Antrim Players: Aidan Hamill (Moneyglass), Eamon Kelly (Moneyglass) ,Liam Quinn (Creggan) , Dominic McAteer (Creggan), Morgan Nelson (Creggan), Ciaran O’Neill (Tir na nOg), Kevin Brady (Manager), Ciaran McAteer (Creggan) and Jamie McCann (Creggan) who are part of the St. Mary’s Magherafelt panel.
Earlier today I conducted and posted an interview with David Wilson, manager of St. Ronan’s Lurgan who play St. Mary’s Magherafelt in Monday’s MacLarnon Cup final at the Athletics Ground in Armagh. Here is an interview with Kevin Brady, manager of the St. Mary’s team who will be going for two MacRory titles in a row on Monday.
Paddy Mac: Kevin I’ve known you for many years and have had the privilege of seeing you play for both Moneyglass and Antrim. What were the highlights of your playing career for your club and what were the highlights of your Antrim career?
Kevin Brady: Club – winning a couple of Intermediate Championships with Moneyglass and then getting a run in Ulster one year when we got to the Ulster Intermediate final.
County – will obviously never forget 2000 when Antrim beat Down in the 1st round of the Ulster Championship for the first time in 18 years and then the infamous draw with Derry in the semi-final. Other highlights include captaining the County which was an honour and of course our great run to the Ulster final of 2009.
Paddy Mac: I know you were manager of the St. Mary’s team last year. How long have you taught in the college and how long have you managed the MacRory team?
Kevin Brady: this is my 6th year in St. Marys and my 4th managing the MacRory team. The first 2 years we didn’t have much luck but the last two have been very rewarding.
Paddy Mac: I have a brief recollection of a MacRory final where Kevin Madden and Paul McErlain (Moneyglass) played for St. Mary’s against St. Pat’s Maghera. I think Pat McAnearney refereed it. Maghera won it and there was a bit of fisticuffs after it. Can you recall the game I’m talking about, what year it was and your thoughts on it?
Kevin Brady: it was 1996 in Coalisland, though I was actually a St. Pat’s Maghera man – I went there from 1st year. I was in lower 6th and a sub for that final. We came up against Kevin Madden and Paul McErlain and there were other Antrim men on that panel too at the ‘Convent’. There was a lot of hype around the local community in the lead up to the game and the pressure got to the players and it spilled out onto the pitch that day. Maghera were victorious on that occasion but the Convent had an excellent team too.
Paddy Mac: There are quite a number of players from Antrim clubs on the St. Mary’s team and panel. Give me your thoughts on these players and the part they have played in your journey to this year’s final?
Kevin Brady: The Antrim players have more than played their part over the last 2 seasons in fact. It is great to see from an Antrim man’s point of view and is testament to the good coaching going on in these clubs. It is good to see them ‘hold their own’ in this company and get to play on the biggest stage at this level. I hope it will translate to a good future for Antrim football.
Paddy Mac: What can you tell us about St. Ronan’s Lurgan?
Kevin Brady: We have been very impressed with them for 2 years now and know that they are going to be formidable opposition in Monday’s final. They too have a big Antrim contingent which is great to see and Aghagallon must be a very proud club at present. Their players backbone this current St. Ronan’s team and there is no doubt that the Antrim players on both teams will have come across each other lots at underage level. It makes it very interesting.
Paddy Mac: How do you see Monday’s final going and how much will playing in and winning last year’s MacRory stand to you?
Kevin Brady: I certainly hope that the experience of last year stands to our boys though I’m sure St. Ronan’s will relish their first final and the opportunity to make history. We too can make history so it’s all to play for. It should be a high scoring but close encounter and I just hope we come out on the right side of it.