Luke Casey: 'As long as I can keep playing everything, I want to keep playing everything'

Luke Casey is juggling football, hurling and soccer and wants to keep it going as long as possible.

HECTIC SCHEDULE: Luke Casey is juggling football, hurling and soccer and wants to keep it going as long as possible. Picture: Barry Peelo.

Luke Casey’s chaotic and crammed sporting existence is best depicted through the events of last Saturday week.

The Aghabullogue Intermediate hurling team that he is a leading part of and leading scorer for were in Ballyanley for a 4pm county semi-final throw-in. Casey’s sporting Saturday began several hours earlier and several miles from Ballyanley.

At 10.30am above in the AUL complex beside Dublin airport, Casey had his second trial for the Irish amateur football squad. The trial finished three hours later at 1.30pm.

Waiting and ready to ferry him back down the road was Aghabullogue coach Seánie McGrath. The 1999 All-Ireland winner had the car stuffed with fruit, bars, and jellies for Casey to replenish himself with on the long and speed limit-testing drive.

Knowing they wouldn’t make throw-in and not wanting to miss a second of the action, Casey purchased a Clubber match subscription and tuned in from the front passenger seat of Seánie’s car.

Introduced nine minutes into the second-half, the late arrival clipped 1-3, including the extra-time game-sealing green flag.

No rest for the wicked, or the sporting gifted. Since Saturday week, he top-scored with two goals in Aghabullogue’s Premier IFC semi-final win over Naomh Abán and was informed of his successful call-up to the Irish amateur squad. All that on top of his Coachford AFC commitments in a season not long underway.

And once out the far side of Saturday’s hurling final against Bandon, there’ll be no exclusive focus on the football decider against Uibh Laoire. Sandwiched in between the two is an outing with the Irish amateur side.

“As long as I can keep playing everything, I want to keep playing everything. I’d never want to choose,” says the 24-year-old.

The same as Casey juggling codes and disciplines is old hat, so too is Aghabullogue chasing county glory on the double.

Two years ago, the club lifted Intermediate A silverware in both codes. Ten players featured in both final victories. Casey was not among that cohort. He didn’t tog for the hurling decider, was introduced eight minutes from time in the football showpiece against Mitchelstown.

His limited involvement owed to having spent a chunk of 2023 as part of the Cobh Ramblers dressing-room. His six-month League of Ireland experience was chastening. It is a stage, though, he wants to someday return to for a second chapter.

“It was tough. I always wanted to do it, so it is not a regret or anything, but I found it tough. I didn’t really get much of a chance. Cobh were flying at the time. They had a great team, and I found it tough as I couldn’t break in.

“My first game was away to Finn Harps, up in Ballybofey, on a Friday night. You are gone Thursday and not back until Saturday. If I was playing, it would have made it a lot easier. But I didn’t really get much of a chance, so I stepped away.

“From when I was young, to get to League of Ireland level was an aim. I would love to have another go off it, if the right opportunity came up. I have had calls recently, but I am happy enough playing away the way I am now, while enjoying the GAA as well. I love this Irish team on top of it. If you go League of Ireland, you don’t get that.” 

He also, of course, wants to be immersed in any double that might materialise over the coming fortnight.

“The double of 2023, every fella in the club will remember it forever. This year, to be able to play and contribute in both, it is great.”