Cian McConville: On the inside looking out

By Michael McMullan

AFTER waiting in the wings, waiting for his chance, Cian McConville has taken it with both hands. While not making a big deal of it, it’s now his time.

With eight minutes on the clock in Sunday’s Ulster final and Armagh trailed by three points.

Despite going in as favourites, they were wasteful in front of goal. Darragh McMullen had missed chances for one and two-point scores.

When Dylan Byrne denied McMullen a goal, Conaty’s powerful daisy cutter from the rebound came off Beggan’s leg before Byrne threw himself in ahead of Andrew Murnin.

The chance was gone but referee Paddy Neilan had allowed an advantage before going back for the initial free.

Every set of eyes were locked in on McConville as he stepped back to kick the free. Amidst a chorus on Monaghan boos, the Crossmaglen man landed an important score.

Having been replaced in normal time, McConville was back in for extra-time. Monaghan nosed ahead for the final time with Stephen O’Hanlon’s sixth point.

Seconds later, Conaty’s searing pace won a free and McConville was back in the same spot as his first kick.

It was time for another intake of breath, zoning out from the boos before levelling the game.

Armagh never looked back, hitting another unanswered 1-6 to make sure they’d have Anglo Celt Cup on their bus dashboard.

“The boys (Armagh players) were slagging me,” McConville said. “I missed a handy one the last day, so I couldn’t miss those two.”

McConville’s game was about more than two points on Sunday. He was the link man in a system that demands it.

Like he did against Down, he began at wing back. When Blaine Hughes was faced with his first kick-out, McConville showed to take possession ahead of a double tackle, used his solo and go and Armagh were out the other side.

As part of last week’s Gaelic Lives preview pod, John McEntee and Dessie Ward agreed how McConville epitomised how panellists hung in when not getting game time.

After coming on as a sub for Stefan Campbell for his league debut, against Donegal, in the final round of 2022, McConville just had to bide his time.

DEBUT…Cian McConville pictured with Greg McCabe on his his league debut against Donegal in 2022

Of his 13 appearances before this season, the only time he started and finished the same game was last summer’s dead rubber defeat to Galway in the All-Ireland group stages.

In Armagh’s All-Ireland year, he started three consecutive league games but never kicked a championship ball.

Fast forward to now and he missed just two minutes of league action and has started every game bar the opening McKenna Cup game against Tyrone.

McConville has been the leading forward at club level in the county but got his chance this season. Yes, players haved stepped away but persistence is King too.

It’s hard to see where Armagh would without the 1-35 he has kicked this season in all competitions.

In other counties, players expect to start when stepping into a county dressing room initially. They are out the gap when they realise game time isn’t a gimme.. Asked about his own level determination to get a starting jersey, McConville goves a nugget of the general mindset.

“It’s a testament to the character of the whole squad,” he said, battling with the Clones speakers, belting out Freed from Desire.

Even the dominant line in the song is relevant to McConville and the Armagh group refusing to accept no as answer – “he’s got his strong beliefs”

“It’s not an individual thing,” he added of trucking away at training. “It’s what’s required to play for Armagh, that’s the sort of standard we set.

“If you’re up to meet the standard, you will get playing. It’s a high standard, but that’s the way you want to have it.”

The moments of success give a glimmer of what’s under the bonnet of a team who stepped into Clones, having experienced the full array of what a rollercoaster can spit out.

Relief. Hurt. Getting over the line. The sweetness of victory that is a contrast to the bitterness and darkness of the past three visits to Ulster biggest footballing stage.

Celebration time in Clones

“We’ve been there before so it’s probably nothing new for us,” McConville calmy relays with the composure they did everything with on Sunday.

How they stepped off the bus, kept their eyes front and centre as they stepped into their world. The dressing room. The cocoon. The bubble. That place only those on the inside can ever fully know.

“We just stick to what we do,” McConville said. “We trained for that all week; we train for scenarios like that.

“We know no-one’s going to hand us anything. We’re comfortable in those types of situations.”

They know it all too well. They know how Mongahan roll. There has been enough disappointment to keep the focus sharp.

In the past, it was Stefan Campbell who was the super sub. Now it’s Oisin O’Neill.

McConville talks of the lift he gets – that they all get – when O’Neill steps into the arena. He mentions others. Daniel Magee’s vital possessions.

As someone who spent five years looking in himself, McConville can appreciate the importance of having everyone.

There always has to be one conductor. That person is Kieran McGeeney. Leader. Icon. A figure head. Armagh to the core.

“He’s the driving force behind it all,” McConville said of a manager he spent four seasons trying to win over.

“He’s brought us to days like this. The last five years, we’ve probably been on a journey on big days like this.

“It’s just nice to be able to pay that back a wee bit for all the time he’s dedicated to Armagh too.”

Welcome to the world of Armagh and the inner workings. It’s about everyone. Those in possession of a starting spot and those who don’t.

Cian McConville now knows both sides, except he is inside the white lines, looking out.

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