THE BIG INTERVIEW: ‘Mixed’ marriage breaks down the borderlines for Damien Hayes

Married to Galway senior hurling for 14 years and now, officially, to former Tipperary camogie star Claire for five, games between the counties now take on a new kind of meaning for Damien Hayes. The forward sat down with John Fogarty.

It started with a sale. In 2009, Claire Grogan walked into the showroom of Al Hayes Motors looking for a car and into Damien Hayes’ life. Each knew the other by reputation.

Claire had cursed Damien four years previous when his goal was the beginning of the end for her Tipperary in their All-Ireland quarter-final. Claire was only 23 when they met but Damien knew she had already enjoyed a glittering camogie career.