Louise Glass talks to the greatest handball player of all time…
 

THE current Irish Nationals and US Open champion is ‘flattered’ to think that he is considered one of the ‘greatest’ exponents of the game he loves.

“But that is not where my focus lies,” explains the 30-year-old.

“All I concentrate on is tomorrow and the next training session, the next rep, the next serve, the next kick pass or whatever it is I am focusing on at any given moment.  I want to push myself as hard as I can for the duration of my career.”

That said, the Kingscourt club player, has ambitions to leave a lasting legacy.

“One of my goals from the start of my career has been to raise the standard of handball so high that it skips a generation.  I want to break some records, amass as many titles as I can and play at a level that the next generation of great players cannot match.  I feel that is a realistic goal but it remains to be seen if I can achieve it,” he said.
“Any talk of greatness is something for other people to reflect on, years from now when I am finished playing sport.  It is not something that is all that important to me. What’s important right now is staying focused and honest in my approach to the next training session.”
On his way to collecting his latest singles title, Paul created history equalling Pat Kirby’s long-standing record of six consecutive All-Ireland senior singles titles.
The victory also enabled him to equal Kilkenny legend Michael Walsh’s record of seven in total.
Less than 24 hours later, he made an appearance for the Cavan senior footballers in their league victory over neighbours Fermanagh.

Paul’s recent victory in the Irish singles was not unexpected but it came just six months after surgery to repair a torn quad muscle.

He sustained the injury training for the World Championships but somehow managed to battle his way through the early rounds, eventually defeating Texan star Alan Garner in the final.
And to think, he almost gave it all up in 1997 before he won his first major singles in Winnipeg?
“I’m definitely glad I didn’t give up all those years ago,” said the world number one. “It has been a rollercoaster ride since, with all the ups and downs but that’s what sport is all about. It’s the lows that make the elation so great after a big win.
“When I’m coaching kids that’s the one message I try to communicate to them – to never ever give up.
“I’d try to encourage them to take it up for fun initially.  Even if it doesn’t become their main sport, it’s a great way to complement their other hobbies whether it’s Gaelic football, camogie or hurling and they can play handball in the off-season.”
Handball’s popularity has increased in recent years, and Paul thinks it is down to the sport’s re-branding, and incorporation into Gaelic Games.
“Handball was mostly ignored by the GAA for long periods in the past, but in the last two years has become ‘GAA Handball’,” said Paul.
“The Irish Handball Council is working much more closely with the top brass of the GAA so I think the sport has benefited hugely from this recent re-association.
“I think this is the main reason why popularity of the sport is on the up, so the new leadership of handball and the GAA deserve great credit for that.”

Now back to full fitness, Brady is once again on the training treadmill, looking ahead to another busy summer.
“I am currently based in Castleknock, Dublin and do most of my training in DCU. During the season I usually travel to Belfast once a week to train also,” he said.
“I travel home to Cavan at weekends and once during the week for football.

“Away from sport I’m currently studying a Post Grad in Primary School Teaching which I hope to have completed by the end of the year.
“As long as I can stay healthy and I feel my performances are up to standard, I hope to continue to juggle both codes.
“What I foresee happening is, I’ll probably have to retire from inter county football in another year or two but I plan to continue playing handball after that untill my body gives up.

“I don’t know when that will happen but right now I’m really enjoying sport so I think I’ll know when the time is right to retire.  Obviously that could all change tomorrow if I got a bad injury so I just take each day and each training session as it comes.
“I’m just grateful to be healthy enough to play both codes at the highest level.”
 
FIVE MINUTES WITH PAUL BRADY
Date of Birth: 20/9/79
Where were you born: Cavan
Where do you live down: Castleknock, Dublin
Right or Left Handed: Right
Favorite Food: Chicken
Favorite Drink: Lucozade Sport
Favorite sportsperson: Lionel Messi
What are you currently listening to on your iPod/CD player: Kings Of 
Leon
Favourite Movie: The Sixth Sense
If you owned a racehorse, what would you call it: Gunning For Glory
Who would you like to portray you in a biopic: Tom Hanks
Scared of: Failure
Most memorable occasion (on & off the court): On the court-World Final 
2009.  Off the court – Trip to Oz 2005
Best way to relax: A long walk alone
How do you prepare before a game: I repeat my goals for the match continuously and try to stay as relaxed as possible

It may have passed under the radar, but GAA players of all codes and at all levels should pay great attention to the new GAA injury scheme (insurance policies) announced for 2010.  Major changes have taken place to these policies, changes which aren’t exactly favourable to the paying, playing member.  For the same annual subscription as last year, the claimable benefits for a player following injury have been greatly reduced both in monetary amount and in the scope of conditions/injuries that warrant pay out.

For example, if we take the modern day epidemic of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, an initial appointment with a consultant is needed at approximately €150.   An injury that is experienced in almost every club, maybe to more than one player every year, the necessary surgery for this injury costs over €5000.  An MRI scan will be needed to confirm diagnosis of the injury costing approximately €300 on average.  A minimum of 20 post operative physiotherapy sessions are also needed, with an approximate average of €40 per session, comes to €800.  Therefore the total cost of medical expenses for an ACL injury comes to almost €6350.  The GAA insurance will only pay out a maximum of €4500, minus €100 excess, therefore a total of €4400 (why is the €100 excess needed?)

In the North of Ireland, the average cost of an MRI scan for such an injury is £400 (€452), so the €300 reclaimable is someway short of this.

Cover is not provided for the unfortunate player who does not require surgery for an injury but may require long term treatment e.g. someone with a lumbar spine disc problem or severe ankle sprain.  Some of these conditions can require physiotherapy for 6 months or more.

In an attempt to provide a disclaimer for anyone who wishes to play Gaelic games, the GAA state ‘risk is an inherent factor in sport, as in life.  When members voluntarily take part in club activities they accept the risks that such participation may bring’ 

And rightly so, but if a player wishes to insure him/herself fully against these risks it would make sense to seek insurance from a different provider e.g. VHI/BUPA where all the possible eventualities are covered.  Perhaps the GAA would prefer if players would seek their own individual insurance cover with other providers.  In a further twist, if a player has other medical insurance cover, the GAA insurance will not pay out!

Therefore the choices players have to make, is should they pay the smaller GAA insurance premium but be inadequately covered against the risks of the sport, or should they seek to pay a higher premium with another company but be fully insured against all possible scenarios?

Maybe it’s a topic the new fully affiliated GPA can get their teeth into if their agenda is not ‘pay for play’ but instead player welfare.  Or will we in the future see elitism in a different disguise, whereby separate GAA insurance policies are drawn up for the county players?

Limerick's Maurice O'Brien races clear of Wexford's Barry Lambert, left, and Diarmuid Lyng. Limerick v Wexford, All-Ireland U-21 Hurling Final, Semple Stadium, Thurles.

By Martin Crummy

VISIONS of little or no Limerick support in either Semple Stadium or Pairc Ui Chaoimh on 20 June are becoming more and more realistic by the day.

The Limerick hurlers are on a hiding to nothing in the 2010 Hurling Championships and the repercussions will be felt not just this season, but in seasons to come. 

Already the grass level support in the game is fading. Young players are not really bothered about going to see Justin McCarthy’s charges in senior action.  They are still playing their own games, but have no appetite to see their county team put to the sword.

For the few Limerick supporters in Parnell Park for their counties final league game, it was a harrowing trip.

Many left in the middle of the second half when Dublin were scoring goals instead of points. Those who stayed, feared the worst for their June Championship encounter against the winners of Cork or Tipperary. 

That’s where the fear comes from, that after another beating and the expected beating that either Cork or Tipp will dish out – why would the Limerick supporters travel?

None of this means that Justin McCarthy will stand down anytime soon – he has the backing of the county board and executive.  

He will stay until his contract runs out at the end of the season.  He is sticking by his guns – rightly or wrongly. 

Without a return of a chunk of the departed 2009 panel, Limerick are unfortunately facing their biggest wipe-out in the 126-year history of the Championship.

When you factor in the success of the Limerick footballers winning a title in Croke Park, there appears to be a definite swing in the county.

Micky Ned O’Sullivan is leading the football revolution, with their first national football title in 114 years secured against Waterford in the Division Four final.

It meant a lot to the team, to the 11 man strong management team and most importantly the under-fire county board. 

The contrast between the hurlers, hammered by Dublin and the footballers winning in Croke Park could not be more stark.

One man that can show some sort of understanding to the situation – despite being outside the county is Dublin hurler – Maurice O’Brien. 

Only three years ago O’Brien lined-out with Limerick in a 0-22 to 1-15 defeat of Dublin, but this time around featured prominently for his adopted county in walloping the visitors. 

O’Brien switched from Garryspillane to Faughs in Dublin’s Templeogue in January of last year, after living in the city for a couple of years.  He has been a regular in Anthony Daly’s team since his move. 

O’Brien togged out for the Dubs in their league loss to Limerick last year.  He was there again for the narrow All-Ireland Senior Championship defeat to the Treaty County, but things have changed hugely since last summer. 

“It’s very sad to see this sort of a result for Limerick,” he said. 

“Overall it is most disappointing for the county.  I would have hurled with a lot of those players now out of the fray and I feel for them in that their careers appear to have been ended far too soon. 

“From my perspective, my role is now with Dublin and I’m very pleased to have been part of the two wins this league (the other against Tipperary). 

“On the day we had our own job to do. We needed to win, or at least draw, to keep our Division One status and that was our goal. Many times during the league we came within two or three points of winning but weren’t able to deliver the killer punch. 

“Staying in Division One and this big win will give us every confidence ahead of the Leinster Championship.” 

O’Brien speaks from the heart when talking about his native county – but even he can’t hide the deep trouble the hurlers are in. 

The footballers however are in a totally different position and their stock continues to rise.

Certainly O’Sullivan is keen to make the county about one thing this summer – football.

“This is great recognition for everyone in the county – from grass roots level up.  It is good for the County Board as well – who have got a lot of stick,” said the football manager. 

“Every opportunity – they have given us all the support, there is no difference between hurling and football. It is not a football county – hopefully we will make it a football county.”

And maybe O’Sullivan could get his wish this summer.  The supporters could soon switch their allegiances to a more successful football outfit, if and when the hurlers fall hard on the summer turf.

 President of the Camogie Association Joan O’Flynn was joined by Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport Mary Hanafin, Mr Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala; and captains of the 28 participating counties as well as a number of managers for this year’s championship launch at Croke Park.

 Speaking at the launch President of the Camogie Association Joan O’Flynn:

 “I am excited that we will now have six high quality teams bringing the best of Camogie skill, rivalry and competitiveness to GAA Headquarters. All Ireland Finals Day is the Camogie Showdown of the Year -  and we want people from all over the country to come to enjoy a wonderful sporting spectacle as well as a great family day out.

 Adding the Gala All- Ireland Intermediate final to the bill widens the opportunity for more Camogie players to reach Croke Park.”

 Special tribute was paid to Championship sponsors Gala who are now entering their fifth year with the Association.

 Speaking at the launch, Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala, said: “Our partnership with the Camogie Association has gone from strength to strength over the past five years. The addition of the Gala Performance Award last year was immensely successful, and recognised the commitment of the Senior Camogie players who are always on form, delivering outstanding performances.

“The Gala Performance Award is a further progression in our sponsorship of the Gala All-Ireland Camogie Championship. This mirrors the ethos of the Gala Group which is growing year-on-year.”

 The 2010 Gala All-Ireland Camogie Championships commence on June 12^th with current senior All-Ireland champions Cork beginning the defence of their crown against rivals Tipperary. This year all teams in each grade will compete on a round robin basis before proceeding to the knock-out stages.

 Camogie fans can continue to enjoy coverage of this year’s finals on RTÉ; highlights of championship action on RTÉ ‘The Sunday Game’ as well as live web coverage of selected matches.

Paddy Cunningham, Antrim, in action against Killian Young, Kerry.

Last year was a great time for us Antrim fans; a win against Donegal in Ballybofey, beating Cavan in Clones for a shot at Tyrone in the Ulster Final. Most of us hadn’t seen success like it-and it was great! Although beaten by Tyrone we were still happy at the limited success and hopeful that Baker and his team would bring us further this year.

Ok, we got Tyrone in the first round of this year’s championship-but it was in Casement. We had seen our lads stroll through division 3, and what about St.Gall’s winning the all-Ireland on St.Patrick’s day. This was a new era for Antrim Gaels and we were going to enjoy every minute of it. Roll on the 23^rd May!

Every year we scan the papers for positive articles from the ‘experts’ and we are usually referred to as ‘also ran’s’ but it never deterred us from travelling to other venues throughout Ulster. In fact part of the craic was going away and making a day of it. Although beaten on most of the occasions on the road we were still wearing our geansaí with pride.

This year was going to be different. The media took a greater interest in the build up, with more interviews with the players and staff. We devoured it all and this led to even more optimism that we could beat the mighty Tyrone with their all stars. We hoped the rumours of a rift in their camp were true and that Cavanagh and O’Neill may not be playing.

There may not have been the same amount of flags flying as there was prior to the Ulster final but this didn’t mean the support wasn’t there. Apprehension was in the air coupled with quiet optimism and so as the big day got closer all the talk was about team selection.

I was in Coalisland on the Wednesday (wearing my Antrim geansaí!) and as soon as I was spotted I started getting a ribbing about Tyrone going to turn us over.  Of course I had to tell them about our great forward line and how they were going to give their backs a headache! They countered this with the names of all-Ireland winners and all those household names we have to come admire-but not necessarily like! On my way home to Belfast I was starting to have doubts about Sunday.

On Sunday morning I was up texting to see who had the tickets but most of us were out of luck and so decided to meet at our usual spot on the hill facing the stand. The weather forecast was for a sunny day so the geansaí and shorts were ironed, a good (and not too healthy!) breakfast was eaten-then down the road to Casement.

The atmosphere and banter was great between the fans outside the clubs and pubs and this led to a carnival atmosphere.

So after a few pints it was inside to watch the second half of the minor match. The crowd was getting bigger and louder but unfortunately for our lads it didn’t help as they were beaten by a very good Tyrone team.

The senior teams ran on to the pitch to great cheers from the thousands packed into the ground. The parade, the anthem then the throw-in and it was game on. Tyrone got off to a great start and they kept the pressure on for the rest of the first half. We were really concerned this could be a rout and we all had different opinions as to who should come on as substitute.

Antrim came out in second half a different team and turned a nine point lead into just three. It was then we really believed the lads would go on to win, but Tyrone showed all their experience and ended up winning by four points.

We headed into the club where we met some of the players who were obviously downbeat but as we told them there are the qualifiers and anything can happen. So roll on the next match when we go through it all again-but hopefully with a different result!

Last year was a great time for us Antrim fans; a win against Donegal in Ballybofey, beating Cavan in Clones for a shot at Tyrone in the Ulster Final. Most of us hadn’t seen success like it-and it was great! Although beaten by Tyrone we were still happy at the limited success and hopeful that Baker and his team would bring us further this year.

 Ok, we got Tyrone in the first round of this year’s championship-but it was in Casement. We had seen our lads stroll through division 3, and what about St.Gall’s winning the all-Ireland on St.Patrick’s day. This was a new era for Antrim Gaels and we were going to enjoy every minute of it. Roll on the 23^rd May!

 Every year we scan the papers for positive articles from the ‘experts’ and we are usually referred to as ‘also ran’s’ but it never deterred us from travelling to other venues throughout Ulster. In fact part of the craic was going away and making a day of it. Although beaten on most of the occasions on the road we were still wearing our geansaí with pride.

 This year was going to be different. The media took a greater interest in the build up, with more interviews with the players and staff. We devoured it all and this led to even more optimism that we could beat the mighty Tyrone with their all stars. We hoped the rumours of a rift in their camp were true and that Cavanagh and O’Neill may not be playing.

 There may not have been the same amount of flags flying as there was prior to the Ulster final but this didn’t mean the support wasn’t there. Apprehension was in the air coupled with quiet optimism and so as the big day got closer all the talk was about team selection.

 I was in Coalisland on the Wednesday (wearing my Antrim geansaí!) and as soon as I was spotted I started getting a ribbing about Tyrone going to turn us over.  Of course I had to tell them about our great forward line and how they were going to give their backs a headache! They countered this with the names of all-Ireland winners and all those household names we have to come admire-but not necessarily like! On my way home to Belfast I was starting to have doubts about Sunday.

 On Sunday morning I was up texting to see who had the tickets but most of us were out of luck and so decided to meet at our usual spot on the hill facing the stand. The weather forecast was for a sunny day so the geansaí and shorts were ironed, a good (and not too healthy!) breakfast was eaten-then down the road to Casement.

The atmosphere and banter was great between the fans outside the clubs and pubs and this led to a carnival atmosphere.

 So after a few pints it was inside to watch the second half of the minor match. The crowd was getting bigger and louder but unfortunately for our lads it didn’t help as they were beaten by a very good Tyrone team.

 The senior teams ran on to the pitch to great cheers from the thousands packed into the ground. The parade, the anthem then the throw-in and it was game on. Tyrone got off to a great start and they kept the pressure on for the rest of the first half. We were really concerned this could be a rout and we all had different opinions as to who should come on as substitute.

 Antrim came out in second half a different team and turned a nine point lead into just three. It was then we really believed the lads would go on to win, but Tyrone showed all their experience and ended up winning by four points.

 We headed into the club where we met some of the players who were obviously downbeat but as we told them there are the qualifiers and anything can happen. So roll on the next match when we go through it all again-but hopefully with a different result!

in 2004. Now in its 6 year, the Camp offers children the chance to learn more about the Irish language, history, culture and sport – ideals that Cormac firmly believed in. Aimed at children from the ages of 9 to 14, the camp is made up of
Irish language lessons in the mornings with sporting activities in the afternoon.

Henry Shefflin, Brendan McAnallen,Anthony Rogan

Set up in Cormac’s native town land of the Brantry, Co Tyrone, the Camp then extended to Castlewellan Co Down last year and this year sees the camp move into Co Derry and Co Antrim. For further information, or to download an
application for your children, visit: www.campachormaic.com

DON’T read too much into Derry’s performances over the first few months of the new football season. Everyone knows that when it comes to Championship football, things are a whole lot different. Results matter from this point on and this is the time to get it right.

Relegation from the top flight might not have been what Damian Cassidy had in mind when it he brought his panel together for the new season, but teams are measured on how they deal with situations they never thought possible, and Damian Cassidy’s team will be measured on how they take to this year’s Championship.

So we are playing Division Two football next season, but so what. Looking back on it, Derry could have and probably should have stayed in Division One this year.

Cassidy knows that and the players know that. Perhaps too much was expected of them when they so easily brushed aside Tyrone on the opening weekend of the league. Against Dublin they were ahead at half-time but fell away during the second thirty, but let’s not forget, it’s not easy playing Dublin in their own backyard.

Then there was the All-Ireland and league champions Kerry down in Tralee, followed by a home defeat to Mayo and another poor performance away to Monaghan.

They were unlucky not to beat Cork at home, but to come away from Galway with victory on the last day of the league, knowing that relegation is almost certain, is no mean feat.

This year’s league is done and dusted, there’s no point in crying over spilled milk, now is the time to look to the summer months and what they might hold.

When Cassidy first took over the county side, he said it was about the summertime and championship football, about getting Derry back into an Ulster final and winning it, for the first time in 12 years.

Granted, as we look ahead to the opening Anglo-Celt clash with Armagh on May 16 the statistics don’t paint a pretty picture. Derry are without an Ulster title since 1998 while Armagh have collected seven in that period.

The last time a Derry captain got his hands on the trophy was back in 1998.

Since then, there has been two All-Ireland semi-final appearances and one quarter-final for Derry thanks to the ‘back door’ system, as well as two Division One league titles including back-to-back league final appearances in the past two years.

It’s success, ‘of a sort’, but it’s the lack of an Ulster Final appearance since 2000, when they lost to Armagh by a solitary point, which has been most concerning for Cassidy.

The league success was welcome but it has clearly been of secondary importance to the Derry coach and this year could be Derry’s best chance to book a place in a first Ulster final since 2000.

If there’s one provincial championship that’s getting harder and harder to predict each year it’s the Ulster one.

No-one could have foreseen Antrim’s almost fairytale rise last year, and while Armagh and Tyrone have dominated proceedings since the turn of the century, almost any of the nine counties in the province could beat the other on their day, Derry included.

Derry have newly promoted Division Two champions Armagh to contend with at home in Celtic Park on Sunday, May 16. The Orchard county are not going to be easy opposition and going on their league run, you’d think they would have to come out on top, but the incentive is there for Damian Cassidy and Derry.

Derry haven’t got past the semi-final stage in the last two years – they won their opening games, beating Donegal in 2008 and Monaghan in 2009 in the quarter-finals, before succumbing to Fermanagh and Tyrone respectively in the last four. But with Tyrone in the other half of the draw, Monaghan await in the quarter-final, with a possible semi-final against the winners of Cavan and Fermanagh.

The opportunity is there, Derry just have to put recent results to one side and go out and grab it.

Division One

GALWAY claimed the Allianz GAA National Hurling League title for the first time since 2004 with a 2-22 to 1-17 win over Cork.

Joe Canning was in blistering form for the Westerners as he bagged 1-5 from play but this was a scintillating attacking display from Galway, who could also afford the luxury of 17 wides.

Galway had a dream start when Damien Hayes netted a brilliant solo goal at the Killinan End with just 75 seconds on the watch after cutting in along the right touchline and at half-time, the winners led by 2-12 to 1-11.
The best Cork could do in the second half was cut the gap back to four points with half an hour remaining but this was Galway’s day and Canning called the tune as the scores flowed freely.

Galway will hope to replicate this form against Wexford in the Leinster SHC quarter-final on May 29.

Galway manager John McIntyre

“We’re going to savour the moment and I’m not going to trivialise the league by starting to talk about the championship. It was an important win for Galway and it was their first national silverware in six years so all-in-all, it’s a good day’s work.”

“I was very pleased with the performance and if you get a performance in a final you always give yourself a chance of winning. I’m told it’s Galway’s first every victory over Cork at senior level in a national final. I’ll take that.”

Cork manager Denis Walsh

“This will have focused the minds ahead of the Tipperary game. We know where we stand, we know we’re moving well enough and we’ve a lot of players. We all have to get back to the drawing board”

”We’ve learned that we need to increase the intensity, but everyone would expect that from the league to the championship. We’ll take a few days off to regroup. But I’m very happy with the players, with the effort they put in and they’re in good fettle.”

DIVISION TWO

WEXFORD claimed promotion back to Division One with a 1-16 to 2-09 win over Clare.

Clare scored their first goal in first half stoppage time when Colin Ryan ghosted behind the Wexford cover and finished past Noel Carton.

But Lyng converted a crucial free moments later to ensure that Wexford trailed by just a single point at half-time, 0-6 to 1-4.

The game took another twist in Clare’s favour in the 49th minute when the Banner County scored their second goal.

That score handed Clare a two-point lead, 2-6 to 0-10, but Wexford responded with four unanswered points to assume control again.

A pair of Colin Ryan frees for Clare tied the game at 2-8 to 0-14 before Lyng cut over a beautiful sideline cut from the New stand side of Semple Stadium.

Jonathan Clancy equalised for Clare but after Eoin Quigley sent Wexford a point clear again, veteran forward Rory Jacob scored the killer goal in stoppage time, pouncing on a mistake by Clare goalkeeper Philip Brennan to make the game safe.

Wexford manager Colm Bonnar

”Division 1 is where we should be as we’re a proud hurling county, but I still think Clare are too good to be back in Division 2. They can’t develop hurling there and the GAA should be promoting hurling rather than demoting teams.”

“We were hit by two sucker punches for goals, but we responded very well and came back. This team has great character, though, and we knew they didn’t want to spend another year in Division 2.”

Clare manager Ger O’Loughlin

“We are back in Division 2 and certainly we’re not looking forward to trying to get out of it again next year.”

“I’d love if somebody came up with a solution and brought us back to Division 1 because I think we would hold our own. Trying to rebuild a team, I think we would rebuild much faster there.”

By Paul Kelly

THE National League can be something of a phoney war as managers jostle for position and keep their powder dry but sometimes, spin can’t hide the facts.

Armagh’s Championship credentials are still to be tested but if the league campaign proved only one thing, it was that the fire still burns brightly in Stevie McDonnell.

Injury free and fit, captain McDonnell had a wonderful league campaign culminating in a brilliant individual display in the Division Two final against Down.

He picked up six points, led the line in the absence of Ronan Clarke, and played a captain’s role with superb scores at the beginning and end of the first half.

“I worked hard in the winter months and made the decision that if I was going to go back and pull on the Armagh jersey again I wasn’t going to leave any stone unturned,” added the 30-year-old.

“Certainly it has gone great for me so far but you are only as good as your last game.

“Our next game is the Championship and I’m sure the Derry management will have ideas about how to stop me. I know going up to Celtic Park that I am going to be well marshalled.

“It’s all about the Championship from now on in and if I don’t carry my form into the Championship then basically it’s been a waste of time.”

In recent years, McDonnell’s appetite for inter-county football was questioned.

As the 2002 All-Ireland winning side was gradually dismantled his form dipped and rumours grew that he was going to follow Oisin, Paul and Tony into retirement.

28 March 2010; Steven McDonnell, Armagh, in action against Paddy Codd, Tipperary

Had he opted to call it a day, the Killeavy man would have bowed out as one of Armagh’s finest. In 11 consecutive years playing senior football, McDonnell has collected one All-Ireland, six Ulster titles, three All-Stars and competed in the International Rules.

However, as he considered his options, the sending off against Monaghan in last year’s SFC qualifier kept coming back to him.

“I didn’t want to end my county career on a bad note,” he added.

“When Paddy O’Rourke got the job and revealed his backroom team that made things a lot easier.”

Mike McGurn’s appointment as conditioning coach was the final push McDonnell required to sign up again. With McGurn’s help the zip has returned to his game.

He’s finally free of the niggling injuries that dented his confidence and he’s happy with his own progress and that of Armagh’s.

“It’s an honour to captain Armagh and it’s an honour to go to training with a group of lads who run themselves into the ground,” he added.

“My job is made a lot easier with the panel of players that we have. The group are willing to give everything that they have and empty the tank on every training session.

“We have had a couple of poor seasons there but there is a huge will to win within the camp and it is not just coming from me and the more experienced players, it’s coming from the younger lads who want to prove a point.

11 April 2010; Steven McDonnell, Armagh, gets to a high ball before Paul Durcan, Donegal, to score the first goall.

“They all know that every time they pull on that jersey that they are good enough to go out and match whoever the opposition is.”

You only have to look at his recent performances to see that McDonnell is content with life in an Armagh shirt at the moment.

He’s taken to the captaincy role with relative ease and is looking forward to the summer with a real sense of anticipation.

“My desire is even stronger than it was before, particularly as I haven’t got that many years left at this level,” he said.

“If I didn’t feel we were good enough to be up there challenging for titles, I don’t think I would be here.

“You play county football to get success and I am no different from anybody else, you enjoy it more when you feel like you have a chance of winning medals.”

And he added, “It’s amazing the feelings you get as the opening Championship game gets closer.

“I’ve been working since the start of October to get my fitness right for the Championship and I can’t wait to get started.”