Five minutes with… Donegal’s Martin McElhinney

Name: | Martin McElhinney |
Age: | 27
Occupation: | Courts service

Teams played for:

St Michael’s and Donegal

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

Biggie Smalls, Mike Tyson and Pa Lafferty. That would be some combination.

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

It used to be the Corncutters Rest was like a scene from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest most Sundays in there. Now it’s Rose’s bar in Creeslough.

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

Probably in Austraila or England like most of my friends.

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

Ballyshannon

Which character in any film are you most like?

That’s a tough one, Harry Potter

Any odd items in your kit bag?

I think I have gartan clay in one of them.

What’s your preferred brand of gear?

Always preferred Adidas

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

Christy Toye and Colm McFadden are probably the oldest on both the club team and county team but there two of the biggest jokers. They’re actually dangerous.

Which team mate has the best looking other half?

Apart from me, I’ll go with any one of big Hugh McFadden’s birds.

Who is the worst trainer?

That’s definetly me

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

For the club it’s Brian Mclaughlin. I think his mum still irons his boxers and he must be about 45.

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

Mark Anthony McGinley just talks pure s**** about how he used to play in the League of Ireland.

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

Used to be the (whiled) Hanlon. When you’re playing cards he knew every card that was in your hand.

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

Michael Boyle has a terrible diet. Gets a fish supper every Friday night.

Toughest opponent you have faced?

They’re all tough

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

Our club manager Eddie Harkin once said “you’re like an oul women with a straw arse” I still don’t know what it means

Best manager you’ve ever played under?

Rory Gallagher and Jim McGuinness

Best ever performance?

Against Fermanagh this year in the McKenna cup; black carded after 2 minutes..

One to forget?

My championship debut against Leitrim. Tried to lob the keeper. Got subbed off again.

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

John McDermott and most of that Meath team.

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

For the club I’d get rid of Stephen Black, bit of a bluffer with injuries. I’d transfer James McCarthy in.

Martin McElhinney