International Rules legend Lockhart still enjoys the game

By Steven Doherty

THE Aussies arrive on these shores this week for Saturday’s one off test in Croke Park, and although there will be no Derry players on view, one Derry man will still be keeping an eye on proceedings.
It would be no exaggeration to say Banagher man Sean Marty Lockhart is a legend in the International Rules having played in eight series against the Australians. He won a record 16 caps representing Ireland between 1998 and 2006, and would have won more had a broken arm not sidelined him in 2002.
In 1998 he was chosen as Irish Player of the Series and in 2004 he was chosen on the Supreme team to mark 20 years of Ireland versus Australia International Rules tests
“I think when you play it you always have an interest in it” Lockhart told the County Derry Post. “When we first played in ‘98, ‘99, 2001, 2002 there was more media coverage of it and Ireland had their best team out and Australia had their best team out. There has been a lot of trial and error this last few years where they have tried different things like an all aborigine team two years ago. Interest has maybe waned a little.
“But back in ‘98 and ‘99 they were fantastic games to play in and to watch. It was end to end stuff, no blanket defence and no stoppages. It was played in a great spirit. It got nasty for a couple of years but if it’s done properly it’s still a great spectacle.
“I played corner back or ‘in the pocket’ as the Aussies called them and I had to mark one of their star men, so it wasn’t unlike Gaelic for me and I enjoyed it. I got sixteen caps out of it over eight series. I think Sean Cavanagh has 13 or 14. But it’s more about the experience. You meet people that you would never play alongside. Our team in ’98 was full of absolute legends of the game – the full-back line was Seamus Moynihan, Darren Faye and myself. And you had Anthony Tohill, Trevor Giles, Brian Stynes, Pater Canavan – all legends.”
That year, 1998, was a year to remember for the former Derry player, but despite being at the very peak of his powers he was still a little surprised when he got the call up to represent his county by Colm O’Rourke.
“I was a wee bit surprised when I got called up, but ’98 was my best year in terms of football. I got Ulster Player of the Year that year and I also got my All Star. And then Colm O’Rourke called me up to trials. There was maybe 70 or 80 boys there and it was just like a shop window and you had to show what you got.
“’98 always sticks with me most because I got the Player of the Series. The home games are brilliant because of your home crowd but the away games are first class as well. You are away for 3 weeks with players you don’t know and you form friendships and bonds with these players.
“I remember one series we stayed at a hotel in Melbourne beside the Grand Prix and you got up in the morning and you went for a walk to the park or the beach in your shorts and you would come back to the hotel and get a massage and get a sleep and at night you would be playing a big match in a stadium – no work, no worries, just a taste of life as a professional athlete.
“I was saying to (AFL bound) Conor Glass who is my A level PE class in Maghera that he is so lucky to get paid to do something you enjoy.”
The 39 year old teacher rejects the notion that the Australians were always leaps and bounds ahead of the Irish in terms of strength and conditioning, even back in the early days.
“I think initially the Australians would have put out bigger, stronger players and their strength would have been catch and kick but over the last 17 years they have moved towards bringing a more mobile player.
“Our advantage was our agility and speed, and our kicking was far more accurate. But we also had good footballers back then – Michael Donnellan, Padraig Joyce, Jarleth Fallon. In terms of conditioning we trained hard and we were in good nick. They are professionals and were better looked after, but there wasn’t a massive difference between the two teams.
“I think people have focussed too much on the whole physicality thing. Other than 2006 where it got out of hand and the Aussies set out to bully us, in general over the 17 years it has been played hard but fair. Contact is part of their game and they tackled you hard but they weren’t out to break your jaw. Critics have taken one or two instances and labelled the whole game too dirty. When it’s done right, it’s still a great game to play and watch.”

Ireland v Australia, International Rules Test, Croke Park, Saturday, November 21, 7pm

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