Ryan McCluskey wouldn’t change a thing.
Over a decade’s service to his county, too many nearly stories and nothing really to show for it. No silverware, no McKenna Cup medals, not even some form of league success along the way.
But the Fermanagh man would do it all again. Warts and all.
He’s seen the idea for an intermediate championship to help some of the so-called weaker counties contest for more realistic honours and he doesn’t like it.
The Erne county probably won’t win an All-Ireland this year or even for the rest of the 33-year-old’s playing career but twice they were within touching distance of the big time when they took Mayo to a semi final replay in 2004. That’s where Ryan McCluskey wants to be, even if he never makes it. That’s why he’s in this business. Even if it hurts being a Fermanagh man.
“That highlights the point: to get to the semi final and be within touching distance of a final and a chance to get your hands on the Holy Grail, that would’ve been something remarkable,” McCluskey spoke with SportsJOE.ie. “It’s hard, I haven’t brought myself around to watching either of the semi finals, and it was absolutely gutting at the time. But I don’t think I would sacrifice having the opportunity to try and get back to anywhere near that again.
“I would take a semi final in the All-Ireland series ahead of an intermediate final medal or junior final medal at this stage. A lot of lads I think would definitely be the same.
“It’s something you want to aspire to. And I’m not disrespecting club junior or intermediate because I know when lads win a junior championship, their focus turns to the intermediate prize, and sides who win intermediate turn their focus to establishing themselves as a senior team.”
McCluskey was at the last GPA meeting where even the suggestion of altering the provincial championships were unanimously dismissed. He does want to see change to fixtures however, but not the format. He doesn’t want to be playing at any other level.
“There’s definitely a need for a restructure in the GAA,” he said. “But, regarding ourselves, and I’m sure I’m speaking on behalf of the rest of the Fermanagh lads as well, you’re working and training so hard each year at the same level as all the other sides, I don’t think players would want to drop down to an intermediate or junior category.
“When you’re training at that elite level, players want to be given the chance to play against the elite as well and put yourself against those to see where you’re at.”
McCluskey, who has ventured into a new analysis business with tagitstats, has played Irish League with Portadown and he reckons that the GAA could learn a lot from the way the soccer is run. If they are to really address the issue of fixtures.
“The championship structure needs restructured,” he said. “I honestly believe that clubs have suffered over the last number of years because of county setups and it’s something that really needs to be addressed by the new president. It would be nice for him to have a look at it because I think clubs have suffered over the years.
“It would be nice if there was some sort of integration between the two leagues. I think it would give more impetus to the club player and it would give more importance to the club fixture where they would have the chance – like an international call-up – of maybe getting a call-up to play for their counties.
“And, yes, coming up to the end of the league campaign, the squad will almost be picked for the provincial intercounty championship series.
“There’s been a fixture problem for years. It is such a big commitment during the season that players need to be given that time off. You only have to look at our soccer counterparts. Speaking from the Irish Premier League side, they’d have the guts of six weeks off. Players need it to really recharge the batteries. Yes, you do miss out on a lot of family time and stuff but it just means there’s that wee bit more freshness when you’re getting back.
“It’s more so for the younger players in the U21s and minors. There are some young lads involved with club sides and county minors and U21s and some of them are involved in senior teams – there’s a few of them on our side – it’s just non-stop for them. And obviously if they’re involved with universities, it’s absolute madness. It’s unfair as well because, at that age, they maybe haven’t got the will-power to talk to managers like I suppose you would have when you’re a bit older. So unfortunately they’re getting pulled from pillar to post.”
Fermanagh did the business in Wexford last weekend and, even with a game to spare, they are gearing up for a Division Three final with Armagh. That represents the possibility of McCluskey’s first piece of silverware for his county and it’s something that helps with the slog along the way.
But it isn’t really a slog. It’s tough work but he does it because he loves it.
“Over the years we’ve complained that each year it’s getting worse and worse and worse and that there’s more commitment but if the players sign up to the agreement at the start of the year, they’re willing to give those sacrifices. We enjoy doing it at the end of the day.
“It can be tough as well at times, we’ve had a few tough years ourselves and, when you’re giving so much commitment and not getting any rewards, it is tough. But it’s nice now that the hard work thus far has paid off and it’s nice to be sitting in a final with a game to spare.
“It would be lovely to be sitting with silverware of any kind and be able to show my nephews and nieces and children but I suppose that’s sort of what keeps driving you on as well and you still want to get to the top, not settle. It’s the enjoyment thing too – it is a lot of sacrifice and it is a lot of commitment – but I enjoy it as well and I know for a fact that when that day comes when I have to stop playing, I’m definitely going to miss it.”
When the day comes, he’s already talking about coaching, managing. He’ll already be looking at another way of getting his hands on the Holy Grail.
Not a diluted version of it.
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