Meandering paths of football magicians to meet

JOE KAVANAGH and Kieran McDonald took remarkably different paths to today's All-Ireland quarter-final but both were inspired by an enduring love of the game.

Kavanagh has journeyed from football hell utilising the healing powers of his own body and the hands of chiropractor Virginia Cantillon. The Mayo man by comparison has had to battle the personal demons to secure a place on the sideline today.

Yet both share the wonderful ability to light up their art with moments of inspiration.

Kavanagh has scored some of the most spectacular goals ever seen on a Gaelic pitch in his decade of service to Cork.

McDonald has ruled Croke Park for club and county, as Joe and Nemo Rangers know all to well.

But Kavanagh has never lost to Mayo when in his Cork attire, something which he hopes to continue.

He said: “I’ve won minor and U-21 All-Ireland medals at Mayo’s expense in 1991 and 1994 respectively, and having also won an All-Ireland Club medal with Nemo, I would dearly love to complete the set.”

He back on the team after a serious back problem that threatened to end his football career.

“Wear and tear has a lot to do with it, and about two years ago I began to feel very uncomfortable after games. It used to take me a couple of days to recover.

“I should have taken notice of the warning signs but there was always the fear in the back of my mind that if I took a break and Cork went on to win an All-Ireland, I’d regret it for the rest of my life.

“I continued for a couple of more months which only made matters worse, and I finally had to give into the injury and take a complete break. Reluctantly I stopped playing after the qualifying game against Galway last year. It game me plenty of time to think about my future, and I have to be honest and say there were times when I thought it was all over for me.

“I’m still only 29-years-old, and surely there was at least another three years in me, but the injury was serious and not worth the risk.”

But what of McDonald. And what of his role on the bench. One man among many who feels the golden-haired forward should start the game is Jarlath Cunningham, who worked closely with McDonald and many of his team-mates during his two years as a psychologist with the player’s club, Crossmolina.

Now plying his trade with Peter Forde’s Sligo, Cunningham was eager to talk about the significance of McDonald’s to his native’s county’s cause since his dramatic return to the panel.

“I think he should start,” he said. “You have to go with your best players and Kieran would walk onto any top class side in the country. He has an All-Ireland club medal, he’s in his late twenties and he’s seen all this before.”

McDonald is undoubtedly a gifted footballer, but with three withdrawals from the county panel in his eight years with the seniors some have questioned his commitment. It’s a notion Cunningham quashes with haste.

“It probably has hurt a few of the lads, but you’ll have that,” he said. “Rio Ferdinand goes to Manchester United for £30m and Dennis Irwin leaves for Wolves at the same time. That’s sport, these things happen. If you want sport where only nice things happen go to the community games in Mosney.

“Tactically, it’s a great move by Pat. Kieran has that touch of class and he’s such a brilliant all-round player. Croke Park will suit him too and he’ll be able to put balls into spaces other people couldn’t imagine. He’s the Trevor Giles of Mayo football and although he isn’t a great talker, he shows his leadership through his play and he absolutely hates losing. He’ll be sitting on that bench itching to get in.”

But the notion the westerners are a one-man outfit is an idea Cunningham wishes to put to bed: “Mayo have a lot of other players aside from Kieran. James Nallen (who returns to the side after injury) is my role modal of a footballer and the likes of Colm McMenaman are handy players too.

“A lot of people have been saying they will be worried by Cork, but they have one player in Corkery who will score a lot of points probably, but then Kieran would too and the rest are no better than Mayo’s lads. I saw him come on against Tipp and his appearance completely lifted the crowd.”

What price a repeat today?