The shape I'm in: Dublin footballer Ciaran Kilkenny

Dublin footballer Ciaran Kilkenny talks health, fitness and life at 22.

Though many of his college classmates are living it up in a hot country this summer, Ciarán Kilkenny is happy to stay on his home turf. With an All-Ireland final in his sights, the Dublin GAA football player is relishing the opportunity to up his game by training hard.

“It’s brilliant being a student, you get three months off to concentrate on your sport — we keep ourselves occupied with summer camps and Dublin development camps. You are basically training as a professional athlete.”

He has bigger plans in mind than going on a J1 visa. “I don’t think there would be much of an opportunity for me to go on a J1 visa at moment. As long as I’m not injured, I don’t see myself going on a J1.”

A serious knee injury last year saw him miss a lot of last season. It’s all behind him now, thanks to a large team behind the scenes.

“I did a good six or seven months hard work on the pitch and the gym and had good medical staff and have no problems with it anymore. We have very good physios on the Dublin team, a development coach and our doctors as well. Then there was the consultant Mr Ray Moran, who did the surgery on my knee.”

Used to the adrenalin rush and discipline of training and playing matches, the recovery time away from the pitch proved difficult.

“It’s a mental challenge as well as a physical challenge because you’ve gone from playing sport and training every day of the week to all this being completely taken away from you, so you just have to find other ways to fill your time.

“I looked after a couple of things in college and I worked quite hard in the gym but it was obviously hard not to be playing the game.

“I appreciated it a lot more when I came back and I was really loving playing the ball.”

It was all a bit tentative to begin with but it was not long before he was playing flat out.

“At first I played with the college and club and you’d be a bit tentative but as soon as you get your first hard knock or get your first big hit you just forget about it and I haven’t really looked back since.”

About to enter his final year at St Patrick’s in Drumcondra, Dublin where he is studying history and Irish, all career options are open — including the possibility of a postgraduate degree in primary school teaching. It’s one of the privileges of being 22.

He has a girlfriend though is reluctant to go into details or to give her name saying: “Ah no that would be confidential”.

What shape are you in?

I’m the lightest I’ve been in three years due to a healthy diet with no carbohydrates on non-training days.

What are your healthiest eating habits?

I eat a lot of protein throughout the day whether it’s meats, eggs, yoghurt or cashew nuts - they’re my go-to foods

What are your guiltiest pleasures?

Definitely it would be crisps, although I can’t remember the last time I’ve had a packet. Also, jellies would be the one that would satisfy my sweet tooth.

What would keep you awake at night?

WhatsApp definitely. I’m going to try to cut back on the phone just before I go asleep so I get better sleep and rest.

How do you relax?

A long walk with my dog Holly — she is a cross between a jack russell and a terrier — a game of cards with the lads, table tennis, pitch and putt or any other sport really or watching some TV.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

My sister in Australia and the rest of my family.

What’s your favourite smell?

Hugo Boss aftershave.

What would you like to change about your appearance?

I’m just about 6ft1in and I wouldn’t mind being an inch taller.

When is the last time you cried?

I can’t remember.

What traits do you least like in others?

Poor attitude, lack of humility.

What traits do you least like about yourself?

Competitiveness, it can get me in trouble from time to time.

Do you pray?

Yes. I try to go to mass every Sunday.

What would cheer up your day?

To win another All-Ireland.

*Linwoods is the official health food partner for Dublin GAA, to ensure each player’s diet contains essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. For more information and recipes see www.linwoodshealthfoods.com.