STEPHEN LAMBE: “I’m still not sure if he ever meant it because there’d always be a cheeky smile to follow”

Name:

Stephen Lambe

Age:

34

Teams played for:

Hurling: Castleblayney, Monaghan (u-16 – senior). Football: Toome, Monaghan (minor- u-21).

Which opposition ground do you like playing on and why?

It’s a toss-up between Páirc Esler inNewry and Kingspan Breffni in Cavan. Both have a perfect playing surface for hurling and I have some good memories in both.

Which opposition ground do you dislike going to and why?

Athleague in Roscommon, the worst ‘county’ ground I’ve ever played in and never seem to win there.

What team have you enjoyed the most success against?

Football: Oram.

Hurling: Inniskeen.

Had some tough battles against both of those clubs over the last decade or so. At county level we’ve got a decent record against Louth.

Which team have you enjoyed least success against?

Football: Blackhill.

Hurling: Any of the Antrim Intermediate clubs we’ve faced in Ulster. Always a strong outfit. At county level probably Donegal, even though we used to always beat them at underage level.

Which opposition player have you enjoyed marking?

Football: I’ve had some tough battles with Dick Clerkin, Currin, over the years.

Hurling: Martin Murphy, Inniskeen, always kept you honest. You’d have to play extremely well to get the better of him.

Which opposition player have you disliked marking?

Football: Anyone that had pace I was going to be in trouble. Gerard O’ Callaghan from Currin gave me an awful roasting in a school match one day.

Hurling: Eoin Greenan from Clontibret, he’d always leave a stick in and to this day I’m still not sure if he ever meant it because there’d always be a cheeky smile to follow.

Which player would you transfer in from a team you have come up against?

Football: Jack McCarron (Currin).

Hurling: Damian Casey (Dungannon and Tyrone). He’d get on most teams to be fair.

Which team, apart from your own, do you like to see do well and why?

Scotstown, the two Hughes brothers are first cousins so I’d always be checking the scores to see how they get on. They’ve obviously won a few titles over the years.

Sadly I’ve never made it to the senior ranks to compete against them but maybe it’s for the best!

What’s the most frustrating defeat you have experienced?

Louth in the Nicky Rackard semi-final in 2008 in Clones.

We should have had the game won in normal time but they forced a draw with the last puck.

Then in extra time when two points down I had a goal chance to win the game and sent it wide.

It was a bitter pill to swallow but my 21st birthday party was the same night so I quickly got over it.

What’s the most satisfying victory you have experienced?

The league final against South Down in 2008 in Breffni Park. We were underdogs going into the game and I remember it was very high scoring.
We won the game by a point after extra time and I finished with 16 points.

I was doubtful for the game having broken a finger two weeks previous but managed to play with a splint.

Which team, apart from your own, do you think could be set for big things in the coming years?

The Carrickmacross hurlers have some great young players and will no doubt be challenging ’Blayney in a few years. It’s great for the county team as well!