We are used to seeing Michael Daragh MacAuley running at defences in Gaelic Football in a way that strikes fear but tonight we will see a softer side as he stretches on a Yoga mat with a group of new friends in AIB’s Toughest Summer documentary on RTÉ TV.
We caught up with the multiple All Ireland winner yesterday and learned a little about how he has connected with his community, what it has been like back involved in playing football and how the rest of this year might play out.
SfB: Tell us a little about what it was like working on the documentary?
MDM: So many things have been strange about this year so it’s hard to really see just how different taking the time to do it was. Ross is obviously coming into it with a big reputation as a filmmaker and the parts that I’ve seen so far in the video series have been great.
Hopefully, the parts that I’m involved in will look as well but we had some fun with some of the older members of the community and getting into yoga with them.
SfB: You took on the Gaelic for Mothers and Others team from Sherriff Street last year. I remember walking past you at the head of a drum beating, whistleblowing march up to Croke Park.
MDM: Yeah they were a great bunch. So much fun to be around and they loved playing football.
Getting the chance for them to run out at Croke Park on the day of the LGFA All Ireland Semi-Final was a moment they will always remember. There were over 10,000 people there that day. A great experience.
SfB: You’ve been back in Club action over recent weeks and Ballyboden have been strong so far racking up 13 goals and 52 points in the Round Robins. Are you enjoying this different summer?
MDM: It’s been great. The lads have been playing really well and its great to be involved with them full time as opposed to sharing time with the Dublin preparations.
I think everybody thinks that Dublin have been in full-on secret training camps but that’s just not been the case. When we do we’ll look forward to it and there are lots of lads playing well in club that will be pushing for places.
SfB: You’re in the Quarter Finals of Dublin this weekend but you don’t know your opponent yet because of Raheny’s postponed fixture. Does that make it harder to prepare?
Yeah, Raheny’s game against Plunketts is on Wednesday and we’ll know then. It could be one of three we’ll be facing but we just prepare to play our game and we’ll work on adapting to suit whoever is up against us when we know the result.
SfB: Much has been made of the blow of playing behind completely closed doors but as a club player does that make much of a difference?
MDM: It’s a blow to the club as these are the games when everyone kind of comes together and you’d see kids and grandparents all on the sidelines cheering us on.
As a player though you’re focused on the game. It’ll be different I’m sure at Croke Park but at our home pitch, we’ve really only got one side of the ground that the fans gather.
SfB: You’ve played against Whitehall, Vincents and Clontarf so far, putting up big scores against strong teams. Has Dessie Farrell been seen on the sidelines?
MDM: Ah yeah, I think I’ve seen him incognito having a look alright. Sure he’d have to be there. It’s been unusual for him coming into this environment where we really only had a few weeks together as a group at the start of the year.
When we get together it will hopefully be the time when we get to see what’ll be different from the last years under Jim but that’s something to look forward to.
SfB: Do you think the All Ireland will get played this year?
MDM: I do. Everybody does. It’d be great to play in front of 80,000 but if it’s in front of empty stands then so be it. We are all just happy to be playing ball and early in the year it looked like that wasn’t going to happen so yeah, let’s get it done.
Michael Daragh Macauley will be appearing in The Toughest Summer on RTÉ TV at 10:15 tonight.
