Lee Chin: ‘My career as a hurling goalkeeper didn't last long. We played a county final and conceded about six goals'
Growing up in Wexford, I was involved in football, hurling and soccer from an early age. I always played outfield in football and soccer but in hurling I had a short stint in goal at Faythe Harriers. I only lasted a game there at my age level but I sometimes played in goal if I was playing an age level or two up. We played a county final and I was in goal for it, but conceded about six goals. That sporting career didn't have any longevity! I made some early strides outfield in hurling but my first chance to play at Croke Park came as somewhat of a surprise. It was a Thursday when I got a phone call asking would I go to play for Wexford Under-14s. That call was from Joe Kearns, who was part of the Wexford panel when they won the All-Ireland Final in 1996. I told him that I might need to get hold of my mam to ask could I take the day off school. He said, 'I don't think she'd have a problem with that!' Sure enough, he was right.
I remember they had a bus arranged and off we set. Mam and my grandmother followed up in the car. This was a place that I had only ever dreamed of playing in. The dressing room, walking out from the tunnel — it is all so clear, even to this day. I scored a point at the Davin Stand end that afternoon. If you asked me now, I could still point out the exact spot that I scored it from. That game impacted me so much. It made me feel I was chasing the right thing.
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The Irish Sun
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Jim McGuinness makes eye-catching David Clifford claim in run-up to Donegal battling Kerry in All-Ireland final
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You probably would have been happy with that last year. This year you would bite a fella's hand off for it. So it's taken a while, and it's still a work in progress among people analysing GAA, coaches, players to kind of reframe how we're thinking about the kick out aspect of it. 'It's certainly something that's challenging, but it's enjoyable. It's enjoyable trying to break down teams, and it's enjoyable for the supporters as well, which we can see throughout the year.' Ryan, who plays outfield for his club Rathmore, makes some other interesting points about goalkeeping in general, and the mental side of the game. 'I think sometimes 'keepers get too much credit on kick out stats and get too much probably criticism on the other side of things when they don't go well,' he says. Ryan celebrates Kerry's All-Ireland quarter-final win over Armagh. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO 'I suppose the nature of the position, you are going to make mistakes. 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The 42
an hour ago
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David Clifford 'could be the best player that has ever played the game'
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