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Austin Gleeson Extended Interview: ‘Being a club player is harder than county down here’ | Indo GAA — Transcript

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0:00Hello and welcome to a very special
0:01episode of the IndoGa podcast. Delighted
0:03to be joined by Austin Gleason. Sounds
0:05funny to say former Waterford player
0:07Austin Gleason. Is are you still
0:09grappling with that Austin?
0:12Uh to be honest with you, I'm not
0:14because I kind of like as I said in in
0:17previous the interview, I suppose I I
0:20kind of I knew this year was was made
0:22last year. So I was I nearly had time to
0:24kind of process it instead of making a
0:25decision last minute, you know, that
0:26kind of like. So, um, no, I'm look, I I
0:30knew it was coming. I to, to be honest,
0:31I did not see I suppose the reaction in
0:34the messages coming. Um, I kind of
0:36wanted it to just float away, but
0:39>> that was never going to happen.
0:41[laughter]
0:41>> No, I know. It's just just whatever way
0:44that interview went, it all just kind of
0:45went that way. And afterwards, God, the
0:48messages were unreal to be fair. Like,
0:50um, everyone everyone was everyone had
0:53something nice to say anyway. Like, it
0:54wasn't too many bad things. Yeah.
0:56>> What was the like who maybe most
0:58surprised you with a message or there
1:00was any kind of names that really kind
1:01of were like Jesus I wasn't expecting a
1:03message from him or her or
1:06>> H no don't fear anyone anyone that
1:08messaged me like I I would have got on
1:11with over the years like there's no
1:12there's no no really kind of stand out
1:15like there's a couple of I suppose ex
1:17managers and stuff like that that would
1:18have that would have text and ex players
1:19I would have played with and different
1:20different people like that like but no
1:22look as I said I didn't didn't expect it
1:26at all to go the way it went. Um like
1:28even people just saying like a couple of
1:30teachers would have text me over the
1:32like that I would have played with
1:33saying they're showing their kids
1:34they're showing the kids in the class
1:36the videos and stuff and I don't know I
1:38just bar to be baffled by it all to be
1:39honest with you but it was a nice it was
1:41a nice touch and nice feeling to get
1:43some message. I went back and looked at
1:45uh Morris Walsh photography on Facebook
1:47has you're you're that you're you did
1:49that many things you have a two-parter.
1:50You're one of the rare people that has a
1:52two-parter. But um there there is like
1:54for I'd be literally showing that to any
1:56kid like there's some crack some
1:58cracking stuff in there. Just quickly
1:59before
2:00>> so many things not not to not do.
2:02>> Yeah. Yeah. But listen um now just
2:05quickly you said there you knew this
2:07year was the last year. I'll throw a
2:09hypothetical one at you. Right. If Derek
2:11if Derek McGra had taken over Watford
2:13for 2027,
2:15how would that how would how what would
2:17have happened there?
2:19H yeah, look I I don't know the answer
2:23to that one is I don't know. Um like I I
2:26I
2:28have so much respect for for Derek when
2:30I had him in school as as a coach and
2:32then brought me into the war for panel.
2:34if if he went in I look I don't I don't
2:38think I don't think he would have
2:39changed my mind but I probably would
2:40have thought thought a bit more about it
2:43but I don't think I would have I would
2:44have went back anyway I think I I I kind
2:46of just knew I just knew at the time
2:48like it was a I knew this year it was it
2:51was the last kind of last go at it. So
2:53um look if if he went back I definitely
2:56would have had more more thought
2:58processes. Look, it's no disrespect to
2:59anyone else. It's just the way things
3:01would have went over my career that the
3:03opportunities he gave me and brought me
3:05to stuff. Um I definitely felt like I I
3:07should have I would have showed him
3:09[clears throat] respect to even have to
3:11have another thought about it but no I I
3:13I doubt it. I doubt it to be honest.
3:15Yeah.
3:15>> Okay. Do you think looking back at your
3:17career was he the manager that got the
3:18most out of you?
3:20>> Um
3:22possibly. Possibly. Yeah. Uh
3:25I I suppose I had a couple of good years
3:26under Lee as well and I suppose after
3:29after that then it was just injury after
3:31injury. So like it would have been hard
3:32for any man after that to get the best
3:34out of me you know but um I was lucky
3:36enough under there I would have only had
3:37one or two injuries um and I had a good
3:40run at it. I was able to train
3:41constantly able to play constantly. I
3:42was playing fgs given at the time like
3:44under 20 with the 21 with the club. So I
3:46was kind of hurling all year round um
3:48back 14 15 16 which probably helped um
3:51at that time. But yeah, I'd say they
3:53would probably got they would probably
3:54get the most out of me. Yeah.
3:55>> When you we were talking about skills
3:57and stuff there. Um
3:59growing up like I know you played in
4:01goals. Uh our own Pat Ryan I think put a
4:03couple passion in under 15 tournament
4:05down in Cork I think even.
4:06>> Um but like
4:08>> how much how much work and time did you
4:10put into like were you living in the
4:11pitch? Were you bitting ball off the
4:13wall the whole time? Because the things
4:15you were doing they don't happen by
4:17accident like
4:19>> Oh yeah. Look, I'll be honest with you.
4:21I would have had holy man every day of
4:22the week. Um I was properly just
4:25obsessed with it like um out the back
4:27garden in my grandparents uh up in the
4:32globe anywhere anywhere. Um I always had
4:34in the ball like and like growing up me
4:36and my sister would have been out the
4:36back around constantly like she'd be
4:38doing a couple years older than I mean
4:39we have matches mini all out the back
4:41and then the younger brother came along
4:43and he was always seven years younger
4:45than than [clears throat] me. So um I
4:47suppose when I was 14 and he was seven,
4:49we were having matches at the back and
4:50he was doing so I thought I was playing
4:52against 14-year-old and nearly making
4:54him cry a good bit but and getting in
4:55trouble but no it was just always those
4:57things like I just would have always
5:00been out the back garden and like
5:02playing little matches and picking teams
5:04and then playing playing as players like
5:05some some days I could have been
5:06Tipperary and been Kelly or Dart then
5:09other days I was car pretending all this
5:12kind of all that kind of stuff like but
5:14no I just it was just so enjoyable to be
5:16honest with you. Like growing up I just
5:18I just loved it. Um constantly had in my
5:22hand like I I say the kids now all you
5:25need is a ball, a slitter and a Harley.
5:27You don't need 12 people. You don't need
5:29anything like that. That's all you need
5:31to improve your skills. And look and the
5:33reason I say it is because it's what I
5:34done when I was younger. There's there's
5:36kids on the street here h where I used
5:38to like where I live that hated Harland
5:41but I would have forced forced hurling
5:43in hand just to just to play play with
5:45someone as well but if they didn't want
5:46to play it didn't bother me it was
5:49ball and a wall like but I look I would
5:51have played soccer up and try me having
5:53a squash different things like I would
5:55have played other sports as well but
5:57like it was Harlem was always the kind
5:58of one that stood out. when you were at
6:00your happiest on a pitch, were you out
6:02in the back garden almost? Were like
6:04were you free and just kind of like you
6:06were not being smart? I I did a piece
6:08there after you kind of announced your
6:10retirement. As I said, I don't think
6:12there will ever be another player like
6:14like you did things on a pitch that I
6:16haven't seen anybody do before or since
6:18like you tried things uh be it stuff off
6:21the hurl, be it flicks into the hand,
6:23the goal against Cork off the hur in
6:252014 where you didn't have put pressure
6:27on yourself for the rest of your career
6:28after scoring one of them. But like what
6:30was your what was your was your mind
6:32like in the back garden almost when you
6:33were playing free particularly in those
6:36early years with Watford?
6:38Yeah, I 100% and probably the main
6:41reason I I just didn't put any pressure
6:42on myself back then. Like I was just I
6:44just I to be honest I found it mad that
6:46I was on the field. Um like I made a
6:49debut I was just have to know I actually
6:51yeah I was just turning 18 kind of going
6:53on to me 19 year and three years
6:55previous I was on goal for Watford under
6:5716 like so I kind of like I just felt
7:00myself feeling lucky I suppose. Um and
7:03then sure I was just trying mad stuff
7:06was giving out half the time before
7:07trying the mad stuff. Sometimes I came
7:09off sometimes I didn't but like
7:12I was only talking to a few of the lads
7:14there were playing football in his dress
7:16room there um [clears throat] just after
7:18kind of announced and saw one the lads
7:20and like I was 2021 like playing Wford
7:24was just after getting I suppose the
7:26awards and I was in Tesco car park
7:28playing around with the lads playing
7:29catch like one of the lads going down
7:31about 40 yards. He hit the ball up in
7:32the air and 10 or 11 I was going up to
7:34try and catch the ball and like it was I
7:36was just I was just it was it was almost
7:38like kindergarten stuff that I was still
7:40like I was still down up to then and I
7:42suppose I probably started putting the
7:43pressure on myself then um and and
7:45things kind of started to go to bit
7:47downhill I suppose after that. Yeah. But
7:49um no back then it was definitely I was
7:50just I was just free flowing and there
7:53was never any pressure put on me to play
7:56like in a specific way. It was like like
7:58you're you're kind of a you're you're an
7:59open kind of person. Off you go there
8:01kind of thing with like 100 Eric. So
8:02yeah, it was it was really enjoyable. It
8:03was really enjoyable. Like
8:04>> did you put pressure on yourself or was
8:06did you feel outside pressure or was it
8:08the idea of being hurler of the year and
8:11the status and stuff that comes with
8:12that and even all the media that comes
8:14with that or was it an outside thing or
8:15was it an inside thing?
8:18>> A bit of both. Um, I think I would have
8:20put a a lot of pressure on myself to try
8:22and get back to where I got to in 2016
8:24and mentally probably
8:27like probably affected me a small bit
8:29then that I couldn't get back to that
8:31level. Um, like I was really I was
8:34probably trying too hard if that makes
8:36sense. like and I know that sounds a bit
8:38cliche but I was trying probably too
8:40hard to get back to those levels and
8:42look
8:43I I set the I set the levels luckily
8:47luckily in a good way I suppose but then
8:49just trying to get back up then the
8:51outside I suppose the outside perception
8:53and then the I suppose in my own in my
8:55own head then probably just probably
8:57didn't allow me get back there. Isn't it
8:59funny that like maybe before before 2016
9:03it was as you say kindergarten stuff and
9:06you probably weren't thinking about it
9:07really at all in a good type of way and
9:09then all of a sudden the mind flicks and
9:12you're potentially thinking about too
9:13much and trying too hard and trying to
9:15force things and when you do that you're
9:17it never happens.
9:19>> Yeah. Yeah. I know 100%. Like I
9:21[clears throat] like God there was there
9:22was games I was playing 2015 16 where
9:26like
9:28a funny story we played we played hardy
9:30I was up to the age and the hurries
9:33never mattered to me and they didn't
9:34matter to me throughout my career like
9:36like there's lads in the dressing room
9:38weighing hurlies and want them specific
9:40ways and I'm just like yeah just be the
9:42heaviest ear there and remember I
9:43playing hardy and it was like someone
9:45took a bite out of and I used it for the
9:46whole championship I just it was up the
9:48pocket early it just didn't didn't like
9:50things never phased me. Um
9:52[clears throat] the playing back then
9:54really and that like I think that that
9:55was that was that was probably part of
9:59why things I suppose went so well.
10:00>> Okay. Um talk to me about that one uh
10:04game in particular stands out for me and
10:06I remember looking back at the goal
10:07there last week. The the replay against
10:09Kenny in Turis like what does that feel
10:13like when you're playing like that? I I
10:16literally was looking at that as a
10:17neutral. I was thinking like does this
10:19lad could actually do anything like cuz
10:20it it that's what it was looking like
10:22and even after after the drawing game
10:24and you go hair through and score a goal
10:26basically on the end line after a minute
10:28or two against Kil Kenny like
10:30>> yeah um no I look things were just
10:33flowing I suppose everything was was was
10:35going away I suppose that year um like
10:40I I remember the drone the drawing game
10:43uh towards the end of the game we
10:44probably sat back a bit too much cuz
10:47like we were a young team and we were
10:48probably thinking Jesus we haven't
10:49beaten Kenya since 59 yard we have some
10:51opportunity here we're we're ahead going
10:53into the last couple of minutes and then
10:55I think it was Paul Murphy had a shot
10:56then at the end of the game that would
10:58have won the game for Kenya because we
10:59actually ended up sitting back too far I
11:01think remember watching it back and as
11:04Paul was in the shot I was playing
11:06center forward and I was actually
11:07standing on our own 21 we were just
11:08completely over the back almost Jesus we
11:11we nearly have him here and then the
11:12drone game should have god it was that
11:15strong Um um just at the like third tur
11:18on the Saturday night Wally Kenny was
11:19just it was unbelievable. Um like
11:23unfortunately the result didn't go away
11:24but God it was just the the adrenaline
11:27from the start to the finish. The crowd
11:28was just non-stop. It was just
11:30unbelievable. Yeah. It was like I think
11:33after yeah Brick Brick gave me the ball
11:34in. I think it was after two or three
11:36minutes and I remember h after I had the
11:38shot I actually saw Jake Dylan was
11:40actually inside me where I actually
11:41could have passed it across to him. If I
11:43if I missed, I probably would have got a
11:44few words off him. But no, luckily I
11:47went in. I think I think Stevie set me
11:49up for a point in about two minutes
11:50after and it was just things were just
11:52flowing again, I suppose. And I know it
11:54was just it was just one of those games
11:56that it was over and back constantly and
11:58then Py had that shot and made the catch
12:01from about two yards over the bar like
12:02it was unbelievable. But um no, it was
12:06one of that that was that was one game
12:07that you always remember everything from
12:09that game. just on the awards that came
12:12in that winter of 2016, you were after
12:14winning all Ireland under 21 as well. Uh
12:16you're a very young man kind of in
12:18parachuting into the spotlight. Uh your
12:21your club mate Tony Brown was probably
12:22maybe of a similar age in in 98 when he
12:25got his I remember you saying that you
12:26sought kind of some advice from him. But
12:29if you could give your younger self
12:31advice now 10 years on about how to deal
12:34with everything that came with being
12:36hurled the year at a young age, what
12:37would you say?
12:40Uh the first thing I'd probably say is
12:42pick and choose. Um like at a at a young
12:46age I oh Jesus I think I said this
12:49before like I I would went to every
12:51awards night and there was a good few
12:53that year luckily for for myself and
12:55like at 20 21 I was just thinking Jesus
12:58this is this is mad I'm invited to this
13:00that and the other thing and meeting the
13:01people I was meeting I was like it's
13:03unreal. Like
13:03>> I remember you've been at the Irish
13:05Independent Awards actually even in in C
13:07Park as well. Yeah I remember. Yeah.
13:08Yeah. Yeah. I had a good night that
13:10night as well. But [laughter]
13:13um No, I probably just say pick and
13:15choose like as in
13:18I I remember the like this the winter
13:20before that h we were playing on 21 the
13:22club and we were playing dead salon in
13:23the Eastern final and the match was
13:25meant to be on the third week in
13:28November first. Then the weather got
13:29cancelled. So we were training again for
13:31the week after. Then it got cancelled
13:32again. I ended up missing a holiday with
13:34war and actually went to Malaga that
13:36year.
13:36>> [clears throat]
13:36>> end up missing out myself and shame at
13:38ulti but I was consistently training and
13:41then I went it I think I think the game
13:43ended up in the second week in January
13:45and I was just consistently training and
13:47then 10 months later I wasn't doing as
13:50much training I was we got knocked out
13:52early on 21 with the club um and it just
13:56didn't it I don't know it didn't sit
13:57right with me about January February in
14:0117 that I was thinking I probably
14:03shouldn't have probably shouldn't have
14:05done so much really Um like I I I
14:08enjoyed the the award and stuff like
14:10that and um but looking back if I could
14:14give advice to 21 I'd say pick and
14:16choose what you go to train
14:19to to earn if you were going somewhere.
14:20Um I suppose don't try try and try and
14:25ignore everything really. Um like I was
14:28young naive I was listening to
14:30everything watching everything. um
14:32suppose seeing and seeing a lot. So um
14:35and [clears throat] in the probably in
14:36the back of my head I was thinking gez
14:38if I don't done this at 21 24 25 I I
14:41could be doing this for another couple
14:42years but then it just didn't didn't go
14:44that way at all like um and then I
14:46suppose the following year put a lot of
14:47pressure on myself and it took me a
14:48while to get to get some way through it
14:51again like um even even during the
14:52league I couldn't get myself going. Um
14:55we play Cork then the semi-final didn't
14:58have a great game but I kind of kept
15:00kept going I kept working hard and kind
15:01of came back a small bit but then
15:02towards the end of the year but then to
15:04final which are amaz on the field really
15:07in my eyes but um yeah that that that
15:10would be the biggest that would be the
15:12biggest thing is train to earn whatever
15:15you're going to kind of thing. Yeah.
15:16>> Okay. Uh but you were kind of when
15:19you're young you're kind of free and
15:20easy. You kind of have to make the
15:21mistakes nearly don't you?
15:23>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, 100%.
15:24>> Like imagine you were like living a
15:26monastic lifestyle and you're like, "No,
15:27I'm not going to this, this, and this.
15:28I'm not going to, you know,
15:30[clears throat] you know what I mean?
15:31You're a young fellow like
15:33>> 100%." Like one Jesus, I would have went
15:35to the open envelope and I did go to the
15:37open envelope like, you know, so um no,
15:39I was I enjoy I enjoyed it. It was uh it
15:43was good. It was a good time um going to
15:45different things and stuff. But yeah,
15:47look look if if that's that's probably
15:49the biggest thing I would say is if if
15:51you know you have something on this
15:52weekend, train hard. during the week to
15:54earn your earn your earn your time
15:56having away like you know
15:57>> I always say about that goal against
15:59Cork is if you hadn't put that ball in
16:01the net the brick would have absolutely
16:03gone through you for a short
16:05>> 100% 100% he was with me the whole way
16:08from the 45 Sharon and he's like right I
16:11I I remember saying to myself I'll bring
16:14take one more defender now cuz if I take
16:15one more defender he's cleaning through
16:17and then I was like actually maybe the
16:19defender will go to him so that's why I
16:22should have done me hand passing
16:23I was but I Yeah, he would have he would
16:25have killed me. Jesus, he would have
16:27killed me. Yeah, definitely.
16:28>> Of all those scores, like is there
16:30anyone in particular stands out for you?
16:32Like what's your one of your favorite
16:33scores you ever got?
16:35>> Um
16:38favorite score I ever got was it's
16:40probably the goal probably the goal on
16:41my debut. Um
16:44madly enough, but yeah, again it was
16:47just one of those things like me hit the
16:49sideline and there was no one on me. I
16:51[clears throat] I don't know what it was
16:52going on either, but I don't know. Just
16:54kept going and kept running and kept
16:55running and kept running and end up
16:57looking at the top corner. I think I
16:58actually ended up getting a cramp in me
16:59calf jumping up the air after it and
17:03oh Jesus I said 18 to score a goal like
17:05that on your debut. Um [clears throat]
17:06scored a sideline in the first half and
17:08then got another point as well like so
17:11it was a good debut like so yeah that
17:13goal is probably biggest thing but h no
17:15there's a few lads in the a few lads in
17:17the club that will disagree with me
17:18there. I remember we played uh
17:21remember we played in a James Stevens
17:23tournament under age minor up there and
17:26[clears throat] I was actually I was I
17:28had my 180 the night before so I ended
17:31up being late two of them we end up
17:33playing a match against Baren and couple
17:35has always said there was one of them
17:36sent me a couple of them sent messages
17:38when came out and said if you ever asked
17:41about it tell me about this and I
17:43remember getting the ball and I
17:44[clears throat] don't know what way I
17:45done it but I ended up swerving the
17:46thing and I went into the top corner And
17:48there's one or two of them just came
17:49came up to me after saying that's the
17:50best goal I've ever seen. That's the
17:51best goal I will ever see. So they they
17:54even even now Jesus 13 years ago that
17:57they still say it to me like so yeah
17:59that that would that would probably be
18:00the best one. Yeah.
18:01>> A Roberto Carless kind of a job like
18:04>> yeah kind of like Yeah, it was
18:06[clears throat] to be honest with you. I
18:07don't even know what I tried to do but
18:08it worked anyway. Um, I was only
18:11thinking with the these new rules being
18:13triled, Milan was half suggesting that
18:15you should go back into the goals and
18:17come out and hit balls next year.
18:19[laughter]
18:21>> No, no. Billy Billy has that song up
18:23now. Billy has that song up. But, uh,
18:25they could what they should do is bring
18:27in something like NFL where bringing a
18:28kicker bringing just bring in a silent
18:29take or brand after train like that. But
18:32[laughter]
18:33no. Yeah. I was think I was thinking at
18:35myself the one the one year then I step
18:37away like the the sideline thing comes
18:39in. But uh no, look, I I think I think
18:41it's good for the game because like the
18:43amount of players around the country
18:44that can do that thing, but are probably
18:46not allowed to do it because of tactics
18:47and stuff like that.
18:48>> Um I do think I do think it'll enhance
18:51the game. Okay.
18:52>> Just you're speaking there about like
18:54not being allowed. Were you generally
18:56given freedom
18:58>> to do what you wanted, if that makes
19:00sense? Because like I I in the piece I
19:02wrote as well, I said some birds aren't
19:04meant to be caged. Like I I think if you
19:06just put you in a spot and tell you to
19:07do you're only allowed to do this
19:10>> like you're just it's a bit of a waste
19:12in my opinion. Like the like it didn't
19:14seem like you had six on your back for
19:16like this is probably the one place you
19:17didn't play nearly under Derek. Well the
19:19majority of the time were you allowed
19:21just kind of be kind of free and easy
19:23and go wherever you wanted most of the
19:25time.
19:26>> Yeah. Yeah, under under Derek I kind of
19:29would have wing four then wing back and
19:31then then I was up at 11 for a couple of
19:34years like and it was kind of like in a
19:36roundabout way like if you want to go
19:38here you go here if you want to go there
19:40you go there just just get back into
19:42position really for for opposition
19:44pockets in our own pockets kind of thing
19:46like but um yeah look there would have
19:49been a lot of
19:51I suppose I was never really caged but
19:54if you want to put I was never really
19:55caged But once I done the kind of one or
19:59two little jobs that we had, we would
20:00have had set out like working hard and
20:02kind [clears throat] of things like
20:03that, then then you kind of you're
20:04allowed kind of be off the cuff.
20:05There'll be sometimes now where probably
20:09too off the cuff and you get a you get a
20:10few words from the from the line, but uh
20:12no, you were never really caged like
20:14like you like there's players now like
20:15like Stevie Stevie like Stevie
20:20unfortunately like doesn't train a hell
20:21of a lot because of the because of his
20:23legs. He's actually over he's on the way
20:24to London now to get a hip replacement
20:26tomorrow back. So like he he's what he's
20:28had to go through the last few years.
20:30But he's that good that he he's allowed
20:33just I suppose go on and play play away
20:35like you know. Um and look there is
20:38players there is players and I've played
20:40with them over the years and other teams
20:41have them as well where they have
20:42specific jobs. They're like they're like
20:45starters and then finishers come on like
20:47in in saying rugby and stuff like that.
20:48But um I was I was never really kind of
20:51one of those really. Yeah.
20:53>> Did you did you struggle with the
20:55training like particularly offseason and
20:58stuff like that? Like it's uh Milan
21:00actually says about the structure of
21:01Watford been all over the place as well.
21:04You mentioned about the best years of
21:06your career or the earlier years of your
21:07career where you're literally there's no
21:09stop really and you can say that's a bad
21:11thing and it's overtraining and burnout
21:13but it also means that like you probably
21:16have far too much time not playing
21:18collective games club like you don't you
21:21barely go into September. I don't even
21:22know if it went into September. Maybe
21:23two clubs did. H whereas everybody else
21:25is going into September, October, some
21:27are even going into November. Um
21:30>> like just even talk to me about that
21:32structural thing. Is is that that was a
21:34co thing and even Wexford realized, oh
21:36no, this is all over the place. We're
21:37changing this back cuz we're finished
21:39too early and our teams are getting
21:40hockey in Lster. Does that need to be
21:42looked at even within Watford?
21:45>> I'd say yes. Um like I think we played
21:49the second or third week in August and
21:51that was our last game that Salvad and
21:53that was it. We were finished holding
21:55him for a year. Um like look we have to
21:58excuse me we play the football but uh
22:00like the football won't be as serious as
22:02Holland down here I suppose. And look,
22:05it shows the thing. I think I think one
22:08of the main reasons the structure is not
22:10going football is because some clubs
22:13probably would put
22:15probably would put football to the back
22:17and [clears throat] maybe not even field
22:19teams, maybe not play um like I know
22:23look even in our own club I don't know
22:24what way we do it because like it's it's
22:28it's the number one sport in our club.
22:31Like we do we enjoy the football. We
22:32really do enjoy the football, but
22:36is there certain players that we know
22:37that get niggles and get injuries like
22:39they're not going to risk themselves to
22:40play football and then he could end up
22:42playing 16 weeks in a row if if if
22:44everything went well like God but a guy
22:48by the 12 13 week that them lads have
22:51injuries or kind of in their 30s and
22:53stuff like that. Now I know there's
22:55other clubs that do it and please what
22:58they do but I just I just don't know if
22:59it would work in Wford
23:02and I think and I think that's probably
23:03one of the main reasons they're might be
23:05scared to to put it back because the
23:07likes of the farm oil um abide
23:11ram ro
23:14like like what way would they do it and
23:17I do know that like
23:19they might struggle to come the end of
23:21it as well. Um, so it look it's a hard
23:24one to fix. Now next year the next year
23:26the the Hland is going to 10 teams and
23:30the football is already eight teams.
23:32Like it might be easier to do next year
23:33but who knows if they will do it or not
23:36like you know.
23:36>> Okay. Um, what would an offseason have
23:38looked like to you? Did you train would
23:40you have trained much in an offseason or
23:42would you have relaxed?
23:44Relax been a [laughter]
23:46a generous word.
23:47>> Yeah. Um, no. Look, back in back in the
23:50early like the early years, it would
23:52have been I would have trained away like
23:53[clears throat] like I would have
23:54trained in the offseason like doing bits
23:58and pieces, but to be honest with you, I
23:59wouldn't I wouldn't have looked after my
24:00body as much as I probably should have.
24:02I said that before like I wouldn't have
24:04uh I wouldn't even fail going to the
24:05gyms five times a week. Um like I would
24:08have went for the odd run and stuff like
24:09that, but I just I don't know. I
24:11>> would you have done much gym work in
24:12general? Like I know of I know of a
24:14high-profile intercount player now and
24:17his his manager cannot get him to do gym
24:19work. Cannot. He just loves Harland.
24:23>> Yeah. I I'd be I'd be kind of similar to
24:25that. Like like I'll be honest with you.
24:26If I was in the gym now and you don't
24:28strength test with me with with fellas
24:30that are probably half me size could
24:31they could possibly be stronger than me.
24:32Like it's I just I just I I get I get
24:35the gym bite for about three or four
24:37weeks and then I'm like so I kind of
24:40just leave it go. Look, look, I did I
24:42did go and I did go, but I probably
24:45don't had probably didn't put in the
24:46effort that some of the lads are putting
24:47in, if that makes sense. Like, like they
24:49were compulsory to get done. Like, so
24:52you would do them. Um, like I suppose
24:55started this year like I had the
24:57conversation with Peter and walked off
24:58the panel and then [clears throat] all
25:00I'd done was gym work um for 8 weeks.
25:03the odd the odd run on a Saturday
25:06morning, but all it was is gym work like
25:07regarding assault bike or row or um
25:10>> that assault [clears throat] bike I tell
25:12you it's assault bike by name and by
25:14nature.
25:14>> I tell you if if if I would one bit of
25:17advice to anyone is get an assault bike
25:19because 10 12 minutes on that is is
25:22harder it's harder than half an hour
25:23than anything else.
25:24>> It would absolutely finish it off.
25:26>> There there's something else like arms
25:28and legs and your heart is flying. Yeah,
25:32it's non-stop as well like and then you
25:34just f shout in your face and then keep
25:35going [laughter]
25:38to just go away. But uh no, look, I I
25:41would have done the dream. I would have
25:42done it over the years. Like it, as I
25:44said, it is compulsory. But like
25:48Steph and Stevie would have said a few
25:50times, sure, like if I can if I if I can
25:52bench 100k, that's grand, but I can't
25:53still can't put the ball over the bar
25:54back. So you would have always been the
25:56hurling the hurling side of things like
25:57the two of us now. But uh yeah no look
26:01I do I think it would have made a
26:02massive difference to me probably in
26:05injury injury capacity like majority of
26:08my gym work over the last number of
26:09years I've had to do because it was
26:10rehab um so like yeah maybe maybe I
26:14probably should have done that a bit
26:14sooner um but like a few pictures after
26:18turned up and I think one of the lads
26:19caught me a lot there
26:22after one of the pictures we actually
26:23played Limick in Kil Malik and we were
26:25just talking about the picture cuz one
26:27the other has Martin in it and they were
26:29like, "Geez, you look like a L there. I
26:31was so so small, slight, and skinny.
26:33Like, the jersey was hanging off me."
26:34Now, I can't get the jersey to fit me.
26:36Like, so it's a bit it's a bit it's a
26:38bit a bit of a funny situation really,
26:41but um look, I do I wish I I would have
26:43done it more possibly. But I don't know
26:46whether it would have made a massive
26:48difference to me. Like I'm I'm
26:51big enough without kind of being too big
26:54and carrying [clears throat] that around
26:55the field as well. Do you ever think
26:57like I've often I often think Sead's
26:59even at club level and think Jay is some
27:01club hler if he was around in the 90s or
27:04the early 90s JB would have been some
27:05county player. Do you ever think about
27:07like I just thinking like if I parachute
27:09you into the 90s and the naughties like
27:11this lad would absolutely go to town.
27:13It's just because it was different like
27:15not been smart and people can say
27:17whatever they like
27:18>> the gym culture and that that's not for
27:20everyone everybody. And like the
27:22intercount lifestyle is not for
27:23everybody. They're not all robots. Like
27:26certain lads love it and certain lads
27:27like you say there four or five nights
27:28in the gym and they're they are loving
27:30that and they will do that nine months
27:31in the yearly but it's you know what I
27:33mean. Do you ever think about if you're
27:35in a different era even I know it's a
27:37mad kind of a question.
27:39>> Absolutely. Like I've heard stories from
27:40the old players is what they used to do
27:42and I I would have thrived in it really
27:43cuz like the trainer like people going
27:47about bad trainers and good trainers.
27:50Oh, this fell is training well. He
27:51deserves a chance and stuff like that.
27:53Like I can openly say on a Friday
27:55[clears throat] before a match was
27:57easily one of my worst training sessions
27:59for years and I don't know what it was.
28:01I think
28:03I I think after about two or three years
28:06it nearly became superstitious to me. I
28:07have to train bad year because I was
28:08playing I always play well then. So I
28:10don't I don't know. It's it's just
28:12weird. Like everyone is different as you
28:14said like everyone is different. Um I I
28:17would have loved to play in the 90s '
28:1890s and because it was you you're in
28:20your own square. You don't have to run
28:22about a few kilometers to get on the
28:25ball and stuff like that. Like it was
28:26just no GPSes, no nothing like that.
28:27Like you just you go in and you play
28:29away and you just let your horn let your
28:31horn do the job like you know. Um and I
28:33think that would have would have suited
28:35me more than than now it is with the
28:36tactics and GPS. Yeah.
28:38>> We'll just take a quick break folks. Uh
28:39we'd love to get your emails in. Send
28:41your emails into indoor
28:42podcastindependent.
28:44And as always, our GA podcast coverage
28:47is sponsored by AIB. I just thinking,
28:49Jay, if we threw in with Milan, Big Dan,
28:52Owen, Kelly, Fler, Tony Brown, Ken
28:55McGrath, Jesus Christ, mana from heaven,
28:58like
28:59>> I would have been good. I would have
29:00enjoyed that.
29:01>> Yeah, I would have enjoyed the way they
29:02would have enjoyed the way they trained
29:03as well, I suppose.
29:04>> Yeah, different time.
29:06There's one few stories. One of they
29:08told me like like they were doing laps
29:11at the field before like just pure old
29:13school running and f just in the ditch
29:15until the last lap and pop back in then
29:16and just mad stuff like that like and
29:18get away with it because there was
29:19nothing to track it like you know it was
29:20just one of those one of those things I
29:22would have enjoyed that I would I
29:23definitely would have been one of the
29:24ones in the ditch as well. I'd say
29:26>> did you find that part of it hard? Um I
29:29was only saying there recently about you
29:30know video footage and stuff. We were
29:32doing a bit with the club a couple of
29:33years ago and I just found if I was
29:35looking at this video footage I was
29:36overanalyzing everything and it just
29:38wasn't for me and I realized pretty
29:40quickly and I was like I'm not doing
29:41this. I said I don't care. I don't care
29:43what punishment I get. I'm not doing it
29:44cuz I'll stink. How did you deal with
29:47like
29:48>> let's say video analysis uh GPS's like
29:51there's so much data and things been
29:54tracked now whereas part of me is
29:56thinking that you just want to throw it
29:57off and go on hurl and just not be
30:00thinking about it at all. No m
30:02definitely like video analysis fair
30:05enough I understand it and but I think
30:08it's more I think it should be more
30:11nearly goalkeeper goalkeeper used right
30:13the video analysis is you can use it in
30:15certain areas but then you're over
30:17you're always you're always as you said
30:19you're overthinking it because like
30:23if I'm doing a video on just going to
30:25use li as an example and you dra is
30:27playing right off back I'm not thinking
30:29d match right I remember watching that
30:31you after 3 minutes uh Dors gets the
30:33ball at 80 yards out puts it over on his
30:35right hand side so I need to get him on
30:36his left hand side when you're in the
30:37match you don't think like that you know
30:39like you you take all you take all that
30:42but like there I think set plays is
30:45probably the only way to look at it
30:46really like during like during matches I
30:49just during matches every every match is
30:51different like you could be down to 14
30:52men after two or three minutes they go
30:54down 40 minutes after two or three
30:55minutes everything you've done on them
30:56is out the window besides their poke
30:58outs and besides our freeze or besides
30:59our sidelines like
31:01I don't know. Look, there there's mirror
31:03to it. But is it is it a be all end all?
31:06I I don't know. I don't think so.
31:08Anyway, I don't think so. Like, as I
31:09said, for Poke, if it's yet grand, you
31:12can learn his signals, learn little
31:13things that he's able to do. Like, if he
31:15if he twists his body that way, you
31:17know, he's going this way. Like, yeah,
31:18100% there's merit in that sidelines,
31:21what they do for sidelines, what to do
31:22for freeze and stuff like that. But in
31:24games it's hard to judge like like when
31:27you're playing Limmerick and
31:28[clears throat] and in foot forward
31:31eight times out of 10 he wants the ball
31:32going on his left where he coming out
31:34he's on your right you know like there
31:35there are things that you just know
31:37anyway like you know [clears throat]
31:39not saying he's just all left he do it
31:42on the other side as well but h it's
31:46I think there's too much time given to
31:47it in in ways like and yeah you look
31:49back at some of some of the stuff even
31:51even your own houses where if fell is
31:53coming out of the fence and he missed
31:54times hand pass. I'm thinking like he
31:56didn't mean to mis time the hand pass
31:57like if he could have that back he
32:00probably do the same thing and it
32:01probably still wouldn't go like it's you
32:03need to get you need to nail the hand
32:04pass. He knows he needs to nail a hand
32:05pass. He knows he knew after 5 seconds.
32:07I made a mistake here now. I need
32:09to make sure the hand pass was go was
32:10the right place next. So like sometimes
32:14you use it just to use it. I think but
32:16>> okay
32:16>> there is merit in some ways which
32:18>> what you were saying there is set plays
32:20because you actually have time to think
32:22about
32:23>> yeah poke out you have eight or nine
32:25seconds sideline you have whatever free
32:26you have whatever whereas in game
32:29>> it's kind of like
32:30>> it's free flow like it's it's just
32:32>> everything's just going so like
32:35>> you're not if you're standing there you
32:36take two seconds to think about oh he's
32:39going to move on this side he he's gone
32:41and has the ball before you before
32:42you're there like you know so like there
32:44is matter to it. It's just how you use
32:46it, I think, is is is key. Like,
32:48>> you mentioned earlier about kind of
32:50basically basically said you were a non-
32:52entity in the 2017 final. Um, is that
32:56something that rankles with you cuz like
32:59you were so that you were so close like
33:01and that was what three points in the
33:03wind up I think was it? I think it was
33:04three points. 20 26 was it two? Was it?
33:06Yeah, I thought
33:07>> 26 218 I think.
33:08>> Okay. I thought it was 217. Um, but
33:11>> you could be right. No, it was interest.
33:13>> Yeah. Um, but like that must have been
33:16difficult enough to deal with because
33:18you're kind of thinking, Jiz, if I if I
33:21could contribute a bit more, it might
33:23have just tipped the balance cuz it was
33:25it was on a knife edge for most of the
33:26game. I remember even Tommy Ryan coming
33:27on scoring a deadly point under the cus
33:29like it was right there.
33:31>> Yeah. No, it was I remember Tommy Ryan's
33:33point. Marty actually was down a
33:35commentary. He was a young Tommy Ryan. I
33:36think Tommy was 26, 27 at the time,
33:38[laughter] but he just looked he looked
33:40like a child. But uh No, no, we were we
33:42were we were just there. Um I think I
33:45remember one stage in the second half I
33:46got the ball in me hand and I was blown
33:48back for a free and I remember jumping
33:50up the air and saying we just I was I
33:51was gone gone through and I thought
33:53right that could be a chance now for me
33:54to get into the game and then it was
33:55brought back I just couldn't get the
33:57ball into me hand um I was scrolling it
34:00was literally just on me hip
34:03>> he man marked you up basically the whole
34:05game didn't he? Yeah, I couldn't get
34:07away from could not get away from like
34:09monster man fit fast. I just couldn't
34:12couldn't get away from it and and Jesus
34:15I was very hard on myself for a couple
34:17of couple of weeks couple months after
34:18that like it was as you said thinking if
34:21I just got even two points in the game
34:23it would have or [clears throat] two or
34:24three points in the game we would have
34:25drawn the game like you know it like I'd
34:28be I'd be my own worst critic and like I
34:31100% would be I look back on things and
34:33I still look back on as I'm saying even
34:35there like the 2017 may not be there but
34:38like even after the game going back to
34:41the banquet and stuff like that. It was
34:42it was tough like it was it was it was
34:44tough cuz I cuz I fully thought that was
34:47we were going to we were going to win
34:48like I fully did. Um like the 2020 one
34:52than the co one that was a bit different
34:54to the limit were just was way less a
34:56superior but that like yeah the 2017 was
34:59the was the was the one that I told that
35:01I look back on with with regen
35:04in 2020. I think it was 11 points in the
35:06windup. Did you take any satisfaction
35:08from your own performance because like
35:11you were under pressure from the start I
35:13think you ended up a five the same day
35:15maybe a line ball and a free
35:17>> like you you hurled very well after
35:18hurling really well in the semi-final as
35:19well. Do do you take any solace from
35:22that even from a personal point of view
35:23that I I hurled right well in all final
35:27>> um I think I think I do a small bit
35:29because of because of 17 how bad how bad
35:31I played in 17. I didn't want to have
35:35two other funs late and [clears throat]
35:37be be very bad in both of them. So I I I
35:40probably did in a small way. Um I
35:42probably did in a small way but look at
35:44the end of the day I've always said it
35:46you like it don't matter how you play in
35:48in some regard if you win if you're
35:50winning and if we won [clears throat]
35:51seven in 20 in 2017 and I was a worst
35:55player on the field it would not have
35:56bothered me in a month on this cuz I
35:59would have had the the medal um 2020
36:03don't to be fair I don't had done better
36:05than I did in 17 anyway but you would
36:07look at it in small ways um but again
36:10you can't harp hard into it like you
36:12know it's it's like at the end of day we
36:14got we still got hammered you know.
36:16>> Yeah. Okay. I know you said um
36:18previously when you're chatting to on
36:20Sheen off the ball that you kind of
36:21nearly wish you didn't get the awards
36:24but in 2020
36:27this flip of that like do you think you
36:28should have got an All-Star in 2020?
36:32>> I thought I had a chance. Let's be
36:33honest. Um especially after the
36:35semi-final final I did think I had a
36:36chance. Um a few people in few people I
36:40suppose would have text me and said you
36:42definitely should have got one but
36:44yeah look it's just one of those it's
36:46one of those things maybe and another
36:48another few people said you you set your
36:50you set your bar so high that maybe it's
36:53hard to get up to that high again like
36:55if it was someone else maybe they would
36:56have got one. Um but yeah look it is
36:58what it is. I don't really to I don't
37:00know I don't look back at 2020 and say
37:01gez I wish I had an all for that one.
37:03It's
37:03>> okay. I I as I said I I any any
37:07individual awards I got to give I'd give
37:08it away to have a all medal. So um yeah
37:12>> in 2020 2020 you went through the the
37:14kind of body transformation as well. Um
37:16talk to me about that and I always think
37:18with with those things it's very hard to
37:21maintain after when life gets back to
37:24normal again isn't it?
37:25>> Yeah.
37:26>> Yeah. Um yeah, look as everyone in in co
37:31I'm sure I was doing Zoom quizzes with
37:33the lads and was eating eating pizzas
37:36and having having a few drinks and stuff
37:38over the Zooms and not to do like you
37:40know it was just one of those one of
37:42those one of those things that might
37:45never happen again like you know um and
37:47I just I don't know I remember I got a
37:49small bit of inkling that
37:52either the club or the county could be
37:53back in 3 months. I like bother you
37:55here. I didn't think it would come back
37:57that quick. So I contacted uh Dean K and
38:01uh kind of had it again had a Zoom call
38:04and had a couple of calls with him and
38:05then just started on a plan with him. I
38:07got a loan of all ginger from the from
38:10the club had it in me house. I was doing
38:11all the gym in the the gym stuff in the
38:13house was running the roads, walking the
38:15roads um and just just I suppose eating
38:17right and I was blessed because the week
38:22the week then I finished with him we
38:24were actually back with the club um and
38:27we I think we were back with the county
38:29we were trained that week or something
38:30along those lines anyway. So I was
38:33blessed that I started when I did but I
38:35was also lucky I finished when I did
38:36because I wouldn't have probably been
38:38able to train as hard as we would have
38:39been training
38:40>> of course. Yeah. if I was on if I was on
38:42the the calorie deficit kind of thing
38:43like so it look it was to be honest I
38:46found it I found it hard after maybe
38:49three or four weeks energy wise because
38:53I was eating so I suppose I was eating
38:54so little to try and get get the get the
38:56weight down I have to come go back up
38:59the calories to get the energy h was it
39:01was tough it was tough but yeah look I
39:05maintained it for a while but it went it
39:07went the wrong way again I suppose
39:10quickly quickly enough. Yeah.
39:12>> Was that discipline um difficult like in
39:16the off off season?
39:19>> Uh I found I found it difficult because
39:23I as I said I wouldn't like I know Laz
39:26would go to class in the gym and I I I I
39:30used to hate all that kind of stuff to
39:31be honest which I did and that's been
39:32open and honest. It was just
39:35I found it hard. I even running running
39:37on the pitches I I didn't even mind that
39:39as much. It was it was the it was the it
39:42was the gap in between where you weren't
39:43running. I would say when you're knocked
39:44out of the club and then back to the
39:46county that that gap in between I found
39:49hard found very hard. um the holidays
39:52and stuff like that or just
39:55>> well a bit of both a bit of both like um
39:58yeah it would have went away a few times
39:59but actually yeah it was just even even
40:02just down here in Werford to just
40:04Saturday be sitting there watching telly
40:06and then bored here and now then you
40:08take one lad trying to go for point or
40:10trying to go try to get go get food or
40:13like that like it was just one of those
40:14things but then come Monday or Tuesday I
40:16wouldn't they went to counteract what I
40:19done on the weekend you know
40:20>> okay Um, did you find it hard to be
40:22anonymous? Like were you able to go for
40:24a point like I know the way the GA is. I
40:26remember Brenda Mer chatting about
40:27before and he just said he was at like a
40:3021st or something like that and I think
40:31he had like a get Lucas head or
40:33something like that and someone comes
40:34over to him it's like what are you doing
40:36drinking? You know you have a match in
40:37three weeks or something. You know, you
40:38know the way people are. It's almost
40:40like an ownership thing. They have an
40:41ownership of you because you play with
40:43the county. What was what was that like
40:45even like you able to able to enjoy
40:47yourself without feeling like there's a
40:48million eyes on you judging you almost?
40:51Eh, now I am because I'm retired. But um
40:55no, like yeah, you would you'll have
40:58you'll have people coming up to you
40:59especially
41:01especially especially down in Wford like
41:03the city is small like you as we were
41:05talking about the clubs earlier off off
41:07here like like everything is so so
41:10condensed in here like all the pubs are
41:11in the same area like all the
41:13restaurants are in the same area.
41:14everything is in the same area. Like so
41:16like you never get away with and like um
41:19and I suppose like a thing that
41:23I suppose like like remember one time uh
41:26[clears throat]
41:27I was asked to collect one of the lads
41:31girlfriend because he was going to the
41:32pub um earlier than her. So I was like
41:36yeah no bother. We drove up to the
41:37house, collected her and Chetton was on
41:39at the time and I remember walking into
41:41I literally walked into the pub, sat
41:43down with with the lads and all their
41:45girlfriends were there and watched the
41:4710 race and left. That was it. Had a
41:50Luke said as pl and we [clears throat]
41:53were we we were playing a a challenge
41:55match that night and I was pulled aside
41:57and said why why was I in a pub and I
42:00said I was literally in a pub for 25
42:02minutes. I said, "Can I not even just
42:04like sit around?" And but it wasn't even
42:07it wasn't even been told it. It was who
42:11went out of the way to say I was in a
42:12bowl for 25 minutes. Like
42:13>> yeah,
42:13>> that's the part that I could not get
42:15over like so. Yeah. Look, you do have
42:18you do have days like that. But then
42:20other days you could be wanting to treat
42:21no. It's great. It's unreal like you
42:23know. Um, I do [clears throat] think I
42:25did like I did struggle with that for a
42:26while just like I wouldn't be I wouldn't
42:30be the the biggest fan of crowded areas
42:32or like even even say he say going to
42:35concerts and stuff like that like I
42:36wouldn't have been a fan of doing any of
42:38that like um now I just don't to be
42:40honest I just don't really don't really
42:41care anymore to be honest.
42:42>> Okay. Um he mentioned about the football
42:45saw Mark Fitzgerald kicking a few lovely
42:47two-pointers. Are you uh are you able to
42:49do anything like that?
42:51Well, I am in training. We're going to
42:53come some matches then I hit the corner
42:54flag. Um, now look, we we're up we're
42:57actually we're up Premier Intermediate
42:59this year. H we won the intermediate uh
43:01last year.
43:03We played three games. We've won we won
43:06one game and lost two games, but
43:08finished second in the group. I don't
43:09know how, right?
43:09>> But we finished second in the group. And
43:11so we're out now this weekend in the
43:12quarterfinal. Like God knows what way to
43:15go. Like we like look we've
43:17[clears throat] a couple of lads can
43:17kick the ball. The rest of the rest of
43:19us then just our grand run around. I I
43:21just stand in on the square as
43:23>> I was going to ask you this three up
43:24rule. Ideal.
43:26>> Yeah. Oh, that's the best rule ever. Are
43:27you I told 21 absolutely no issue with
43:30me
43:32kind of an outlet if the ball goes in
43:33long. Um yeah, that's kind of that's
43:36kind of where I am at. But then you kind
43:37of as usual once you get in competitive
43:41uh mode, you kind of want to get more
43:43involved and sometimes you found Roman
43:45and then I just hear a shout back inside
43:47and like all right, fair enough. So
43:48yeah. Yeah. No, look, we enjoy we enjoy
43:51it. We we do it. We do. Um it's not as
43:54serious as Orland.
43:55>> Um
43:56>> that's nice though, isn't it? Like cuz
43:58you know what I mean?
43:59>> It's nice not to be that it's nice to be
44:01going out and not thinking about
44:02something and just playing a game. Yeah,
44:04and that's that's probably one of the
44:05biggest reasons why we actually probably
44:06do do okay in it and we get fed to play
44:08because it's not training three times a
44:10week. You need to do a gym work. We we
44:12train once a week and we like a week off
44:14there and we didn't train at all because
44:15we ended up picking up a few injuries in
44:16the last game. It's just it's relaxed
44:18like so we try train once this week this
44:20week now and go out on Saturday and have
44:23have a go at it, you know. Uh do you
44:25think the club thing is going a bit mad
44:27in the sense of uh commitment wise and
44:29even we were chatting last week about
44:31size of back room teams and the amount
44:33of coaching going on and the amount of
44:35analysis and like it's there's not too
44:38many clubs doing three nights a week
44:39nearly at this stage you know what I
44:40mean three was always it's now it's
44:41maybe four and bits on the side like is
44:44it it's start is it starting to ape what
44:46the county game was like maybe 10 years
44:48ago.
44:49>> Yeah that's exactly what I was going to
44:50say. I think the club has gone like in
44:52the county when I started and maybe even
44:56a bit further because like we didn't
44:58really have too many GPSs. We weren't
45:01kind of doing the hell of a lot of I
45:03suppose gym wouldn't have been a massive
45:05thing when I started it kind of it crept
45:08in fairly quick then. Um
45:09[clears throat and snorts] but yeah,
45:10club is club is club has gone into
45:12county level 10 years ago. Yeah. And
45:14it's gone nearly too quick. Um,
45:16[clears throat] and I think
45:19it it's hard it's hard to be a club
45:21player now. And I think, you know, not
45:23not just saying I think it's hard to
45:24offer because you could play for five
45:26weeks or whole year and you have to give
45:28up five months before for training and
45:30then you lose two or three games and
45:32your year is over within four or five
45:33weeks. You get one injury in your first
45:35game, your year is over after playing
45:37for five or six months. It it's just I
45:39think I think being a club player is a
45:40lot harder than being an accountant
45:41player nowadays. Yeah.
45:42>> Really? Okay. just
45:45with Watford's structure or you mean
45:47everywhere?
45:48>> I I probably more on Wford like I had
45:51this conversation with a few lads even
45:53just after the club like one or two lads
45:56got injuries
45:58in the first game they missed two or
45:59three games. Sure.
46:01>> The year's over like you know it's it's
46:04>> I just I just I don't know. I think
46:05something needs to be done like what's
46:06like why why why does the hurdling have
46:09to be over in the last weekend in August
46:12was was the county final this year so
46:14Gunn are not going to play I think it
46:15was for 14 15 weeks so like they're
46:18basically getting a preseason in before
46:20almost their championship and like every
46:23other county is only on semi-finals or
46:24final stages now like
46:25>> yeah we've even spoke about this as well
46:28like they've obviously won the last
46:29however many like silly amount
46:32>> the amount of extra time that they've
46:34had training together even within that
46:3614 weeks. Even if they didn't win any
46:38game,
46:39>> even within that couple of months and
46:42they're they're further ahead the next
46:44year than they were at the start of this
46:47year, if that makes sense. Say they go
46:48on to an all final or whatever. They
46:50have another jez they have another five
46:52months training done.
46:53>> Yeah.
46:54>> Than any other club in Waterford, do you
46:55know what I mean?
46:56>> Yeah, 100%. And again, that goes back to
46:58the the structure. Like I'm not I'm not
47:01saying it's going to change. I don't
47:02think it will um next year anyway, but
47:04like they're they're they're training if
47:06they got to order and final at the end
47:08end of January usually. So like they're
47:12as you said they're trying to five
47:13months with his in hand and run more
47:15than other clubs are like most clubs
47:16then probably go back in
47:19February, March like for like January,
47:23February, March doing gym work and stuff
47:24like that and then they're probably like
47:25on the field by March but they're so far
47:27ahead already like um it's look it's
47:32Like you can't you can't what what
47:34Gunner has done 20 25 years ago is is is
47:38coming all coming out now like they just
47:39like they made the body gunner away and
47:41it's all just they're like their success
47:44is coming from that like you can't you
47:45can't put admire them for what they done
47:48like um I know people some people down
47:50here now want to join me saying that but
47:52like what they they put in the work and
47:53they're getting their rewards far back
47:55>> it hasn't happened by accident like
47:57>> yeah like it hasn't it hasn't like a lot
47:59of people say oh the amount of numbers
48:01they have a pretty they feel with their
48:02team now. Their team is all family owner
48:05families like um so like maybe in 10 15
48:08years time it might be up to a
48:10population but now it's not.
48:12>> Um everything now is because they put in
48:14the work like um
48:16>> so yeah like it's up to other clubs to
48:19try and catch them. Um but like number
48:21numbers numbers wise and even people
48:23going away and leaving leaving the
48:25country is is deflating a lot of
48:27[clears throat] a lot of uh club club
48:29teams down here as well. Yeah. Like
48:30there's there's a section in Port in in
48:33Australia that like it's it's basically
48:35Werford like it's like it's like going
48:37up to Valley Breaking nearly like you'd
48:39always see him like there's so many W
48:41people out there at the moment like they
48:43played their championship this year. I
48:44think they had 20 players from Wer on
48:46the panel.
48:47>> So like everyone like it's just
48:49decimated
48:49>> you find it you found it hard to keep
48:51Kum Lions away from there at times as
48:52well. [laughter]
48:53>> Yeah.
48:54>> His brother is out there is I think yeah
48:56>> his brother was out but he came home
48:57there for for a while. Um but yeah, he's
48:59back out. He's back out now a couple of
49:01weeks, Jack. Yeah.
49:02>> Uh how do you how do you make sense of
49:06Werford not been able to get a monster
49:08or what's
49:10>> I don't know been told to that's been
49:12totally honest with you. I don't know.
49:14Um
49:18it's a it's a it's a question that
49:20you've probably been asked 30 times and
49:22you still can't go I still can't go for
49:24an answer. And that's been honest
49:25because
49:26do I think Wer good enough monster?
49:28Absolutely. Um do I think the structure
49:30is unfair? Possibly. Like if you put the
49:35five monster teams in a lens, could they
49:38win it? Possibly. It's just I I think
49:41Monsters
49:42and Look, it's no respect. Like I just
49:44think Monsters is more cut really. Um
49:48like one bad game and you could be you
49:51could be gone like and it's just it's
49:52just hard. Um just hard hard to find and
49:55figure out is there a way around it?
49:58Like could you could you have the two
50:00fours in the both provinces stay in it
50:03and if you finish last you finish last
50:04that's fair enough that's
50:07that's not [clears throat] necess if you
50:08finish last but like there's there
50:11stages there like we were probably two
50:12hand pass away from me on three points
50:14last year and we ended up on one and I I
50:17went out of championship like you know
50:18so like it's small margins the small
50:20margins but um I I honestly don't know
50:23why um like 2020 went to the knockout
50:26stages of like like like the old one and
50:29we end up getting final.
50:30>> Yeah. And even 2021 you got to a
50:32semi-final.
50:33>> Yeah. Yeah. So like it's just mad like
50:35the like it's just I just don't I just
50:38>> I don't get it. I think you came in in
50:392018 and we were in the all final year
50:41there before and we didn't get once the
50:42following year.
50:43>> Scar you say that the last three times
50:46knockout championship Harland has been
50:47played you were in all Ireland final.
50:49All Ireland final Ireland semi-final
50:50semiinal. Yeah.
50:51>> Yeah. Wow. Okay.
50:53>> Yeah. You're calling You're calling for
50:56Knockout Monster Championship to come
50:57back. [laughter]
50:58>> Oh, I I'd have knockout monster
51:00Championship back 100%. Um there's
51:02nothing better like say we were playing
51:04clear going through the going through to
51:06the square and told us it's unbelievable
51:08like it's it's
51:10it gets you going like yeah having
51:13matches is unbelievable as well. But I
51:16definitely react to knockout anyway.
51:17>> H there's nothing like knockout when
51:20everything is on the line. There's not.
51:22Yeah, absolutely. 100%. It's it's just
51:27it's just you you know you know we have
51:30to we have to get it done here today or
51:32we have a long route or we're gone or
51:34anything like that in the round. Robin
51:35if you don't get it done on the first
51:37day while they have another chance you
51:38have another chance then it's gone you
51:40know knockout is just and you always you
51:43always see the best tournament when it
51:44goes knockout.
51:45>> Oh yeah big time you know. So, I I don't
51:48think it'll come in, but
51:50>> yeah, I'll jump around the houses here.
51:52Austin, I actually put out on Twitter
51:53there if anyone had any questions for
51:55you. I I vetted him. Don't worry, there
51:57won't be anything bad. But I actually
51:58got a message from uh one of your former
52:01Werford teammates, and he said, "Well,
52:02ask Aussie about the car poolool you
52:04used to go with to train in last year
52:07and the pit stop on the way home. He
52:09used to love Subway cookies. In
52:11fairness, he only did it once, but
52:13brilliant. Talk to me about that."
52:15>> No, vegan. Yeah, I know exactly who sent
52:17you that one. Anyway, Jack Fagan. Um,
52:20no, we Yeah, we used to we used to go
52:22train and we set him um Billy and Cont
52:27was actually in New York now.
52:28>> He [clears throat] won a rock, didn't
52:29he? Yeah.
52:30>> Yeah. Yeah. Uh, no, we went into went
52:32into after Green up me and Brian on the
52:36way to train one night and we were
52:37waiting for a coffee and PTO were
52:39looking at all the all the kind of M&S
52:42kind of bars of chocolates. Oh, they're
52:43lovely in fairness like they're fair
52:45teasing now.
52:47>> Yeah. So, the coffee machine is right
52:48beside it. So, even [laughter] stand
52:50there looking at it and Steph said we
52:53get a we get a little packet of cookies.
52:56So, two of us got a little packet of
52:57cookies to have on the way down the
52:58road. We didn't have any before right
52:59now, but we we had a we had a cookie on
53:02the way down the road. Mind had one or
53:04two of them as well. So, he's hanging
53:05out and but yeah, that was that was a
53:08car one time. Uh James Daily on Twitter
53:11just asks who was his hero as a kid and
53:13what's his greatest ever personal moment
53:15in Harland?
53:17>> Uh hero as a kid was Kamogra. Um like my
53:21own like own club and [clears throat]
53:23just seeing what he he was able to
53:25achieve and and with Club County he was
53:27he was definitely a hero. Um you know
53:30personal achievement was the monster of
53:31final 21 in Welsh Park. We bet um it was
53:36just unbelievable. like West Park only
53:37held eight 8 and a half 9,000 or
53:40something like that. But they were just
53:41staying on top of the old West Park
53:42right beside the pitch and the
53:44atmosphere and everything was just
53:45unbelievable. That was that was
53:46unbelievable.
53:47>> I sent you the the picture before we
53:49started. But that uh lovely Watford
53:51jersey from our own Pat Ryan. He swapped
53:53I think
53:54>> he uh he got your lovely number six and
53:56you got a number 15 jersey. Any sign any
53:58sign of that Limmerick jersey?
54:00>> No, there's not. You know what? I
54:01looking forward to but h there's not.
54:03I'd say the brother probably took it and
54:04sold it on something at one stage and
54:06it's there's a there's a number of
54:07jerseys gone missing any um I'd say if I
54:09have two war jerseys it's a lot they
54:12always just magically disappear but uh
54:15no I don't have it but I remember there
54:16had sporting li on it remember him
54:18remember very well cuz he used to wear
54:20the whole thing um these are one of my
54:22favorite jerseys I was even talking one
54:23of the lads earlier on he was saying
54:24yeah I tried to rob that a few times on
54:26you never never got the opportunity but
54:28uh no I can't I couldn't find it I
54:29looking for it I had jeez I had numerous
54:32jerseys I a couple of clear ones, kagi
54:34ones, wasteful ones, and all God knows
54:37where they are. Let's be honest, I have
54:38no idea where they are.
54:39>> Listen, guys, within a GA context, you
54:41wouldn't think twice about robbing a
54:43jersey off a fella. Like, whereas like
54:45if you said that somebody, if you said
54:46that somebody outside the GA, it's like,
54:48are you going to the garage or what? You
54:50know what I mean? You wouldn't think
54:51twice about it. If you left, if there
54:52was an opening there and the gearbag was
54:54open,
54:55>> 100% gone. Yeah. And then you asked for
54:57it back said, "Nope." He said, "No, not
54:59a whole 100% anywhere." an excellent
55:01train then [laughter]
55:03John Quan just asked well Mick what was
55:05Austin's favorite position and what does
55:07he feel was his best position and he
55:09asked was he caught between a rock and a
55:10hard place as a result
55:13uh the answer to probably say I was
55:17probably caught um [clears throat]
55:18favorite position was center back but I
55:21think my best position was probably 11
55:22center forward
55:24>> [clears throat]
55:24>> um so yeah probably caught between a
55:27rock and hard place there but
55:28>> [clears throat]
55:28>> um I just look I I love playing center
55:30back. Um even went back there uh
55:33[clears throat] two years ago at the
55:34club and just really enjoyed it. There's
55:36no no man marking, no hitting, no on it
55:39like that. You just play your own game.
55:41Um but I loved center forward and it was
55:43moving well like you could you could
55:45actually do both. You could play
55:46midfield and center back and center
55:49forward at the same time the way the
55:50game has gone like you were up and down
55:51up and down. Um but yeah, so look the
55:54amount of times I've been asked that
55:55question. I it's just it's hard to it's
55:57hard to know. I probably had my best
55:59days since I had 11, but I loved playing
56:02six.
56:02>> Isn't it funny you mentioned there about
56:04not getting hit? When you're a back,
56:05you're the bully basically, and when
56:07you're a forward, you're been bullied.
56:09>> Yeah.
56:09>> Essentially, it's just the nature of it.
56:11Like, isn't it? It's completely
56:12different game. Like,
56:13>> it's completely different game.
56:14>> Completely game.
56:15>> Um, just a question here from Killian
56:18Kagny says, "Thoughts on the 2013 minor
56:21all Ireland winning team?" Like some
56:22Mounty went on to play senior for a
56:25lengthy period of time as well. Oh yeah,
56:28jeez. It is. Um
56:30yeah, look that it was just it was just
56:32a it was just a phenomenal team really.
56:34Um we just we were lucky with the
56:36generation that came in that year and I
56:38suppose a couple of ages or the age
56:40below us. Um [clears throat]
56:42like as mad as it sounds, we lost the
56:44first game against tip and monster then
56:46we defeated Cla then we defeated Cork
56:49after extra time. So we drew that game
56:51then we drew at Limick in the monster
56:52final and then we lost Limick in fin. So
56:54we drew two games, lost two games and
56:57won one game in one start
56:59and then obviously we met after extra
57:01time and then we won the other end. So
57:02it was just whatever way it worked out
57:04like if we lost two games in a row we
57:06were gone but yet we went on then we met
57:09An in quarterfinal then we bet Kenya and
57:11then go. Yeah. Um no but it was we just
57:14had we just had an unbelievable
57:15generation talent coming through at that
57:17age. We luckily backed it up under 21. I
57:20think our 21 team is was better. We had
57:23our lines and those coming in that were
57:25maybe too young for minor and they all
57:27stood up 21. Now
57:29>> would you be excited about what's coming
57:30in Watford?
57:33>> Uh
57:35I would I would but I think a big thing
57:37is
57:40you're hearing it already like we need
57:42these miners that want the other to come
57:43into the war with him in the next year
57:44or two. If you're not ready, why rush?
57:49Like it's I just don't I just don't I I
57:51don't get it. Like yeah, is there one or
57:53two of them? Maybe possibly, but
57:56they'll go in and if it don't go well
57:58for him, they're literally shoved down.
58:01Well, that didn't work out for him.
58:02Maybe he might come. But if you give him
58:04until 2021 where he's developed, he's
58:07ready to go. He's after playing say
58:09freshers off his gur who's another step.
58:12Then he's playing con senior club. then
58:14it's another step and then he's in
58:15training then unleash him.
58:18That's probably the way I go. I I do
58:20know there is certain players that will
58:22play straight away. It just happens. It
58:24just happens that that good enough, but
58:27I do think
58:30I do think Watford
58:33I think it's floating at the moment to
58:34be honest with you. I think I think it
58:36it it the work has been done and we just
58:40need to get the get the get the players
58:42through. Um like I got to the 24 final
58:45this year under 16 final this year. Um
58:48can't take memory on 15. So there is
58:50potential there. It's just to get all
58:52those players through and then I think I
58:53think Wal.
58:54>> Okay. Uh who's the best hurler you
58:56played against?
58:59>> Best I've played against Scott. Um,
59:04best I played against in I suppose
59:06instead of American is probably Oh god,
59:08it's
59:09>> Who would you be talking about in 50
59:11years? Simon Ses I heard against him.
59:15>> Oh sh go like Tony Kelly, TJ Reed, Joe
59:19Cannon. Uh, [clears throat] I played I
59:21played one game against Henry Shiff and
59:22then with me first year um like just
59:27know it's it's Michael friendly like
59:29I'll never forget the shoulder I got off
59:30him in 2015 it it it made me welcome
59:33welcomed me to Harland. All right. Um
59:37yeah those names like to pick one
59:41pick one is hard. Um,
59:44look, probably
59:48probably Keyn like what he does what he
59:51does on the field is just off is off the
59:53charts. Like it's
59:56some of the some of the things he does
59:58you can only dream. Let's be honest. I
59:59know he's said some of the things that I
1:00:02done that are mad like what he does is
1:00:04is matter. Um yeah, but he would
1:00:07probably just age maybe Tony Kelly, TJ
1:00:12Reed kind of thing. Um but yeah, there
1:00:15is again I was lucky enough to play
1:00:17against a a serious generation horror.
1:00:20Do
1:00:20>> you see a bit yourself in him?
1:00:23>> Uh no, he can get around the field a lot
1:00:25better than I can. That's my short
1:00:26thing. Um, [clears throat]
1:00:28no. Like all the tricks and flicks,
1:00:31they're all things I I I've tried. And
1:00:33look, some of the things he does, they
1:00:34come off a lot more than than my light
1:00:36on it. Like he he definitely has won one
1:00:38won a game, if not the game
1:00:39consistently. Like he's just phenomenal
1:00:41the way he gets the way what what he
1:00:42does on the field. Like
1:00:45>> how good are they how good is that
1:00:46Limmerick team
1:00:48and how frustrating are they to play
1:00:51against? Because it's like
1:00:52systematically they just break you down.
1:00:55You can have moments but it's very rare
1:00:57you get to really like cut loose against
1:00:59them. It just like Tony Kelly in co in
1:01:022020 is one of the few times where some
1:01:04lad actually went to town and Nimrich
1:01:06still won the game like it must be
1:01:08frustrating.
1:01:10That is look
1:01:12again it goes back to what what they
1:01:15doing I suppose on like like even go
1:01:18back to team there like Darl Don
1:01:21Ron in L Tom Morsy uh like the names
1:01:25that are there now are all lads that
1:01:29really went through as like a serious
1:01:31program under a and and built it. Um
1:01:33they're just they're they're physical,
1:01:36they're they're fast. Um [clears throat]
1:01:39they're they're hurling everything
1:01:42everything look there's probably two
1:01:44teams the Kenny NY team and the Limick
1:01:47now if they play a match against each
1:01:49other it would be one of the best games
1:01:51ever probably hurry um I think Limmerick
1:01:54would probably just stage him possibly
1:01:58um but they're just they're just going
1:01:59to be like we played him in a monster
1:02:01final actually the co year I think we
1:02:04give up by a couple points in
1:02:05>> four points yeah yeah 251 yeah We were
1:02:08we were just just with him. We just we
1:02:10were as we were dragging them back, they
1:02:12got another two scores, then we were
1:02:14getting a score, then they got another
1:02:15two scores. If it it's it's almost
1:02:19robotic the way they just their system
1:02:20just takes over again.
1:02:22>> Yeah. Um if you could do it all again,
1:02:24would you do it all again?
1:02:27>> I would, but I change a lot. [laughter]
1:02:29>> Okay. What would What would you change?
1:02:32Uh
1:02:33>> well, definitely the the winters anyway.
1:02:35That would be one of the first things.
1:02:36Um,
1:02:38I wouldn't put as much pressure on
1:02:39myself and I probably,
1:02:42as mad as it sounds personally, I'd
1:02:43probably I'd probably do a lot of things
1:02:44differently as well and not rely on
1:02:46Harland to get myself sorted. Okay.
1:02:48>> Um, you know, like Yeah. So, they're
1:02:50they're probably just reading it. Yeah.
1:02:51>> Okay. Awesome. Super. Thanks a million
1:02:53for your time. Um, as I said several
1:02:56times, you've left us with an incredible
1:02:58amount of memories. Jesus, some of those
1:03:00some of those tricks and flicks and
1:03:02scores will be played uh forever in
1:03:04time. So your highlight reel is as good
1:03:06as anybody's highlight reel has ever
1:03:08been.
1:03:09>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I still don't I still
1:03:11didn't look at one of I remember
1:03:14there just as just as kind of the
1:03:16interview came out me mother was saying
1:03:19I was sitting in the chair and me mother
1:03:20goes h you getting good plaudits and
1:03:24stuff like yeah look I'm being honest
1:03:25I'm not looking at anything like that.
1:03:27I'm trying to actually stay away from
1:03:28which I was. I'd say 20 minutes later, I
1:03:32was just after leaving and I got a text
1:03:34message. It was an Instagram real that
1:03:36she she sent me saying, "Geez, that's
1:03:37great." And it I go, "I'm not looking
1:03:39at" and I just said I literally told her
1:03:4220 minutes beforehand. I didn't look at
1:03:43and then she sent me an Instagram stop.
1:03:45So, I know look it was a it was a good
1:03:48time. It was a good time. Pity just
1:03:49didn't have that one medal at the end,
1:03:51but um yeah, it was it was good.
1:03:53>> Awesome. Thanks a million for your time.
1:03:54I really appreciate it and best of luck
1:03:56with the the club. I'm sure there'll be
1:03:57plenty of more highlights. One of your
1:03:59greatest scores, the greatest score I
1:04:00think you ever scored was the one
1:04:02against passage in a co semi. I think it
1:04:04was a co semiinal.
1:04:06>> Picked up the ball around the 45 was a
1:04:08one two with someone and basically ran
1:04:09the length of the field and you know I
1:04:11love as well you never really got into
1:04:13the banging the ball off the ground and
1:04:14back in. You just said no I'll throw it
1:04:16all over the bar off me hurl instead.
1:04:18[laughter]
1:04:19>> Yeah, I remember doing I remember doing
1:04:21>> Yeah, good man. Thanks a really
1:04:24appreciate your time. Thanks, Austin.

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