HE’S ONE OF the GAA’s leading figures, primed with steering the association.
But away from the multitude of responsibilities that his role as GAA Director-General encompasses, Paraic Duffy brands himself a Monaghan fan.
January is a time to plan ahead, gauging the Dr McKenna Cup form, getting set for a Division 2 league campaign and waiting for the championship tests further down the road. If he’s enthused by 2014, then it’s understandable considering what a remarkable year 2013 was.
He only missed two Monaghan games last year. One was a midweek Dr McKenna Cup match away to Donegal in January, the other a league tie against Roscommon which clashed with Congress last April. Otherwise he was there every step of the way.
“At the start of last year, I thought promotion from Division 3 was a good aim and given the draw I thought they could get to an Ulster final.”
His hopes were met and exceeded. Monaghan claimed promotion league last April, they got over Antrim in their Ulster opener and then overcame Cavan in a semi-final local derby brimming with passion.
“There’s a huge rivalry there”, recalls Duffy. “So I went to it as a Monaghan supporter with my wife and family.
“But because I didn’t go to the Ard Chomhairle section, people presumed I’d had a row with the Ulster Council. Martin McAviney asked me that afterwards. I said that I just wanted to go and shout on the team as a supporter.
“I couldn’t do it again for the Ulster final unfortunately. You’d miss that aspect of it because Monaghan Cavan was just brilliant.”
When the morning of the Ulster football finals dawned last July, Duffy was pragmatic in his Monaghan forecasts. A minor victory and a competitive senior performance would be classed as a good day.
Monaghan won the curtain-raiser and then gloriously carried off the main prize.
“It was an unbelievable day, never been one like it”, says Duffy. “I was the Monaghan PRO in 1979 when Sean McCague was manager and that was the first time in 41 years that they’d won it.
“I was a selector when they won in ’85 and a supporter in ’88. But for me last year was very special.”
Duffy found it particularly gratifying to witness long-serving players get their hands on a coveted Ulster medal.
“Lads like Dick Clerkin, Tommy Freeman and Stephen Gollogly had been around a long time trying to win one. They’d been fantastic servants. It was great as well to see Paul (Finlay) win.
“Paul’s dad died in 2012 and they were unbelievably close. I felt it affected his football. I knew Kieran well, he was a great fella. Him and Paul were so close.”
Monaghan’s Paul Finlay celebrates
Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer
The celebrations were to be savoured.
“I stayed around Clones for ages, I didn’t want to leave it”, recalls Duffy. “I always come to Dublin on the Sunday night with work but I went back down Monday night for the celebrations as they went around the five towns – Castleblayney, Carrickmacross, Ballybay, Clones and Monaghan.
“Since the players have won that, they’ve been brilliant ambassadors. Malachy O’Rourke has handled it great as well. It’s been a huge lift for the county in tough times.”
Monaghan’s season ended at the next hurdle against Tyrone in the All-Ireland quarter-final. Yet there was another landmark moment at local level to cherish.
Duffy is a native of Castleblayney but is now settled for some time in Scotstown. The Monaghan club’s 20-year wait for a county senior title finally ended last October with his son Mark part of the victorious team.
Pic: @markduffers
“Scotstown was a sense of relief really because the club hadn’t won a championship for 20 years. It was a monkey off their backs. I was delighted for Mark as he’s incredibly dedicated but he’s been plagued by injuries. He did both his ACL’s in when he was 18 so he’s had to manage it since then. He was just relieved to win a medal at 29.”
After a winter back in the glow of those county and club triumphs, 2014 represents new challenges. His 9 to 5 gives him an elevated status in the GAA but at the heart Duffy shares the ethos of many others.
“I just love the games. I’d be a big Monaghan supporter. I’d be a Scotstown supporter and I’d have a soft spot for Castleblayney Faughs because that’s who I played with.
“The passion doesn’t come from being an administrator. The passion and anxiety about games for me comes from Monaghan. I go to as many Monaghan games as I can. If they win, I’m happy on a Sunday night. If they lose, I’m disappointed. I’m a supporter like anyone else.”
That will be mental!
What about the Scotland fans?
Should be a great occasion and atmosphere!
Ah lads, couldnt we go to Ibrox?
No guarantee it would till be “Ibrox” by then….. might belong to the Liquidators…..
Someone threw a pound on the pitch at ibrox and police are investigating whether it was a missile or a bid to buy the club :)
Pound? Bit steep for Rangers
Two home games for Ireland!
Well I’m sure the Celtic supporters will be supporting their own Country, right?
Do you think it will be a crowd made up of Irish and Celtic supporters only? Celtic supporters will support their own country anyway.
Majority of Celtic supporters support the Republic of Ireland……..
of course they will be supporting their own country, why would celtic fans in Glasgow want to support west liverchester?
Bollocks to the notion that the majority support Ireland
Surely the majority of Celtic Supporters born and raised in Scotland would support Scotland? Irish connection aside, they are a Scottish club so logic would suggest they’ll support their National side.
Exactly why would they want to support a country full of English fans
Barstoolers must be watering at the mouth, where is Glasgow in Ireland. EMBARRASSMENT”
Majority support scotland with a bit of a gra for Ireland. A smaill minority of hardcore support Ireland.
Hung if you haven’t got a breeze what you are talking about don’t comment
Where is Liverpool, Manchester, London or Newcastle in Ireland. The last time I checked there was no ban on people supporting which ever team they want to…………
Frankie Boyle will be delighted.
Can’t wait for it#COYBIG
Session on
Yeah once the session is on and we have the ‘craic’ sure the match itself is only secondary … Je*us wept
Screw the session chris, looks like someone thinks you’re one of the players.
Jackie Macs testimonial with a game against Ireland was fantastic, even the zombies stayed in hiding and didn’t cause any trouble, Glasgow truly was Green & White that weekend
More fans in the Scotland will know the words of the irish national anthem than in the irish end
Hail hail……..
not since celtic played arsenal in a CL qualifier a few years back has there been so many EPL fans packed into the away end at celtic park
Home from Home.
Absolutely nothing wrong with that now!
Scotland could be an independent country by the time the
match comes around, if they vote ” yes ” to leaving the U.K.
In the referendum in September.
They better make sure that they have the required license needed before they sell tickets
That joke was boring last week
Apparently street sellers in Glasgow have ordered hundreds of green St Georges cross flags that play the match of the day tune when you wave them for the ole ole brigade
Surprised they’ve not taken the opportunity to play some qualifiers in the Capital. Oh well, a train journey and a trip to dark head it is!
None of the stadiums are big enough, apart from the rugby one. I doubt the Scottish FA want to be knocking on their door when they have a bigger stadium in a city which cares more about football.
Why not? They’ve played Internationals in Easter Road before. Murrayfield is a nicer ground than any other in Scotland. It’s not a secret that the SFA will be paying Celtic and Sevco handsomely for use of the grounds, which they probably wouldn’t have had to do at Murrayfield. The chances of Celtic Park being filled are near enough 0 anyway.
Cares more about football? Tell that to any Hibs, Hearts or Aberdeen fan and they’ll tell you that’s rubbish. Supporting Celtic and “The” Rangers is the easy option in Scotland, just because they’ve more fans doesn’t mean Glasgow cares more about football.
The game is in Paradise not in the egg chasers ranch, dry your eyes and move on
That will be some shit game
That will be some sing off ( oh and match of course)