Oisín McConville at crossroads with 'selfish endeavour' in Wicklow

Irish Examiner

23-06-2025

Oisín McConville said he doesn't know if he will return as Wicklow manager next year. The Armagh man's three-year term ended following Wicklow's defeat to Limerick in Sunday's Tailteann Cup semi-final.
McConville said he will first have a conversation with his wife Darina about his future in the role as he's fully aware how much him being an inter-county manager impacts his family. He described the role as "all consuming".
"I understand that me being an inter-county manager is one thing," the 2002 All-Ireland winner told the BBC's The GAA Social podcast.
"Me being an inter-county manager in Wicklow is a completely different thing because it's a pretty selfish endeavour on my part and that really strikes home because you miss quite a bit of what's going on with the kids; Darina, she picks up a lot of slack.
"Honestly, if I was to say to her, 'listen I'm going back to Wicklow for the next 10 years', they'd back me up in the morning. That's not my decision.
"We're going to give it a week or whatever and see if it's even a possibility. From home first, and then there's obviously conversations to be had (with the Wicklow county board) after that. I'm probably more aware than ever that we can't follow my dreams all the time as a family. Everybody's got their own individual things that they're doing there.
"The other thing, was my family's couple of days or week going to be defined by whether we win a game at the weekend or not? The journey up the road, I do try and leave it in the car but if you've been beaten or in a situation like yesterday, it is very difficult to lift your head and I don't want that. I don't want to bring that into the house."
Wicklow lost to Limerick despite being seven points up with 20 minutes to play. Limerick hit 1-9 without reply to earn the victory.
"Don't think we played well first half at all but yet we found ourselves only a point down at half time which was a bit of a result," said McConville.
"Whatever wind was there in the second half, we had it. If you had asked me yesterday, I would have said we played well for 10 or 15 minutes but it turns out it was only four or five minutes really. We had a really good burst. We were completely in control, seven points up and unfortunately from that point we capitulated.
"It's pure devastation because you put yourself in such a good position to win and then on top of that you know that's the end of your season. It's not like you can repair it next week.
"I felt angry coming up the road. I wanted to see if watching (the game) would give me some sort of closure on it quickly rather than going over it in my mind.
"I wanted to watch it and get it out of the way and get a few things clear in my own head about decisions and what happened during the game. It didn't help immediately but it probably will help in the next 24 hours."
McConville believes Wicklow will win the Tailteann Cup in the future.
"Wicklow will go back to - whether it's with me or whoever - to a similar stage next year and they'll be better off for (Sunday's defeat)," he said.
"It might take another turn or another turn after that but eventually it'll happen for them. There's too many good players there for it not to happen."