Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship preview
By Kevin Herron
More known for his exploits on the soccer field, Clitonville legend Chris Scannell opened up on his experience of playing for Lámh Dhearg and starting on County final day back in 2006.
Scannell scored 153 goals for Cliftonville in 456 appearances before bowing out in 2014 -a back to back league winner.
Perhaps unknown to the Solitude faithful; Scannell split his loyalties between the North Belfast Reds and the Hannahstown Reds back in 2006 and almost ended a short Gaelic career with a county title – but for an agonising extra-time defeat against Cargin in Casement Park.
The 42-year old explained how the Lámhs management duo at the time (Jim Herron and Brendan Lenahan) persuaded him to take up the game, after a previous stint with local club St James’ Aldergrove as a youngster.
“I knew Bandy [Brendan Lenahan] from Crumlin United football club and he also helped out with St James, Aldergrove when we were kids” explains Scannell.
“I played up until I was about 16 and minor level with St James’ but they weren’t great at that time and I drifted into the football. My Dad[Gerry Scannell] would have known Bandy well from Crumlin United reserves and he turned up to a pre-season game with Jim [Herron] at Crewe United and said they were looking a word with me about playing. I said to Bandy and Jim – I haven’t played Gaelic in 12 or 13 years. They said they thought I could come down and do a job and Bandy sort of sweet talked me into it to be honest”.
“I ended up coming down and meeting the boys and having a chat, I knew Kevin Murray – who was captain at the time. He lived out in Crumlin and Kev encouraged me to come in and give it a go. He would have been playing county level at that stage and I hadn’t really a clue what I was doing; if you talk to some of the boys they will probably tell you the same – but I enjoyed it”.
Lenahan and Herron succeeded in persuading Scannell to join at the second time of asking, the first attempt fell through due to a trip to Australia and there was also further diligence is persuading Reds boss Eddie Patterson to agree to let his star striker spread himself across two sports.
“The first time Bandy chatted to me about it, I told him I was on my way to Australia and there was no point in me trying” admits Scannell.
“I came back and was doing pre-season at Cliftonville and they spoke to me again. I had a professional contact at Cliftonville and they weren’t too keen on me playing. There was a wee bit of persuasion on Eddie Patterson – he had the final say and I think Jim had a chat with him about how he managed and eventually Eddie came round to the idea. Jim is a very persuasive man, what can I say”.
Scannell admits that his week was quite demanding – including five days of training and two matches over the course of the weekend.
“I was pretty much training every night of the week at that stage” Scannell recalls.
“Cliftonville were doing three nights and Lámh Dhearg were trying to do three nights and games on a Saturday as well. Cliftonville came first because they were paying a wage and they got three-nights training and the other do days I fitted around. I was training Monday to Friday, a light session on a Friday because of a match with Cliftonville on a Saturday and a match with Lámh Dhearg on a Sunday”.
“It was pretty intense and probably only worked because I hadn’t a family at that stage, I’d no kids so I was able to go out and do it. It was another reason for doing it because I’m at an age now, where if I’m not playing I can’t do it. It was a really intense year, I don’t think my wife (fiancé at that stage) was best pleased because I didn’t get to see her a lot, but I really enjoyed the year”.
On the day of the final itself, Scannell remembers the pre-match nerves and credited the experienced Cargin side for getting over the line on the day.
“I remember being nervous on the day with it being a county final” revealed Scannell.
“I remember my dad had played a couple with St Teresa’s a while back, I thought it would be nice to get a medal and continue that in the family history with a different club. I remember being nervous on the day and turning up and not feeling great. I got hit on the stomach and ended up vomiting on the pitch – it wasn’t anything to do with the nerves”.
“We were more than a match for them, I think we started slowly and then came back into it. They’d a man sent-off but we didn’t take advantage of it and to be honest, Cargin were probably the better side and more experienced side – with more county experience. They knew how to get over the line, at full-time they were able to get their full compliment back and sneaked ahead. Their experience counted and they knew how to get over the line”.
“Overall, I enjoyed the year but it was disappointing in the end and you could sense the disappointment because we hadn’t won it for so long. It meant so much to people around the club and talking to club-men about two-years ago, there were full grown men in tears. Talking to Joe McNeill – he was telling me how good it was to win it two years ago and hopefully they can go ahead and do it again”.
Although an injury set-back saw the Reds skipper miss almost the whole of the 2012-13 winning title camapaign, Scannell lifted the Gibson Cup – Cliftonville’s first in 15-years. The Lámhs had to wait longer to lift the Padraig McNamee Cup (25 years) before success two years ago and Scannell believes that success on Sunday could be a massive boost going forward.
“A win on Sunday would make such a massive difference to the club” Scannell insists.
“It can give everyone that shot in the arm of enthusiasm and to carry it on. I know the club had underage success coming through before making the breakthrough two years ago – but you always want to get the senior championship. Hopefully they can drive on, on Sunday and do it again”.
A family holiday in Dubai meant that Scannell missed last Thursday’s marathon replay with Portglenone, though he admits he was given a blow-by-blow account by friend Joe McNeill and paid tribute to his former club-mates for their role in the current team.
“I didn’t get watching the game last week” said Scannell.
“I knew the result but I was away on holiday in Dubai – otherwise I probably would have been down at it. I was getting my haircut in Dunmurry and the boy that cut my hair plays for Aldergrove. I was talking to him about it – knowing I was going to be away. I knew I wouldn’t get to it but I was delighted to hear they won. Paddy [Cunningham] turned up and did his stuff and the other boys did well including Conor [Murray] and talking to Joe McNeill – I got a blow by blow account”.
“I’m surprised that John Finucane is still playing – his hands are probably full, given what he has taken on with Lord Major duties. Micko [Michael Herron] is a fit man and will probably be playing until he is 40, he’s always looked after himself. I knew Conor through Kevin and it’s a testament to them that they’re still playing and for the dedication to keep playing at that higher level. Their fitness is a testament to how they look after themselves and I wish them every success for Sunday”.