Laois' Derek Conroy NAME: Derek Conroy DATE OF BIRTH: 27-3-78 HEIGHT: 6' 1" WEIGHT: 13st CLUB: The Rock COUNTY: Laois NOTABLE SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS (GAELIC): County Championship medals in club U12, U14, Minor, U21, Intermediate, School U14, U16, South Leinster medals, U16 Leinster medal and Senior South Leinster medal; Inter-County - Minor Leinster and All-Ireland medals NOTABLE SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS (OTHER): RTE All-Ireland Man of the Match; Jurys/Independent Player of the Week/Jurys/Examiner Junior Footballer of the Year; RTE Young Player to Watch; Intermediate Footballer of the Year 1996; numerous school awards INTERCOUNTY DEBUT: Played for Laois U14 and U16, minor debut in 1994 against Wexford TOUGHEST OPPONENT: Thomas Cleary of Westmeath in 1995 Leinster Final FAVOURITE GROUNDS: Croke Park, because it is such a marvellous experience especially on All-Ireland day HOBBIES: Football, football and more football. Only joking: love to disco and socialise with all my friends FAVOURITE POSITION: Centre back FAVOURITE PLAYERS: Tony Maher (Laois), Keith Barr (Dublin), Paul Curran (Dublin), Trevor Giles (Meath) INFLUENCES ON YOUR CAREER: Great support from mother and family. Niall Tully who transformed my game and self belief. School coach (Ballyfin) and Rock trainer, Niall is from Meath THE HIGH POINT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE: Winning Minor All-Ireland and Intermediate medal with my club, The Rock BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Losing Leinster Minor Final to Westmeath in 1995 in our third encounter OTHER PLAYERS WITH A PROMISING FUTURE: Brian (Beano) McDonald and my own club mate Thomas McDonald WAYS OF IMPROVING THE GAME: Professional referees DISLIKES ABOUT THE GAA: No problems DO YOU HAVE ANY RELATIVES INVOLVED IN GAELIC GAMES?: Brothers and sisters play club football and inter county football, Jason, Keith and Mary Louise PERSON YOU WOULD MOST LIKE TO MEET: God, but I hope not for a long time, I'm in no hurry FAVOURITE PERSONAL SAYING OR TERM OF ABUSE: 'You wreak my head' PET HATES: People who think they are better than others FAVOURITE MUSIC: All mainstream music FAVOURITE FILM: Starwars IDEAL DATE: Jennifer Aniston HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED? Someone who always did his best for himself and others Taken from Hogan Stand magazine 6th June 1997 Vol 7 No 23 Tweet

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