Withnall Peter
June 05, 1992
NAME: Peter Withnall
DATE OF BIRTH: 5/1/68
HEIGHT: 6ft
WEIGHT: 13st
CLUB: Drumaness
COUNTY: Down
HONOURS: All-Ireland, Ulster and McKenna Cup medals
INTER-COUNTY DEBUT: Cork
PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT: Hugh Rogers Joinery Ltd. I am working in Belfast at the moment
TOUGHEST OPPONENT: Mick Lyons
FAVOURITE GROUNDS: Croke Park
FAVOURITE POSITION: Full forward
SPORTING AMBITION: To play for Ulster
DO YOU PLAY ANY OTHER SPORTS: Soccer
BOYHOOD HEROES: Sean O'Neill
FAVOURITE PLAYER: Brian Stafford
BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON CAREER: Liam Perry
WAYS OF IMPROVING THE GAME: Improving referees and a better press
DISLIKES ABOUT THE GAA: No proper forms of sponsorship
BEST GAME SEEN: Meath and Dublin, last summer
PLAYERS WITH A PROMISING FUTURE: Gary Mason
HOPES FOR 1992: To win a second All-Ireland
YOUR CLUB REACHED THE DOWN INTERMEDIATE FINAL LAST YEAR. TELL US ABOUT DRUMANESS: Drumaness is a small club in north Down that plays in Division 3 football
YOU SCORED TWO GOALS AGAINST KERRY IN THE ALL-IRELAND SEMI-FINAL LAST AUGUST. WAS THAT YOUR GREATEST EVER GAME? Yes, without a doubt and it is a game I will always cherish even though I was injured near the finish
WERE YOU SURPRISED ABOUT HOW MUCH ROOM YOU WERE ALLOWED BY TOM SPILLANE IN THAT PARTICULAR GAME? No, I made my own space in that particular game. Tom Spillane is a good full back
THE NAME PETER WITHNALL SHOT TO PROMINENCE OVERNIGHT. DID YOU PLAY MINOR OR UNDER 21 FOR DOWN? No, I never played underage with the county
THAT ALL-IRELAND FINAL APPEARANCE AND WIN OVER MEATH. WAS IT A DREAM COME TRUE? Yes, very much so
WERE THE SUBSEQUENT CELEBRATIONS HECTIC? Very hectic. We were and still are treated like Kings. We travelled to practically every part of the county and the celebrations are still going on in some areas
WHAT'S IT LIKE TO PLAY ALONGSIDE GREG BLANEY, MICKEY LINDEN AND JAMES MCCARTAN? Helps you to play your game with confidence. They are all great players
DOWN HAD A MASSIVE FOLLOWING IN CROKE PARK LAST YEAR FOR THE FINAL AND SEMI-FINAL. ARE THE MOURNE SUPPORTERS THE BEST IN IRELAND? Yes, without a doubt the best in the land
YOU PLAYED FOR LONDON IN AN ALL-IRELAND FINAL: Yes, against Meath back in 1988. It was before the Cork-Meath All-Ireland replay and London were beaten
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF DOWN MANAGER, PETE MCGRATH? He is doing a great job for Down football. A tremendous motivator, intelligent and he has a great knowledge of the game
DO YOU EXPECT A PHYSICAL GAME ON SUNDAY AGAINST ARMAGH? Very physical, like all Down-Armagh games and indeed like all Ulster championship clashes
CAN YOU GET OFF TO A WINNING START ON SUNDAY? I hope so. It will be tight and a one point win will do us
Taken from Hogan Stand magazine
5th June 1992
Vol 2 No 58
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