Kielt aims to keep Derry smiling

CHARLIE KIELT isn’t going to spill the beans on everything.

He says Derry have a couple of things planned for Donegal but won’t go into details.

Still, his honesty shines. About himself, his brother and teammate James and manager John Brennan.

Let’s start with himself and that fine point the wing-back got immediately after Armagh threatened to eat up Derry’s lead with a Michael O’Rourke goal just seconds into the second half of their Ulster semi-final.

“It was my man who scored the goal so I had to do something or John would be moving his finger very quick!

“It’s something John is trying to... once we’re down in a game raise the heads. The next score after a goal is always important so that’s something we have been working on throughout the year.”

Perhaps it’s because he’s older or maybe that he’s graduated from a dentistry degree that his younger brother James is still studying but Kielt can give a frank assessment of his form. Former underage star James was on the bench for the Fermanagh game but returned to the starting line-up for the Armagh match.

“James hadn’t been performing well. John Brennan is a very good manager and he picks the lads who are on form in training and that keeps the training quite intense. Every panel member feels they have a chance of getting into the match squad at training.

“There’s another clubmate of mine, Brian Óg McAlary, who hasn’t got much game-time but both of them have played well in training up to that match and John, true to his word, stuck them in. Brian Óg maybe had a tough enough day but James performed right.”

Kielt isn’t as talented as James but his work ethic has stood to him. The Kilrea man wanted to become a Derry footballer and he fought for it.

“If you want things in life you’ll get them and I’ve always wanted to play for Derry,” he said. “It’s been an ambition of mine since I was a child. Now I’m there it’s worth working for. The dentistry is hard work but it’s the same [as the football]. It’s hard hours and you get on with it.”

And then there’s Brennan, a manager who expects nothing but graft. A manager whose methods Kielt also finds effective, if a little unusual.

“John’s a weird man — you wouldn’t see him a night then the next minute he would come out and speak for 10 minutes.

“[Derry coach] Conal Sheridan would do most of the training and Barry would obviously give him a hand as well. But training’s very, very good.”

The scenes on the St Tiernach’s Park pitch after Derry’s victorious semi-final were muted as few supporters travelled south to Clones for the game, although it was clear to see the genuine delight among the players.

Getting to an Ulster final and winning back-to-back provincial games for the first time in 11 years are monkeys off Derry’s back but not as much as people are making it out to be — or so says Kielt.

“I wouldn’t say personally [it was a relief] because I haven’t been involved for so many years but I don’t think it’s such a big issue for a few of the older lads.”

But then there’s the matter of Donegal’s Ulster final experience as opposed to Derry’s lack of. Seasoned players such as Kevin Cassidy, Rory Kavanagh and Colm McFadden know what it is to have played 70 minutes of football for the Anglo-Celt Cup.

Kielt’s not buying much into that argument, though.

“A few of the teams that have beaten Derry in the past have gone on to bigger things, the Tyrones and Armaghs of this world. It’s good to get into a final and we’re looking forward to it.

“It (Donegal’s Ulster final experience) could also work against them because those lads have been beaten in Ulster finals.

“It’s hard to know, I suppose Sunday will tell the tale whether it’s important or not.”

Kielt knows that of the two finalists Derry’s brand of football is the more favoured but that counts for nothing in his eyes.

“Obviously, they have come under a lot of criticism from the media and maybe people in their own county as well but it’s a results business and Jimmy McGuinness’ style of football has suited the players.

“They’re getting the results and that’s all that matters — results.”