Stars align for Mike’s World Cup odyssey

Getting stuck for words beside Nigel de Jong, chasing Robin van Persie on a beach, rubbing shoulders with Diego Maradona and discussing matters GAA with Roberto Martinez. Far from your ordinary trip has been Mike Griffin’s journey to the World Cup in Rio de Janeiro.

Tralee native Griffin booked his flights south last summer and instead of adopting the spectator role like the hundreds of thousands currently flooding the streets of the Brazilian capital, he set himself a target, a formidable one at that.

“In January I started thinking about bringing the Na Gaeil club jersey in the hope of getting some high-profile signatures, auctioning off the jersey for a children’s charity when I returned home,” he explained.