Grugan: I didn’t think I was good enough for Red Hands back then

OMAGH STAR CONAN READY TO MAKE HIS MARK AT TOP LEVEL

JUST a few days short of his 27th birthday, Conan Grugan has finally convinced himself that he’s ready for inter-county football.

Critical self-analysis has gone hand in hand with his progress through the under-age ranks at Omagh St Enda’s.

The burly midfielder cut a dash as a Tyrone minor and U21 player, before the senior call came from Mickey Harte five years ago.

The transition appeared seamless, as a man with all the attributes of a star in the making confidently took on the challenge. But not everyone was convinced that he was good enough to play at the highest level.

In fact it was Grugan himself who decided he didn’t belong in the company of Tyrone greats who had won everything the game had to offer, and he walked away after playing against Monaghan in the 2004 Ulster SFC.

In the meantime, he has worked hard to improve his game, maturing as a player as Omagh won two senior Championship medals.

And when Tyrone boss Harte came calling again late last year, Grugan felt the time was right to return.

“Ever since I left the panel the first time, I was trying to improve myself, to get up to this level,” he said. “Initially, the first time I was on the panel, I didn’t think I was quite good enough or at that level, but as each year has gone on, I have tried to improve.”

Two impressive outings in the Dr Mckenna Cup, and a man of the match award in last Sunday’s win over Ulster University, would suggest that he’s set to stay around this time.

“I was always watching the Tyrone games, and trying to reach this level, and hopefully now I can go on to prove that I’m at this level now.

“I had a good enough season last season, and probably that was the first season since I left the panel that I felt I was ready to go back at it again.

“And now it’s just about getting the head down and working away and trying to reach that level again.”

Grugan was a key driver in Omagh’s recent revival, playing starring roles as the club won two O’neill Cup titles in the space of three years,

and reached an Ulster

Club final.

“Going from Omagh and stepping up to Tyrone level, there’s not a massive difference. Obviously there’s a big difference in intensity and that, but training with Omagh is nearly at county standard already.

“Playing Grade One in Tyrone, every game is tough, and you’re trying to reach that level, but I suppose winning the two Championships and playing into Ulster as well gives you that wee bit of experience of playing at this level and playing against this type of player.

“You can’t rest on your laurels. Mickey was saying there’s 42 on the panel at the minute, and obviously you can’t keep a panel of 42. He has to cut a few players at the end of the Mckenna Cup, so you can’t rest at all, you have to keep working away.”