Courting converts

Sixty-nine minutes had passed in the All-Ireland semi-final between Dublin and Kerry when Michael Darragh Maculey launched himself at a breaking ball in midfield with a move more akin to one seen in basketball.

Within seconds, Kevin McManamon had the ball in Brendan Kealy’s net: a game for the ages decided by a somewhat fluky finish and a technique Macauley picked up on hardwood floors with Coláiste Éanna, Notre Dame and Irish underage hoops sides.

“I don’t think I’d be here preparing for an another All-Ireland final if I didn’t play basketball as a child,” he told ‘Off the Ball’ subsequently. “It probably has given me a little something extra I mightn’t have developed just playing Gaelic football.”