They could have been in Gdansk...

The GAA stars who passed up on soccer careers cross-channel

I kicked ball with...

Cathal Naughton (Cork): I started playing with Charleville when I was 8, they compete in the South Limerick league. I played two years Kennedy Cup but got injured the second year when I broke my collarbone playing hurling. After that I got trials with Leeds, Man City and Sunderland but ended up signing for Nottingham Forest when I was 16. I was a left winger and I think the lack of left-sided players definitely helped me. I signed a 3-year contract with Forest but was only there for about a year. To be honest I got homesick, so I came back in 2004 and concentrated on the hurling. I played for a local team Millstreet a couple of years ago in the winter but it was never serious.

Darran O’Sullivan (Kerry): I grew up in London and would have played with a local team, Celtic. We used to go to Bournemouth every year for a tournament against international teams and we won it once. I joined the school of excellence in QPR then at U10 and U12 level, we used to train twice a week and play a game at weekends. When I was 12, the family moved back to Ireland and I’d have played for Killarney Celtic for a year. I lost interest then, just playing a bit for Killorglin and the local team in Glenbeigh, Behy Rovers.

Michael Shields (Cork): I grew up playing for Wilton United in Cork City from U10 to U16, and then I’d two years with Kilreen Celtic. I played in the Kennedy Cup (All-Ireland U13) for Cork, we lost to Limerick 2-1 in the final. It’s still a defeat that hurts me because it was the first competition I put a huge amount into. I was centre-half on that team but played either midfield or striker with Wilton. Once I started playing Cork minor, the Gaelic football took over. I went back for a few years to play a bit in the winter with Kilreen Celtic but haven’t had the time recently.

Famous faces...

Cathal Naughton (Cork): In the Kennedy Cup, I would have played against Anthony Stokes, Darren O’Dea and Darron Randolph. I played against the boxer Katie Taylor as well, she was with the Wicklow boys team. From that Forest youth team, Lewis McGugan is still there and is in their first team. James Perch was a year above me and he’s with Newcastle, then Michael Dawson from Spurs was a couple years ahead of me. Of the other teams I played against, Frazier Campbell was with Man United at the time, while Adam Johnson and Lee Cattermole were with Middlesbrough. I played for Ireland U14 to U17 in a few tournaments. I actually played in a game against Spain at one stage where Cesc Fabregas was playing, and it was just a few days before he signed for Arsenal.

Darran O’Sullivan (Kerry): I don’t think there was anyone really from those QPR underage teams who went on to make it. A friend I grew up with, played for England at U16 and U18 level but it wasn’t anything too major.

Michael Shields (Cork): I would have played in the Kennedy Cup with Stephen Ireland, who was obviously the biggest name in our team. He was a class act and one of the best players I’ve ever seen in any sport. Also from that team was Kevin Mulcahy, who went over to Aston Villa, and Karl Caulfield, who captained Avondale to win the FAI Intermediate Cup last weekend. I had Irish trials at U15 level as well and I remember Paul McShane being in Dublin at those games, he was just brilliant. On all those Wilton teams growing up as well, Ken O’Halloran, the Cork goalkeeper, would have been in goal. I never went over for trials to England, there was talk of interest from some clubs alright but nothing ever came of it.

Current cross-channel interest...

Cathal Naughton (Cork): I follow Man United but don’t really get over to games as often as I like because of the hurling which nearly goes all year around with the club. I went over to see them play Chelsea a few years ago in Old Trafford with a buddy of mine who’s a Chelsea fan. United won, so it was a good day.

Darran O’Sullivan (Kerry): I’ve always followed Man United. I was hoping with the past QPR link, they’d do me a favour last Sunday and they very nearly did. I watched the United match but when it ended I was too tense to watch the end of the City game so I went upstairs. When I came back down and saw the faces of the United players, I knew what had happened. A tough one to take.

Michael Shields (Cork): I’ve always been a massive Man United fan. Cantona was my first hero, then Keane took over and from the current team it’d be Rooney. Even at 25, I still have big posters of Keane and Rooney on the bedroom wall at home. I was over at the Manchester derby recently in the Eastlands and went to Liverpool-United in Anfield earlier in the season. I was hoping for a miracle last Sunday but it wasn’t to be. I sent Joey Barton a few message on Twitter last week, saying I’d wash his car and cut his grass if he helped QPR win. He didn’t respond.

Ireland at Euro 2012...

Cathal Naughton (Cork): There should be a good buzz around the place. The times are far more favourable than the Rugby World Cup so I think people are looking forward to it a lot. It’d be great if they did well and lifted the spirits.

Darran O’Sullivan (Kerry): It’s going to be nice to see how Ireland do, in particular James McClean is a player I’m looking forward to seeing after he’s made the squad. I think it’ll ultimately come down to either Germany or Spain as to who wins the tournament, they seem the most consistent teams recently.

Michael Shields (Cork): I can’t wait for it now. My brothers go to all the Ireland games in the Aviva, I didn’t get to any myself in this campaign but I was at the 2-2 draw against Italy a couple years ago. I’d be a big fan of the Irish soccer team. The Croatia match is the night of our Munster semi-final so a Cork and Ireland double that day on June 10th would be great.

— Fintan O’Toole