MARTY QUINN, after three-and-a-half years of senior football management has accepted the local game and all that comes with it.
More often than he cares to remember, the football manager has acted football politician.
After three-and-a-half years of answering to controversy, refuting inconceivable football decisions which have enforced suffering on his club’s supporters, Marty Quinn’s day has finally come.
The Irish Premier League championship has been confirmed and Cliftonville are champions following a 1-1 draw against Glentoran on Saturday at Solitude.
“This game, this club, this team - it’s not about Marty Quinn or Rory O’Boyle (assistant manager) or even the players.
“This game is about the people, about those who watch us week in, week out.
“Cliftonville is for the people and I am a humble man only glad that I could see so many smiling and having the time of their lives”.
Almost 24 hours after lifting the league championship, the Gibson Cup and a trip into European football competition, Quinn, in agreement with wife Teresa recalls Saturday as: “The highlight of my life”.
A member of Cliftonville’s 1979 Bass Irish Cup winning side, Quinn has buried the spirit of that year: “I have always wanted to put an end to talk of 1979.
“With no disrespect to my fellow players at that time, this is the greatest moment of Cliftonville’s history and nothing compares to being the manager of a side that wins the championship.”
Final Table: 1.Cliftonville 36 20 8 8 49-37 68 Champions - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2.Linfield 36 17 13 6 50-19 64 3.Portadown 36 17 9 10 50-38 60 4.Glentoran 36 17 8 11 52-34 59 5.Ballymena United 36 14 9 13 54-55 51 6.Crusaders 36 13 12 11 51-51 51 7.Coleraine 36 11 10 15 41-47 43 8.Glenavon 36 9 12 15 47-56 39 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9.Omagh Town 36 7 10 19 43-68 31 Relegation Playoffs ------------------------------------------ 10.Ards 36 4 11 21 31-63 23 Relegated
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Ulster U21 Football Championship final: Armagh 1-8 Derry 0-10
ARMAGH were last night basking in the glory of an historic occasion after lifting their first ever Ulster U21 Football Championship title.
And what better way to do it than by defeating the reigning All-Ireland champions with a heroic defensive performance in the frantic closing stages.
It was senior star Barry Duffy who grabbed the only goal of the game, and how important his first half strike was to prove.
“I didn’t even see the ball hitting the back of the net,” an elated Duffy admitted afterwards.
“I just got it into my hand and saw the opportunity to have a go.
“It’s a great honour to be a part of the first Armagh team ever to win an Ulster U21 championship, and a great boost to the county.
“Derry have always had the measure of us, but today we came out on top and I think we deserved our win. It’s a great feeling.”
The Killeavy target man paid tribute to skipper John McEntee, who had another wonderful game in midfield.
“John has been a great captain all season. he leads by example, he’s one of three Crossmaglen on the team and they have been showing the way for Armagh football by winning the AllIreland club title.” Full forward Duffy stunned Derry with an opportunist goal in six minutes, stabbing the ball to the net after Paddy McKeever had created the opening.
Derry: S O’Kane, M Kelly, N Farren, M Coll, P McFlynn, F Crossan, C McNally, G Doyle, P Diamond (0-1), F Glackin (0-1), B Murray (0-2), D Conway (0-1), B Kearney (0- 1), J Cassidy (0-3), G Diamond (0-1).
Subs: N McCusker for Coll, E Muldoon for Doyle, P Murphy for Conway.
Armagh: P Hearty, B McArdle, T McEntee, K McElvanna, S O’Hare, P Watters, J Toal, A O’Neill, J McEntee (0-2), P Oldham, P Loughran (0-3), P McKeever (0- 1), N McParland (0-1), B Duffy (1-0), D McAuley (0-1).
Subs: S McDonnell for McParland.
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