Down's Johnny McGrattan NAME: Johnny McGrattan DATE OF BIRTH: 13-1-77 HEIGHT: 5' 8" WEIGHT: 13st CLUB: Ballygalget COUNTY: Down NOTABLE SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS (GAELIC): 1989 All-Ireland Feile na nGael Division 2 winners (Ballygalget); 1994 Ulster Minor Hurling champions NOTABLE SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS (OTHER): Numerous underage soccer awards INTERCOUNTY DEBUT: October 1996 v Antrim, Oireachtas Tournament, St Patricks Park, Portaferry TOUGHEST OPPONENT: Sean Og O hAilpin (Na Piarsaigh, Cork) FAVOURITE GROUNDS: St Patricks Park, Portaferry; Croke Park HOBBIES: golf, soccer, computers FAVOURITE POSITION: Full forward FAVOURITE PLAYERS: John Leahy (Tipperary), Martin Bailie (Ballygalget), Noel Sands (Down) INFLUENCES ON YOUR CAREER: Kevin McGrattan (father); Eamonn McGrattan (uncle); Martin Coulter THE HIGH POINT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE: Winning National Feile na nGael in 1989 BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Losing 1996 Ulster Under 21 Final to Antrim OTHER PLAYERS WITH A PROMISING FUTURE: Jerome Trainor (Portaferry and Down); Kieran Kelly (Ballycastle and Antrim); Shane Bailie (Ballygalget) WAYS OF IMPROVING THE GAME: Make the game professional DISLIKES ABOUT THE GAA: Reformation of All-Ireland Championship to allow defeated Leinster and Munster finalists back into All-Ireland series DO YOU HAVE ANY RELATIVES INVOLVED IN GAELIC GAMES?: My uncle Seamus McGrattan (Ulster Hurling Officer, Sports Council, N. Ireland) PERSON YOU WOULD MOST LIKE TO MEET: Eric Bristow (darts) FAVOURITE PERSONAL SAYING OR TERM OF ABUSE: 'Get it together' PET HATES: Cats, hamsters and mice FAVOURITE FILM: Independence Day FAVOURITE MUSIC: Hootie and The Blowfish IDEAL DATE: Demi Moore HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED? As a player who always gave 100% and who was successful in the game of hurling Taken from Hogan Stand magazine 4th July 1997 Vol 7 No 27 Tweet

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