WHEN you attend a dinner dance or function in different clubs, you will inevitably receive all types of opinions and judgements from other clubs in the spotlight and most of them might be derisory, borne out of some sort of rivalry or even abject jealousy.
Yet, the last two nights I have attended - both of which were in Tyrone - the attitude towards one particular club has been surprisingly nothing short of complimentary and genuine admiration which is rare enough.
I speak of the Slaughtneil club in Derry who have carved out a niche in our Association in their ability to win neutral admirers in addition to nearly every competition in front of them.
Unfortunately, coming from the foothills of south Armagh, I can only really pass judgement on what I encounter and I have yet to enjoy the privilege of seeing first hand why people are so full of praise for what must be a very special club and community.
For the last two decades, no matter where I have been, people have asked me about the phenomenon that is Crossmaglen Rangers and how they continually compete at the very highest levels imaginable and, more importantly, sustain that motivation to reach the benchmark set by past teams and players.
There is no simple answer, which is what most clubs are looking for. Total dedication and commitment to their club and community is a good starting point, with the community aspect probably the piece of the jigsaw most people miss out on as the two are inextricably linked.
I couldn’t possibly compare Slaughtneil and Crossmaglen regarding titles won, but the Derry team’s achievements this year surpass what most clubs, including Crossmaglen, could ever dream of as regards the range of accolades accumulated in one year.
Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
I have always pondered how dual clubs can possibly manage two sporting codes like hurling and football - especially in the club dynamic. And I have yet to receive a positive reply from any member of these clubs as it throws up all sorts of pros and cons about the practicalities given such a small pick of players.
Slaughtneil is a small rural community of no more than 300 families. And yet, they have defied the numbers game to win the Derry double in hurling and football in each of the past three years.
Not to be outdone, the ladies of the parish have also collected the Derry double in camogie as well which is some achievement in itself. But what you generally find when you enter Ulster competition against clubs playing only one code is a likelihood of falling just short. Nobody from the Robert Emmet’s club in the Sperrin mountains has obviously read that script, though, because it evidently does not fit in with their psyche.
In the face of absolute emotional despair after the passing of club stalwart Thomas Cassidy, who was the driving force of anything to do with a sliothar and a hurl within this special club, they have gone on to achieve the provincial hurling and camogie senior club double with his sons and daughters somehow finding the inner strength to represent their club and drive them towards success.
In the upcoming Ulster club football final, the club will strive to write themselves further into folklore and achieve a club treble that many, including myself as a proud clubman, could only dream of.
I appreciate after winning one Ulster club title as a player the amount of dedication, commitment and sacrifice required, not only from players but committee and community in the effort to reach the holy grail. To have a chance of annexing three Ulster crowns in one year is something that simply sets Slaughtneil apart as remarkable. Perhaps that is why other members of different clubs and counties only speak in such glowing terms about a unique and innovative club set-up.
Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
When I asked the question I have been asked a thousand times about my neighbours from Cross - ‘What is the secret to their success?’ - one answer resonates with me.
From the very earliest age, the pitch and clubhouse has become the fulcrum of the community. And when a child comes home from school and the homework has been attempted then he or she has only one place where they want to be and they head there in their droves.
Games consoles, televisions and tablet devices are not in the equation. And when they grow up further the pub or the nightclub will only ever come second place to the real club which is far more entertaining and rewarding.
Chrissy McKaigue captained the hurlers when they won the Ulster title last month ago. Earlier on in his life, between 2008 and '11, he was a professional athlete with the Sydney Swans and yet he returned home when it became clear he wasn’t going to break into the first team any time soon.
He openly admits to feeling somewhat disappointed with the way things turned out in Australia, but admits quite freely that if he hadn’t have come home then he would have missed out on all these wonderful experiences with his club.
Slaughtneil face Kilcoo in an Ulster decider and they can rest assured they are meeting a club with similar ambition and drive who also pride themselves on many of the qualities I have spoken about in this column - albeit from purely a footballing perspective.
The Magpies have been knocking on the door for quite a few years now, but have yet to cross the rubicon like their Derry counterparts did two years ago. They will have to produce even more than they did against Armagh champions Maghery last weekend if they are to halt an astonishing club treble bid by a club that is undoubtedly worthy of all the plaudits they are receiving.
A club apart...
