DARREN NOLAN WILL line out with his Oulart-the-Ballagh team-mates later today.
They take on Mount Leinster Rangers in a bid to put their recent failures at this stage of the AIB club championship behind them.
Before he takes to the field though, we wanted him to dish the dirt and tell us what he really thinks of his team-mates.
Toughest teammate?
“There’s a few tough boys there! Toss of a coin between Darren Stamp, Paul Roche and Eoin Moore. Throw Ben O’Connor into the mix there as well – tough cookies!”
Fastest?
“Another tough one! I’d have to give it to Davy Redmond. He’s a bit of a rocket when he gets going in a straght line. I’d love to have his speed.”
Slowest?
“I can’t be giving away that! That’s a tough one! For fear of hanging out someone I’ll say myself!”
Biggest messer?
“Michael Jacob, without a shadow of a doubt. Definitely doesn’t act his age. Oldest lad on the panel but he goes on like he’s the youngest.”
Most skilful?
“Another tough one. Des Mythen has fantastic skill – Stephen Doyle another very skilful fella, Nicky Kirwan. Again, a toss-up between those lads.”
Most intelligent?
“Besides myself? (grins). Frank Cullen without a doubt. He’s very articulate, clever and a stylish fella. Intelligent to boot.”
Butt of jokes?
“I’ve come in for a few of those myself. Being the biggest messer, Michael Jacob gets plenty of it thrown back at him. Himself or Barry Kehoe. I’d have to say Paul Roche too!”
Worst dress sense?
“Frank Cullen or Eoin Moore. In their own minds, these lads are fashion icons but to the rest of us, no no! They’re after committing a few crimes against fashion. The boys love their designer gear – you could see them arrive in with pink trousers and a blue tee-shirt. The less said, the better!”
Worst dancer?
“A few fairly raw dancers but I’d have to say Lar Prendergast. ‘Pender’ fancies himself as a good dancer but he’s really terrible. I wouldn’t like to offend him but he’s a fairly poor dancer!”
Biggest leader/motivator?
Again, we’re lucky that we have a few of those boys in the dressing room. Darren Stamp is a fantastic character, a good man to motivate and a good leader. Keith Rossiter is another one, Paul Roche as well.”
Best trainer?
“Too many to mention. As a group, we’re good to train but Eoin Moore is fantastic to train, Nicky Kirwan, Michael and Rory Jacob, Peter Murphy, Frank Cullen. All of these lads very committed men. There’s another 20 I could throw on to that list.”
Worst trainer?
“Ah God! Thankfully we don’t have too many lads who don’t make training, especially at this time of year. The effort has been fantastic all through the year and particularly since we won the county title. Lads have taken it up a level. You’re pressing me here! In years gone by, but certainly not this year, poor oul’ Conor Goff would have come in for a certain amount of stick but I’ll tell you one thing, he’s after turning a corner this year! I have to redeem myself or poor Goff will kill me!”
