All-rounder McEntee gives his all for the Orchard cause

IN Joe Kernan’s eyes, he is as good as any footballer in the country.

There aren't too many people in the Orchard county disagreeing with Big Joe at the moment. And nobody will be taking issue with his assessment of Tony McEntee.

If Armagh's ship remains on course to retain their All-Ireland title tomorrow at Croke Park, few players have steered them towards the prize as much as Tony McEntee.

He has covered every blade of grass for Armagh this year. He has started and finished attacks, been the fourth man in their full-back line and moments later, an extra passing option for half-forwards in front of the opposition goal.

McEntee has been afforded this freedom by Kernan, the man who treats both McEntee twins like sons, and by the style of game Armagh play. Like the other two Ulster sides left in the fight for Sam, Armagh use both the contentious blanket-defence system and a sweeper between midfield and defence.

Any time the ball breaks away from Philip Loughran and Paul McGrane, it is in McEntee's remit to mop up. Usually, he does.

"Without a shadow of a doubt, I would place Tony Mac right up there with Seamus Moynihan," says Kernan. "Tony's greatest strength is his versatility. There isn't another footballer who can play at full-back, centre-back, midfield, centre-forward or full-forward."

In his role as Armagh's sweeper, McEntee has found himself in those positions at some stage in each of the Orchard games this year. And will once more against Donegal. While John, his twin at centre-forward, has illustrated a mastery of long-range points it has been Tony who has garnered the plaudits. His display in the second half against Dublin was among the finest individual performances of this year's championship. Eddie Hughes, Crossmaglen chairman, says McEntee's defensive qualities were always what the club wanted to develop.

"Tony would have played most of his under-age football at full-back. And we always felt that he was the strongest asset was in defence. Tony's probably suffered because he is versatile. He hasn't been able to call one position his own."

Which is why his current role for Armagh, call it roving corner-forward or sweeper, suits McEntee perfectly. The power of the twins has always been considered among their greatest attribute, but Jimmy Smyth, the BBC analyst, sees a lot more to their game.

"The biggest problem for them is that they are twins. Nobody can tell them apart so praise for them is always divided," Smyth jokes. "But they are two big, strong footballers. They can take scores, they have this sort of languid style where it might seem they aren't doing much, but they always seem to be in the midst of the action. And they never get flustered. They never panic, even when things aren't going their way."

Smyth recalls Enniskillen Gaels' heart-wrenching defeat to Cross in an Ulster final a few years ago that offers the best example of this quality. With the game finishing in a frenetic manner, both teams falling over themselves in search of a winner, John McEntee took the ball on the sideline about 50 yards out. "With a nonchalance you wouldn't expect from a player in training, he kicked the ball over the bar for the winning point," Smyth recollects.

"Tony is blessed with the same unhurried style, although it's in his job description to cover an awful lot more ground than his brother. It's just until this year, Tony never got the recognition for everything he did for the Orchard cause."

"Last year, when he came on in the All-Ireland final, he made such an important contribution," Kernan remembers. "It was overlooked by most people, but I remember he cut out two Kerry attacks when they were looking for an equaliser by just gently toe-poking a ball into an Armagh chest as cool as you like cutting out two good Kerry chances. To have that sort of calm in those situations, that is something you can't be taught."

Kernan has a special relationship with all the Cross players he nurtured into the finest club side Ulster has produced, but those close to the Armagh team believe Kernan's bond with the McEntees is stronger still.

When Tony had to spend much of last summer on the sidelines, Kernan saw in his grimaces and joy in the dug-out, his own commitment and passion grafted onto a younger person. "Tony grew very frustrated last year. I saw it in each game we played. The further we went, the more it looked like Tony wouldn't be able to help us. And it took its toll on him.

"I think it all came to a head in the drawn game against Sligo, he was on the sideline shouting and roaring and then, when things looked like they were going wrong, he couldn't take it anymore. He left the dug-out."

At the time, McEntee felt he was ready to offer his talents to the cause. Kernan and his management team, so meticulously prepared for every eventuality, thought otherwise. But, as Kernan said, some of the interceptions McEntee made against Kerry were among the most important contributions of the whole adventure. "Aside from having this wonderful footballing brain and being able to read the nuances of the game, Tony simply loves football. He really enjoys playing the game, and that probably also makes him a better player," Kernan says.

If Armagh do negotiate their way past Donegal, you can be sure Tony McEntee's contribution will be one of the first things Joe Kernan will highlight.