Kevin McManamon wants to surpass old benchmarks

Like many of his most striking contributions in Croke Park, it comes late in the day. Towards the end of his interview at yesterday's launch of this year's Allianz Football League, Kevin McManamon restates his ongoing ambition when asked.

So, the goal is to be in the parade in September?

“Yeah.”

Simple as that?

“Yeah.”

In a way it's hardly surprising that a player wants to be in the starting 15 for an All-Ireland final but McManamon has completed such a fabled CV as the deus ex machina, introduced from the bench to put things right that it's a jolt to realise that in his mind improvement is most needed in August and September, the very months when his contributions on the big stages have been enacted.

The goal that turned the 2011 All-Ireland on its head, the one that buried Kerry in the semi-final of 2013 and the two against Mayo last year were all scored in front of full houses but McManamon started each of them in among the spectators.

This year or whenever – or if ever – it happens again he’d like to be there from the start.

“It’s a big bullseye for me. I want to do something that I’ve never done before and that’s be a big player for 70 minutes, rather than what I’ve become accustomed to or what management have decided for me.

“Circumstances have decided as well – players playing better than me in the All-Ireland series but there’s no doubt that that’s the goal.

“I like a challenge. You’ve got your renowned starters every year and I’d always love to get one of their spots. It would be a nice little feather in the cap if you could get in ahead of the guys who are going to be seen as the greats. It’s a sticky forward line (to get into) but yeah, I like a challenge.”

If the player feels unfulfilled at the assessment that he is best deployed in the closing stages, McManamon’s speed, mobility and finishing ability have prompted such apprehension in opposition dugouts that he at times gets a customised marker sent in to keep track of him.

Gala opening

He believes he’s unlikely to be fit for Saturday’s gala opening of the league, a reunion of last year’s All-Ireland finalists

Dublin

and Kerry, but has fond memories of the role the big league matches under floodlights played in his evolution as an inter-county player.

Again it’s a surprise to learn that someone who has known such triumphant hours in the stadium was early in his career anxious and inhibited in Croke Park.

“It’s nice to be able to play against the big teams. Something I found very difficult when I started my career was to play in Croke Park. I found it a little daunting, particularly in 2010. I didn’t deal with the pressure very well. I was very nervous.

“I learned how to deal with it and by 2011, I think I got five games in Croker in 2011 and that was it then. That was it banished. That was the monkey off my back. And I learned how to embrace Croke Park rather than have any edge of doubt or worry in my game, like I had in 2010.

“All I wanted at that point was to play a championship match for Dublin. So I could have one up on my Da. All I ever wanted was to play for Dublin.

“It’s amazing. It was just overwhelming on the day. I had 50,000 people shouting at me and it was a sticky day.

"We were playing Wexford here on my debut and I was taken off at half-time because I didn't perform. I just wasn't myself.

“I didn’t feel loose. It was just nerves overtook me and negative thoughts. Luckily, I’ve learned how to deal with it.”

Other lessons of recent years have included the disappointment of twice losing their All-Ireland title the year after winning. Third time lucky?

He says the first year when All-Irelands were such a novelty that perhaps concentration wavered.

Bit easy

“Maybe 2012 there was one or two things in terms of attitude in training and stuff like that. We learned a lot from that; we were a bit easy on ourselves.”

He also says that Dublin’s league success in recent years – in the coming weeks they will be in pursuit of a fourth successive title – has played its role in the team’s championship achievements.

“I suppose confidence would be the big thing – that you can show up on an All-Ireland final day and do it – and while it would come with a reality that it’s only early on in the year, it’s just nice to be successful when all the top teams are going at it.”