BY ALAN RODGERS
A.RODGERS@GAELICLIFE.COM
THERE could well be some interesting times in the McIver household as the countdown begins to next month's fascinating Ulster Championship clash featuring Derry against Donegal.
While Brian will be hoping to guide Donegal to success, his son Michael is set to play a pivotal role for the newly crowned National League champions. It is believed to be the first time that the situation has occured in the race for the Anglo Celt Cup.
Last month Brian McIver was more than an interested spectator as Derry captured the league title with victory over Kerry. Now he is planning to dethrone the Oak Leafers, complete with his son and a number of other Ballinderry players whom he guided to All-Ireland Club success just six years ago.
"We obviously talk about the football in the house, but both myself and Michael have a job to do and we'll be concentrating on that," he said.
"I was delighted with his success with Derry against Kerry and to see him do so well in the game. It was a very good success for the county.
"Everyone talks about Paddy Bradley, but the Derry attack is more than just one player. The likes of Conleth Gilligan, Eoin Bradley, Mark Lynch and Barry McGoldrick are all offering good support as well.
"The commitment that they showed in winning the National League was very impressive and I'm looking forward to meeting them in the championship," he added.
While examples of close family connections on opposite sides have been fairly regular on the soccer scene, they are less common in gaelic games. Indeed, one of the few examples occured in the 1952 All-Ireland Final the Maguire brothers lined out for both Cavan and Meath.
More recently, Mick O'Dwyer was in charge of Kildare at the beginning of the nineties when his son lined out with Kerry.
However, the unusual situation is most unlikely to cause any awkward moments around the dinner table in the McIver home in Ballinderry. Instead, a family steeped in the GAA will most probably just get on with the job of trying to guide their respective counties through to the provincial semi-final.
