By Paul Kelly

Taken from Edition 3.  We looked at 2 outstanding young Cross players- David McKenna and Stephen Kernan- YOUNG GUNS.

30 November 2008; Paul Kernan, Crossmaglen Rangers

 

 

 Introduction

JUST what is the secret to Crossmaglen’s success?

What is it that gives them the edge when the game is on the line and there’s only a few seconds left on the clock?

Ahead of their All-Ireland Club semi-final clash with Limerick side Dromcollogher-Broadford on February 21 2009, we got two of the club’s young guns, Paul Kernan and David McKenna into the office to see what makes them tick.

 

 

 Paul Kernan

AS a member of the Kernan dynasty synonymous with both Crossmaglen and Armagh, 21-year-old Paul is perfectly placed to spill the beans on the club’s top secret methods for winning games.

A student at the University of Ulster Jordanstown where he is studying property investment and development, Paul has grown up in an environment dominated by football.

“I’d like to say that it wasn’t football all the time, but it is in every conversation,” he said.

“When we get together, we’re always talking about football; who is performing well, what team is doing well, stuff like that.

“I don’t know anything different and I suppose, it’s always given us a positive structure.”

Unlike many clubs, Crossmaglen employ a strict selection structure which prevents minors from playing senior football.

Instead of possibly sitting on the line, the next generation of Cross players get as much game time as possible.

As they mature and gain experience, the players realise exactly what is expected of them if and when they make the step up into the senior squad.

Paul made his senior debut in 2005 and has already notched up three county championships, three Ulster titles and an All-Ireland title with the club.

The club thrives on success and there appears to be no signs of that appetite being sated.

In fact, Paul senses a renewed sense of purpose in the squad now that they are back training after a three week break.

“The will to win is still huge but for some of the younger players the fear of losing is the driving force,” he said.

“You don’t want to be part of the team that is remembered for losing.

“The younger boys have seen what the club has achieved over the years and we don’t want to be the team that loses because that will be the team that is remembered.

“There is more pressure every game but I think the experience of the older fellas allows the younger lads to play with a bit more freedom.

“We don’t panic and we stay cool. There’s always more time and that can be key in a tight game.”

Cross currently get together three times a week which means plenty of travelling for those boys who live in Belfast but with the semi-final on the horizon, there will be no let-up.

“I know there has been some talk that the team we are playing is supposedly not that good but any team that gets to an All-Ireland semi-final has to be a quality side,” added Paul.

“All the teams left in the competition are class sides and we will have to be on top of our game to get through to another final.”

 

Q – Toughest opponent?

The ‘Gooch’ in the All-Ireland Club final in 2007. I think I did ok against him but I didn’t really care as long as Cross won.

 

Q – If not gaelic football, what sport would you be playing?

Maybe rugby – I enjoy watching it and even a bit of American Football. I’m pretty interested in some of tactics used in both games.

 

Q – Which Cross player spends most time in the gym?

That would have to be Aaron [Kernan] he’s very dedicated with things like that.

 

Q – Who do you room with on trips away?

My brother Stephen

 

Q – Which position do you prefer to play?

Midfield – you can run the game from there. [Paul has spent most of the last couple of seasons playing in the half back or full back lines]  

 

Q – Best day on a football field?

April Fool’s Day 2007 when we won the All-Ireland Club title.

 

Q – Worst feeling on a football field?

Navan last year against St Vincent’s in the All-Ireland club semi-final. I’ve tried to black it out.

 

Q – Your footballing hero?

Francie Bellew, just for the way he gets on with his game. He doesn’t get enough credit for how he performs.

 

Q – Best dressed Cross man?

Jamie Clarke

 

Q – Worst singer on the Cross team?

John Donaldson

 

 

 

 David McKenna

 

 

YOU may think that Crossmaglen, being the all-conquering force that they are, would automatically set their sights on an All-Ireland Club final every year but you’d be wrong.

The first and main goal every season, according to midfield powerhouse David McKenna, is to make sure that they retain their county title.

Taking things ‘one game at a time’ may be a classic sporting cliché but it perfectly illustrates how Cross build their season from the ground up each year, taking nothing for granted.

“For me there is more pressure every year to win in Armagh. The clubs are trying so hard to knock us off, you meet the same sides year in and year out and they are getting closer and closer to us,” said David.

“Once you get out of Armagh, I always feel that you can relax a bit and take the shackles off and play a bit of football.”

David is also at UUJ, studying sports science. His father was a contemporary of Joe Kernan and his older brother lines out regularly for the Crossmaglen reserve side.

Both Paul and David went into the senior side at the same time and both of them are on the periphery of the Armagh senior panel.

Club commitments have kept both players out of the reckoning for the McKenna Cup and their National League appearances will, once again, be dependant on how Cross progress in the club finals.

David is content with the progress Cross have made this season, claiming that they have performed consistently.

“St Eunan’s Letterkenny gave us an awful tough game in the Ulster quarter-finals,” he said.

“They came out at 100 mph and really tore into us in the first half. We were lucky to be only 6-4 down at the break.

“The first Ballinderry game [in the Ulster Final] was also difficult because we were sort of in control until they got that goal near the end.”

They may not have set the world alight in reaching the semi-finals but Cross still manage to win the big games.

David echoed Paul’s thoughts about the ‘fear of losing’ but added that the Crossmaglen approach to training gave them an edge when the heat was on.

“I think you’ll find that most top teams train very professionally now but I believe the intensity of our training would be unmatched,” added David.

“Our training games can feel like a championship match because there is so much competition for places. You come off the field brave and sore after those games.”

 

 

Q – Toughest opponent?

Eoin Brosnam – Dr Crokes – in the All Ireland final in 2007.

He’s probably the best player I’ve had to mark. I felt I did ok against him. I really tried to stop him having an influence on the game.

 

Q – If not gaelic football what sport would you be playing?

Probably soccer – that would be my second choice – I watch a lot of it.

 

Q – Which Cross player spends most time in the gym?

Aaron Kernan – he takes that side of things very seriously.

 

Q – Who do you room with on trips away?

Michael Trainor but it chops and changes.

 

Q – Which position do you prefer to play?

Midfield – Paul and I played together for Cross and won minor and U21 Championship titles. 

 

Q – Best day on a football field?

It has to be winning the All-Ireland club final in Portlaoise in 2007. It was a great feeling.

 

Q – Worst feeling on a football field?

Definitely has to be when we lost the club semi-final against St Vincent’s in Navan last year. It took a long time to get over that one. We had 12 weeks off after it and it was a long time to think about it.

 

Q – Your footballing hero?

Probably Kerry’s Dara O’Se – I enjoy watching him play and the way he drives his team on from midfield.

 

Q – Best dressed Cross man?

John Donaldson

 

Q – Worst singer on the Cross team?

There’s nine or 10 candidates – Johnny Hanratty