Ricey wasn’t expecting that.
Newly appointed Fermanagh manager Rory Gallagher rang Tyrone legend Ryan McMenamin at the beginning of the season to ask whether he’d like to be a part of his management team for the coming year.
The Canadian born Ulster man was at first taken aback by the call, believing it was some sort of wind-up, but after weighing up the situation, he decided to join the team.
“It surprised me. I didn’t know who it was at the start, I thought it was a wind-up, but we got chatting anyway. He asked me to come in, and I was a bit surprised that he did think of asking me, and it was probably something that was never on my radar,” he said on Thursday’s GAA Hour Show.
“I told him I’d have to sit down and think about it, because I was still kicking ball for the club as well, and I was enjoying that in my old age.
As is often the deciding factor in accepting or declining the time-consuming offer of joining a GAA management team, the former Red Hand county half back confided in his wife.
“I chatted it over with Maura, the wife, and she said you might as well have a crack at it.
“So I met Rory, and we sat down and had a chat about football, too, and we found there was a consensus that we could work together in that way.”
After a solid McKenna Cup campaign, and two wins from two games in Division 3 so far, it’s fair to say they’ve started the season well and their assistant manager has high hopes for the season ahead.
“I think they’re better footballers than the division they’re in. We’re going the right way about it at the minute.”
While the All-Ireland is often thought of as a four horse race at max, Ricey has hope for Fermanagh. He has hope for the smaller counties.
“You do hear that there are only three or four teams that can win an all-Ireland. Whether that’s true or not you then talk about the other 27 or 28. Sometimes maybe you forget that there are good footballers outside of the top four that are really good.”
He admitted he’s been surprised at just how much time is required to be involved with the management set-up of a team, and Rory Gallagher is a real standard-bearer for him in that regard.
“The amount of detail that he does put into it is crazy, when you’re getting WhatsApps last night about watching videos of games and that.
“We were going through the last game together there, and when you’re getting that at 11.30 at night you kind of see how much effort he’s putting into it and you have to replicate it. That’s the effort at this level that you really do have to put into it.
“I’d say most management teams are probably doing it. What has taken me aback is the amount of work that’s involved in it, you’re basically leaving your job at 5.00 at a week day, and you’re heading out again to start another job.
“So, basically you’re not back into the house until 10.30 or 11.00 at night. But it’s enjoyable work, and I’m lucky enough that the Fermanagh boys are such good trainers. Other than that, I’d probably be questioning myself.”
You can listen to the McMenamin interview, and much more here from Thursday’s GAA Hour Show.
