THE GENERATION GAME

Ryan King's last kick of the 2014 season was one he will never forget.  Not only did the defeat to Limavady relegate his beloved Faughanvale to the junior ranks but even though he didn't know it at the time it tore his cruciate ligament.  The pain of defeat was much more painful that the state of his knee. 

Playing in an Ulster Final is a special occasion in anyone’s life but when you make a comeback from injury it has to be that bit more satisfying.  Standing in the corner of the Faughanvale clubhouse Ryan King gave us an insight into what drove him back.  The journey back from injury can be a lonely one and will test the character of anyone.   

“It happened in the Limavady game when we got relegated, it was actually the last kick of the game but it’s wasn’t diagnosed until January.  The MRI didn’t pick it up and I knew it wasn’t right so I went to Belfast for a second opinion and I got the worst news possible – that my cruciate was gone.  That was January and on 30th March I got my operation,” King outlined. 

Six and a half months later Ryan King enters the fray in the drawn county final against Drum.  “Joe asked me to come on board as part of the management and to keep me involved.  It’s good crack being along the sideline but it’s not the same as playing.  It’s harder to watch than play.” 

King started the last game against Templeport and outlines the influence of the younger players.  “I started at full forward and ended up around midfield where I am used to and it’s great to be back.  It’s great to play alongside these young lads, they are carefree, they are full of energy and drive everybody on.” 

As you scratch the surface we soon find out what really drove King on during his rehab.  He was very much on a mission.  “I was part of the team that got relegated to junior and I was determined to be part of the team that got us out of it.  That was my big drive I wanted to give a hand in any way I could.” 

King’s preseason was slightly different from the rest.  “I was attending Colm O’Neill [physio] in Bridgend and every Friday I went to the cruciate rehab class in Altnagelvin which then progressed into wee drills at the side of the pitch and eventually back into contact.”  That’s Ryan King’s story and it shows what can happen if you want something bad enough. 

King is at one end of the scale, he is one of the older generation but highlighted the input of the younger players.  One of younger crop is full back Michael Sweeney and the photo of him in the clubrooms wearing the red and white of Derry shows the regard he is held in around the ‘Vale.   

When you chat to him you can see that carefree approach, the exuberance of youth.  After the county final Sweeney admitted he had never even heard of Brackaville [first round opponents].  Since that his outlook on the Ulster championship has changed. 

“After winning the Derry championship the management drummed it into us that we were not there to make up the numbers.  At the start of the year we set out our goals of promotion, the Derry championship and Ulster and at that stage Croke Park would be one game away. Then we ticked off our goals as they came.” 

Sweeney’s insight tells us the difference setting goals made.  “Last year was a bit of a kick up the arse and everyone knew we needed to do something this year.  In the past we were just papering over the cracks and sailing by, sitting mid table in intermediate not pushing to get promoted or to go anywhere in the championship.  When the championship day came everyone tried their hardest but we had no aims set out of what we were going for.” 

Sweeney may be young but he has his head screwed on and can see the different approach and the rewards it can bring but insists the management are central to the success.  “They must take a lot of credit, with the two boys [Shay Murrin and Michael McLaughlin] coming in from outside and Joe’s a link with players and management.  They are all used to winning and with the young boys coming through used to winning.” 

“It brings more of a winning mentality to the club and everyone wanted to do well this year and win whatever was put in front of us.  In Ulster every match is a big match and when you win those games you know they were hard fought for.” 

Looking ahead to Sunday Sweeney is expecting more of the same.  “I don’t really know much about Rockcorry; I was chatting to boy who was at the last match and they are a big physical side.  I haven’t seen any videos yet but the management will have.  Monaghan football is on a high at minute with the county winning Ulster, Scotstown are in their final and Monaghan junior football teams been in most of the finals.  It will probably be the strongest team we have faced so far and another big game but hopefully we can get over the line.” 

As he concludes his interview and heads to training he gave us a quick insight into the Gaffer.  "When Joe is playing you wouldn’t know he was the manager; he’s just a leader within the team.  He doesn’t shout across at Michael or Shay.  He leaves it to them during the match, trusts them and can get on with playing his game.” 

On Sunday Michael Sweeney will lineout with number three on his back, full back and part of the new generation of footballers.  At the other end of the pitch will be Ryan King, the miracle man back from the dreaded cruciate scourge.  Both men are generations apart showing the perfect blend of youth and experience in this team.    

Sweeney recognises this.  “There are young boys running around after games with flags looking up to us the way I used to look up to older players when I was that age.”  On Sunday Sweeney and King will run out of the tunnel together at the Athletic Grounds – different ages, different paths but both with a common goal.  The club championship is special and Faughanvale are embracing it. 

FAUGHANVALE HOPING FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE

Regardless of Sunday’s result Faughanvale have a vision for their future.  In ten years they want to be back in the senior ranks challenging for the John McLaughlin Cup - named after one of their founder members.  The passport for that journey lies in the youth. 

It’s a bold statement but as Club Development Officer Conor Nicholl explains you need to have targets.  We asked him where he saw Faughanvale in the next decade.  “On Sunday an Ulster title would be brilliant.  For some boys in this club it has been years in the planning when you look at young boys we have in the team.”

“Our long term plan is to get back to senior.  Our ground is John McLaughlin Park and we want to take the John McLaughlin Cup here.  That’s what we want.  Is it going to happen? Well if it doesn’t it won’t be for the want of trying.  We are going for it.  If you don’t set a target you won’t reach it – that’s the long and the short if it.”

Nicholl has been involved in many roles in the club over the years but quickly plays down his input.  He paid tribute to the enthusiasm and drive of chairman Eamon King.  “Eamon is here most nights and does whatever needs done.  He works away in the background and porobably isn’t here because you boys [the media] are here.  That’s the sort of him.”

Nicholl is a reluctant interviewee but he had little option as he was coordinating the PR campaign with Declan McGuinness busy focussing on his playing role for Sunday.  Nicholl doesn’t mind – he is happy to do whatever needs done.

He also recognises others who have put the club where they are.  “We are 82 years old and we don’t forget the men who helped purchase our club grounds in 1981, they are still involved in our club but the next generation is where we want to go.”

The current senior team didn’t just appear.  There was planning there as well.  “We started a youth policy with Paul Bradley ten years ago – we took boys at U6 and U8 and ten of them young fellas now are part of our senior panel.”

“We had a lot of children and we saw there was an interest and that it was gaining.  We had always been able to field well at youth but had never gone that younger age before.  We had always been playing at U12 and U10 but it was then as a club we made a decision to go younger and start at primary school.”

Nicholl knows the youth end of the club well, he managed the minor team this year along with Shane O’Neill.  “In the minor ranks the likes of Sean Bradley, Michael Devine, Eoin McElhinney and Oisin Quinn – they were the start of it, they are our first batch through the system.”

The club’s path back to senior ranks took a speed wobble last year.  “We knew we had these young players coming through.  The plan was to consolidate our intermediate status and build for senior with the likes of Joe [Gray], Stephen and Ryan King.  We didn’t plan to be relegated but we made a conscious decision as a club that we weren’t going to lie down to this and since then it has been shoulder to the wheel stuff.”

Despite the senior team being in the spotlight the club’s social media channel is full of information of primary school coaching.  “We hope these children will filter into the plan for playing senior in ten years. At half time in the junior final we played U8 and U10 blitz. Our young players look up to our senior players.  They are their heroes and they too will want to fill that shirt.  The photo after the match had a load of children in it.”  These young people are part of the future but for now the Ulster Final is giving tremendous satisfaction. 

Nicholl concludes, “It’s the best season in clubs history without doubt. For Faughanvale to be in an Ulster final – to even say that.  Men down the years would have given their right eye for this.  Looking back we had high times in early 90s – playing division one against the Lavey team that went on to win the All-Ireland and we ran them close in league game.  Our teams then were doing well.  Now it’s about the young people, it’s the buy in and the support of the community.  Long may it continue.”

On Sunday the players will get their buzz when they run onto the pitch.  It is their high.  If the result goes to plan it will be a day to remember.  For those behind the scenes, for Conor Nicholl, Paul Bradley, Eamon King, Shane O’Neill and the many others keeping this bandwagon on the road – it will be every bit as sweet. 

 John McLaughlin’s journey to Faughanvale is for another day but nothing comes without dreams or planning and in that regard the ‘Vale are in safe hands.

BOTH SIDES OF THE LINE

Faughanvale v Rockcorry Preview 

BOTH SIDES OF THE LINE

One of the characteristics of a good leader is not asking someone to do something you would not be prepared to do yourself.  Other important characteristics are to inspire and build up relationships where people will want to follow you.  Leaders also need to be able to delegate responsibilities to those they can trust.

This is pretty much the way Faughanvale’s management team works.  As a fellow player Gray is in the trenches with them during the hour and never shirks responsibility.  He has a proven track record of pulling Faughanvale out of countless battles over the years.  This is where the inspiration comes from.  Then once the ball is thrown in he trusts Shay Murrin and Michael McLaughlin to steer the ship – that’s the delegation part of Joe’s leadership.  

Another member of that management team is Ryan King who battled his way back into it after a serious injury and was determined to chip in with any contribution he could offer to turn things around.  These four men are the heartbeat of the new look Faughanvale and on Sunday two will be in the dugout and two will be on the battlefield.

Last Friday night Shay Murrin wasn’t on press duties, he was away organising training, he now lives in Faughanvale but is a native of Killybegs where he led his club to the 2013 county final.  This is the type of man Joe Gray was thinking about when he was assembling his backroom team.

“I’ve got a brilliant management team and I knew before I took the job I needed a real strong management team because when playing a match there is only so much you can see.  You have to trust boys on the sideline to make decisions for you and in Shay and Michael [McLaughlin] I have that in abundance.”

Michael McLaughlin is originally from Sean Dolans and currently coaches the St Columb’s McLarnon team.  When we caught up with him at the weekend he gave us a tremendous insight into the Faughanvale boss.  “I came to speak with Joe Gray at the start of the year and when you speak to a man like him you recognise that, number one he is Faughanvale through and through and secondly he wanted this club driven forward.”

“Myself, Joe and Shay sat in this very room last December and trashed out our plans and it was great as it was three minds well connected.  The players didn’t know me or Shay from Adam so it was a case of two fresh faces and three new voices. We started training in Inspire [in Limavady] with the conditioning work.  The boys had never started preseason like that so it was different and the boys bought in from the start.”

So what is it like when one of your management colleagues is a player?  McLaughlin laughed as he revealed that Gray on a few occasions had to account for his on field performances.  "He’s been at the wrong end of the tongue a few times during games and been asked why he’s standing where he is standing but we are very lucky to have a Joe Gray.  He is an intelligent footballer and should have been playing county football only for soccer exploits.”

As our conversation develops we learn more about how they are getting the best out of their players.  “Me and Shay do the coaching but Joe is the real reason for our success.  He is the man carrying the burden telling boys they are starting or not.”  However, it is the manner that makes the difference and McLaughlin explains.

“The club are lucky he took this on, people respect him.  He is a local hero and he asks you do to something in that mild manner, never aggressive or loud.  When he asks you to do something you just do it – that’s the kind of respect people have for him.”

Michael makes it all sound easy but Joe confesses that management is still a tough job.  “It’s not easy when you have to drop boys that have been my best mates and played with me all through my career.  It is by no means easy but I be honest and tell them what I feel is best for this club and the players have respected that,” adds Gray.

Gray knew that they had to put in a strong foundation at the start to transform their fortunes.  “We met at the start of the year and thrashed out all what happened.  Everyone had their say, we parked it under the table and said how we were going to make this year better and kept it all positive since.”

“We were never getting ahead of ourselves, the priority was to get back into intermediate football and from day one that was our priority.  Once we got promoted we put it to bed and looked at the championship run.  Now we are in an Ulster final we’ll give it a go.”

The Ulster series has brought freshness.  “There is an enjoyment factor playing teams you don’t usually play as we are used to playing the other teams in Derry. It gives us a chance to get around the various county grounds and a wee trip on the bus and it all adds to the excitement and the occasion.  The supporters are also really enjoying the whole experience and they get behind us.” 

Looking ahead to Sunday Joe is as excited as everyone else.  “I know what it would mean to myself, it would probably be the best achievement of my career.  You can always dream and hope.  I will never hold the boys back from that, if you don’t have dreams then you have nothing to drive you to win.”

Rockcorry will prove a tough nut to crack and according to Michael McLaughlin they provide pace, acceleration and power.  “We saw clips of their county final and they never do anything in 2nd or 3rd gear, they always appear to be in top gear.  I know it’s a cliché but you can’t go into a final if you’re not are going to take things right from the off.”

When they gather in the huddle before Sunday’s game the final instructions will be given.  The work and planning will all be complete.  Ryan King will head to the edge of the square, Gray will take up his familiar position on the ‘40’ with Michael McLaughlin and Shay Murrin heading towards the sideline.   It will be almost twelve months since they hatched their plan.  Now it is time to go to work.  They all know their roles and all trust each other.