Micheál Martin: Soccer background gave me tools to thrive as a goalkeeper

After a couple of seasons spent as understudy to Ken O’Halloran and more recently Mark White, Martin has been between the sticks for all bar one of Cork’s last 12 League and Championship outings.

TALKING SHOP: Cork’s Mícheál Martin admits that being vocal with outfield team-mates is not something that would have come naturally to him and it was as a goalkeeper with College Corinthians where this element of goalkeeping was coached into him. Picture: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Cork’s Micheál Martin says his soccer background equipped him with the communication skills required for inter-county goalkeeping.

Martin, who this Saturday begins his second All-Ireland Championship as Cork’s first-choice No. 1, admits that being vocal with outfield team-mates is not something that would have come naturally to him and it was as a goalkeeper with College Corinthians where this element of goalkeeping was coached into him.