Sean Armstrong | Niall Bogue | Eoin Brosnan | Paddy Bradley | Sean Cavanagh Aidan Carr | Kevin Cassidy | Ronan Clarke | Bryan Cullen | Colm Cooper
Shane Curran | Brian Dooher | Kieran Donahy | Mattie Forde | Thomas Freeman
Raymond Gallagher | Paul Galvin | Leighton Glynn | Ciaran Hanratty
Stephen Kernan | James Masters | Andy McClean | Oisin McConville
Ciaran McDonald | Stephen McDonnell | Michael Meehan | Barry Monaghan
Finnian Moriarty | Adrian Morrissey | Conor Mortimer | Eoin Mulligan
Ross Munnelly | Nicholas Murphy | Eamon O'Hara | Stephen O'Neill
Tomas Ó Sé | Darragh Ó Sé | Declan O'Sullivan | Colm Parkinson | Tomás Quinn
Donal Shine | Ciaran Whelan | Fergal Doherty | Conan Keaney
Darran O'Sullivan | Eoin Bradley | James Masters | John McEntee
Mark Vaughan | Paul Kerrigan
So far this year Dublin champions Kilmacud Crokes have been playing the football of their lives and they will look to keep the Andy Merrigan Cup in the capital for another year after St Vincents win in 2008. The team is littered with county stars but they will look to their ace forward Mark Vaughan to lead the line on St Patrick’s Day. He grabs the attention with his bleached hair, but even without it, the opposition would have him as a marked man. From free kicks and in open play he is part of a top-quality attack. For Vaughan it is another chance to nail down a place with Pat Gilroy’s Dublin side. He is not one to miss many chances and he proved this in their great win over Corofin in the semi-final when he scored a fantastic goal.
How do Crokes manage to gel the team going with many players coming from other counties?
The main thing is that any lad who comes to play for us has to be living in the parish and is eligible in that way, that is important as we are all local. It’s no different than when young players come through the ranks and they have to fit into the team and get used to the older players. There is a good group of lads here so anyone who does come in will not be treated any
differently.
What has been your greatest moment in sport?
It would probably getting the start against Meath in the championship in 2007 and doing so well. It gave me the chance to really build and try to nail down a place on the team. It was a special occasion.
Which is the toughest team you have faced?
I’d say Tyrone. They certainly have the best defence and are the best at closing out teams. They don’t just have one man marker. All their defenders are top class. They are by far the toughest.
Who was your toughest ever opponent?
It would probably have been John Keane from Westmeath. He is one that sticks in my mind over the years as I’ve never really got the better of him.
Which players do you admire the most?
Stephen O’Neill from Tyrone is definitely one. He has comeback after a bad injury and when you saw him against us in the league he is class, a top forward.
Who was your childhood sporting hero?
There are two from my club. Johnny McGee was always one to look up to and when I started following Gaelic Ray Cosgrave was really on form so I really looked dup to him.
What club do you play for and who are your biggest rivals?
I play for Kilmacud Crokes and our biggest rivals are St Vincents, although this year and in coming years I reckon it will be Oliver Plunketts. They will just get better in the next few years.
Do you have any superstitions?
I always sit in the corner of the dressing room.
What’s the most important skill in your opinion?
Try to work on your pace as it’s very important in the modern game, but if that isn’t possible learn to read the game and have vision. Some players are not that quick but they seem to have time on the ball.
What advice would you give to young free-takers coming through the ranks?
The more practise you do the better. Mentally block everything out, pretend there is no one in front of you. Get a routine and stick to it, then any time you kick a free it will always be the same as any other kick in training.
Name: Mark Vaughan
Age: 23
Team: Dublin
Debut: 2004 v Derry
Position: Centre-Forward
Honours:
4 Leinster Senior Football titles,
1 Leinster U21 Football title,
1 Leinster Minor Football title,
2 Leinster Senior Football Club titles,
3 Dublin Senior Football titles,
1 Dublin Minor Football title.
Club: Kilmacud Crokes
Fav food: Lobster
Fav book: Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich
Fav band: Kings of Leon
Fav movie: Scarface
Fav TV: Desperate Housewives
Hobbies: All sports
Occupation: Student
CúlFACT:
Vaughan won a schools soccer final with Blackrock taking a penalty and saving three in the shoot-out. |
