll, trying to keep busy, trying to be the best I can be at whatever that is.”
It’s an approach that continues to serve McKernan well. “I'm a teacher, footballer, and a father, you're trying to make all of those things work,” he adds.
Kevin McKernan in Allianz Football League action for Down in 2022. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
“I enjoy competing, whether that is playing football or managing. County football is a massive commitment. I often hear people saying about the sacrifice and all of that, but I think it is a really privileged thing to be able to do, to represent your county.
“I think it is something that should be looked upon a whole lot more positively than people saying they are sacrificing this and that. It is a big thing to do, I loved doing it for as long as I did.”
Club and county fare brought challenges, but McKernan also delivered in a famous Sigerson Cup triumph for St Mary’s. That was a significant spell in various ways.
Initially, McKernan worked as an electrician before a career change. “Going back to St Mary's allowed me to reskill and upskill, go down a profession that is a very rewarding profession,” he explains.
“Maybe influence young kids and allow them to become the best version of themselves as young people, growing into adulthood. Going to St Mary's, I worked under Paddy Tally in 2010 (with Down). I worked with him as a lecturer and a coach at the Ranch.”
Valuable lessons were learned on and off the field. “A lot of my coaching philosophy comes from men like Paddy, who I worked with and was coached by,” McKernan says.
“It was a special time. Doing my degree and playing football, we won the Sigerson, it was probably a small bit of a reward, along with my endeavours with Down.
“Winning an All-Ireland with the university with a lot of players I'd have played against - Kieran McGeary, Oisín O'Neill, Paddy McBride, some of the best footballers I played with came from the Ranch. Guys like Conor Meyler, a great fella.
“Going to university was a big change for me to try to become a teacher in a later part of my playing career, but it definitely revitalised me as a footballer and a person to become a teacher. It is something I enjoy doing.”
Returning as a mature student was something McKernan embraced. “I think it is something that the GPA have done really well recently in terms of promoting constant development and wanting to better yourself, to be the best version of yourself, whether that is on the pitch or off the pitch,” McKernan says.
Down senior football team manager Conor Laverty. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
“Being a mature student I approached that degree with a different mindset. There was a timetable for every day, I had a different perspective on education too. I went back with a real clean outlook on where I wanted to go as a 23 or 24 year old as opposed to going in at 18 or 19.
“Playing football in uni, Paddy used to put a lot of faith in me, delivering a message as a player on the pitch. It was a good time, it is something I never regretted doing later, it was a really positive time in my life.”
McKernan remained on the inter-county beat with Down until 2022. In the intervening years Down have started to stir again under former colleague Conor Laverty.
Down return to GAA headquarters on Saturday afternoon. “When you talk about the Tailteann Cup, and you think about its position in the calendar, when you're knocked out of the provincial championship, there is something really substantial to go after for Division Three and Four teams,” McKernan says.
“They have something to really go after. You see Laois coming from Division Four, it isn't just a Division Three thing where teams can be competitive in. A Division Four team has come, and they will compete really hard against Down for silverware.
“When you look at what Westmeath, Cavan, and Meath have done, competing in finals, and getting into your next sort of bracket of teams.”
Momentum can be generated, hope put into a county. “I think, from our own perspective we got to an All-Ireland final in 2010 from Division Two, but we had come off the back of a promotion from Three into Two,” McKernan recalls.
“There was that gradual development. You can see that in the Armagh team and Derry too, coming through the divisions, to a higher level of football.
“The Tailteann Cup, I think, has been a brilliant addition to the GAA calendar for that next bracket of teams, to go after something this weekend, to win silverware at Croke Park. The prize is massive, the day out at Croke Park for supporters, it is something I think the GAA have promoted really well."
The contribution made by the McKernan family to Down GAA isn’t forgotten.
