Clarke: McKeever will be a real players’ man

RONAN Clarke believes that Ciaran McKeever will become a firm favourite of the Armagh players when he meets up with the squad when inter-county teams are allowed to return to training.

As revealed by Gaelic Life, the Cullyhanna man has been added to Kieran McGeeney’s management team as a coach. Kerry’s Kieran Donaghy has also come into the backroom team following the decision of Jim McCorry, Paddy McKeever and John Toal to step away.

Clarke is very familiar with McKeever’s attributes having played with him for the Orchard county while he also coached alongside him with the Armagh minors last season.

The 2002 Young Footballer of the Year believes that McKeever can have a similar impact to that of Paul Grimley, who was immensely popular in his two spells with the Armagh team (2002-06 and 2012-14).

“The biggest thing for Ciaran is that he is a players’ man, he reminds me of Paul Grimley,” Clarke said. “He will be someone who will really look out for the players.

“He knows what will need to be done on the training field and he will get the right responses from people.

“Some boys need the arm around the shoulder and some boys need a good kick up the ass – and no better man to give it.

“It is a great appointment for him and Armagh. I’m so glad for him because he has been working so hard with his coaching the last few years.”

Clarke said that McKeever’s attention to detail would have been one of the things that caught McGeeney’s eye as the Orchard county prepare for a first taste of Division One football since 2012.

McKeever actually scored a point in their last top-flight game – a 0-13 to 0-10 loss to Donegal, and there is a one in three chance that their return will be against the Tir Chonaill county as their league group will feature those two counties along with Ulster rivals Tyrone and Monaghan.

“I was with Ciaran at the u-17s last year and I enjoyed my time there. I learned a lot, you’re always learning as a coach and Ciaran will be the same.

“Ciaran had everything down to a fine art, what we were doing in training sessions, our game-plan, and the boys always responded well to him and I have no doubt the seniors will too.”

Meanwhile, Peter McDonnell will continue as Armagh’s u-20 manager for another season after being ratified at an online county board meeting.

McDonnell, who is also involved with the Mullaghbawn seniors at present, took the county to the 2018 Ulster U-20 final where they lost out to Derry.