Galway selector John Concannon: ‘If you lose, you are wondering, should you be here?'

Concannon is Milltown breed and stone mad for football. That infatuation is clear for all to see.

CARING CONCANNON: Selector John Concannon poses for a portrait during a Galway GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final media event at Pearse Stadium in Galway. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

John Concannon wears his heart on his sleeve.

It has always been that way. He has been a constant and vocal figure alongside his schoolfriend Pádraic Joyce. He cares. 

He worries if he cares too much.

The Galway selector is Milltown breed and stone mad for football. That infatuation is clear for all to see. 

As Conor Gleeson came forward to kick that famous free in the Connacht final, Concannon wrapped a concerned arm around coach Cian O’Neill on the sideline and had to look away. His delight at besting their rivals was obvious afterwards.

The story of his connection to Joyce, going right back to their days in St Jarlath’s College, is well told.

He duly traces it again when asked at Galway’s All-Ireland final media interviews.

“Myself, Padraic and John Divilly, we went to school in first year together and we've been best friends ever since,” he explained.

“We played football all our underage careers, all the way up. We've kept in touch even when the lads went to college.

“We are best friends and football was always, we were picking teams at the back of class. Picking Galway teams, picking Jarlath’s teams, picking Galway minor teams and we were doing that all our lives.” 

Joyce’s reign has crossed rocky road. That took its toll on everyone involved.

“We have a brilliant relationship. The last five years, there have been strains. There have been tough times.

"If you lose, you are always wondering, should you be here? Should you not be here? Is the friendship a distraction? Is it a hindrance? Thankfully, so far it has worked out.” 

Concannon was on the sideline during their U20 Connacht winning campaign of 2019. Several of that team went to clinch an All-Ireland at that grade for Donal Ó Fátharta’s side in 2020.

Ten of the 20 who played in that year’s decider are part of the senior panel now. Another, forward Patrick Kelly, would be if not for a long-term back injury. Their spark has ignited a roaring flame.

“They came into the group; they didn't care about Dublin or Kerry. I think it was Kerry in the semi and Dublin in the final that time.

“They don't care about the bigger teams where maybe some of the older lads might have been that way in the past. They just brought in that carefree attitude and they brought that to training and you can see themselves.

“I think Johnny (McGrath) and Sean Fitz haven't missed any league or championship game this year, which is phenomenal.” 

Jack Glynn was captain that outfit. McGrath and Fitzgerald partnered him in the full-back line. Just like they do now. They backbone a defensive unit that has conceded only one goal in championship.

“Johnny McGrath, Sean and Jack, they don't get enough credit in my opinion. The amount of minutes they played. They are never injured. They've kept quiet some of the best footballers, the best forwards in Ireland all through the league and so far in the Championship. It's their inhibitions and their carefree attitude that they actually don't mind who they're playing against. They just go out; they play the game.

"In saying that, look at Dylan McHugh, Sean Mulkerrin. John Daly was there. Liam Silke. They're great footballers, we pride ourselves on a defensive unit from number 15 back. Everyone has a job to do.

"We've only let one goal and that was obviously a mistake from Conor and John Daly at the time.”

This is a theme under current management. They preach about the collective in good times and in bad. 

Remember the focus on Connor Gleeson after the late concession of goals the last time Galway played Armagh in Croke Park? Joyce has long maintained the goalkeeper was only at fault for one of them.

Armagh’s goal last month in the Sam Maguire series tie stemmed from a fluffed Gleeson kickout. But the target was Daly at centre-back who Concannon evidently feels didn’t react quickly enough.

Daly, an All-Star in 2022, didn’t start that match. He didn’t come against in the quarter-final win over Dublin. Against Donegal, Johnny Heaney, Daly and Kieran Molloy came off the bench. All three started the decider two years ago.

How would he have reacted if someone predicted that Galway would be back in a final two years later and all three wouldn’t start?

“They are still standout players for the team, for the group,” said Concannon. “Kieran didn't come on the day before, Johnny Heaney's come on.

“I know what you're saying, John Daly was six and Kieran Molloy was marking Paul Geaney two years ago.

"But then you look at the U20 team and some brilliant players on that team and even Cian Hernon, the poor lad who broke his wrist last Tuesday week, he would have featured as well. There are just brilliant footballers coming up.

“Would it have been a surprise? It probably would maybe, but we always knew there was a back-up of the U20 players coming through. It is not that they've gone back.” 

The three lifelong friends will still struggle to pick a team.

“We used to leave Divilly off a lot of the teams, so he wasn't too happy,” said Concannon with a smile.

Did Joyce have the final say?

“No. He wasn't the boss that time, but I won't tell you who he was!"