Mayobridge maestro still has some unfinished business

Ulster Club SF Championship/Interview with Mickey Linden: Here's a quick extract from The Irish Times report on last year's Ulster club football final: "Crossmaglen, in their inimitable style, set the tone in a thunderous opening quarter. The pivotal moment arrived when Francie Bellew almost decapitated Mickey Linden with a shuddering, full-frontal challenge.

"After several minutes of medical attention, a heavily concussed Linden stumbled off the pitch, his mouth dripping blood. Such was the impact, the 41-year-old player-manager had to be taken to hospital where he underwent X-rays last night.

"Bellew was not even cautioned, although Mayobridge forward John Quinn was for retaliation. It was a far from fitting end to yet another ground-breaking season for Linden, but Ulster football isn't designed for happy endings."

On second thoughts, maybe it is. Bellaghy have already dismissed Crossmaglen, while on Sunday Mayobridge and Linden are back in the provincial semi-final against St Gall's.

The Bellew "hit" seemed destined to become the wretched final chapter in a remarkable playing career that included All-Irelands in 1991 and 1994, with an All Star and Player of the Year coming with the latter campaign. In more recent times, five county medals have been added to the mantelpiece.

Linden will not elaborate on last year's incident further than saying: "When you are leaving the football pitch at half-time and getting into an ambulance to go to hospital it is not a pleasant experience."

Did he consider retiring? "No. It never crossed my mind. I felt last year I was going well and I started every championship game, while this year I've come on in every championship match so no, not while I have something to offer the team."

Player-manager Linden is 42 years young and still seeking the one medal to have eluded him through a lifetime of football.

"We always felt the county title was a tremendous achievement but having now won our fifth in seven years the fellas are keen to give Ulster a real rattle. Getting to the final last year is added motivation.

"Saying that, St Galls are in a similar situation having won five in a row in Antrim, without winning the Ulster title. Also, they played very well against Carrickmore in the last round. Remember, they have 10 county players."

For the quarter-final victory over Donegal champions Glenties, Mayobridge had to prepare without Linden and Down star Benny Coulter. Both joined old county mentor Pete McGrath for the International Rules series in Australia.

"I have a very good back-up team. John Murphy was assistant coach to Pete McGrath in 1991 and 1994 and he is now my assistant. Then there are a bunch of local men to help out, like Rodney Hannah, Kevin McCloy, Jimmy Coulter (Benny's cousin) and James Gallagher. When I was in Australia, John kept things going."

Linden has confined himself to a role as impact substitute. "It's worked so far but if the opportunity arises for a start I'll have no hesitation doing that as well.

"There are other subs in the team as well, especially players from this year's All-Ireland winning minor team like Conor Garvey and Seamus Grant."

Young and old united for a common aim.