Aaron Kernan took time out to speak exclusively to ArmaghGAA.net this week. You think he was busy on the pitch storming up and down the field spraining pin point passes for 10 years, you should try and get him to sit down for a minute nowadays! Not only a family man but running a very busy family business, at 21.00 hours I finally got him to sit down and he did with a smile as he reflected on his 10 years in a County jersey.
What made you make this decision?
“Time. I broke my life into 3 categories. Football – Family – Business. After 10 years I have a good understanding of what it takes to compete at Inter County level. The main reason behind our championship run this year wasn’t the confidence gained from wins v Cavan/Tyrone etc, the main reason was that from last October this Armagh team had pushed themselves harder than any Armagh team I have been involved with. Collectively we had never been together as often as we had this year, gym sessions, track sessions, pitch sessions, video analysis, weekends away, this all added to bring the squad closer together & gave us belief that the hard work had been done which gives you an inner confidence to know that when the going gets tough in championship games you can stand up to anything. When i sat down to think about what it was going to take for Armagh to go further next year, i knew there would be even more demands placed on us and i knew in myself that i could not meet all these demands. Life for me now is so different from when i started 10 years ago and i would’nt have been true to myself, Kieran or my teammates if i tried to get by at even 95%, for me it was absolutely all, or nothing.”
A totally honest answer and something tells me he wishes it was different but that is Aaron, totally dedicated to the jersey with no shortcuts.
Did you it take long to make the decision and was it an easy decision in the end?
“It took me months to be clear in my own head it was the right decision for me. I didn’t want to have any regrets by going back into another season and not giving it my all, I also had to be sure that by calling it a day that I could live with missing out on the friendship of my teammates and getting Armagh back up into Division 2 and going on another championship run.”
A player who won 4 Ulster Medals, a National League medal and All-Ireland Medal at un21 level, what would be the highlight?
“I was lucky that I was part of so many good days but the one that sticks out is the Ulster final replay v Tyrone in 2005. Those games v Tyrone at that time were amazing, the atmosphere, intensity and quality of football were always top drawer, it was a huge confidence boost for me to be part of a winning team in Croke Park but personally I had been really poor in the drawn game. I knew that my place was under threat for the replay but thankfully I managed to redeem myself with a much improved performance in the second day out, this made the victory that bit sweeter. Mind you I was late going back to the team bus after our post match meal in Croke Park and Dad told the bus driver to go on without me to teach me a lesson, having to thumb my way back to the Carrickdale Hotel to catch up with the team was a kick in the ass.”
Winning the GAA & GPA All Stars Young Footballer of the Year that year, that kick up the ass didn’t do any harm!
Aaron looks forward as a spectator “I was delighted for all our boys that they had the opportunity to play and win in Croke Park action this year because I have no doubt this will have given them a taste for what can be achieved with hard work and commitment. We had so many positives this year with Andy returning better than ever, Charlie making full back his own, Big Aaron developing into a fine midfielder, the best looking half forward in Ireland Kevin Dyas showing the country a glimpse of his potential, Lurgans self proclaimed “Golden Boy” Soupy maturing into the quality player we always knew he could be and by the time next summer comes around I’m certain Kieran will have found a few new quality players to give us something extra to push on further than last year. I sincerely wish Kieran and all the boys the very best of luck for next season. I will be back to my childhood from now on and enjoying all their games as an excited supporter.”
“I would like to thank all the management teams I played under for placing their trust in me as a player, my teammates for their loyalty & friendship and to all Armagh county board officials and fans for their constant support throughout my 10 years. I loved the responsibility that came with representing my county, I tried at all times to carry myself in a manner befitting my privileged position and I thrived on the joy successful days would bring to the fans. That was my motivation.”
Aaron thank you for the brilliant days you gave us. We all remember the games you grabbed by the scuff of the neck and pulled us over the line. The constant impact you made game after game over a 10 year period will never be forgotten and we applaud you for your service to the Orchard County.
