Irwin doing it his way

SEAN Og Irwin has been one of the top defenders in the county over past few years but teaching in London has ruled out a worthy shot with the county, writes Steve Malone.

Irwin makes defending an art, he does it his own way and his manager insists the better the player the more he rises to the challenge and he’ll face a stern test against Ballyhaise on Sunday, with probably a marking job on county man David Brady.

“He is a top, top defender he is as good as you will see in the country. The better a player he marks the higher his standard rises. He really relishes a challenge and if you give him a job you can see he his stature increase, he is that type of player that enjoys a challenge and if you didn’t tell him, it was challenge, he nearly wouldn’t want it,” said Reel.

“He prefers a challenge and a go-to player and he has a big role to play, you give him a target and he is an expert in neutralising the oppositions best player. That’s how we be using him.”

The 26-year-old teacher keeps himself in good shape, so he has the engine to stick to opponents through the game but like a Venus flytrap, he lures attackers into a false sense of security before robbing possession.

“He has a unique way of defending there is no question about it,” Reel said.

“Most players like to step off or else get out in front and win possession, he seems to mark from behind and then at the last split second, he pounces and wins possession. He nearly teases the player into thinking he is going to get the ball and he just has the ability to get a hand in and deny them possession.

“He can get really close and he has a knack of staying close, he doesn’t give them an inch and he has a good centre of gravity. There are few players can defend the way they do. He probably is a county standard but unfortunately his work as taken him to London. There is no doubt that only for that he would be in Kieran McGeeney’s plans.”

While the modern-day footballer tends to keep in good shape throughout the year and missing training sessions is not an option, Irwin has been given a licence to play his way and he is a key player in this talented Cullyhanna team.

“He is a real athlete, he is a frequent trainer, he would train every day, gym, running and he is in good condition,” said manager Reel.

“That is why it works, living in London, he won’t get the match sharpness as he might like to be training wise but because of his role within the team we have got that balance right as tactically he is not really involved in the team.”