Ray McCarron Still one of football's great forwards Tremendous tradition in Scotstown. Former All Star rescued Monaghan in the drawn game against Cavan It was arguably the best goal to date in the 1993 championship. Only fourteen minutes remained in the first round Ulster Championship match between Monaghan and Cavan at St. Mary's Park in Castleblayney. The scoreboard made unpleasant reading for Monaghan supporters .... Cavan 0-13 Monaghan 0-8. A long, empty summer loomed. But David Byrne gained possession for the Farneymen and spotted his captain heading in the general direction of the Cavan goals. McCarron took the pass, sidestepped the defence and slotted the ball into the left corner of the net. A brilliant score. Three minutes later Stephen McGinnity was brought down in the parallelogram and once again the Scotstown man beat Brendan McCormack in the Breffni goals. Monaghan were ahead for the first time since the opening minutes and although they fell behind again, they still managed to force a replay. The captain's personal tally was 2-3. Seven days later, at Breffni Park, McCarron converted another penalty after Edwin Murphy was brought down just ten minutes before the break. The replay was delicately balanced with ten minutes remaining. Monaghan were leading by a point but Cavan were applying enough pressure to justify expectations of extra time. Again McCarron gains possession. He finds Gerry Mone with a pinpoint pass and Mone's goal effectively wraps up the game for the visitors. A beautiful long range pint from the Scotstownman eventually closed the scoring and would have gone unnoticed but for it's class. Another telling contribution by the 30 year old former All Star. The experience is not new, either for Monaghan or Scotstown supporters. Over the last decade, the man who was born in Luton, has regularly been the saviour of his club and county and although other Ulster forwards have received higher acclaim, it is doubtful if they will turn out to be as enduring, as consistent, or as good as McCarron. On Sunday, he will lead out the Monaghan team to play Derry in the Ulster semi final at Casement Park. Derry are overwhelming favourites to win this one and indeed, there are many who believe that they can go on to relieve Donegal out of their provincial and national titles. Last year, they were also red hot favourites to account for Monaghan at Castleblayney. The Oak Leaf men had just won the National League and were understandably cock-a-hoop. But Monaghan almost caught them with a late flurry before succumbing in the replay at Celtic Park. Ray's penalty miss before the interval didn't help. "Derry have a good record in recent years and there's no doubt that they have the potential to win an All-Ireland. Yes, they'll provide formidable opposition but the two games against Cavan have helped us to find a settled team." The team looked effective only in the closing stages of both matches when players were eventually switched to their natural positions. Ray prefers to play at centre half forward, he likes to be involved, and although the Derry defence is ultra versatile and subject to switching, it is likely that Henry Downey will be his marker. The Monaghan man's form is good however and if ... if the supply is adequate he could lead his team to a surprise Ulster Final appearance. His father played with Scotstown before experiencing the trauma of emigration that was the curse of the 1950s. It was while he was in England that Scotstown won their first senior championship in 1960 and they retained the title twelve months later. In 1963, Ray was born in Luton and spent the first sixteen years of his life in the Bedfordshire town which boasts a strong Irish and Monaghan community. The St. Vincents club had a strong Monaghan and Scotstown connection through Michael McCaffrey and it was he, more than anybody else who was responsible for the second generation interest in all things Irish, especially in gaelic football. The McCarrons returned to Scotstown in 1979 and despite not having come through the underage ranks on hone soil, Ray's performances soon came to the attention of the county's minor selectors. He represented the county at minor level for two years and made his senior debut for the county in the Dr. McKenna Cup semi final of 1983 against Donegal, coming on as substitute. He did enough to earn his place for the final against Down, and has been a regular ever since. Although Monaghan had won the Ulster title in 1979 after a gap of forty one years, the team of the mid eighties brought fresh glory to the county of the 'stoney-grey soil.' In 1984, they reached the Centenary Cup Final only to be beaten b y newly emerging Meath. But they were back within twelve months to claim the county's first National League title by beating Armagh in the final. Monaghan football had come of age and the celebrations were intense. But feet were kept firmly on the ground and the quality and consistency of the team was further underlined when the Anglo Celt Cup was added to the National League. The All-Ireland semi final against Kerry went to a replay but Monaghan's hopes of reaching a first All-Ireland Final since 1930 were dashed by the Kerrymen. Monaghan's stature as one of the most consistent teams in the country was again underlined when they reached the League Final in 1986 and regained the Ulster title two years later. A great team, with Gerry McCarville, Paddy Linden, Eugene Hughes, Ciaran Murray, Declan Loughman and Eamonn McEneaney and of course, Ray McCarron among it's brightest stars. Has football changed much during Ray's ten years at intercounty level? "Yes, the level of fitness required has greatly increased and there's a much more scientific approach to the game these days. And it doesn't matter which county you're involved with ... the preparation is the same in Westmeath, Waterford, Donegal or Dublin. You simply have to be in top shape for the championship. I do a bit on my own in the winter time, not a lot but when the championship comes round, those who have not been putting it in will be found out." Even in the relatively short space of ten years there have been other changes. "There is great interest and much improved media coverage, particularly as far as Ulster is concerned. The television coverage is brilliant ... you have thousands going to the games and then watching it all over again on television that night. The games are being brought into everybody's home. And the atmosphere at the games is terrific. The games, too, are ultra competitive, thus providing a much greater attraction than soccer. The parochial rivalry and club loyalty are other major factors. I don't think that many people are interested in going to see strangers playing soccer. There is really no comparision." Parochial rivalry, club loyalty. Nowhere more than in Monaghan is either factor more marked. When the word Scotstown is mentioned in any conversation, only one subject comes to mind ... football. Of the 86 Monaghan championships played to date, Castleblayney Faughs and Scotstown have won exactly half. And Scotstown's thirteen titles have all been won in just over thirty years. Their rivalry with 'Blayney is legendary and in last year's decider, three games were required before the Blues eventually claimed the title. It was Ray's fifth championship medal. Two weeks ago, the champions opened their defence in most impressive fashion, b hammering Ballybay. And their quarter final clash with the Faughs will draw the crowds from far and near. The winners will be red hot favourites to go on to take the title. "There's a much bigger population in 'Blayney and they'll probably always be a force, but 90% of the population of Scotstown will be there to cheer us on. Football really is a big issue in Scotstown. We could probably do with some new blood on the team but we don't intend to surrender our title easily." There are no doubts about the highlights of his career, winning the National League, two Ulster Championships, an All Star award in 1986 and five senior championships with Scotstown. "Yes, of course I'd love to win another Ulster Championship with Monaghan before I hang up my boots and I think that this Monaghan team is improving. The outlook for the future is bright, after all, the under 21s were most unlucky against Tyrone last year. Some of these players are beginning to stake claims for regular places on the senior team and that's a good sign." Ray is married to Patricia (Clerkin), a sister of former Monaghan star Hugo and they have two children, Jack (1) and Ellen (21/2). Jack's footballing pedigree will be impeccable but what will Ray's attitude be? "I'll leave it to himself. It's better that way. If youngsters want to play ... they'll play. You can't pressurise them. Of course, he'll get every encouragement, but no pressure." Ray hopes that the game will continue to prove attractive to youngsters. "I think that clubs are going the right way about it. There's a lot of emphasis on coaching and that's a good think as long as they are encouraged all the time." On the state of football, particularly Ulster football, the Monaghan captain is very optimistic about the future. "Down and Donegal have removed the stigma which was attached to the performances of Ulster teams in Croke Park. Ulster champions invariably suffered from lack of confidence when faced by the Dublins and the Kerrys. The last two championships have been a tremendous boost to Ulster football. Now we KNOW we can do it." Can Monaghan do it? "It would take very little to make us as formidable as the team of the mid eighties and we'll relish the underdogs role against Derry. The pressure is entirely on Derry. But we wouldn't be thinking any further ahead than Sunday's game." And Scotstown? "A great club. Some of the best clubmen in the country are in Scotstown. We may be still the same old team but we'll take a lot of beating." Of that we can rest assured. Not only because they have built up an enviable tradition, not only because they have many outstanding GAA men but also because they have Ray McCarron. Taken from Hogan Stand magazine 18th June 1993 Tweet

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