NAME: Peter Kirk DATE OF BIRTH: 16/1/67 HEIGHT: 6ft WEIGHT: 12st 7lbs CLUB: Kilkerley Emmets COUNTY: Louth HONOURS: ACC Cup, 1 JFC medal INTER-COUNTY DEBUT: Minor football PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT: Trainee Linesman, ESB, Dundalk TOUGHEST OPPONENT: Aren't they all FAVOURITE GROUNDS: St. Brigids Park, Croke Park FAVOURITE POSITION: Half back line SPORTING AMBITION: To be part of a Louth team that wins an All-Ireland DO YOU PLAY ANY OTHER SPORTS? No BOYHOOD HEROES: Terry Lennon, Matt Connor FAVOURITE PLAYERS: Paul Curran ANY GOOD SPORTING YARN: My mother gave a friend a rabbit's foot for good luck, to put in his togs for a game - his wife nearly had a heart attack when she was washing them BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON CAREER: Family WAYS OF IMPROVING THE GAME: Advantage rule used more BEST GAME SEEN: Dublin versus Meath last year (1991) PLAYERS WITH A PROMISING FUTURE: Garreth Woods (Cooley), James Heinz (St. Pats), Turlough Lennon and Adrian Conlon (Kilkerley) HOPES FOR 1992: For Louth to build on their success and a first senior championship for Kilkerley YOU CAME ON THE GAA SCENE WITH A BIG BANG DURING THE DUBLIN GAME. DID YOU PLAY FOR THE LOUTH SENIORS BEFORE THIS SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP GAME? Before the Dublin match, I had played in a few challenge matches in Louth's build up to the championship against down, Armagh, Mayo and Donegal WERE YOU SURPRISED TO BE BROUGHT INTO THE ACTION SO EARLY AGAINST THE DUBS? Yes I was. Louth backs had been playing well, and I felt I would have to wait before I got a chance to play TELL US ABOUT YOUR CLUB: My club is Kilkerley Emmets. It was founded in 1939. We attained senior status in 1978 and have held it since. Kilkerley won the Cardinal O'Donnell Cup in 1980 and have contested the SFC twice in 1982 and 1986 and won the JFC in '86. The club is well run and has very promising juvenile teams KILKERLEY WON THE OPENING ROUND OF THE LOUTH SFC. DO YOU SEE YOURSELVES PROGRESSING ANY FURTHER? Kilkerley have been blooding new players for the last few years and have a nice blend of youth and experience. This year hopefully the mixture will provide us with a long run in the championship KILKERLEY IS SITUATED NEAR TO THE ARMAGH BORDER. DOES THIS BORDER FACTOR HELP THE CLUB OR GIVE IT A GRATER SENSE OF IDENTITY? The fact that Kilkerley is a close knit and rural community and that most of the players began playing together at primary school level coached by John McCarthy, has nurtured a strong GAA bond, which continues right up to senior level. Also there is a strong rivalry with neighbouring teams. THE GREAT LOUTH AND LEINSTER CENTRE HALF BACK OF THE 1970S, TERRY LENNON, IS A KILKERLEY PLAYER. WORD HAS IT THAT HE IS STILL PLAYING FOOTBALL: Terry is still very much involved on the county scene, playing with Louth Over 40s who have been very impressive of late WERE LOUTH THAT DISAPPOINTED IN LOSING TO DUBLIN? Yes, very much so. Louth went to Croke Park, knowing they could beat Dublin, a Leinster Final place was at stake THE LAOIS AND DUBLIN GAMES HAD TO BE LOUTH'S BEST DISPLAYS FOR OVER A DECADE: Probably they were. However, it is not surprising as most of the Louth team have been playing together for the last couple of years, and now this experience of playing together is beginning to bear fruit MANAGER DECLAN SMYTH HAS OBVIOUSLY MADE A BIG IMPRESSION: Declan Smyth, assisted by his selectors is dedicated to taking Louth football to the top. This is seen and respected GOOD JUDGES ARE CLAIMING THAT LOUTH ARE ONLY SHORT 2 OR 3 TOP PLAYERS FROM WINNING A LEINSTER CHAMPIONSHIP: Perhaps, but the games against Laois and Dublin have proved that Louth have players capable of playing with the best HAS THE STANDARD OF THE TOP LEINSTER COUNTIES LIKE MEATH AND DUBLIN DROPPED IN RECENT TIMES? No. More dedication and training, and the fact there is an open draw means that counties other than Meath and Dublin now have every chance of succeeding in Leinster, Clare have proved this fact in Munster LOUTH HAVE NOT TAKEN THE NFL THAT SERIOUS IN RECENT YEARS. WILL THERE BE A BIGGER EFFORT PUT INTO THIS AUTUMN'S CAMPAIGN? Injuries to key players in recent years have hindered Louth's success in the NFL. Hopefully this year will be injury free and Louth will build on their championship run MANY OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY REGARD THE WEE COUNTY AS A SOCCER OUTPOST, UNAWARE THAT THERE IS A STOUT GAA TRADITION IN LOUTH. THE LAOIS AND DUBLIN GAMES MUST HAVE CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF THE YOUTH: The support Louth had for those games both juvenile and adult, prove there is a stout GAA tradition in Louth and would make you proud to represent your county FINALLY LOUTH'S FUTURE: Hopefully a good run in the National League and a Leinster Championship next year Taken from Hogan Stand magazine 31st July 1992 Vol 2 No 66 Tweet

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