“Paul Braniff had me out practicing frees every other night of the week”

We caught up with Portaferry and Down star Ronan Blair.

Age: 22.

Teams played for: Portaferry and Down.

Earliest GAA memory?
Getting shouted at up to u-12 for drop-hitting it.

Which team-mate has been the most inspirational and why?
Paul Branniff, on my first year on senior panel he had me out practicing frees every other night of the week.

Who’s the best team-mate to train with and why?
Barry Trainor, always keeping everyone right in the drills.

Which team-mate is the worst to train with and why?
Ronan Smyth, never allowed at the front of any drills.

Which team-mate do you want to mark in training and why?
Ciaran Milligan, never stops asking what time we’re going to the bar.

Which team-mate do you dread marking in training and why?
Emmett O’Neill, sticky corner-back.

Best score you’ve seen from a team-mate?
Eoghan Sands, the score to seal the championship win after I missed an open net.

What win has your team celebrated the most?
Championship win 2020, plenty of drink took.

Which team-mate is the best on journeys away?
Deaglan Mallon, never off Tinder on the away days.

Which club is the worst for journeys away?
Any club across the water on a Monday night.

What’s the worst excuse you’ve heard to get out of training?
Can’t train on a Friday evening, ruins Friday evening pints.

Which team-mate is the loudest in the changing room?
Tom Murray.

Which team-mate would you want standing over a last-second penalty?
Tom McGrattan.

Which team-mate would you never want to see hitting a last-second penalty?
Barry Trainor.

Which team-mate is the most sensible?
Daithi Sands.

Who is the smartest of all your team mates?
Eoin Magee.

Who’s the best team mate to celebrate with?
Niall Milligan, five days on the drink win or lose after the championship.