Five minutes with – Antrim’s Barry McFall

Name: | Barry McFall |
Age: | 27
Occupation: | Kitchen fitter

Teams played for:

St John’s, Antrim

If you were throwing a party and you could invite anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would you ask around?

I’d have to invite a good mate of mine hippy Cormac Donnelly. Also another great friend of mine Paddy Square as he’s always buying drink and the mate Conor McConville is always great craic.

Where do you like to go out to celebrate after a big victory?

Best place to go for a pint is the Davitt’s on the Falls Road or Fruithill Bar in Andersonstown. Ones like God’s waiting room, the other’s Jurassic Park. Never any hassle though.

If you weren’t playing GAA what would you be at?

I’d definitely be playing golf.

What’s the worst pitch you’ve ever played on?

St Gall’s.

Which character in any film are you most like?

I’m not really much of an actor, more of a singer. Some of the young lads call me Pitbull – don’t know if it’s the skin head or the voice though.

Any odd items in your kit bag?

I’ve recently disbanded my kit bag due to the holes. And to be honest there’s not to many years left in me so I’m not for buying a new one. The kit bag at the moment is a Sainsbury’s bag for life. Gets the job done.

What’s your preferred brand of gear?

Best gear would have to be O’Neill’s – shout out to my mate Chesney who works there. (Any chance of a new bag mate?)

Who’s the biggest joker in the teams you play for?

The club joker would have to be Joe Hands and when I was part of the county set up, a lad that played with us last year Conor McConville made training worthwhile.

Which team mate has the best looking other half?

Donal Moran’s princess would be up there.

Who is the worst trainer?

Worst trainer would definitely be myself or maybe Gerard Cunningham.

Who spends most time in front of the mirror in the dressing room?

The lad in front of the mirror was always Conor ‘Woody’ McKinley, one brut looking lad. and for the club it would have to be Ciaran Johnston – all year tan, don’t know how he does it.

Who’s the best/worst person to share a room with on away trips?

Worst lad to have shared a room with was definitely Simon McCrory.

Who’s the best/worst person to sit beside on the team bus?

Worst person to sit beside is Adrian Downey – never shuts his mouth.

Who has the best and who has the worst diet on the team, and what does it include?

Best diet has to go to Brian Holmes from St. John’s. Always on the salads. Worst would have to be Shea Shannon – only a young lad and never out of the chipper.

Toughest opponent you have faced?

Toughest opponents would be Paul Shiels in training. Think I saw him for a few seconds one night at training. Never stands still.

Best or worst quote you’ve heard, either from a manager, player, opponent?

Best quote/team talk was a coach from our club “Lads if you let these lads score more than ye they will beat ye, now has anyone got a Nokia phone charger hi.”

Best manager you’ve ever played under?

Best manager would definitely be Joe McCallin, the man that knew it all.

Best ever performance?

My best performance would be against Dublin in Croke Park. After that game I could have retired a happy man. Lived my dreams that day.

One to forget?

Too many bad ones to list.

When you were playing in the back garden, who did you pretend to be?

I was always DJ in the garden although we spent most days hurling against the army watchtowers on the old Springfield barracks with the brother and mate Conor McCann.

If there was a transfer market who’d be in and who’d be out of the team?

I’d have to get rid of Simon McCrory, he’s always injured and I’d bring in Eoin Price from Westmeath, the fella’s an absolute workhorse.