1. On Dublin’s Leinster Championship opponents next Saturday
I was quite impressed with how Westmeath developed over the course of the League – they had a great campaign. I’m good pals with Kieran Gavin, their full back, and was chatting to him about football in the county not so long back.
He was telling me they had good underage structures and that’s obviously now transcended into the senior panel. Even though they didn’t win the league they got promotion and will be a Division 1 team next year. He was optimistic about the future.
2. On his Championship debut against the same team in 2008
They had beaten us in Division 2 of the League that year. I was quite new to the panel. Damien Healy that played wing back is retired now. He absolutely roasted me – I was taken off at half time.
He kept on going forward and I was saying: ‘What is he doing? Am I supposed to track him all day? Am I not going to get the ball?’
It’s one of my worst memories being taken off at half time but I was lucky I wasn’t taken off earlier.
3. On the injury he suffered before the League final this year
I pulled my hamstring (not the same hamstring I injured before the All-Ireland final in 2011) and had to come off against Mayo.
It went into spasm more so than I pulled it but I took ten days off and didn’t do anything but rest it.
Then the Wednesday before the game I went out and did the warm-up and it went into spasm again. I tried in out again on the day before the game but it was just wasn’t right.
My lower back had been causing me a lot of trouble, couple of bulging discs in my back causing sciatica. It was a collection of things all building up but I’ve had a good bit of work done and I’m happy enough. I do a lot of core work now (to protect the hamstring) and work on my glutens, get them firing, as I reckoned I wasn’t using them enough.
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4. On his personal development as a footballer
I think you develop an aerobic base that you then maintain and top up each year. I feel the more I mature as a footballer, the more I can work smart so I’m not needlessly running around like I was on my debut and so now I know when to stay up or when to go back.
I’m much more confident now. Back then you’d be saying to yourself, ‘Am I good enough to be here? Am I worthy of this jersey?’ But, as the years have gone on, and with lots of hard training, I know I’m fit enough, I know I’m strong enough and I believe in my ability as well.
5. On what it means to have an All-Ireland medal
That’s all I ever dreamed about when I was playing football. I remember in first year in college and I was in class with Michael Murphy. Cork had won the All-Ireland that year and we were sitting there saying: ‘Jesus, are we ever going to win an All-Ireland?
I’d give anything. Just one All-Ireland. I’ll give up playing then. You know that kind of a way? I’ll pack it all in – I don’t care – I’m happy enough.
I remember speaking to Michael about two years later and I said to him: ‘Do you remember that day we were talking’ and he said ‘yeah’. And the two of us with All-Ireland medals in our back pockets.
It was just weird looking back. Then you say: ‘I’m not giving up! I’m still going.’
At the time, it was the best thing that ever happened to me, and I still look back on it with fond memories, but we really have parked it now. It’s a case of that’s really out of the way now. I’ll try my best to get another one.
6. On his sister getting married to Dublin teammate Darren Daly
I would have gone to school with Darren. They started going out years ago – out of my control – but anyway, sure what can you do! I’m best pals with him. He’s with our neighbouring club Fingal Ravens
When it comes to the wedding I’m groomsman and it’s happening out of season.
8. On marking Jack McCaffrey in training
Luckily enough, he goes the other wing most of the time. He’s really fit and at the age where players play carefree football. He’d cycle from Clontarf to UCD to go to college. Cycle back. And then cycle to training.
Train, then cycle home.
