Mayo's Martin Carney - a very popular guy BY LIAM HORAN Martin Carney enjoys a rare type of popularity in the GM world. Fellow players, mentors, opponents and supporters (both opposing and those in green and red) never have a bad work to say about him. When a change in schools brought Carney, the teacher, to Mayo in the late 70s, Donegal lost more than a versatile player. they lost a motivating spirit, an inspiring presence and an optimistic soul. For Martin Carney was/is one of the true greats of Gaelic Football. When Mayo were losing Connacht finals as if by birthright, during the 1970s and early '80s, he was often a lone star. Posted usually at no. 12, his inclusion was a guarantee of three or four points. Then he back-pedalled into defence and took off at full throttle again. Now Martin is viewing from a different standpoint. He is manager of a Mayo minor team with considerable promise. They shunted Galway out of the race with a grace that pleased Martin and minor football is attracting more attention than usual in the county this year. When he was first appointed minor manager, Martin was adamant that he wasn't expecting overnight success nor did he seem particularly worried if the team won at all. Instead, he saw his role as that of establishing a 'feeder system' which would usher aspiring young talents into senior football, where they would make their greatest impact. Minor football has been something of an enigma in Mayo with All-lreland winning teams disintegrating before you could say Sam Maguire. Carney and his selectors scoured the county over the winter and spring months and it was customary for them to field completely different sides from one challenge game to the next. They have settled on a formula and it looks good. The taste of success has altered Martin's attitude also. The 'feeder system' ideal still lives, but has been relegated into second place by the desire to pick up a Connacht title. "You get into a sort of a carousel and you just keep moving towards that provincial victory", says Martin. He journeyed to Carrick on Shannon to run the rule over Leitrim minors and he begs to be taken seriously when he says that Leitrim are "an exceptionally fine team, possibly the best minor team ever to come out of that county. I'm not saying that to hype them up or deflect attention away from us, they are a very good team." Leitrim boast some players who earlier this year won Connacht U21 honours, and Martin reels that it will take an even greater effort from Mayo than that which they produced to lower Galway. "Before the Galway game we had to convince our lads that they could beat Galway because many of them had lost to Galway schools in the past few years. We did that, and some players gave us bonus performances. "But now our task is to ensure that our panel doesn't assume that beating Galway gives them a divine right to beat Leitrim. I've told them that there is absolutely no point in beating Galway if we don't go on to win the Connacht final. If that is to be the case, I'd prefer to have lost to Galway," points out Martin. Emanating from the Mayo minor set-up is a tone of perfection. Players and mentors report for training bang on time, and Carney's hand-picked selectors - Christy McCann, Tom Rafter, Declan Ronaldson and Sean Beeney - have developed a good rapport with the youngsters. The followers are responding too. Seldom has the crowd filled into McHale Park as early as it did for the Galway clash, and they were rewarded with a fine Mayo display, highlighted by a second-half of dash, purpose and resilience. On that occasion, Ronan Ruane, son of former Mayo great Mick, brought his own reputation to a new high higher than many thought he was capable of reaching and a six-year Galway hoodoo was buried. The Mayo senior team have their steaks in Ruane's mother's restaurant after training- if he continues that form he could be eating at home even more in future. Paul McNamara, a raw-boned Achill lad who had some unpleasant experiences at Vocational Schools' level against Galway was another to come through with an enhanced reputation, battling it out with another teenage colossus Padraig Boyce in a memorable duel. But it was the display of Kenneth Mortimer, a St. Jarlath's student who resides just yards inside the Mayo border at Shrule, which captured most attention. The corner-back showed vision, positional sense and good old-fashioned drive, and he inspired his teammates. Just to show that it wasn't a flash in the pan, the 16 year old came on for his club in the senior championship a week later and commanded the full-back line once again. The Leitrim threat looms ominously. They had a convincing win over Galway in the Connacht League final, despite the setback of a terrible start. Now that their seniors are out of the race, they will get the unmitigated support of a county anxious to salvage something from a season when expectations were not fulfiled. Martin repeats his warning that his lads must be in the right frame of mind. "l have no doubt but that we are good enough to beat Leitrim, but only if the attitude is absolutely perfect," he reiterates. He feels that Mayo have a balanced side, and some of the players who earned star ratings last time out surprised him. "I'll be hoping that that will be their base display from now on, and that they can continue to improve." He enjoys managing the team, particularly with the level of response he is getting. But nothing can equal the thrill of playing. "Actually playing is the best of all, but management is great too". One member of the minor panel speaks with affection of Carney's enthusiasm. "He's so optimistic, always encouraging lads. He makes you want to play", he says. After all his years playing, it's only natural that Martin should want to see others enjoy the game he graced so splendidly. Taken from Hogan Stand 12th July 1991 Tweet

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