Sweeney Declan
March 14, 1997
Knockmore's Declan Sweeney
NAME: Declan Sweeney
DATE OF BIRTH: 7-8-76
HEIGHT: 6'
WEIGHT: 13st
CLUB: Knockmore
COUNTY: Mayo
NOTABLE SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS (GAELIC): 1993 played at 16 against Eire Og; 1994 and 1995 All-Ireland Under 21 runners up; 1996 made debut with Mayo senior team against London; Connacht medal with Mayo senior football team
NOTABLE SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS (OTHER): Numerous All-Ireland sprinting medals for Mayo; played at all levels for Mayo soccer teams; trials with Ireland at U16;
INTER COUNTY DEBUT: May 1996 v London at Ruislip
TOUGHEST OPPONENT: Enon Gavin from Roscommon
FAVOURITE GROUNDS: Hyde Park, Roscommon
HOBBIES: Gaelic, soccer, athletics, socialising
FAVOURITE POSITION: Centre forward
FAVOURITE PLAYERS: Peter Canavan, Liam McHale, Anthony Tohill
INFLUENCES ON YOUR CAREER: The strength and determination of fellow club player Ray Dempsey
THE HIGH POINT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE: Knockmore's demolition of Eire Og in the All-Ireland Club Semi Final by 18 points
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Missing out on Mayo's run to the All-Ireland Final in 1996 due to a long term leg injury
OTHER PLAYERS WITH A PROMISING FUTURE: Graham O'Hara of Knockmore, Joe Davis of Knockmore
WAYS OF IMPROVING THE GAME: As a way of speeding up the game, players should be freely allowed to pick the ball up off the ground. Plus the GAA should clearly distinguish what a foul really is
DISLIKES ABOUT THE GAA: The day's of amateurism are long gone in the GAA but yet it is not openly recognised as a professional sport
DO YOU HAVE ANY RELATIVES INVOLVED IN GAELIC GAMES?: Two brothers, Fergus and Shane on the Knockmore team
PERSON YOU WOULD MOST LIKE TO MEET: Michael Jordan
FAVOURITE PERSONAL SAYING OR TERM OF ABUSE: Couldn't be printed in public
PET HATES: Hard training, Joe Davis' singing
FAVOURITE MUSIC: Oasis, U2
FAVOURITE FILM: Seven
IDEAL DATE: Out with my girlfriend 'Regina'
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED? Playing a leading role in helping Knockmore and Mayo to All-Ireland success
Taken from Hogan Stand magazine
14th March 1997
Vol 7 No 11
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