WHAT BARRY MCNAMEE may lack in physical power, he has learned to make up for with other attributes.
Raised in the Donegal town of Ramelton, some of his earliest memories involve being brought along to play for local side Swilly Rovers by his father, who was heavily-involved with the club.
And although he clearly possessed talent, McNamee was, for a period, outshone by others who had developed faster during his adolescence.
“When I was young, people would have said I was very talented but physically I was slow to develop,” the Derry City midfielder tells The42.
“I was always one of the smaller players and between the ages of 12 and 16. So it took awhile for me to catch up.”
Though slight in build, McNamee caught the attention of Derry City and signed for the Candystripes shortly after completing his Leaving Certificate. Younger brother Tony would soon make the same move.
Initially finding it difficult to nail down a spot in midfield, he was used as a makeshift left full-back before grabbing his chance during the 2012 campaign.
“I came to Derry where there is less emphasis on physical strength compared to technical ability,” he says. “There are a lot of players up here who are technically-gifted and that’s why they are selected.
“I was playing mainly as a left-back, then as I was turning 20 one of the midfielders picked up an injured and I got the chance to play there. That’s when I got my break and I must have done well because I stayed in the team.”
That November, then-Derry manager Declan Devine put his faith in the youngster for the FAI Cup final against St Patrick’s Athletic at the Aviva Stadium. McNamee’s free-kick set up their first goal and the Foylesiders went on to clinch a 3-2 win after an entertaining 120 minutes of football.
“A lot of great players played in the league for years and didn’t get to a cup final and here I was, less than half a season in senior football, and I’m winning the FAI Cup.”
Overlooked for international recognition up to that point, U21 boss Noel King then called up McNamee — a technically-gift left-footer — and capped him in a friendly with Denmark.
“I was playing at a decent standard and started in the FAI Cup final when I was 20,” he explains.
“After that, I was called into a couple of U21 squads. It was a bit disappointing because most of the other players were playing youth football in England. You think you’re as good as these boys but because they’re coming from English clubs they’re going to get a better chance.”
Clubs across the water were also taking notice and Nottingham Forest offered McNamee a trial shortly after team-mate Stephen McLaughlin had gone across. But although McLaughlin was signed by the Championship club, a change in manager saw the midfielder miss out.
“I was over for the week and I really enjoyed it,” he remembers. “If you believe the talk, a deal was very close. Sean O’Driscoll was the manager at the time but he got sacked. They then put an emphasis on trying to get promoted straight away and for one reason or another, the move never developed.
“Looking back at it and even watching Stephen over there [is hard]. Although he never really got a chance at Forest, he’s playing every week at Southend now and doing really well.
I would have liked to have that chance but it never happened for me and I just had to get on with my career.”
Then there was an invitation to impress at Fleetwood Town, but that didn’t exactly go to plan.
“I spent a few days there and was meant to play in an U21s match but got injured in the warm-up,” he adds. “To be fair, I didn’t enjoy it. I was told going over I’d be involved in the first team. I was 22 at that stage and they had me training with the U21s so it wasn’t a great experience.”
Now 25, McNamee says he has matured since those set-backs. Having earned a degree in sports management at Letterkenny Institute of Technology, he is solely-focused on his career as a full-time footballer.
And,in excellent form of late with seven league goals this season, he hasn’t given up hope of earning a move away.
Watch McNamee’s superb goal in the recent defeat to champions-elect Cork City (1:10 in):
“After the Fleetwood experience, it knocked me back for awhile but I just got back to enjoying my football here,” he says. “I was 21 or 22 when that happened but if a good opportunity came up now I’d be a lot more ready for it.
“You always have to be open to whatever comes along and you want to play at the best level possible. I was watching Dundalk against Rosenborg and they were very unlucky. It shows you that Irish clubs are improving. A lot of the teams are training full-time.
“Daryl Horgan went over and more-or-less went straight into the Preston team so it’s not as if you necessarily need six months to settle.”
After finishing third in the SSE Airtricity League last season, Derry’s aim under Kenny Shiels was to close the gap on the top two this term. Four wins from their opening four league fixtures represented the perfect start, but the club was left shell-shocked when captain Ryan McBride passed away suddenly at the age of 27 in March.
Understandably, the loss of their team-mate and friend affected the players and results suffered in the aftermath of his untimely death.
Everyone deals with it differently and I felt that football was secondary,” says McNamee.
“The week leading up the Bray game, there was a lot of stuff going on with the funeral, different tributes and meeting up with the family.
“We just had to get on with it. For me, it helped to be able to release some energy in a match. It really opens up your eyes and gives you a bit of perspective that football isn’t the be-all and end-all.”
Heading into tonight’s away trip to Dalymount Park to face Bohemians, Derry sit fifth in the table and just two points off third place. It’s been an extremely difficult year, but they are more than capable of salvaging something by equaling last season’s league finish.
“Last year, we came third and at the start of this season — as much as we were playing it down — we were aiming to catch Dundalk and Cork. With the squad we have, we had a great chance of doing it but given everything that’s happened the aim now will be to finish third and qualify for Europe again next season.”
Predictions
Every week, we’re giving readers the chance to take us on in predicting the Premier Division results. After Week 20, here are the standings:
The Readers: 61
The42: 60
Next up is Ginger Mourinho, Bohemians fan
Bohemians v Derry City – Bohs win
Galway United v Drogheda – Galway win
St Patrick’s v Bray Wanderers – Draw
Limerick v Sligo – Limerick win
Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers – Dundalk win
Finn Harps v Derry – Derry win
The42 (Ben Blake)
Bohemians v Derry City – Draw
Galway United v Drogheda – Galway win
St Patrick’s v Bray Wanderers – Pat’s win
Limerick v Sligo – Limerick win
Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers – Dundalk win
Finn Harps v Derry – Derry win
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After the referendum, i bet Ronaldo marries himself.
All this Bale lark is hyped up rubbish generated mostly from Real Madrid’s horrendous fans. The fact is Bale has matched the scoring and assist power of Eden Hazard (a chief target of Madrid many would feel, and seen as the PL’s MVP this season) for them this year and has played some fantastic football. Sure, no trophies, that’s not his fault.
I grew up adoring this club, but as I grow older I grow to detest their fans.
They remind me of Rangers. They think they are better than everyone else.
The rte lads were on the money regarding the dwindling of poor schoolyard victimlike bale under the cult of Ronaldo…throwing shapes and glances when passes go astray.Ronaldos problem is an incurable one…His ego is the size of that rock in ocean he’s from.Even his bronze statue was hilarious,such is his hunger for stardom,it must make him puke that he’s not fit to tie messi’s laces.
Haha not fit to lace his boots. Someone is forgetting who the Current world player of the year is! Messi has been better this year yes but that’s just a stupid comment
I’ll vote yes so you can marry Ronaldo…. Jeez, undying love for a player that played for your club…. Another that tried to move away every summer….
Lee ..get a grip…did you buy a share….#bringronaldohome
Did I say something wrong in that statement? If I did can someone correct me on who the current world player of the year is then?
And for the record I don’t want Ronaldo back at united. Yes he did great at the club when he was there but I don’t want to see him come back.
What a mental statement to make. Giles doesnt a clue whats going on in the dressing room at Real Madrid. “Id tell Ronaldo to f**k off”? Its clear he doesnt like Ronaldo anyway but to blame him for Bales dip in form is a bit much.
It’s a statement from someone who’s played and knows the game.
He’s right. He should tell Ronaldo to f&@k off. Ronaldo would probably show him more respect
What evidence does Giles have to “think” that Ronaldo is intimidating Bale? None. And then to suggest he should tell him to “f**k off” on the back of the lack of evidence is rediculous.
Toni Kroos threw a wobbler when Bale gave him a bad ball the other night, maybe Kroos is bullying him too?
But Toni Kroos doesn’t get as many views and comments as Cristiano Ronaldo does. What I don’t understand is how it automatically isn’t Bale’s fault he is playing crap ha
Ya he missed 3 great chances the other night coz he knew Ronaldo was looking at him.
Haha yeah it’s all because of the pressure Ronaldo puts on him. Never mind all the fans. It’s all Ronaldo’s fault
Yes, but Fiach, Giles is not an expert like here on the42.ie….
Why would Bale tell him to f**k off when its widely known and has been often reported that the two of them get on well together.
Scoring goals in Spain football is much easier than the EPL
?
Barca & Madrid regularly hammer teams 6-nil, every forwards scoring stats are bound to be higher
They are the best teams in the world. Ronaldo scored freely in premiership too….
Its a better league, Premierships best was shown up for what it is this season in both European comps.
Madrid drew 2-2 last weekend by the way..
Hahahaha, good one.
You could ask Giles or Dunphy about the weather and they’d somehow bring Ronaldo into the conversation. Like him or hate him they are infatuated with the bloke
Its about time Giles be put out to pasture.. he a dinosaur whos wrong more than he is right
This is why Johhny Giles is the best football pundit on the planet.
You can’t even compare – the unselfish Messi, the humble Messi to the greedy , me me Ronaldo.
Bale going to a bad patch alright but he’s not getting much support from the big names at RM. He’s a class footballer, might be best for his career long term to move on.
He has been awful this year but it doesn’t change the fact that he is a great player. Just don’t agree with blaming Ronaldo or anyone else for. Your responsible for your own form. But being a united fan I’d love to see him at old Trafford next year but only if we can afford to sign quality defenders at the same time
You see any other players celebrate like they scored everyones goals?? Ronaldo is THE problem…..
As a utd fan, I’d be disgusted if we signed Ronaldo. Absolutely disgusted, what a petulant arrogant P*ick on the field. His attitude stinks. He’s at a club he deserves with fans he deserves. Probably the best footballer on the planet but I don’t wanna see him put on a utd jersey again.
Wow, Kevin, respect…. You see it as it is…..
Real Madrid might be the most successful club in European football, but I can’t stand them, because they don’t really stand for anything. The likes of Barcelona, Manchester United, etc. at least generally have a philosophy of how they want to play throughout their history (although United are struggling with that at the moment, for obvious reasons), but Madrid’s only philosophy is continually buying galacticos. Sure, both clubs that I’ve mentioned spend big on players, but they’ve brought through great players of their own over the years, while Madrid turf their academy players out the door for expensive imports…only to have them come back to haunt them! (Morientes, Morata the other night, among others). Bale’s first season there was one of the most successful seasons in a foreign league by a British player, yet he’s never won over the fans, which surely can’t have helped his form this campaign, with all of the grief they’re giving him. Jacob Steinberg called it right on The Guardian’s Football Weekly podcast recently- it must be miserable being Real Madrid or one of their fans, because no matter what they ever achieve, it’s never good enough.
And it’s because of remarks like that Eamon you’ll only ever be remembered as a journo that writes for the Star
Haha, no, I’m not saying that millions of Mancs would marry him. I think most of them would be happy to suck him off
He should really give him a kick in the bo–x
Since The air at Real Madrid is poisonous, all players lack concentration and do not take their chances very well near the goal. Their long shots are disastrous. If they concentrate for only one second before they shout the ball, no one can beat this team.
Giles way off the mark there.bale missed 5 goal chances against juve,ronaldo gets the blame .lazy talk.
Wish there was a football site where those making comments understood the game. It’s such a buzz kill to read all this shite.