Aaron Kernan on Football

"It's the most wonderful time of the year".

Well, at least for the majority of us in GAA terms, the above line is very true from September to December.

The inter-county season may hog the limelight throughout the summer months, but once September is over, that's quickly forgotten as club championships around the country at senior, intermediate and junior level capture hearts and minds. The highly competitive provincial series at all three levels increases the excitement levels significantly.

There is no doubt that the short window offered to complete these championships, as well as the bleak conditions faced during winter months, can leave some club players feeling like second class citizens. This has been the case for several years now.

Another issue with club football that needs addressing is the increasing drain of club players to America for the summer. With little or no club championship football played from May to September, undivided loyalty to clubs can't be guaranteed anymore. Understandably, players are not prepared to sit at home all summer waiting on their county team to exit the All Ireland race.

While the life experience they will enjoy is something they'll always remember, it is very hard for their clubs at home to build momentum towards championship if they are without their best young players for three months each summer.

In my own club this year, 11 of our players spent the summer in America. This was a huge challenge for us as it left our first and second teams short on numbers and struggling to field for the majority of our league campaigns. While we managed to deal with it, I can only imagine that the strain being placed on smaller, rural clubs is becoming harder to cope with each year.

One of the most significant moves made by GAA leaders in my lifetime was the introduction of the intermediate and junior provincial and All-Ireland club series. These championships have afforded every club in Ireland starting off the new season with the opportunity to work their way towards Croke Park and All Ireland glory. It is imperative that they are not scrapped under any fixture re-jig.

In fairness to the GAA, the recent report from Ard Stiúrthóir Páraic Duffy on improving the GAA fixtures calendar featured some very positive suggestions for the club game and it looks like they are very serious about real change.

CLUB JOYS

While we all follow the inter-county season and admire the achievements of other counties, the opportunity to celebrate inter-county championship success is enjoyed by a very small number of people at the end of it all.

Only five championship trophies can be lifted during the inter-county season but at club level, there are over 100 county championships, 12 provincial championships and three All Ireland championships to be fought for.

Having been fortunate enough to enjoy a number of Ulster club campaigns with my club Crossmaglen Rangers, I can assure you that for the teams still chasing silverware, dates and weather forecasts mean little to the majority of their players and supporters as they all enjoy the journey they're on in their quest to finish the year as both county and provincial champions.

For me, this is what makes our clubs so special. Clubs throughout the country celebrate their county championship success with the same delight as those fortunate enough to win Sam Maguire. Club players are local heroes, walking the same streets as their supporters, working in their schools, shops and offices.

Under the management of Tony McEntee and Gareth O'Neill, they said something to us in a team meeting in the build up to an Ulster club campaign that I had never thought about before, but which I've never forgotten since.

They said "Old people hate the winter, the dark evenings and the cold weather, but they love following us. We extend their lives by shortening their winter. They live on a weekly basis wondering who and where do we play next? Success in the provincial series will mean they can enjoy Christmas safe in the knowledge that they've an All Ireland semi final to look forward to in the New Year".

That really registered with me. Ever since, on championship days I always think of the older people I see following us all over the country. We see the same faces at every game, not only from Crossmaglen but all over Armagh.

I really appreciate now how lucky I am to be in a position to bring such happiness into their lives. It has always motivated me since. On dark winter nights of old, I might have sometimes wished I was sitting in front of the fire with Man Utd on the television, rather than slogging it out in the wind, muck and rain. Not anymore.

Also, I am certain that everyone reading this can relate to people within their own clubs who epitomize everything that's great about the GAA at grassroots level.

We have two such men involved with our senior team - Paddy "The Bishop" McNamee and Seamie Murtagh. Both men have been involved in our squad for as long as I can remember. They are at every training session and game.

They take care of everything, from opening the changing rooms to cleaning our gear, and they always have a smart answer ready for the messers in the group. To call them kit men would do them a disservice. I've experienced and read of different management teams taking in high profile names to hand out jerseys to players before big games but Seamie always hands out ours on championship day.

There's no big announcement or fuss made but in his own quiet manner he'll walk around to each player individually, shake their hand, pass on the jersey and wish them luck. You know how much it means to him by the look in his eye. He's handing over more than a jersey, he's handing over years of history, tradition and expectation.

Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed my time as an inter-county player, now is my time to become immersed in my club just like Paddy and Seamie.

To finish: A brief statement from the Crusaders rugby coach Todd Blackadder regarding the departure of his star player Dan Carter reminds me that I have so much more to give to my club before I can sign off content.

"Dan has given so much to rugby in this region. He is one of the most famous rugby players in the world, but he's still a local lad who has never forgotten his roots. DC is the ultimate team player; he enriches any team he is involved in, not just through his incredible playing talent but also through his positive attitude, sense of mateship and ability to inspire and grow those around him".

While Dan is an idol of mine, the above testimony is something we can all aspire to within our own clubs and communities as players, administrators and supporters.

For now though, I am going to enjoy some downtime in December before refocusing and preparing for new challenges in 2016.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Aaron

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