Our Games With… Down’s Stephen Kearney

Name: Stephen Kearney.

Teams played for:

Newry Mitchel’s, Saval, Armagh Nortre Dame, Boston and Down. I’ll get a fair bit of slagging over this one.

Current involvement:

I am a coach with the Dromintee men’s senior team.

Which club game, that you played in, will you never forget and why?

This may sound like a strange choice but it was a fairly meaningless away club game against Kilcoo around 2010/11. I was playing midfield alongside big Peter Turley, God rest him. I just remember he was immense that day, he was unplayable. There was a bit of a dust up in the last few minutes as well and we managed to come away with the two points.

Which club game, that you watched, will you never forget and why?

I have vivid memories of watching Cross playing in various All-Ireland finals and being blown away by their athleticism and long kick-passing accuracy. However, It’s probably the most recent club final in Armagh. Maghery got their tactics spot on against Cross and I learned a few things myself from a coaching perspective that hopefully I can use.

Which county game, that you played in, will you never forget and why?

I can’t really look past the night in Páirc Esler when Down beat Tyrone in the Championship in 2008. Ironically, they went on to win the All-Ireland that year but the atmosphere under lights in Newry on a Saturday was electric. I’ve yet to experience an atmosphere like it.

Which county game, that you watched, will you never forget and why?

Down’s 1994 All-Ireland win was unforgettable. I would have been 12 or 13 at the time. I remember the team coming down the Dublin Road in Newry to thousands of people.

What was the funniest thing you ever saw in a game?

Simple one this. While playing for Down in Newcastle I think, the referee dropped his cards. Rony Sexton was involved in a few ‘incidents’ before this and he lifted the cards and showed the ref the red card. Typical Rony, very witty.

What was the strangest thing you ever saw in a game?

I remember playing a league game in Derryleckagh and a team mate scored a wonder goal in the top corner. It hit the stanchion and came back out. The opposition knew it was a goal but just played on. The referee never gave it. I think we may have been beaten that day and their players were laughing about it coming off the pitch.

What was the most memorable performance from a player in a game that you watched?

Maybe a bit of cliché but I remember watching Maurice Fitzgerald’s equalising point against from the sideline against Dublin around 2001. I was always fascinated by his style and technique. That effort alone has stayed with me.

What was the most memorable performance from a player in a game that you played?

Strangely, I came on as a defender against Donegal in 2010 in Ballybofey. Benny Coulter was simply outstanding that day. His speed of thought and skill level was a notch above anyone else and I think that victory instilled a belief in Down that year that, on their day, they were as good as anyone in the country.

What did you love about the games you played in?

I loved scoring in games but I used to get great satisfaction from being a link-man and setting up moves or assisting scores with passes that would open up a defence.

What did you hate about the games you played in?

Tracking the runs of young lads when I came to the end of my career knowing that you just couldn’t get there anymore. I think all players experience that moment they will never forget when they know their time is up!