The retirement barely lasted a month.
A 25-year senior career didn’t merit a break for Shane Curran who today stepped right back into the game with his first role as manager.
The Roscommon legend takes the reins at Padraig Pearses and we just can’t wait for his debut bainisteoir gig.
Throughout a decorated club and county career, Curran has been one of the game’s most colourful characters and here are some of the reasons why his new management career will just be as good as his memorable playing one.
1. Will he be able to contain himself on the sidelines?
Cake could barely stay still on the goal line when he eventually made the transition from centre forward to nets but he’s that whole-hearted a character that it’s going to be even tougher for him not to get involved on the side. We have visions of him having enough and barging over the white line as the ball comes upfield.
2. He’s going to be “jiggled” in his post-match interviews
The St. Brigid’s man carries a shirt and tie well. He’ll look the part in press conferences but he’s that passionate that we imagine he’ll be as breathless as a man who has just completed 20 pull-ups.
3. He’ll hit the penalties
Shane Curran breaks the mould. He did so way back in 1989 in the Connacht minor final when he ran in front of the penalty taker to rifle a winning-goal into the back of the net. Jaysus, it would be new ground entirely if he did that as a manager. Obviously.
4. His celebrations
You think Jose Mourinho lets loose with his touchline sprints? Wait until Shane Curran is celebrating Padraig Pearses’ first championship.
5. Chris O’Dowd could be on his backroom team
The two Roscommon men go back a distance and we’re wondering if Curran could wrangle the famous actor into a role as selector. O’Dowd looks up to Cake and was probably on the money when he said, “he’d be just as happy to ride a bull into a church.”
6. He’ll have the most fired-up players and supporters ever
Shane Curran is booming with enthusiasm, energy and passion. In the wake of St. Brigid’s 2013 All-Ireland title, he roared down the RTÉ mic, “What a day for Roscommon. 1944 is the last time a senior title came out of here, and it won’t be the last one! We’ll bring many more back!”
7. It could be the longest management career ever
Curran’s playing stint was absolutely incredible. At 43, he was still contesting Connacht titles and when he told us about a potential retirement, he was still deliberating: “I’ve always said that, when the time comes, it will be like the nurses and doctors having to turn off the life-support machine.” Imagine what it will take to get him away entirely.
8. The GAA will be kept on their toes
The Rossies man has never been afraid to call out any aspect of the organisation that needs calling out. If something’s not right, Curran won’t hold back and you can be damn sure that he’ll be just as honest as a manager. Probably more so.
9. The man has a brilliant view on the game
Cake plays a great game and he arguably talks an even better one. He knows Gaelic Football inside out and he has a refreshing outlook on the sport which will no doubt help him in his new ventures. In an extended interview with SportsJOE, he rubbished the idea that the game is worse nowadays, “For those who are castigating the game, they’re wrong in a lot of cases because I think the game is barely recognisable from some of the rubbish we saw in the ’80s and ’90s.”
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