Conor McManus: 'There is a consistent level of work that has gone on'
The new series of Laochra Gael opens with Conor McManus, one of the modern greats of Gaelic football and one of the greatest ever to wear a Monaghan jersey.
By Cian O’Connell
Nearly two decades spent on the inter-county beat with Monaghan eventually ended for Conor McManus in the 2024 All-Ireland SFC at Pearse Stadium.
An hour or so after Monaghan’s preliminary quarter-final defeat to Galway, McManus left the pitch. Those still in the Salthill venue simply clapped as the Clontibret O’Neill’s clubman departed the arena. “Yes, you always have it in the back of your head that this might be the last game, I certainly at that time hadn't made my mind up,” McManus reflects.
“It was probably a decision I'd 75 or 80 per cent of the way there, but I hadn't fully pulled the trigger on it in my head. So, at that stage I definitely wasn't fully sure that it was going to be my last game. It was just the way it happened on the field.
“Obviously, people always come on to the field, to meet the players, and everything else. It just happened that way, that we were out on the field a bit longer than maybe normal.
“My parents were there, it just happened that way, I wasn't coming off the field saying I'm definitely done here.
“That decision came a lot later on, it was probably only around this time last year that the decision was nailed down. I probably realised I couldn't go much further.”
In the west, on an emotional day, did McManus realise the ovation was happening? "I did, but at that stage I was keen just to get down the tunnel, to make my way off the field,” McManus responds.
“You'd people gathered around. Probably looking back now, it was a nice thing.
"At that stage I wasn't fully sure it was my last game even though you'd an inkling that it was. I don't think you probably wanted to admit it at that time.”
Not being involved with Monaghan means life has changed for McManus. “Yeah, it is definitely different,” he says.
Conor McManus following Monaghan's 2024 All-Ireland SFC Preliminary Quarter-Final loss against Galway at Pearse Stadium. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
“It is probably very much a slower pace of life, now that you're not always on the rush, be it to a gym session or a training session up to Cloghan. It is definitely different; there is no doubt about that.”
On Sunday, Monaghan host Armagh at St Tiernach’s Park in the Allianz Football League. Remaining relevant, competing strongly at the highest-level matters deeply. “Monaghan are back in Division One this year, we had spent 10 years in Division One,” McManus says.
“We went down and came straight back up. I think that shows that there is a consistent level of work that has gone on within Monaghan county over the past 20 years.
“We've seen the fruits of that in you feel you're consistently competing at that level and trying to push Monaghan football as best you can.”
McManus highlights the work that continues to be carried out in the underage ranks. “We've had good joy with development squads, minor squads, and U20 squads, things like that,” he adds.
“You're just all the time looking to add to that, to bring new blood in, and in fairness to the management team there at the minute, they've brought a lot of new blood in this year.
"Probably some of it forced in that they've lost a couple of experienced players from the dressing room again this year. That's the beauty of the work that has gone on in Monaghan.
“New lads are coming and new blood is coming all of the time. It is testament to the guys involved with the development squads, that at that level they're doing that work.
“It is somewhat unseen work, it is always judged by the senior team, and what they're doing at the top end. That end at the lower level and within the clubs around the county is the platform for it all.”
During his Monaghan career McManus provided plenty of hope and inspiration.
Laochra Gael Series:
Programme 1: Conor McManus, 9.30pm, Thursday 22nd January
Programme 2: Cyril Farrell, 9.30pm, Thursday 29th January
Programme 3: Grace Walsh, 9.30pm, Thursday 5th February
Programme 4: Marty Clarke, 9.30pm, Thursday 12th February
Programme 5: Pádraig Horan, 9.30pm, Thursday 19th February
Programme 6: Neil McManus, 9.30pm, Thursday 26th February
Programme 7: Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, 9.30pm, Thursday 5th March
Programme 8: Kevin McManamon, 9.30pm, Thursday 12th March
