Kilkenny's Canice Brennan NAME: Ollie McDonnell DATE OF BIRTH: 20/472 HEIGHT: 5' 11" WEIGHT: 13st 7lbs CLUB: Conahy Shamrocks vCOUNTY Kilkenny vHONOURS: 3 Senior Colleges All-Ireland '88, '89, '90 St. Kierans; 1 Minor All-Ireland 1990; 1 National Hurling League 1995; Finalist in Junior and Under 21 All-Ireland 1993 INTER COUNTY DEBUT: Came on against Antrim in Casement Park in '92-'93 League campaign but had to wait until '93-'94 campaign to make a starting debut against Meath TOUGHEST OPPONENT: Any of the Kilkenny backs or midfielders but especially Pat Dwyer FAVOURITE GROUNDS: Nowlan Park, Kilkenny OTHER SPORTING INTERESTS: Squash, running, game hunting/shooting FAVOURITE POSITION: Midfield BOYHOOD HEROES: Frank Cummins FAVOURITE PLAYERS: DJ Carey, Pat Dwyer BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON CAREER: Having four brothers who all play on the same team with me at home means that hurling is very much a talking point at home. All have influenced and helped me get where I am today THE HIGH POINT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE: Winning the 1990 Minor All-Ireland replay while playing at centre back against cork. Also the recent League Final win over Clare and getting a chance to come on so early OTHER PLAYERS WITH A PROMISING FUTURE: Denis Byrne, Joe Dermody, Sean Meally - Kilkenny; Francis Forde, Finbar Gantley - Galway WAYS OF IMPROVING THE GAME: If all the League matches played during the wet, miserable winter months could be played when the weather was better. More matches should be shown live on tv during the summer DISLIKES ABOUT THE GAA: Unlike soccer or rugby in Ireland, the GAA season has no break during the year. Once the All-Ireland is over, the League starts up nearly immediately HOPES FOR 1995: To win back the Liam McCarthy Cup in September WHAT IS IT LIKE TO PLAY ALONGSIDE THE LIKES OF DJ CAREY, EAMONN MORRISSEY ETC.? Playing alongside these players turns a good hurler into a brilliant hurler as they are very helpful to younger players, giving them advice, skills and encouragement. Playing with them on the pitch also makes the game easier as they nearly always do or make you do the right thing OBVIOUSLY, BIG BROTHER NICKY HAD AN INFLUENCE ON YOU: Being the eldest of the family he was the first to start of the GAA tradition in our house. Being a former inter-county hurler, he made me aware of what was required to stay at the top level of hurling, giving me advice along the way HAVE YOU REGAINED FULL FITNESS FOLLOWING YOUR ILLNESS? After being out for most of last year, I put a lot of effort into training at the beginning of this year and finally I am back to where I was before my illness, although I would still like to be a bit fitter HAPPY WITH YOUR PERFORMANCE WHEN INTRODUCED IN THE RECENT NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE FINAL? I didn't expect to come on so early in the game and it was unfortunate for Michael Phelan as he was playing well. But as I had lost my place for the semi-final I was delighted to get another chance. Everything seemed to go well for me on the day and I even managed to score Taken from Hogan Stand magazine 2nd June 1995 Vol 5 No 22 Tweet

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