By Cian O’Connell

David Garland is on the inter-county beat now as a player and an umpire.

So impressive in DCU DE’s Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup success, Garland attracted Monaghan manager Seamus ‘Banty’ McEnaney’s attention again.

Garland had just returned to county training when the Covid 19 pandemic struck, but early in the year he was on umpiring duty for Monaghan official Martin McNally at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

“Yeah he's back flying it, just before we went into the county thing, I was on Louth v Longford with him in Longford,” Garland says about McNally’s recovery from a serious illness.

“Longford were comfortable winners, but he was back flying it that day. He'll be a major referee in years to come I'm sure.”

How did Garland become part of McNally’s umpiring team during his teenage years? “There was a MacRory game on in Inniskeen which is only about 10 minutes over the road,” Garland recalls.

“Martin McNally was refereeing. I was just finished school and bumped into him. He asked, 'What are you at tonight, would you do umpire?' I said I would, it was a school football game so it's nice to go out and see other schools.

“I think St Pat's, Cavan were playing St Ronan's, Lurgan in a League game. So I went out and did it and enjoyed doing it. It just took off from there. Did many a game after it.

“I've done it for him right up through the years whenever I was a bit younger, 16, 17, 18 whenever you had more free time on your hands.

“And yeah, I got to travel the length and breadth of the country with him to see some great grounds and great games along the way.

“Umpiring, it can be a challenging game as well, but I enjoy doing it, it gets you out of the house for a few hours and it's all experience as well.”

David Clifford’s splendid 2016 All Ireland minor semi-final display against Kildare lingers in the memory for Bannigan, who relished being so close to the action.

“You were watching him, he was kicking them from everywhere,” Garland remarks. “His movement inside - you were standing so close it was hard not to notice him.

“Even watching other great forwards playing from different counties, you'd pick up bits here and there. It's really good to watch them.”

Now, though, the challenge for Garland is to become a key player for Monaghan. That is the mission that the talented forward wants to accomplish.

“I was back training the Tuesday after the Mayo one,” Garland says. “They were playing Donegal on the Sunday, that was obviously a bit quick.

“I was eyeing up the Kerry game, but the pandemic took that over.”

Off the field Garland, currently studying to become a PE and biology teacher, works part-time for McEneaney.

“I experience him enough in work,” Garland laughs. “On the football pitch, I would have only worked with him for a week or two, but he seems to be very good.

“There’s a serious management team there at the minute. Monaghan could be a serious threat in the years to come.”

That is chiefly due to the critical coaching work that bas been carried out in recent years according to Garland.

“I think about 10 or 12 years ago they started really putting in the infrastructure with Paul O'Connor and Martin Corey and them boys getting involved and getting players in and training once or twice a week with other top class players from other clubs in the county and bringing them on and Under 13s, Under 14s and Under 15s all in development squads as well.

“You become familiar up through the years playing with each other that when it comes to minor, it's nothing new, you're not coming into a new environment, you've played together right up the way through and you create a bit of a bond.

“That's obviously shown now, they've won a couple of minors and Under 21s the last few years, it shows you it is working really well.”