Kildare's Cian O'Neill NAME: Cian O'Neill DATE OF BIRTH: 22-10-77 HEIGHT: 6' 1" WEIGHT: 14st CLUB: Moorefield GFC COUNTY: Kildare NOTABLE SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS (GAELIC): I played inter county football at Under 16 and Minor level. I captained my club team to the Under 16 Championship title. I have also won numerous school competitions NOTABLE SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS (OTHER): I won two All-Ireland basketball titles, Under 18 and Under 19. I have represented the Kildare Youths team in soccer INTERCOUNTY DEBUT: Under 16 friendly against Wicklow; Under 16 competitive against Meath; Minor friendly against Kerry; Minor competitive against Laois in the Leinster semi final TOUGHEST OPPONENT: Sean Og O Buachalla (Cork) FAVOURITE GROUNDS: Pairc Tailteann, Navan; Dr Cullen Park, Carlow; O'Moore Park, Portlaoise HOBBIES: All forms of sports - tennis, swimming, basketball, soccer, listening to music and going out with friends FAVOURITE POSITION: Centre back FAVOURITE PLAYERS: Glen Ryan, Paul Curran, Paidi O'Se (in his day) INFLUENCES ON YOUR CAREER: My father Peter, Peter Whyte (a club manager) THE HIGH POINT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE: Playing in the Leinster semi final against Laois last year; playing in the three All-Ireland basketball finals in Tallaght BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Losing in the Leinster Semi Final replay against Laois. Losing the last All-Ireland to North Monastery, Cork a couple of weeks ago and losing the South Leinster SFC B to Ballyfin in the same week OTHER PLAYERS WITH A PROMISING FUTURE: Ger Kiely (St Coca's and Kildare minor); Pat Winders (Sallins and Kildare Minor) WAYS OF IMPROVING THE GAME: 1) Ensure that all umpires and linesmen fulfil their duties in actively assisting the referee 2) To clarify certain 'vague' rules to ensure consistent interpretation DISLIKES ABOUT THE GAA: 1) Inconsistent referees 2) Lack of preparation of some playing fields DO YOU HAVE ANY RELATIVES INVOLVED IN GAELIC GAMES?: My father played for Kildare and is currently a Minor selector in Moorefield. My uncle, Liam 'Busty' Higgins won an All-Ireland junior football medal with Kilkenny PERSON YOU WOULD MOST LIKE TO MEET: The Artist Formerly Known As Prince: to ask him how such an ugly and tiny person like him could be with so many beautiful women FAVOURITE PERSONAL SAYING OR TERM OF ABUSE: 'Ah for *!** sake ref!' PET HATES: 1) Bad referees (all sports) 2) Getting up early for school 3) Studying 4) Pre-season training FAVOURITE MUSIC: Most types of music as long as it has a good beat or rhythm ... U2, REM, The Beautiful South FAVOURITE FILM: Ace Ventura, In The Name Of The Father, The Shawshank Redemption IDEAL DATE: If David Copperfield could make himself disappear, I'd spend the night at home with Claudia Schiffer at her beach house on Paradise Island (use your imagination!) HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED? Eternally!! Taken from Hogan Stand magazine 29th November 1996 Vol 6 No 48 Tweet

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