Jimmy Smyth has long since forgotten the number of roles he has fulfilled within the Clan na Gael club in Lurgan.
The retired schoolteacher has played a pivotal part in cementing the club’s reputation both on and off the field of play while at the same time overseeing its elevation to becoming the heartbeat of a thriving community.
It’s little wonder then that the affable and outgoing Smyth is at the very heart of operations as the Clan na Gael club prepare to put the finishing touches to their preparations for Sunday’s Armagh Senior Football Championship Final against fierce Lurgan rivals, Clann Eireann.
Forty-seven years ago Smyth captained Armagh against Dublin in the All-Ireland final when the Dubs took delivery of ‘Sam’ but if defeat was the Orchard County’s lot on that occasion this was certainly not the case when Smyth’s beloved Clan na Gael claimed the Armagh Championship title in 1968.
Like everyone else in the Clan na Gael club, he had to exercise patience in the team’s wait to make a further serious thrust for honours and that came at the double in 1993 and 1994.
It remains to be seen if there can be another brush with history on Sunday when they take on their neighbours in an Armagh decider that has ‘classic’ written all over it.
Be that as it may, Smyth’s feet remain firmly on the ground as football fever grips Lurgan.
“I just hope that on Sunday we can have a repeat of the celebrations we had in 1968,” muses Smyth.
“I well remember that year there was a lorry to take the team to our ground for celebrations.
“It was just fantastic and this was the case again when we won the county title twice in the 90s.”
“Those were very meaningful successes for us and we would like to think that our team will triumph this Sunday. As was the case in the past, we have key players in Stefan Campbell and Shane McPartlan and we believe they can set an example for the rest of the lads.”
Smyth is acutely aware that Clann Eireann carry considerable experience in the form of their Armagh All-Ireland winning trio Barry McCambridge, Conor Turbitt and Tiernan Keely and he is aware of the threat that they will pose.
“There is no doubt that Clann Eireann are a side laden with talent but we know what to expect,” points out Smyth.
“Since 2018 we have won 23 under-age titles and you can draw your own conclusion from that.
“A lot of those players have matured and several of them will be in action on Sunday. They are accustomed to winning and that’s not a bad starting point.
“I hope history repeats itself this time round and that we can come good. These boys have grown accustomed to winning at under-age level but they know that Clann Eireann will be a massive test for them.
“This is a huge game no matter what way you look at it and I just hope that we come out on top.”
Meanwhile, as Lurgan prepares to go ‘football mad’, to quote Smyth, two Trillick gaels will find themselves over 100 miles away when their own club side takes on Errigal Ciaran in Sunday’s Tyrone SFC Final.
Instead of cheering on their home club, brothers Jude and Pat McNabb will take charge of the Ramor United side that will meet Crosserlough in the Cavan SFC Final at Breffni Park.
Understandably, the dedicated Daly duo will be hoping to see a double helping of success come their way on Sunday.
And as fate would have it two more Tyrone men, would you believe it, will be overseeing the Crosserlough side. Ryan Daly from Carrickmore and Archie Beattie from Eskra, another fiercely committed twosome, will be doing their very best to plot another title triumph for Crosserlough.