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 Tweet

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