Up Close and Personal with Conor O'Mahony

Ever wondered what your favourite GAA star listens to on their iPod? Ever wondered what the country’s top GAA players get up to in their spare time?

GAA.ie’s latest weekly feature allows you to get ‘Up Close and Personal’ with the stars of Gaelic Games.
Each week, we’ll talk to a top inter-county player and ask him the questions you’ve always wanted answered. And some you’d never have thought of asking!

This week www.gaa.ie gets 'Up Close and Personal' with Tipperary centre-back and 2010 GAA Hurling All-Ireland Championship winner Conor O'Mahony.

Factfile
Name: Conor O’Mahony
Age: 26
Club: Newport
Height: 6’1”
Position: Centre-back
Occupation: Sales Rep
Career Highlight: Winning the Senior All-Ireland in 2010.
Honours: 1 All-Ireland HSC; 3 Munster HSC; 1 Allianz HL; 2 Munster U21; 2 Munster HMC; 2 Fitzgibbon Cups.

What’s on your iPod?
Green Day. I saw their Broadway show last January and I am a big fan of theirs at the moment.

What’s your party piece?
I don’t have one, but Shane McGrath will do whatever you want him to do.

If you could change one thing about your game what would it be?
I’d like to improve my fitness levels. As an inter-county player you have to be as fit as the fittest person on the field so if somebody could give me some inspiration that way it would be a help.

What are your hobbies and interests outside the GAA?
I am a fan of rugby. I am going to try to go to the Rugby World Cup if I can. I played rugby with Newport and only gave it up about three years ago. I am hoping to go back at the end of the season if I have the time.

What’s your favourite TV programme?
Entourage.

Who’s your sporting idol?
Jonny Wilkinson. The 2003 World Cup, the drop kick and all that.

Do you have any unusual pre-match routines or superstitions?
I change my grips before every Championship match. It’s a routine at this stage.

What’s your earliest GAA memory?
It was Tipperary winning the 1995 Munster Minor football Championship. My father was a selector. They beat Cork in the final and I think Joe Deane and Seán Óg Ó hAilpín were playing for Cork at the time.

What’s your favourite venue?
Semple Stadium, Thurles.

If forced to play for another county who would you pick?
Limerick because it is so close.

Which county other than Tipperary has the best supporters?
I would say Cork. They always bring great colour to matches and they are good banter.

If you could choose one inter-county player to play with your own team, who would it be?
John Mullane. It would be good to have a fast number 13 instead of Eoin Kelly.

Who is your all-time favourite GAA player or childhood hero?
Paul Flynn (Waterford) or Seánie McMahon (Clare).

Who do you share with on away days?
It’s usually Noel McGrath or Seamus Callanan. Noel being so young, he has to get his mother to ring him every night to make sure he has gone to bed.

Who is your most confident team-mate?
Seamus Callanan.

Who has the worst haircut on the Tipperary panel?
Eoin Kelly because he hasn’t got much hair left.

Who is the worst trainer in the Tipperary panel?
Other than myself, probably Lar Corbett.

Who is the biggest joker?
Shane McGrath or John O’Neill. They are constantly messing.

Who fancies themselves as a ladies man in the squad?
John O’Neill.

Conor was speaking in an exclusive interview with www.gaa.ie. He will be in action for Tipperary against Kilkenny in the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship final 2011 on Sunday afternoon (3.30pm).