SPEED, skill, physicality, attitude… Conor McKenna has all the qualities needed to become a star for Tyrone, but don’t expect too much too soon says Marty Clarke.
Clarke made a very successful transition from Aussie Rules at Collingwood to GAA with Down in 2010 but he admits that it took him around six months to bed back into James McCartan’s side. He says McKenna could face the same adjustment period but says Mickey Harte should bring the free-spirited former Essendon star straight back into the Tyrone fold.
“He’s a top lad but I wouldn’t want to put too much pressure on him because it is a big transition coming back both on and off the field,” said Clarke.
“But in terms of Conor McKenna, the athlete and the sports person, I don’t think people in Ireland, outside of Tyrone, understand how good this guy is. This is a top athlete, a top player coming back to a very good team and I think the GAA world should be excited. I’m really excited to watch him play.”
Eglish clubman McKenna has said that he has been in touch with Tyrone manager Harte and is “more than happy to put my hand up and see how I go". Clarke has no doubt that he will go very well for the Red Hands after he finds his feet.
“I came back at the end of 2009 and it took me from the McKenna Cup to the Qualifiers before I felt I was really contributing for Down,” said the An Riocht clubman.
''It was the All-Ireland quarter-final stage, when you have the training behind you and you’re settled back into Irish society, that I was able to put together some good games. I do think, particularly at county level, that it is a big transition.
“The ball skills are one thing, knowing where to run to get the ball is another and then fitting into your role. What role does Conor play? That’s a conundrum in itself because he’s so versatile, he can play anywhere but I know he’ll want to play in the forward line.
“There’s a lot more to it than people think but I think with Conor, with his ability and his personality, he will be okay. He’s not a worrier, he’s happy-go-lucky, he is very much a family person and he’ll be very happy about being back home.
“He has a bubbly personality and he plays that way as well. He’s off-the-cuff. He was doing things on the AFL field – solo runs and different pick-ups that you simply would never see.
“I would have had a skillset that I probably could have done stuff like that in an AFL game but it was coached out of me and I would never have dreamt of doing it in case it wasn’t the right option or wouldn’t come off bit, with Conor, the beauty of him is that he will do it because he feels like doing it. That’s what makes him so good to watch.”
That box office flair is what Tyrone fans are so excited by and Clarke thinks McKenna should go straight into the Tyrone senior squad.
“If it was me I would have Conor there because he obviously has a desire to play for Tyrone,” he said.
“He’s in fantastic condition. The Tyrone boys will have been following his career and when he goes to that first training session they’re going to be rubbing shoulders with him, trying to match him in drills. His speed is frightening and if you’re playing with him or against him in an in-house game you’ll be upping your game and that can only benefit the squad.
“I suspect Tyrone will take him in. Even if it’s not a long season or it takes him time to adapt well at least he’ll have that out of his system moving into the following year.”
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