NAME: Paul Callaghan DATE OF BIRTH: 2/8/71 HEIGHT: 6' 2" WEIGHT: 13st 7lbs CLUB: Burt COUNTY: Donegal HONOURS: '92 Ulster and All-Ireland medal INTER COUNTY DEBUT: Dr. McKenna Cup versus Monaghan 1992 TOUGHEST OPPONENT: All full forwards at county level FAVOURITE GROUNDS: Croke Park FAVOURITE POSITION: Goalkeeper SPORTING AMBITION: To become the first choice keeper DO YOU PLAY ANY OTHER SPORTS? Soccer, and I try to play golf BOYHOOD HEROES: Packie Bonner FAVOURITE PLAYERS: Martin McHugh, very helpful to young squad members BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON CAREER: Parents, Danny Dowds, Brian McEniff WAYS OF IMPROVING THE GAME: To keep up with the fast flowing game at county level, introduce two referees DISLIKES ABOUT THE GAA: Need better facilities for supporters BEST GAME SEEN: Ulster final 1992 versus Derry PLAYERS WITH A PROMISING FUTURE: Mark Crossan and Declan Boyle HOPES FOR 1993: To be part of the Donegal team to successfully retain the All-Ireland ... and win the Lotto! YOUR CLUB BURT, IS SAID TO BE AMONG THE OLDEST, IF NOT THE OLDEST CLUB IN DONEGAL. TELL US ABOUT YOUR CLUB: Hurling has been played in Burt since pre 1884. Football was gradually introduced and a memorable highlight was Burt winning the senior hurling and football titles in nearby Derry in 1931. In recent years, a strong underage football scheme has been built up and is now paying dividends with numerous divisional wins. The senior hurlers are the current county champions BURT JOIN UP WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER CLUBS FROM INISHOWEN TO FORM AN AMALGAMATION TO ENTER THE DONEGAL SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. WHO ARE THESE OTHER CLUBS AND HAVE YOU GOT ANY WELL-KNOWN PLAYERS? Malin, Cardonagh, Urris, Buncrana, Naomh Mura and Burt. Cardonagh - Des Newtown - Donegal, Roscommon; Brian Mullins - Dublin; PJ McGarry - Mayo YOU WERE THE ONLY MEMBER FROM THE INISHOWEN PENINSULA AREA OF NORTH DONEGAL ON THE ALL-IRELAND WINNING DONEGAL PANEL: There are no senior football teams in Inishowen and this makes it difficult to make a breakthrough at senior level. It is a good distance from the football stronghold of Donegal south. The Inishowen Board has reorganised football at underage level and this is beginning to show dividends. Inishowen youngsters have nobody to look up to or follow their footsteps, hopefully that may chance with the All-Ireland success HAS DONEGAL'S ALL-IRELAND SUCCESS MADE AN IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE OF NORTH DONEGAL? By the scenes I viewed in touring Inishowen with Sam, definitely yes. Anything to do with GAA in Inishowen was usually too badly attended but with the crowds that came out, I hope that the All-Ireland success will generate a new enthusiasm in the peninsula OBVIOUSLY YOU WERE A PROUD YOUNG MAN WHEN SAM ARRIVED IN YOUR HOME AREA: It was a very emotional time for me as I carried Sam into a hall which has never seen all the community, young and old come together in such numbers before BRIAN MCENIFF MUST BE THE UNCROWNED KING OF DONEGAL BY NOW: He should be crowned as he gave up his life to football. He is one of the best managers in the country as his past records prove. Winning the All-Ireland has put the icing on the cake for him. He gave me a chance and I appreciate it YOU WERE FIRST CHOICE IN A RECENT CHALLENGE GAME AGAINST KERRY IN LONDON. REPORTS FROM ACROSS THE WATER TELL US THAT YOU PLAYED VERY WELL INDEED: I was fairly happy with my performance. The conditions were bad and it wasn't easy, every good game for me is a notch on my belt. I just hope Brian gives me a few more chances to prove myself WAS THIS YOUR FIRST GAME BETWEEN THE DONEGAL SENIOR POSTS? No. I have played a lot of challenge matches but except for the Monaghan match, this was the first one I started and I prefer starting as you can get prepared properly and get more involved with the game THE HOPE MUST BE THAT ONE DAY YOU WILL REPLACE GARY WALSH AND BECOME THE PERMANENT DONEGAL KEEPER: Yes, that would be my main ambition. Hopefully, I'll get a few games through the winter for more experience at county level. But my present job is to maintain the pressure on Gary so that he keeps on his toes WHAT DO YOU THINK OF GARY? The Al-Ireland victory speaks for himself. Gary has not put a foot wrong all year. He is very experienced and this shows in his confidence in a match situation. The backs have great belief in him. We get on well together and he gives me the odd tip. He deserves an All Star and I hope he gets it SOCCER IS VERY POPULAR IN YOUR PART OF DONEGAL: Yes. There are over 30 soccer teams in Inishowen and only 6 gaelic football teams. It is very hard to compete as a minority sport in Inishowen for being close to Derry City is a big influence on soccer in Inishowen. There there is also the Glasgow Celtic connection WE ARE TOLD YOU ARE QUITE A USEFUL SOCCER GOALKEEPER: I am the reserve goalkeeper with Derry City. I was also the first team goalkeeper at Finn Harps. I was asked to go to Leeds and Bradford for trials YOU HAVE PLAYED UNDERAGE SOCCER FOR IRELAND: No. But last month I got an offer that if I made the Derry City first team I would be chosen for the Irish Under 21s IS THERE MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE, GOALKEEPER WISE, BETWEEN THE TWO CODES? No comparison. If the soccer keeper catches the ball he can wait until the defence is out and kick it anywhere really, but a football keeper, as soon as he gets the ball, he is a defender and has to find a man. In an goalmouth incident, the soccer keeper has the advantage that no-one else can use their hands to catch a dropping ball, whereas the football keeper is at 50-50 with the attacker AND THAT OTHER GREAT DONEGAL NUMBER ONE, PACKIE BONNER: I know Packie well. He went through a bad patch like all players do but he's back to his best. I did a few coaching sessions with him and he takes the game seriously. I met him at the Shelborne greyhound track and he gave me a few tips. Believe me, he didn't make his money at the dogs! WHAT DO YOU THINK OF DONEGAL'S DRAW IN NEXT YEAR'S ULSTER CHAMPIONSHIP: Well, Ulster is proving to be the hardest province to get out of. The draw is more even this year. We meet Antrim and people will be saying 'no bother'. But no team comes out to lose and we'll be taking Antrim very seriously. Every team will be out to dethrone us. And as the saying goes, winning its one thing, but retaining its another AND PAUL CALLAGHAN TO BE VERY MUCH INVOLVED? Hopefully, I can prove to Brian that I have something to offer him for next year's championship campaign and keep the Inishowen light burning Taken from Hogan Stand magazine 6th November 1992 Vol 2 No 80 Tweet

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