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Ryan Pickering Takes On The Nang Q And A

Tuesday 09.06.2020
Team Talk Mag
Club


1. Earliest GAA memory.

My earliest memory of the GAA is Under 10 training at Paddy Cullen Park with Teamtalk’s Damien Harvey leading the session. I was only 6 years old and I remember torturing my parents for weeks, they were a bit apprehensive to begin with because I was so much younger than everyone else. Back then there was no such thing as the Gaelic Start programme or Under 6’s.

2. Was your family a traditional GAA family?

My dad was a Derry man so I would have grown up watching a lot of Derry club football. Mum always loved going to watch games when I was young, later becoming involved at committee level.

3. The best GAA venue you have been to?

The best GAA venue is Croke Park but I always loved the atmosphere at Clones on Ulster Championship days. Within our own county I always enjoyed playing games at Carrickmore and Errigal Ciaran.

4. School participation and/or success.

I went to St. Patrick’s Academy in Dungannon and I was lucky to be involved with a great team the whole way through school and some fantastic GAA men coached our teams. We managed to win the Dalton Cup, the Corn na nOg, the Brock Cup, some of us won the Rannafast with the year above us but we missed out in our own year and we finished off with MacRory and Hogan Cup success in our final year.

5. Club/ County role models that you looked up to as a youth

When I was young I looked up to lads like Raymie Mulgrew, Marty Murray and John Gilmore, they were always a couple of years older than me and they were winning grade 1 championships and representing Tyrone. When I was breaking into the senior team Paul McGurk and Mugsy were the two I looked up to. Paul was a brilliant defender and a great role model for any young player and Mugsy always had that bit of magic up his sleeve.

6. Other sports that you played or had an interest in.

I played a bit of soccer until I was 16 but when I made Tyrone minor panel in 2007 I decided to focus all my attention on Gaelic. I always enjoyed playing golf when I was younger and I’m looking forward to taking it up again when I hang up the boots.

7. Most difficult opponent you have faced in club football and why?

It’s too difficult to name one opponent, I normally have the pleasure of picking up the opposition’s danger man so it’s never easy.

8. Best player you have ever seen play Gaelic football

Peter Canavan – I was lucky enough to grow up watching him at his best.

9. Are you a fan of the recent rule changes?

No, referees have a difficult enough job as it is. Very few of the rules they have brought in have improved the game, they’ve just made it more difficult to referee.

10. The best GAA match that you ever saw.

The All-Ireland Final in 2003 is hard to beat.

11. Are you a fan of academies/development squads? Why

Yes, it’s a good chance for young lads to improve their game and be exposed to a high performance training environment. It does require good communication with clubs and a well organised fixture calendar to be successful and ensure young players aren’t being flogged.

12. Your own involvement around the club.

I’ve coached nearly every age group from under 6 through to minors and been part of committees. I’ve taken a step back the last couple of years after getting married and having our first child but I do intend in getting involved in the coaching again.

13. How important is the GAA in your community?

It’s maybe not as prominent as it would be in more rural areas of Tyrone because there’s other distractions in the town but it’s every bit as important.

14. Favourite county jersey (not Tyrone)

I don’t really have one.

15. Are you a fan of penalties to decide the outcome of championship games?

Only if there’s no winner after a replay. I think it’s only fair both teams get a second day out but if the replay ends in a draw then why not?! There’s no nice way to exit the championship and the fixtures are congested enough as it is

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