‘Hungry’ Fergal’s fighting father time

HE is 33 now, 10 years at this championship lark, but Fergal Byron maintains the hunger has never left him.

Kevin Fitzpatrick made his All-Ireland debut alongside the Courtwood keeper in a four-point defeat to Kildare back in 1997. Tom Kelly, Beano McDonald and Colm Parkinson joined them a season later, but Byron has years and experience on them all.

Of all the men currently playing inter-county football in this country, he has the third most consecutive championship appearances under his belt but the one Leinster title Laois won back in 2003 has served only to whet his appetite.