YOU don’t get to choose how your career ends – but Declan Lynch was thankful for one thing: that he got to play his final game for Antrim at Croke Park.
The 32-year-old was desperate to reach a Tailteann Cup final this season - but Laois were just too good for the Saffrons in Sunday’s semi-final clash at headquarters.
A Tailteann Cup winner’s medal was probably the only thing that could have persuaded the Lamh Dhearg clubman to stay on next season – but the aching limbs and the eroding effects of five hip surgeries in an inter-county career that spanned 12 years were probably telling him to call it a day.
Lynch was convinced that his Antrim career would end at Brewster Park in Enniskillen last Sunday as he was subbed off on 43 minutes.
Fermanagh, their hosts, were in the driving seat before Antrim launched an incredible comeback to snatch a quarter-final win and secure an appearance at Croke Park.
“If you’re going to go back, you need to commit fully – and if you can’t, there’s no point being there,” Lynch said on Monday, the day after Antrim’s Tailteann Cup semi-final exit.
“I’m content with my decision. I’m 32 and I’ll be 33 when the season comes round again. I was coming off the pitch in Enniskillen last week and I was looking around thinking: ‘Is this where it’s going to end?’ And then the lads turned it around.
“When I was coming off against Laois on Sunday [in the 60th minute], I was absolutely busted. The week before when Andy [McEntee] took me off against Fermanagh, I was so annoyed – but Andy obviously got it right, and he was right to take me off on Sunday against Laois to get fresh legs on the pitch.
“To get to finish your inter-county career at Croke Park with Catháir and Áine at pitch-side and getting to bring Catháir onto the pitch was special. I’m content with it, but I would love to have played in a Tailteann Cup final.
Lynch became a permanent fixture in the Antrim back-line over the last decade and was one of the team’s most consistent performers.
Not the result we wanted today but this group gave their all after a tough season. Thank you for your support in 2024.
— Antrim GAA (@AontroimGAA) June 23, 2024
Best wishes to @CLGLaois and @officialdowngaa in the Tailteann Cup Final 🏆 pic.twitter.com/rhvSZZdcGF
He was also a key member of the 2017 Lamh Dhearg side that won the senior county championship.
A keen footballer and hurler, Lynch quit his job in the Bank of Ireland and became heavily involved with Sinn Féin where he works as a policy adviser.
He studied politics and criminology and holds a master’s degree in political communication and research.
Speaking to The Irish News in 2019, he said: “I actually think reunification is closer than ever... but it’s not about getting rid of unionism. Unionism is part of Ireland. Unionist rights and culture have to be protected. You can’t have a United Ireland, a New Ireland without unionism playing its part.”
In more recent times, he married Antrim Ladies footballer Áine Tubridy and they celebrated the birth of baby Catháir in March.
“Áine obviously stepped away from the county this year because she was pregnant and just with the new baby, it was very hard for both of us to be out of the house.
“So, I think it’s only fair that Áine goes back and plays county next year and I’ll give the club a good rattle. I’ll get to enjoy going away to places in February and March time.”
Twenty-fours after their five-point loss to Laois, Lynch still couldn’t put his finger on what went wrong at Croke, other than to say their opponents had their “homework done” and Antrim were beaten by the better team.
While Lynch bows out, he firmly believes McEntee has earned the right to remain as Antrim manager for a third season.
“Andy has definitely improved Antrim,” said Lynch. “He has instilled a belief in the squad that we should be playing in Croke Park.
“After we lost to Armagh in the Ulster Championship last year we played challenge games against Dublin and Donegal. He prepared us the right way and didn’t believe in Antrim feeling like second-class citizens.
“We went away to Portugal for a warm-weather training week. He brought a serious level of professionalism and wants us to be treated in the best way possible.
“The teams we played in the Tailteann Cup this year, you wouldn’t have known how they would have gone in previous years, but under Andy we felt we’d get over the line if we played well. That’s the difference.
“He’s changed the mindset. He sees the person first before the player. He’s always asking about your family and is very good that way.”
Commenting on his Antrim career, Lynch added: “There have been better players than me that have played for Antrim but I gave it everything every time I played, I did my best.”