DJ Carey | Eugene Cloonan | Martin Comerford | Brendan Cummins
Ronan Curran | Gar Farragher | James 'cha' Fitzpatrick | Paul Flynn
John Gardiner | Niall Gilligan | Damian Hayes | Conal Keaney | Eoin Kelly
Eoin Larkin | Fergus McMahon | Andrew Mitchell | Pat Mulcahy
Sean Óg Ó Hailpin | Ben O'Connor | Joe Rabbite | Dan Shanahan
Henry Shefflin | Tommy Walsh
What has been your greatest moment in sport?
Winning the County title with my club O’Loughlin Gaels in 2001 was a brilliant occasion. We beat Graigue Ballycallen on the day and I chipped in with two points. My brother Andy was captain and when he lifted the cup there was some roar.
Who are the toughest teams you have faced?
The present Cork side are probably the hardest team to beat at the moment. They are real pros, extremely fit and have all the skills. On the club front, it would have to be Birr, who we played in the Leinster Club Championship a few times.
Who was the toughest opponent you played against?
Cork’s John Gardiner.
How do you balance your job and football?
I’m lucky in that I have an understanding boss who allows me time for training, gym work and physio when the Championship gets into full swing. That makes life a lot easier.
Which player do you admire the most?
Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, a brilliant advertisement for Gaelic games.
Who was you childhood hero?
It has to be Diego Maradona. In the hurling, I was a big fan of Noel Skehan, the legendary Kilkenny goalkeeper.
What club do you play for and who are your biggest rivals?
There are three big clubs in Kilkenny City and my club, O’Loughlin Gaels, is one of them. The other two are, James Stephen’s, who come from the “Village”, and Dicksboro. There’s great local rivalry between us and when one of us go on to win, there is lot of craic and banter around the city.
Do you play any other sports?
I play golf and handball, and from time to time some soccer.
What are your hopes for the future?
I just want to keep playing to the best of my ability and try to win more titles with club and county. Kilkenny are coming along nicely this year and there is healthy competition for places on the team with a lot of new players coming through, a nice mix of old and new. I’m hoping we can have a good run in the Championship.
What advice would you give to young players?
Always keep practicing. You can’t practice enough, go out and find a wall or a handball alley and start hitting the ball. Work on your weaker side and work on side-line cuts and taking frees. And remember, always listen to your coaches, don’t give cheek and do what you are told.
Back to Top |
