This article is from page 60 of the 2011-10-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 60 JPG
MICHÉAL McDermott is prepared to walk away from Clare football if county board delegates feel that he’s not the man to lead the county senior team into the 2012 season.
McDermott first became involved with Clare teams in 1996 under John O’Keeffe’s senior management reign and has now put it up to delegates to decide if he’s still the right man for the senior job.
“Is it time for change?,” he asked delegates. “That’s for people in the room here tonight. If you feel there’s change needed, so be it. If I’m not the man to bring forward Clare football for one more year, so be it.
“I will walk away with my hand held high and say that I’ve given it everything and I couldn’t have given it anymore. The long and short of it is that it’s up to you guys to decide. Is Michéal McDermott the man to bring Clare forward? If I am, I would be proud to do it and would give 100 per cent.
“If it’s decided that Michéal McDermott isn’t the man to bring Clare forward, I have no problem in walking away and saying fine, so be it. I’ll say I gave it my best shot. I’ll say I thought I did what was right and I’m never going to fall out with anybody over football.
“I’m living in Clare for 15 years. I have given time for Clare juniors, to Clare under 21s and seniors. What I do is I love football. Without football I don’t know what I’d be doing.
“For my two years with the Clare football team, I’ve done everything in my power to try and bring success, not for Michéal McDermott, not for these men at the top table, but for the players,” McDermott added in his impassioned appeal to win the backing of county board delegates.
And, in making his case for a third year in charge, McDermott has forecast that success is around the corner for Clare – citing the DNA of current Clare players, their commitment to the cause and the ageing profile of the Kerry team as rays of hope for the future.
“People will say league was a disaster for Clare this year,” said McDermott, “but if anything I think we played better football this year in the league than we did the previous year but we didn’t get results.
“What ever people say about Clare football, it’s not as bad, if the breaks would only come our way. If we had every player out there of the quality that’s out there, willing to give everything to Clare, it would be brilliant.
“Most of all you want to have 25 or 26 players who have the DNA to give everything for Clare football. That’s what it’s all about. It’s about the players, to have a bit of pride.
“There is no given right to come out of Division 4. Every game is like an All-Ireland final. It’s a rat-race to get out. They are so close to coming out of Division 4, if a couple of breaks go our way. That’s what we need. We are not far off the mark.
“At the present moment Cork and Kerry are strong but things could level out. Look at the Kerry team this year – five of their six backs are over 30 years of age.
“There is not the same conveyor belt of talent coming through in Kerry. They could be coming down to a level.”