Five minutes with – Cavan’s Paul O’Connor

Name: | Paul O’Connor |
Age: | 23
Occupation: | Recruitment Consultant

Teams played for:

Cavan Gaels, Cavan, IT Sligo

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

Georgie Best – he’d supply the beer all night.

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

Kitty’s in Cavan is a nice place for a few quiet ones

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

I’d love to be a professional golfer. I have the potential – ask Seanie Johnston.

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

The Hyde in Roscommon is pretty bad.

Which character in any film are you most like?

Jason Statham – particularly the hair style.

Any odd items in your kit bag?

I keep the kitbag tidy enough. Nothing out of the ordinary here.

What’s your preferred brand of gear?

Preds would be my favourite wheels. Murphy’s gloves are decent for catching kickouts and………

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

Martin Dunne (club) can’t help himself. Fergal Flanagan has some quality comebacks (Cavan).

Which team mate has the best looking other half?

I think I’d get in less trouble if I give you the worst taste in women – Barry Fortune for the club.

Who is the worst trainer?

Martin Dunne for the club, a runny nose and he’s wrapped up from head to toe.

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

Cian Mackey needs all the time he can get in front of it.

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

I try to stay clear of Killian the Gunner, the smell of slurry from time to time would knock you out.

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

Brian Sankey usually has all the sweets so he’s a good man to be beside. You’re guaranteed abuse if you’re anywhere close to Dara McVeety.

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

Best diet has to be Josh Hayes (the pre match meals aren’t even good enough for him). Eoin Maguire lives on Boojums and tries to tell us they’re healthy.

Toughest opponent you have faced?

When the Gunner hits you, you stay hit.

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

“Cones are for Ice Cream” – one of the best. “Put the ball into space, our forwards will win the race” – Stick Meehan interrupting our club captain’s pre-game speech before a county final.

Best manager you’ve ever played under?

Dominic Corrigan was a very good manager for the club.

Best ever performance?

U21 Ulster Championship v Monaghan 2013.

One to forget?

N/A Ah no, Cavan minor final 2008 – came on, scored a goal and got a straight red all within 5 mins.

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

Michael Meehan (Galway)

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

Barry Fortune deserves a call up to the Cavan squad. Maybe drop some of the forwards and I might get a game.