The Big Interview: Cathal Freeman on life as a doctor and a love for Mayo's hurling heartland

The Tooreen native aspired to be a senior hurler with his club more than a senior footballer with Mayo, though he achieved both

BAS MAN: Cathal Freeman says hurling was his first love, though he excelled for Mayo's footballers too. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie

The week before his goal and a couple of points helped his club win through to an All Ireland hurling final, Dr Cathal Freeman took time out from his hectic working and sporting schedule to make it down to Powerscourt, Wicklow, for the wedding of an old friend.

He and Rob Hennelly go way back, just as he does with Hennelly’s groomsman, Aidan O’Shea. It started with soccer, when the three of them “trained like dogs” as members of the Mayo U14 Kennedy Cup squad. Freeman played central right mid, O’Shea his occasional partner to his left. Hennelly, you won’t be surprised to learn, played in goals, and ahead of the big tournament in Limerick shaved his hair for the occasion.