Bantry Blues Newsletter

IN A WEST CORK MINUTE with Ruairi Deane

Career highlight: The opportunity to captain the Cork junior team this year is the winner. It’s a dream come true, getting the chance to lead a Cork team out in an All-Ireland final. Winning the West Cork U21 with Bantry last year is a close second.

Sporting hero: I won’t be looking outside Bantry for this one. Graham Canty is the man. The service he has given to the game so far in his career is unreal. Everything he does he gives it 100 per cent on and off the pitch. And to top it off, he is a pure gentleman.

Best advice you’ve received: Paul McCarthy will be delighted with this question. ‘Pass the ball when you can, not when you have to’. It’s a saying he always directs at me, I think, for ‘occasionally’ running into a bit of traffic on the pitch.

Hobbies: Aside from football, I attempt to play a bit of hurling with Bantry and occasionally head out golfing. I went out with Alan Cronin, Dan MacEoin and the great Kieran Lynch a few weeks ago. We gave him a serious run for his money! I like to think I taught him a thing or two anyway.

Favourite heart-throb or pin-up: I’ll have to go for Jessica Ennis. Enough said. After that Rhiannon Fish and Samara Weaving from Home and Away are well up there! There are a couple of the Cork lady footballers and camogie players but I won’t hang myself by naming them!

Signature dish/favourite food: The omelette mentioned below is a personal favourite and would be my signature dish really. My favourite food is  spaghetti carbonarra with chicken and bacon.

Favourite holiday destination: I was recently in Lanzorate. It was just what I wanted, warm and relaxing. I was in America for a summer and wouldn’t mind going back there again. Also, I’d love to try get over to the World Cup in Rio next year.

Christmas morning or Mid Summer’s Day: Christmas morning! It’s a day of everything with the family. I love lying around the house, by the fire for the day, eating as much food as I physically can.

Your most treasured possession: It has to be my iPhone. I would be lost without it. I’m addicted to Snapchat at the moment. Also I have a pair of the Predator Mania boots. Thank God they didn’t get robbed from me in Manchester!

Morning person or night owl: I’m definitely a night owl. During the summer I rarely even see the mornings. I just bypass the mornings and go straight for the evenings!

Breakfast of champions: Has to be an omelette. Firstly you have to fry up a bit of garlic, onion and mushrooms. Then add in some green, yellow and red peppers along with some chicken and rasher. Mine would be made with four egg whites and one egg yolk, a dash of milk and stir it up. Add a bit of cheese on top, two slices of brown bread and a homemade smoothie, and you’re laughing.

Desert island essential(s): Dr Denis Cotter and his bag of tricks. If you had him there you really would have it all. He would quote the majority of the Bible so he would be as good as a priest. You have a doctor and his bag of tricks would keep you in good health. The stories would be plentiful as well. He is a top man for keeping you down to earth and in top shape.

Tell us a secret: The one and only time I was on the pitch in Croke Park was not playing but at a Westlife concert for their farewell tour last June!

I would like to be remembered as … a hard-working and honest footballer, who gave everything he could to the sport with club and county. Hopefully remembered as a member of the Bantry football team that regained senior status!