1. Who was your GAA hero growing up?
My uncles [Limerick hurlers Declan and Mike Nash]. I would have supported Limerick growing up and watched them get to All-Ireland finals, and I would have wrecked their heads in the back garden. My family would have been the people really.
2. Can you remember the first inter-county game you went to?
My mam and my dad would have taken me to Limerick matches. I would have gone to a few Kanturk matches as well but it would have been Limerick mainly to see the lads playing.
3. Tell us about the first time you lined out for Cork?
2007 against Waterford, letting in five goals. As a goalkeeper it’s all about the goals but it was kind of a weird game. The intensity of it is one thing I’ll never forget, I’d never played at that pace before. The lads [first-choice keeper Donal Óg Cusack] had been suspended from the Clare game beforehand in Thurles. If I remember one thing it was the intensity of the game and the Waterford forwards.
‘Uncle Declan’ takes on Tipperary’s Liam Cahill in the 1997 Munster Championship (© INPHO / Lorraine O’Sullivan)
4. Who was the toughest opponent you faced?
Every team has their marquee player be it Joe Canning for Galway, Henry Shefflin for Kilkenny, back in those days it would have been Dan Shanahan and John Mullane for Waterford. You could pick a forward from any of the teams really.
5. Outside of Croke Park, what’s your favourite GAA venue?
Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Last year on, what would you call it, my “second debut” against Tipperary, running out of the tunnel in Páirc Uí Chaoimh to hear the roar of the Cork support was fantastic. I love hurling in my own club field in Kanturk as well but unfortuately the way the GAA is gone you don’t get to play too many games with your club any more.
6. What was the most memorable game you played for Cork?
That moment running out in the tunnel against Tipperary the second time around. The first one went by me a little bit quickly so it was good to take that one in. Games-wise I suppose it was nice to keep a clean sheet against Kilkenny the last day, against such a good forward line, so I suppose you take a positive from that.
Nash: leading Cork out for his second debut (©INPHO/Cathal Noonan)
7. Which sports do you like to watch apart from GAA?
Everything. Anything at all. I’m teaching so I’m in school on Monday mornings but I Sky+ the American football games on a Sunday night and watch them. I love playing sports, I love watching sports — I’m a sports fanatic really. I find it relaxing.
8. And which sporting event in the world would you love to attend?
Either an American football game or a boxing fight in Las Vegas. I suppose the 49ers would be my American football team; San Francisco would be the first place I would have visited. I wouldn’t know a whole lot of players but I enjoy the sport and I’d love to go to a game, they seem like great occasions.
9. What current GAA star do you like watching play?
I go to the Cork football matches to see the lads playing. Within GAA I’d watch anything. I go to club matches around my own area even when I’m on nights off, I just love the GAA. There’s a lot of great players out there.
10. And who’s your favourite sports star outside of GAA?
Roy Keane would have been a big hero of mine, obviously being from Cork. We were lucky enough to meet him a few years ago; they say never meet your heroes but he was brilliant, a great guy. I’m a big Manchester United supporter as well so it was a pleasure to meet him.
Cork goalkeeper Anthony Nash was speaking at the announcement that tickets are now on sale for the Aer Lingus and Etihad Airways International Hurling Festival. Sixteen teams from across the world will participate at the event in Galway from September 18th – 21st this year. Adult tickets, priced at €5, are available from tickets.ie while Under 18’s go free and all proceeds go to the Galway Hospice. Visit hurlingfestival.com for more information.
