McGeeney v McGuinness: Boys remain boys

SPARRING PARTNERS: Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney, right, shakes hands with Donegal manager Jim McGuinness. Pic: Brendan Moran, Sportsfile

Boys will be boys. Just as they did in their 20s, 30s and 40s, 52-year-old Kieran McGeeney and 51-year-old Jim McGuinness were clashing again last month.

As it was between them in the early 2010s, it’s just verbals these days and those in the vicinity of the sideline in Box-It Athletic Grounds knew all about it.

"We're a bit old now, unless we're going to throw walking canes at each other. You take it on the chin and move on," a smiling McGeeney told Off The Ball of their exchanges.

Their reporter Aisling O'Reilly also had it confirmed by McGuinness that he had made a “two can play at that game” remark to his opposing manager. 

“It wouldn't be the first time myself and Kieran ended up marking each other on a football field,” he grinned. “It's all good. It shows what's on the line and what's in the melting pot, if you like.” 

At the final whistle, they shook hands as they often have but a game of football brings out the beast in them. 

They are the Colin Firth and Hugh Grant characters in the Bridget Jones movies, compelled upon sight of each other to spar, at least in the figurative sense, for the same subject of affection.

After McGeeney had sent the county’s U20s to face Donegal in their McKenna Cup game in Ballybofey the previous month (a result annulled after Donegal fielded an illegal player) the game in The Cathedral City was the real thing. Supporters fed off the whitewash duel. 

The home crowd were loving it, especially Rian O’Neill returning to action by sending over sensational equaliser in the first minute of normal time.

Coming as this final does two weeks before Armagh open their Ulster championship against Fermanagh in Enniskillen and three weeks prior to Donegal facing Derry in what is sure to be a heaving atmosphere in Celtic Park, this Division 2 final may not be a pressing matter. 

Donegal also have a long injury list that now includes captain Paddy McBrearty who misses the game and Ryan McHugh is a doubt.

However, neither manager is known to step back in regular season and for McGeeney in particular a first knock-out Croke Park win over McGuinness at the third time of asking is prized. 

On both previous occasions in 2011 and ’14 All-Ireland quarter-finals, the first as a manager and second as selector, he came out on the wrong side by a point.

That extra-time defeat 13 years ago courtesy of Kevin Cassidy’s outrageous winning score followed pre-match claims in the press by McGeeney’s management about Donegal forwards committing cynical fouls.

The attempt to influence the referee infuriated McGuinness. 

“Kieran McGeeney was a phenomenal player. He didn't cry, he didn’t whinge. We weren't very impressed by that as a group to read that. We're happy that the referee didn't take the bait. 

"The place to do your business is on the coaching field. Do your business there, try and beat the opposition there, not in the media."

The men were on friendly terms again on the 2012 All-Stars tour to New York but in ’14 McGeeney was back with Armagh assisting Paul Grimley and on the final day of Division 2 they were relegated by McGuinness’ Donegal on their own patch.

Four months later and McGuinness again had the upper hand in a tense quarter-final, which was remembered for a row close to the end that involved Armagh’s Aaron Findon pushing the Donegal medic Dr Kevin Moran.

In the main event on Sunday, you are unlikely to see Dessie Farrell and Mickey Harte exchanging words but they aren’t managers in the sense as McGeeney and McGuinness. With respect to the Derry and Dublin supremos, they don’t have to be.

McGeeney and McGuinness appreciate they have had to push the envelope in their roles. For one, both men have proven to be incredible fundraisers. 

McGuinness is known to have drummed up hundreds of thousands of support since returning as manager including the €55,000 required to erect a privacy fence around the training pitch and €46,000 worth of gym equipment in Donegal’s centre of excellence in Convoy. December’s trip to Portugal didn’t come cheap either.

Going back to his Kildare days, McGeeney has been able to convince several patrons to bankroll his teams’ efforts. He has played a major part in securing sponsorship deals for Armagh in his 10 years as manager and has been part of the county’s fundraising committee.

It's because they are so similar that McGeeney and McGuinness can’t be help but rut. Such forces of personality persevere and if reports from last Monday’s Ulster SFC launch in Belfast are true McGuinness isn’t one to let go of a separate grudge from his previous spell in charge of Donegal.

Mellowing with age, it doesn’t appear so, and McGeeney certainly didn’t seem to be when he shouldered Monaghan’s Stephen O’Hanlon at the end of last June’s All-Ireland quarter-final. Boys remain boys.