john mccloskey

[goldenyears]

Management could interest McCloskey 
Gaelic Games 
By Paddy Heaney 

Armagh trainer John McCloskey has admitted that he is considering a move into management. The highly respected Antrim native is mulling over his options after his six-year association with Armagh came to close following Joe Kernan's resignation.

McCloskey first teamed up with Kernan at Crossmaglen in 1999. The following year, Cross lifted their third All-Ireland club title. McCloskey also worked with Dessie Ryan, the Queen's manager in 2000, and the pair helped the Belfast university lift the Sigerson title in the same season.

McCloskey is most renowned for his work with an Armagh squad that won four Ulster titles, a National League and an All-Ireland crown.

Having earned his reputation as a first class coach, McCloskey admitted that he hasn't ruled out the option of moving into management.

"I suppose it's something that I'd consider now,'' he said. "Over a period of time, you start to feel that with the experience you have garnered, you could offer something. Over the past few years I've been with great people like Dessie Ryan and Joe Kernan.''


While McCloskey toys with the idea of management, it would be no surprise if he is snapped up by a county manager seeking a quality trainer. McCloskey said he would look at all offers.

"I might look somewhere else to challenge myself. But I quite enjoyed working at county level and if a suitable position came up, I would certainly consider it,'' he said.

Since Armagh were knocked out of the All-Ireland Qualifiers by Derry on July 7, McCloskey has received several requests from clubs to take some training sessions and provide advice to their players. He has turned down all offers.

"It's the first summer I've had off in six or seven years I was exhausted when it was all over and I thought I am not going to do anything until I feel that I am fit to do it.

"Obviously, some people phone you up, and different clubs have asked me to come down and talk to them, but I have just said 'no' to all of them.

"I just wanted my own time to sit back and enjoy myself and actually go and watch matches and enjoy my day out,'' he said.

After initially specialising in athletics, McCloskey moved into Gaelic football and then rugby. During a three-year career break from his job as a primary school teacher at St Brid's in Belfast, he took up a post as the strength and conditioning coach with the Ulster rugby squad.

McCloskey has studied the coaching techniques used in other sports such as Aussie Rules and soccer to discover if they can be applied in Gaelic football. Despite his extensive knowledge of sports science, McCloskey insisted that a good trainer will make little difference unless his players are prepared to make the necessary sacrifices.

"Some people ask you to come in and work with their team and they think you are going to replicate what you had at Armagh. But that can't be done because you are dealing with a different group of personalities.

"We had a winning mentality within that group. A lot of other groups of players don't have that mentality or at least they are not prepared to work for it.

"A lot of people like the idea of having coaches and trainers and nutritionists and psychologists. A lot of people make a lot of demands on management teams but that is not reciprocated in terms of time and dedication from the players.

"I have no problem if a player has expectations from a management team, but that has to be reciprocated in terms of their effort, and their dedication and their commitment.''

[whiskeysteve]

no offence but zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Uladh]

There's a prize this week for the person with any armagh connection that can get the most column inches...

[Bensars]

Mc Geeney  retiring  just before the all ireland
Mc conville and the publicity stunt to sell the book
Mc Geeney and his connection to the Kildare job
Mc Closkey looking to go into management


Media hoors the lot of ye's !!

[orangeman]

This man is no slouch and has knows a lot about the tactics involved in football - he's not just a trainer - in fact far from it and he'd make a great coach in my opinion - the only down side is that his reputation would suffer as being too closely viewed as Big Joe's sidekick.

[Balboa]

I heard Mc Closkey would eat himself if he could.

[orangeman]

Jesus Balboa, would he not need to be VERY VERY hungry in order to do that LOL

[saffron sam2]

I heard Mc Closkey would eat himself if he could.

I heard he likes chocolate.

[orangeman]

Cold chocolate ?

[saffron sam2]

Cold chocolate ?

Most chocolate regardless of the temperature, I'm told, although he is allegedly not fond of Milky Bars.

[illdecide]

I heard Mc Closkey would eat himself if he could.

I don't like to comment to much on people but Balboa you never have a good word to say about anyone, you always find the bad in someone. What sort of w**ker are you

[Balboa]

I heard Mc Closkey would eat himself if he could.

I don't like to comment to much on people but Balboa you never have a good word to say about anyone, you always find the bad in someone. What sort of w**ker are you

Probably around the national average.

[illdecide]

Well at least your honest

[orangeman]

Which is ?