Offaly football star Niall McNamee has opened his heart about his gambling addiction.

In an interview with the Irish Independent, the 26-year-old Rhode clubman estimates that he has gambled over EUR200,000 over the years and that he owes EUR80,000. He admits his addition has damaged his relationship with family and friends, but is now determined to tackle it head on.

McNamee agreed to enter The Rutland Centre in Dublin for five weeks' treatment on November 23 last after meeting with newly-appointed Offaly manager Gerry Cooney, who happens to work as a senior counsellor at the Centre. Two days later, he had a letter read out at the Rhode GAA club AGM which informed the 120-strong gathering of his addiction and his decision to seek treatment.

"I wanted to do it because they're the people I would have grown up with and they're the people that would have supported me down through the years playing football or whatever. I think it was the right place to do it and I've got a load of support from people that were there. And everybody's been great since I have been home," said the highly-rated forward, who isn't currently part of the Offaly football panel.

"Basically, going public is for myself more than anything else. It's a matter of letting people know the full story. Once everyone knows the story, it should stop the rumours."

McNamee revealed how he started gambling on horses at the age of 18 and how he once lost EUR1,000 in two separate bookies while waiting to meet friends in Newbridge, Co. Kildare.

The former All Star nominee is unsure when he will return to football.

"I've been to the gym a few times already and I've enjoyed that, so I'll just keep myself in some kind of shape for when I'm ready to go back playing," he continued.

"I don't know when that will be. It might be in six months, it might be three months, it could be one month, but I just need to give this new way of living without gambling 100 per cent effort.
"I know the addiction is always going to be there and I've always got to keep on top of it. At the moment I'm in no fit state to look after anyone only myself."

Former Armagh star Oisin McConville also came clean about his gambling addiction in his book 'The Gambler' a few years ago. Tweet

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