Michael Darragh Macauley believes his years of playing basketball at schools and club level have played an important part in making him the All-Ireland and All-Star-winning Gaelic footballer he is today.
The Dublin midfielder, who is deep in preparations for Sunday's All-Ireland SFC final against Mayo, first came to sporting prominence as a young basketballer.Macauley played hoops with distinction for Coláiste Éanna and Notre Dame, earning All-Ireland medals and Ireland underage international honours, before football became his main focus with Ballyboden St. Enda's and Dublin.
The Dublin midfielder, who is deep in preparations for Sunday's All-Ireland SFC final against Mayo, first came to sporting prominence as a young basketballer.Macauley played hoops with distinction for Coláiste Éanna and Notre Dame, earning All-Ireland medals and Ireland underage international honours, before football became his main focus with Ballyboden St. Enda's and Dublin.
"I have a good few years of basketball behind me which I would say have definitely stood to me as a Gaelic footballer," Macauley told Newstalk's 'Off The Ball' programme, when asked about transferring some of those skills to the football pitch.
"I don't think I'd be here preparing for an another All-Ireland final if I didn't play basketball as a child, it probably has given me a little something extra that I mightn't have developed just playing Gaelic football.
Macauley's 6ft 5in frame and quick footwork, allied to his fielding skills, strong running ability and endurance, have marked him out as one of the leading midfielders in the country and a serious contender for the 2013 Footballer of the Year gong.
The road he has taken from basketball to the top rung of Gaelic footballer has been travelled before, this weekend's opponents Mayo boasting of course the legendary Liam McHale who produced some towering Super League performances for Ballina in the 1980s and 1990s.
"Liam (McHale) was, I think, the original one to do it (combine the two sports). There's been a good few since with Ronan McGarrity, Kieran Donaghy and Michael Quirke...there's a few lads who have done it. I'd definitely encourage kids to get out there and play as many sports as they can, particularly basketball because it's helped my footwork and handling skills no end," added Macauley.
Of his own journey to football via the basketball court, the 27-year-old revealed: "Every Gaelic coach that ever got their hands on me, all they ever said was, 'will ya ever give up that 'oul basketball, will ya?'. If I had done what they said and given up the basketball, I wouldn't be sitting here. It's really important. I won't start preaching now but kids should get out there and get involved in whatever their passion is."
The road he has taken from basketball to the top rung of Gaelic footballer has been travelled before, this weekend's opponents Mayo boasting of course the legendary Liam McHale who produced some towering Super League performances for Ballina in the 1980s and 1990s.
"Liam (McHale) was, I think, the original one to do it (combine the two sports). There's been a good few since with Ronan McGarrity, Kieran Donaghy and Michael Quirke...there's a few lads who have done it. I'd definitely encourage kids to get out there and play as many sports as they can, particularly basketball because it's helped my footwork and handling skills no end," added Macauley.
Of his own journey to football via the basketball court, the 27-year-old revealed: "Every Gaelic coach that ever got their hands on me, all they ever said was, 'will ya ever give up that 'oul basketball, will ya?'. If I had done what they said and given up the basketball, I wouldn't be sitting here. It's really important. I won't start preaching now but kids should get out there and get involved in whatever their passion is."
