Ciaran Higgins and Sean Cushnahan following the Armagh SFC Final win over Cullyhana.
By Cian O’Connell
It has been quite an adventure for Maghery Sean MacDermott's. With a first Armagh SFC title captured Maghery contest an Ulster Semi-Final at Pairc Esler against Kilcoo on Sunday.
“The only thing we have in Maghery is football, believe it or believe it not - it is the hub of the community,” well regarded Chairman Sean Cushnahan explains.
“It is serious, there is a real pride to wear a Maghery jersey. These lads are getting serious backing and support from everybody.
“If you go to the local shop for a paper everybody is talking. It is great because it puts all the problems people have in their lives behind them. It puts it on hold really so there is a good vibe with everybody talking about it. There is a feel good factor around the place. Long may it continue.”
Thirteen years ago Maghery took a courageous decision to drop into the Intermediate ranks and between then and now they have constructed a talented team culminating in a dramatic Championship success last month.
“We felt that the young team we had that we needed to build a bit of experience with them,” Cushnahan outlines about why Maghery opted to go into the Intermediate grade. “We took a decision to drop down, it wasn't a nice decision to make, but it was one the club thought would be good to get us going again as such.
“The main reason was that we knew we had a bit of youth coming through, young lads, we thought it would be best to drop down to try to win something.”
Maghery manager Shane McConville.
Cushnahan places a significant emphasis on how promising youngsters from Maghery featured at McRory and Sigerson Cup level in recent years. “A lot of boys played McRory Cup football and some of them went on to play with Queens and Jordanstown,” Cushnahan admits. “So we have had lads that played at a very high level and the whole thing seems to have come together at the right time.”
Shane McConville’s arrival as manager has been another critical factor too according to Cushnahan. “There has been a mixture of youth and seasoned players really, our bench has been very strong this year which has stood us in good stead,” Cushnahan says.
“Our manager Shane (McConville) came in and he brought his ideas to the table. He knew what he had to do, I'm sure he would say the same himself that he just had to tweak a few things. The players had a serious belief in themselves, they keep coming back each year. Luckily this year everything has fell into place for us.
“Shane McConville is a man we have been chasing for several years, the timing just wasn't right for Shane to come to Maghery. He has been touted around our club for long enough, he is a north Armagh man, he has done very well with his own club in St Paul's.
“He has achieved Championships and Leagues with them and he knows Armagh football inside out. We felt that was good that he knew all of the teams, he hasn't far to go, he is just down the road. He put a good backroom team in place.”
How McConville has kept the players moving in the right direction has impressed everybody in Maghery with Cushnahan highlighting how his backroom team was formed. “One of the first lads Shane took in was Kieran Rafferty, he was a county minor and under 21 player for Armagh. Ciaran was a sensational player for Maghery, he hadn't kicked a ball for a few years, but he was the first man Shane asked for.
Kieran came back onboard, Shane also took Gary McConville, who does the strength and conidtioning type work and Gary O'Hanlon from Dublin came in aswell, he comes up from Dublin to take some sessions. It is a good blend.
“Shane came to the committee and at the start of the year we said we would back the manager with what he wants to do. Whatever Shane asked for, Shane got and we are reaping the rewards for having faith in our manager.”
Maghery celebrate following Armagh County Final victory.
Crossmaglen Rangers might have been the dominant outfit in Armagh winning 19 County Championships since 1996, but Maghery came close against them in two Semi-Finals. “Cross beat us two years in a row in Semi-Finals, one year by five points, another year by three points,” Cushnahan recalls.
“That year they beat us by three points Cross kicked one wide in 65 minutes including injury time of football, we kicked eight. We knew we weren't far away, we just needed a bit of luck more than anything else.
“There is a serious belief in this team, that is what drives them on and the hunger is there. There can be no question about these lads hunger or attitude they are a well disciplined bunch of lads.”
Having defeat Cavan standard bearers amor United, Maghery want to keep delivering on the Ulster stage. “It is a good chance, but you have to give huge respect to the teams that are playing in it.
“At the moment you could say we are one of the top four teams in Ulster as we speak, but Kilcoo are a phenomenal outfit which their record shows. Their pedigree, they have won five out of the six last Down Championships so they bring a lot to the table.
“It is definitely interesting to say the least, I suppose the Ulster Championship is something we hadn't really thought about because our goal at the start of the year was to get to a County Final. From then on, it has just been a rollercoaster really.”
