I had worked with Marty Dunne, Paul O’Hea and Aidan Cleary when managing Queens so it was easy to chip in where I knew people. My first introduction was watching them play Glack in the Junior/Intermediate promotion game. As I stood watching beside Paul O’Hea Senior and witnessed his vocal torture of the poor referee I knew these city folks weren’t much different to what I had come from in Saul. I’d fit right in!
Gaelic Games are part of my DNA and the people of Pairc Brid were the same. I had never envisaged leaving my home club but life often takes you down different paths and in the end I was more than happy to follow the one that involved my now wife heading back home to Derry with me in tow!
I’ll always be grateful for the opportunities my time as a player and manager of Steelstown Brian Ogs has afforded me. The painful memories of losing the likes of Brian Og, Charlene and Brian Cooper Snr have been tempered with some wonderful memories like the '06 minor semi-final against Kilrea, winning promotion to senior football, our first victory in the Senior Championship against current John McLaughlin Cup holders, Magherafelt, and above all, meeting some terrific people.
I know there’ll be a few raised eyebrows on my selection but here goes!
5. CENTRE-HALF BACK: Paul O'Hea
Heading in to battle, this is a man you want beside you. Normally mild mannered and polite, just put a ball in front of him, ask him to do a job and get out of the way! When the 'attitude adjuster' was needed, Paul always knew where to find it. | jpimedia Photo: Derry Journal
6. HALF-BACK: Paddy Brennan
Now swanning about 'Oz', you'd hardly know just how class a footballer this guy was! A Rolls Royce of a player. Athleticism, great technique, always had time on the ball, always made the right decision. Was a huge loss when he moved away. | jpimedia Photo: Derry Journal
7. SWEEPER: Liam Heffernan
My biggest surprise when I started playing at the club was how little game time 'Heffs' was actually getting. Great reader of a game and his display in the promotion game of 2011 was one of the best Ive ever seen. | jpimedia Photo: Derry Journal
8. MIDFIELD: Darren McDaid
Regardless of the calls from a few to leave him off (just for badness), I can't picture a Steelstown team of mine without him in the middle. Always gave everything he had and was guaranteed to chip in with a score or two. | jpimedia Photo: Derry Journal