Featured photograph: Courtesy of John Lawell
Michael Morgan became the unlikely hero for St. Enda’s at the Athletic Grounds on Saturday evening when he came off the bench to fire over the two late points which sent the Glengormley side into the Ulster Intermediate final.
A piece of tactical genius by manager Frank Fitzsimmons or a lucky call, no doubt big Frank will be claiming the former but at the end of the day nobody at the Hightown club will care as it was Morgan’s scores that ultimately settled a tight contest.
Watching the action unfold and the dramatic finish I found myself asking, who is Michael Morgan and where did he come from. The Saffron Gael has followed a lot of St. Enda’s games this year including their run through the Antrim championship and personally I have enjoyed the progress of this very entertaining side.
St. Enda’s play a brand of football that is easy on the eye and are loaded with players who are slowly becoming household names as their reputation has grown through a successful first season in division 1 and their run to a first Antrim football championship.
The names of Michael McNamee, James McAuley, Joe Maskey, Philly Curran, Peter Healey, Odhran Eastwood, Eoin Nagle and Ruairi Scott, just to mention a few flow easily of the lip but I had to search through recent team sheets just to see where Michael Morgan had figured in this year’s successful run.
Morgan didn’t figure in the St. Enda’s win over Doohamlet in the quarter-final or in the Antrim final against Gort na Mona and he made only a cameo appearance against Moneyglass in the semi-final when he replaced Philly Curran in the 61st minute.
In the quarter-final against Davitt’s Morgan came off the bench to replace Ruairi Scott and weighed in with a goal as St. Enda’s ran rampant, racking up 5-17 against the boys from the lower Falls and prior to that he again came on as a substitute and scored a point in the Glengormley side’s opening championship win against St. Paul’s.
The Saffron Gael spoke to Michael following his match winning cameo appearance for St. Enda’s and put the following questions to him.
Michael Morgan Interview
Saffron Gael: Michael you were an unlikely match winner prior to Saturday’s starring role as a substitute. Tell us what you remember about it and what your thoughts were when you were told you were about to be introduced?
Michael Morgan: To be honest I don’t remember it much, i was just told to keep warm in case I was called upon, and when Ethan Gibson got the black, I was needed. The headlines may have my name in it but it was 20 other lads as well that got us into an Ulster final.
Saffron Gael: You haven’t played a lot of first team football this year. Tell us something about yourself, how long have you played for St. Enda’s, what honours have you won and anything else you think is appropriate .
M.M.: I think I played our first 5/6 games of the season, was playing well and scoring at the start of the season. I’m and electrician and on May Day this year I had to go to London to work. I enjoyed my time there but I was happy to get home end of September for championship. I came home every other weekend but with the massive breaks in Antrim league football it just didn’t work in my favour and I missed a lot of important league games. I’ve played for St Enda’s from I was 10, I was a dual player up until senior level, I just didn’t have the love for hurling that I have for football. I’m 23 now so still time to maybe get a championship medal in hurling! My cousin Joe Maskey has been at me to get back, he’s confident I would get a game in hurling. I won division 3 football in my second senior season a few years ago, we went onto get a promotion last year from 2 to 1 and I think with the squad we have we should be able to push on in the next few years
Saffron Gael: There must be a great buzz around the club at present. Give us your thoughts on what difference Frank Fitzsimmons and his backroom team have made since coming in.
M.M.: The buzz is unbelievable, the professionalism Frank has brought into the team is brilliant. He has a great backroom team in Pat Hughes and Thomas McNulty, they know there stuff as well. I personally get on very well with Frank, He shows a lot of belief in us and it’s coming out on the pitch in everyone! We are one win away from playing in an All Ireland semi -final, If that doesn’t push us over the line I don’t know what will.
Saffron Gael: As I suggested earlier, you haven’t played a lot of senior football this year. Do you think that your performance in Armagh will make it difficult for the management to leave you out of the starting line-up for the final or will you be happy to play your part of the bench again if called upon.
M.M.: It’s a tough one, I’m itching to play and get back in that starting lineup, whatever Frank decides I will do the job, I haven’t been playing as much as I’m used to but it has honestly only gave me more drive to do a job when I get the chance. Frank manages all the squad well and we know the starting 15 won’t be the 15 to finish the match.I’m sure I’ll find out soon but right now it’s about refocusing as a squad and going out to do a professional job.