Tierney knows what makes local boys tick

BENNY TIERNEY agrees. There might be something in the Mullaghbawn water. Kieran McGeeney a manager, Justin McNulty a manager, Margaret Byrne being named the chief executive of Sunderland AFC this week.

“Ah, but then look at me,” chuckles the gregarious former Armagh goalkeeper.

Tierney’s comedic tendencies couldn’t be more different to the austere fronts shown by his club-mates McGeeney and McNulty, who will do battle against one another in Portlaoise this evening.

As a player, he was a different breed to them.

Whether it was with the club or Armagh, they were always the last to leave the pitch.

“With Armagh (in Crossmaglen), they were dogs for training. I’d be showered and driving out of the place and they’d still be out there working on their skills and fitness. And they were driving back to Dublin!

“I was only 20 minutes down the road in Mullaghbawn!”

They were players who maximised their full potential, says Tierney. Every ounce was left out on the field whether it was training or a game. For them, the lines between a Thursday evening and a Sunday afternoon were blurred.

“Out of the panel of 25 to 30, you’d have six or seven who trained like it was a match.

“You didn’t want to mark either of them, no matter how close a friend they were to you.

“Diarmaid Marsden was one of those who did like taking them on but only coming up to a championship match so he could get used to getting busted. The more you came back at them the more they respected you. It would often come to blows but there’d be an arm put around you at the end of the session. That’s the way it was for them, for us.”

As much as they took their football seriously, Tierney believes the public doesn’t yet have an accurate perception of the Kildare and Laois managers’ personalities.

“Justy was one of the team jokers, or so he liked to think he was. He told jokes that make nobody laugh but he seemed to get a kick out of that, you know, annoying you. He took delight in that. It was a failure to him if everyone laughed. His favourite joke was ‘did you hear about the magic tractor? It went down the road and turned into a field’.

“Anyone who has been out with Geezer knows how much good craic he is.

“It’s a bit of a shame not many people have ever seen that side of him.”

In Mullaghbawn, they rightly take great pride in 2002’s All-Ireland victory and the four men who headed up Armagh in the parade — McGeeney, Tierney, Enda and Justin McNulty.

Alongside McGeeney this evening, Tierney’s other former Armagh team-mate Aidan O’Rourke will offer wisdom.

Few other teams have inspired so much in others.

“So many counties have great footballers but no leaders,” says Tierney. “We had six or seven. Like, Paul McGrane could have easily been captain ahead of Geezer. They were all educated, all driven men. Justy was one of the men who spoke at training, who took the lead. He was so much into physical fitness.

“Geezer is Geezer, a man born to lead. People saw in that Armagh team a group of men who broke down doors after getting sick of knocking on them for so long.

“You can’t be surprised how many have gone into management. People sensed from our team that they were something special. They know what it took to win and counties like Kildare and Laois now hope it rubs off on them.

“If we hadn’t have come through and won in 2002 I don’t think people would be as welcoming but we did win.”

McGeeney (39) and McNulty (36) did leave their club for Dublin giants Na Fianna during the mid-Noughties but Tierney says their reasons were acceptable.

“Geezer was working in Dublin and one evening he asked the team were they prepared to give the same commitment as they had done the season gone. A couple of boys said they couldn’t so his mind was made up.

“Justy came back and played for Mullaghbawn at the end of his playing days. We missed them both but there were no recriminations. We had to cope.”

With the pair living close enough to one another in Dublin and sharing so many interests, Tierney doesn’t believe there could be radio silence between them these past few days.

“They’re the best of buddies off the field and I can imagine a few texts being sent between them this week.

“They’re ultra competitive and there’d be no bulls*** but they’ll have a pint and a chat afterwards whatever happens.”

And Tierney’s verdict?

“Kildare at this stage are where we were in the late 1990s and early 2000s. All they need is a bit of luck and a refereeing decision to go for them,” he smiles.

“I think Geezer will have the last laugh. Pardon the pun!”