Sun-worshipping not a guaranteed route to success

DURING the last decade of decadence anyone who visited an airport at this time of the year was almost certain to bump into a county squad destined for the sunny climes of the continent.

Amateur historians will quickly diagnose this trend as yet another manifestation of the ‘Cappuccino Years’ gone wild.

But while this conclusion is understandable, it isn’t strictly true. Even when Armagh started the craze with their trip to La Manga in 2002 it was considered a lavish experiment — up until about 5pm on September 22 of that year.

By winning the All-Ireland title, Armagh gave hope to all the also-rans.

Bear in mind that by 2002 nine long years had passed since Derry became the last county to be inscribed on the roll of honour for the first time.

After the early 90s, the aristocrats returned to power, with Dublin, Meath, Kerry, and Galway showing that old money still holds the most currency in the GAA.

The resumption of the status quo stifled the ambition of the perennial nearly men.

While many boards and businessmen are willing to bankroll their teams, experience has taught them not to go buck-mad as, come September, it will probably be a Kerry captain on the steps of the Hogan Stand.

Armagh’s victory in 2002 changed that mindset.

Apart from an Ulster U21 title in 1998 and Crossmaglen’s achievements at club level, there was little to distinguish the Orchard County from a host of other teams.

The collective rationale across the country was ‘if Armagh can do it, then so can we’; hence the mass exodus to destinations like Lanzarote, La Manga, and the Algarve.

And make no mistake, if new teams had continued to attain September glory, Dublin airport would probably still be choc-a-bloc with county footballers at the check-in counters.

The real reason for the waning popularity of the foreign training camp is because Tyrone and Kerry have won every All-Ireland crown since 2002.

Tyrone’s success has been the chief deterrent.

While other counties were coughing up thousands on trips to manicured golf resorts, Mickey Harte’s squad were enjoying the sweet aromas of Greenmount Agricultural College outside Antrim. Kerry, it must be conceded, did adopt the practice of the warm-weather training camps and Jack O’Connor’s men spent last week at the five-star Amendoeira Golf Resort on the Algarve.

But the popular view holds that Kerry would be winning All-Irelands even if they were training on top of Macgillycuddy’s Reeks.

Last year’s Armagh U21 team can also testify to the benefits of a training camp in which a football isn’t kicked.

A totally unheralded outfit with no success at minor level, Brian McAlinden’s team came close to winning last year’s Ulster title. With his U21s, McAlinden took them into the wilderness. Believing that they were going to spend the weekend at a swanky hotel, the Armagh lads boarded the bus with their kit-bags packed with clothes and toiletries.

Confusion and surprise were the main emotions when they pulled up at an isolated farm in Nobber, Co Meath.

Team trainer and Irish army soldier Wayne Callan had organised a survival weekend.

The weekend began with some tuition from one of Callan’s army colleagues.

Standing in the farmyard, the soldier lifted a chicken — and sliced its head off.

Holding the chicken’s head in his hand, he released the body which proceeded to run frantically around the yard. The soldier then threw the head of the chicken to an Armagh player, who caught it.

The player fainted when the chicken blinked as he held it in his hands.

The players spent two nights sleeping outside without any tents. Worms formed the main course of one meal.

The weekend in the woods maybe revealed and nurtured the strength of character which helped Armagh to defy the odds and qualify for last year’s Ulster final.

With mere seconds remaining in last year’s decider they led by two points. A blocked shot resulted in Down winning possession. Pete McGrath’s side worked the ball the length of the field and scored the winning goal.

It would be a mistake to think that Armagh’s defeat meant that the survival expedition was a worthless venture. The winners also endured their share of hardship.

McGrath’s players had spent the winter running up the Mournes. Starting in Rostrevor, they made the steep ascent to the ancient Cloughmore Boulder, which overlooks Carlingford Lough.

Uphill stamina runs go against the grain of all modern football training.

The physical benefits are thought to be negligible. But psychological rewards can clearly be extracted from such exercises.

Whether it’s running up a mountain trail, eating worms, or sprinting to exhaustion at Greenmount, players bond from a shared hardship. A manager can also discover who he can trust when the going gets really tough.

Cheap yet valuable lessons that can be learned without a trip to the sun.

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