DECLAN McKenna has put thoughts of an Armagh return on the back-burner as Armagh Harps aim to give this season's Ulster Club Championship a rattle.
Armagh’s 2009 All-Ireland minor captain last played for the Orchard seniors two years ago but had to step away due to work and study commitments.
McKenna has been one of the glowing lights in Armagh Harps’ capture of this season’s county championship – the club’s first since 1991.
But with a provincial quarter-final tussle with Fermanagh champions Derrygonnelly Harps at Brewster Park this Saturday night, McKenna won’t be distracted by talk of declaring for the Armagh seniors.
“To be honest, I haven’t really thought about it,” said the 26-year-old centre-back.
“I won't be thinking about it until after the club. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always enjoyed playing for Armagh but I’ll worry about that after the club season finishes.”
Armagh are likely to be without Jamie Clarke, James Morgan and Ciaron O’Hanlon for the start of the 2018 campaign and possibly longer as the trio are travelling.
McKenna returning to the fold would help offset these losses to Kieran McGeeney’s panel.
McKenna added: “I was with Armagh two years ago but it was just circumstances why I left. I was doing a degree at night time and I couldn’t give the commitment that was needed at the time.”
Being part of the first Armagh Harps team to win a county championship in 26 years, McKenna says, was “up there” with leading the county seniors to an All-Ireland in 2009.
“I was a lot younger then,” he said. “’09 was a great achievement with Armagh but when you win with your club, it’s special; it’s a different kind of feeling.
“You’re winning with the boys that you played U8s with. I’d say it’s up there with winning an All-Ireland minor title because Armagh Harps hadn’t won it in 26 years.”
Armagh Harps upset holders Maghery in the decider earlier this month thanks mainly to two quick-fire goals from Ryan McShane and Ultan Lennon in the 33rd minute.
After losing back-to-back county finals to Crossmaglen Rangers, in 2014 and 2015, McKenna never lost hope of the Harps getting over the line.
He was part of the Harps minor teams that claimed back-to-back titles in 2008 and ’09, and the club won another minor title two years later.
That minor success has finally transferred to senior level.
“Looking back on those two final defeats to Crossmaglen was disappointing because we didn’t really show up. ’Cross were a far superior team at the time but I suppose we were young and inexperienced but those experiences stood to us.
“We knew we were always capable of winning a county title and we knew Maghery was going to be tough in the final but all the hard work paid off in the end.”
The Armagh Harps camp will have had 13 days to prepare for their Ulster Club showdown with Derrygonnelly who have had two extra weeks’ rest since they defeated Devenish.
“We were focused on Derrygonnelly the day after the county final and I’m sure the management will have our opponents well assessed and we’ll see where it takes us,” said McKenna.
“We’ll look forward to Saturday night. We just want to keep playing.”
