Shamrock Rovers star Sean Kavanagh has experience playing in the high leagues in England having spent 7 years with Fulham since the age of 16 but has said the life of being a pro footballer is not what everyone would imagine.
Listen to the interview in full here:
In recent weeks Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill mentioned watching Kavanagh as a young prospect for Fulham. This has come at a good time as players from the League Of Ireland such as Graham Burke and Shane Supple have been called up for a chance to impress at an International stage. Sean had this to say.
“It’s nice to hear, surprising I didn’t know at the time.”
“Nice to know he took an interest and went to a couple of games.”
“It’d be a dream come true (to represent Ireland), as a young lad I remember watching all the World Cup games having all the Ireland jerseys, going to the games only up the road from my house.”
Sean made the move back home to Shamrock Rovers earlier this year having spent 7 years at Fulham; he shared his thoughts and findings having played the professional game at one of the highest levels.
“It can only help you’re playing with the top players.”
“You train with the first team everyday at a championship club. People who’ve been there, won leagues, they’re Internationals and take little bits from everyone.”
“What I tried to do when I got in and around the first team was speak to the seniors and see what they did on and off the pitch. See how hard they work and try match it.”
However the Dubliner claimed the famed pro football life is not without challenges and highlighted the difficulties and struggles he faced during his time in London.
“There’s no messing around, you’re in the gym you’re doing your prep for training even when you go home you need to eat right. Sleep right you need to do everything right to give yourself the best chance you can.”
“When Freddie (Sean’s son) was born, he stayed in Dublin and I was over there and I wasn’t in the team.”
“Obviously you still have to be in everyday, train every day; you have to play in reserve games so you can’t get home on the weekends so that was toughest phase for me.”
Also on this morning’s show we had Leinster’s Leo Cullen, Isa Nacewa and Johnny Sexton on their Pro14 final win against the Scarlets. Roy Keane spoke on the League Of Ireland players who were called up for the international friendly games over the next week. Jurgen Klopp shared his thoughts on the big moments in his sides Champions League final loss to Real Madrid. Dublin football and hurling bosses Jim Gavin and Pat Gilroy looked ahead to their sides’ next championship games.
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