Relief in the Orchard as McDonnell stays
A huge sigh of relief echoed through the GAA fraternity in the Orchard County this week when Steven McDonnell assured Armagh fans that he is not about to go the same way as Paul McGrane, Francie Bellew and Paddy McKeever.
That much-heralded trio called time on their inter-county careers in the last week and many fans may have been fearing that ace forward McDonnell would do the same, especially in the wake of rumours suggesting such that have been circulating since last summer.
The 29-year-old three-time All-Star is out for more glory in 2009 and, although promotion to Division One of the NFL remains an aim, he already has the gigantic Ulster quarter-final with fellow provincial giants, and All-Ireland holders, Tyrone in mind.
“I was only ever looking for a couple of months’ break,” McDonnell was quoted as saying by The Irish Sun.
“While the fitness is not where I’d like it to be, we’re still six or seven weeks away from the Tyrone match.”
Meanwhile, McDonnell’s former Orchard county commander-in-chief Joe Kernan has hailed the retiring trio, saying they are right to retire when they think the time is right. Kernan said: “That’s the thing about lads like McGrane and Bellew - they’ll always make the right calls based on their own instincts.
“It was the same with Geezer (Kieran McGeeney), the McEntee boys and Oisin (McConville). It’ll be strange seeing an Armagh team without any of them but, my God, they owe us nothing.”
Armagh travel to Cork in their final Division Two game on Sunday and a win could be enough to see them promoted, though the Rebels have the same goal. Stephen Mc Donnell could have a big part to play in that particular encounter.
Posted: April 11th, 2009 under Football, Rumours.