{"id":1050,"date":"2018-06-21T08:26:11","date_gmt":"2018-06-21T08:26:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/derrygaa.ie\/features\/?p=1050"},"modified":"2018-06-24T17:14:10","modified_gmt":"2018-06-24T17:14:10","slug":"youse-boys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/derrygaa.ie\/features\/youse-boys\/","title":{"rendered":"Youse Boys"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written to mark 25 years since the Ulster SFC final of 1993.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Most men haven\u2019t played in a county final. Very few men have played in multiple county finals. And almost no men have played in two county finals in two different counties seven days apart. But Eamonn Coleman wasn\u2019t like most men.<\/p>\n

25 years ago the wee professor of people emerged a victor from the old Clones changing rooms perched high up in the corner of the O\u2019Duffy terrace. \u201cWe won this game between February and May on the training fields of Ballymaguigan and Maghera,\u201d he boomed.<\/p>\n

It was July 18th, 1993, a day on which the rain fell incessantly during a summer that lasted forever.<\/p>\n

To discuss Eamonn Coleman is to probe the soul of his county itself. His story, and relationship with Gaelic football – carved in Oak from an early age when he trained as a 14-year-old with that prince of players, Jim McKeever – was like all great love stories and relationships: not without friction, but enduring nonetheless.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

\u201cSeamus, I always knew you were a bit of a rascal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eamonn\u2019s own words, spoken from the flat of his back on a Sunday in 1967, and recalled by his man-marker for the day, Lissan\u2019s Seamus McRory.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs Eamonn attempted to sidestep me, he tripped on a rush bush and literally fell across my feet,\u201d says McRory. \u201cThe referee, a future prominent county board official, blamed me! But Eamonn flashed that impish smile and just said \u2018would you ever lift me up from this bed of Lissan rushes?\u2019 So I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following that game between Lissan and Ballymaguigan, 14 years passed before the men would speak again. Having won a Derry championship with Ballinderry in 1981, Coleman fielded for Athlone in the Westmeath final 7 days later, scoring three points, but ending up on the losing team. McRory had attended the game, now being a Longford native. He had also watched Coleman the previous weekend.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had to renew acquaintances,\u201d explains McRory. \u201cI went to congratulate Eamonn on his magnificent, personal performance. Though never referring to the time we last had met or indeed who I was, he looked up at me with that knowing and unforgettable look.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u201cSure it was easy playing here\u2019 he said. \u2018There were no rushes to contend with!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Coleman\u2019s elephantine memory and acute understanding of people is something which radiated throughout his life. His fun loving \u2013 yet often spiky – public persona was one thing, but his ability for subtle brilliance was shrouded. Just as it should be.<\/p>\n

It was May 30th, 1992. As dusk fell over Saint Oliver Plunkett\u2019s Park in Greenlough, some of the Lavey players suddenly dashed from the pitch midway through a championship game with Newbridge.<\/p>\n

Hugh A McGurk, in attendance to watch his sons and his club, took ill and passed away aged 76 years. The game was abandoned. Naturally, it was a night that Johnny McGurk will never forget.
\n\u201cThe following year we were preparing to play Down in the Ulster Championship in Newry,\u201d recalls McGurk. \u201cA few days before the game, Eamonn took me aside. Away from the rest of the players, he spoke quietly. He asked me did I know what date the game was on.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018My father\u2019s anniversary\u2019, I replied.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018So, you\u2019ll be delivering a big performance then,\u2019 he said. \u2018You\u2019re on (James) McCartan.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n[aesop_image img=”http:\/\/derrygaa.ie\/features\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/5767713643_da2d78dc1d_b.jpg” imgwidth=”1024″ caption=”18 July 1993; Donegal’s James McHugh, left, and Derry’s John McGurk shake hands after the final whistle. Ulster Senior Football Championship Final, Derry v Donegal, St. Tighearnach’s Park, Clones, Co. Monaghan.” credit=”Ray McManus \/ SPORTSFILE ” align=”center” captionposition=”center” lightbox=”off”]\n

Contrary to public opinion of the time, Derry emerged from the Marshes as comfortable winners. Coleman emerged to face the media in fine form.<\/p>\n

\u2018Youse boys know nathin\u2019 about football\u2019 he famously taunted the waiting reporters, pointing at the 3-11 to 0-09 score still showing on the board.<\/p>\n

Johnny McGurk had held James McCartan scoreless and Derry marched on with newly earned belief.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was Eamonn,\u201d says McGurk, who went on that summer to kick Derry\u2019s greatest ever point. \u201cHe was the man at the back of the bus holding court and playing cards. He was involved in all the slagging.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018I love taking money off you, McGurk\u2019, he\u2019d say, whilst rubbing his belly in laughter looking a reaction. No-one else could have brought that group of players together at that time.\u201d<\/p>\n

And together they still are, today, 25 years on. Minus the wee general.<\/p>\n

So, how did it all happen? How did the 14-year-old Jim McKeever-inspired boy become the bobbin around which an historical tale was woven? A Derry team that was beaten by Down in \u201988, by Donegal in \u201989, hammered by Donegal in \u201990 in front of 5,000 people at Clones, was grabbed by the scruff of the neck by Coleman and went toe to toe with the world and the would be All-Ireland champions of 1991 the following summer. The Mourne men were lucky to salvage a replay in the Athletic Grounds and Derry were frustrated by Donegal again a year later. But in 1993 the dam eventually burst.<\/p>\n

Was it Adrian McGuckin\u2019s St Pat\u2019s Maghera football factory? Brian McIver\u2019s revolution at St Pius\u2019? Brendan Convery and Lavey\u2019s plan to \u2018sneak up on an All-Ireland from behind and grab it by the\u2026\u2019?<\/p>\n

Hours of chat there, which, at the end of the day, is what the GAA family does best. It was also a past-time Coleman excelled at. A man of the people, most knew Eamonn via his musings in the media.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started as a trainee with the Irish News in 1999,\u201d says Paddy Heaney. \u201cI\u2019d ring him to get injury news on Cavan. He understood what journalists needed. We\u2019d spend 10 minutes on Cavan and I\u2019d have enough to do me. Then he\u2019d say: \u2018And what about Derry, Paddy?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d talk then for another hour. Derry football and this player and that player. That\u2019s where his heart always was.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eamonn Coleman led Derry to Ulster finals in Clones in 1992 and 1993. His last was in 2000. Beaten by a single score by Armagh, Eamonn shook Brian McAlinden\u2019s hand and wished him well, one football man to another.<\/p>\n

And then he fumed at all around him.<\/p>\n

Brilliant cutting one-liners were thrown at the ghosts of officials and absorbed with glee by waiting Dictaphones and scratched furiously onto notepads. He had been suspended earlier in the year for comments made in the media but he had said exactly what he meant his entire life and he wasn\u2019t going to stop now. \u201cThey can\u2019t suspend me now,\u201d he bellowed. Here was a man who had moulded a team that had \u2018rare skills and big-boned men but remained somehow a blue-collar outfit\u2019. A group who went on to be leaders of men, first climbing the steps of the Hogan stand and then to the top of multiple professions. Yet, a group who were all undeniably led by one alpha male. A man who left school at 16, became a bricklayer and whose voice was instantly recognisable with the rhythm of the Loughshore – direct, clipped, and unvarnished, yet brimming with emotion. And there was a certain magic in that distinctive staccato beat. It could charm, cajole and when needed, cut through ice. A man who knew his own mind but had a genuine respect for the opinions of others. A man with that rare gift in life, the ability to listen, was asked in that dark Clones corridor to summarise his thoughts there and then\u2026<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t take long.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started with Derry and finished with Derry. I\u2019ve enjoyed it,\u201d came the reply.<\/p>\n[aesop_image img=”http:\/\/derrygaa.ie\/features\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/eamonn.jpg” imgwidth=”1024″ align=”center” captionposition=”center” lightbox=”off”]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Written to mark 25 years since the Ulster SFC final of 1993. ***** Most men haven\u2019t played in a county final. Very few men have played in multiple county finals. And almost no men have played in two county finals in two different counties seven days apart. But Eamonn Coleman wasn\u2019t like most men. 25 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1052,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n