Agallamh le Dessie Mone

Agallamh le Dessie Mone

Dessie Mone

Cén tslí bheatha atá agat agus inis dom faoi?

Is mac léinn mé agus beidh mé ag staidear corpoideachas ag Ollscoil Luimní san fhómhar.

Cén dóigh ar thosaigh tú ag imirt peil ghaelach? 
Thig leat a rá gur tháinig mé ar an saol agus bhí liathróid O’Neills i mo lámha agam. Bhí peil Ghaelach i gcónaí láidir i mo theaghlach. D’imir m’uncail, mo Dhaidí, mo dheartháireacha agus mé féin le foireann an chontae am éigin.

Na cuimhneacháin is mó atá agat ag imirt faoi aois? 

Is cuimhin liom go maith an lá a bhuaigh mé mo chéad chorn, an corn Northern Standard ar son Gaelscoil Ultain nuair a bhí mé dhá bhliain déag d’aois agus mé i rang a 6. Tháinig Declan Bonner iar-imreoir le Dún na nGall chun na scoile chun na boinn a bhronnadh orainn.

Na daoine is mó a raibh tionchar acu ort agus tú ag fás aníos? 

Bhí an-tionchar ag mo thuismitheoirí agus na bainisteoirí ar fad a bhí orm faoi aois go dtí anois.

Cad é an rud is mó a thaitníonn leat faoi a bheith ag imirt le Cluain Tiobraid?

Is breá liom go mór a bheith ag imirt ar son mo chlub Cluain Tiobraid agus ar son an pharóiste agus ag imirt le mo chairde, na leaids, a d’fhás mé suas leo.

Cad é mar a chuaigh an pheil san ollscoil i bhfeidhm ort?

D’imir mé le Coláiste Mhic Shiúrdáin agus d’éirigh linn dul chomh fada le cluiche ceannais corn Mhic Shigiúir. Ar an drochuair, níor éirigh linn é a bhaint agus bhí an-díoma orm an tráthnóna sin. Thaitin sé go mór liom a bheith ag imirt le himreoirí móra ó chontaetha eile sa tír cosúil le Brendan Donaghy agus Kevin Dyas as Ard Mhacha agus Mattie Donnelly ó Thír Eoghan.

Cén dóigh agus cathain ar thosaigh tú ag imirt leis an chontae?

Thosaigh mé ag imirt le foireann shinsir Mhuineacháin thart fán naoi mbliana ó shin. D’imir mé mar leath-chosantóir cé go raibh uimhir a 12 ar mo gheansaí in aghaidh Ard Mhacha sa chéad bhabhta i gCraobh Chúige Uladh. Droch-lá do Mhuineachán a bhí ann an lá sin.

Cad iad na deacrachtaí is mó a bhaineann le peil idir-chontae?

Is aoibhinn liom ag imirt ar son mo chontae ach tá smacht i gceist. Ní bhíonn gnáthsaol agat mar a bheadh ag fir óga eile. Mar shampla, bím ag traenáil cúig lá in aghaidh na seachtaine agus ar an drochuair ní thig liom a bheith amuigh gach deireadh seachtaine. Caithfidh mé a bheith curamach le m’aiste bia agus an bia ceart a ithe. Ach ag deireadh an lae is fiú go mór é mar bím an-bhródúil gach uair a chaithfidh mé geansaí Mhuineacháin.

An t-imreoir is fearr a mharcáil tú riamh? 

Pádraic Joyce (iar-imreoir na Gaillimhe) Fearghal Ó Mochain (Cluain Tiobraid)

Interview with Dessie Mone

What is your Occupation?

I am a student and will be studying PE at the University of Limerick this autumn.

How did you start playing Gaelic football?

It could be said that I was born with an O’Neill’s ball in my hands. Gaelic football has always been strong in my family. My uncle, father, brothers and myself have played for the county team at some point.

Biggest Memories of playing underage football?

I remember winning my first cup the Northern Standard Cup for Gaelscoil Ultain when I was 12 years old in sixth class. Declan Bonner, former Donegal player came to the school to present our medals to us.
Early Influences on your career?

My parents and all my managers from underage up had a big influence on me.

What do you enjoy most about playing with Clontibret?

I love playing for Clontibret and for my parish with my friends, the lads I grew up with.

How did college football influence you?

I played football with Jordanstown and we succeeded in getting to the Sigerson Cup final. Unfortunately, we did not win and I was very disappointed that afternoon. I enjoyed playing with other county players like Brendan Donaghy and Kevin Dyas from Armagh and Mattie Donnelly from Tyrone.

How and when did you start playing county football?

I started playing senior football with Monaghan about nine years ago. I played at half-back even though I had number 12 on my jersey in the first round of the Ulster Championship against Armagh. It was a bad day for Monaghan.

What do you find most difficult playing with the county team?

I love playing county football but you need discipline. You don’t have a normal life like other young men. For example, I train 5 times a week and I can’t go out at the weekend. You have to be careful with your diet and make sure you eat the correct food. It’s worth it all as I am very proud every time I wear the Monaghan jersey.

Best player you marked?

Pádraic Joyce (former Galway player) Fearghal Ó Mochain (Clontibret)