Pascal Donaghy Killeeshil Answers Back

Tuesday 28.04.2020

Club

My earliest GAA memory is winning an under 8 Tournament in Carrickmore. The final was played maybe a week or two after the opening rounds of the tournament, I can clearly recall the final seemed like it took months to come.

My family is heavily involved in GAA and have been for years. My dad is a long serving committee member. Me and my sister have played from a young age and have always been involved in the club.

Emma, my sister, has had a huge amount of success. From a young age she was a part of championship and league winning teams. She was part of last year’s Killeeshil ladies’ senior team that had huge success.

Winning the 2017 MacLarnon Cup with St Ciaran’s only to go on and be narrowly beaten in an all-Ireland final in Croke park by a strong Mayo side. This was St Ciaran’s first Ulster Schools Senior men success and will always be something I am extremely proud of.

The likes of Peter Canavan or Brian Dooher are obvious candidates. Watching Kevin Hub Hughes playing a big role in winning 2 all Irelands was definitely something that inspired me as a youth. I was fortunate enough to watch and play with big club names like Shane Mallon, PackieMcMullan and Gary Reilly.

Enjoy a round of golf, if it’s going well…

Stephen O’Neill gave me a right toasting one evening down in Clan na nGael. Dean McNally from Kildress gave me a tough game in last year’s play offs, only for frees I wouldn’t have had many touches.

Growing up watching forwards like Peter Canavan, and Ciaran McDonald. Think my favourite player would have to be ColmCooper, was technically so gifted and I just love the way he played.

Personally, I don’t see the need. The game has worked this far on basics so why change it?

ACL Sundays are great, but Saturday matches I think would be better. Would mean a few men would make work on a Monday the odd week.

It certainly has pros and cons. I think they have the potential to be good. It can put a lot of pressure on younger players and can sometimes knock confidence. Usually around that age players can have club, county and school football which can be a lot.

I joined the committee at the beginning of this year so the senior men have a few representatives. I try to help out with whatever time I have between playing, studies and work.

Being such a rural GAA club often means that football connects people. So many local people volunteer to make our community a better place, through managing teams, joining committees and helping local vulnerable people at this difficult time. Killeeshil people who have migrated usually keep track of what’s going on in the club, and for me I think that shows the heart in our community.

Kerry for sure.

Definitely not. Training hard for months to lose on penalties. It shouldn’t even be considered.