Football

Electric Ireland Minor Moments podcast - Michael Quinlivan

16 June 2026 - 1:46PM

Tipperary footballer, Michael Quinlivan, is the latest subject of the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Moments podcast.

Electric Ireland, proud sponsor of the Electric Ireland GAA Minor and Camogie Minor Championships, has today released Season Five, Episode Seven of the ‘GAA Minor Moments’ podcast, featuring Tipperary sharpshooter Michael Quinlivan.

Quinlivan speaks fondly of the 2011 Minor Football Final vs. Dublin, which has gone down as one of the best Minor games in living memory. He recalls the unique atmosphere of playing in front of a packed Croke Park, as the Dublin Seniors were playing Kerry in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final shortly after. The Hill 16 terrace is something that stands out vividly to him - already packed with vocal Dublin supporters in sky blue. Michael picks out the infamous goal from distance scored by his teammate Colman Kennedy in that final as a moment that will stay with him forever.

Outside of football, Quinlivan outlines the importance of playing multiple sports as a young athlete. He remembers himself and many of his 2011 Minor teammates playing soccer for Clonmel Town in their youth, representing Ireland at underage level. Quinlivan believes this early exposure to high-pressure penalty shootouts and top-tier competition gave this group a unique psychological edge and self-belief, which served them well on and off the field. This contributed to the “Golden Generation” of Tipperary dual player.

His advice for current Minor Players is to recognise that the grade is a "huge part of the journey," but players should not feel discouraged if they don’t make their Minor panel. He points out that all-time greats of the game - like Dublin's Brian Fenton and Tipperary’s Lar Corbett - never played in a Minor championship for their counties but went on to have legendary careers. He encourages players to see the bigger picture if things don’t go their way at this point in their sporting careers.

Electric Ireland’s ‘GAA Minor Moments’ podcast will air on Tuesdays throughout the Electric Ireland Camogie & GAA Minor Championships. Each week, well-known Irish stars share memories from their early sporting careers, reflecting on the defining moments from playing Minor and how it shaped them, both on and off the pitch.

In previous episodes this season, host Fergal O'Keeffe has been joined by Antrim's Enda McNulty, Cork’s Jamie Wall, and others, as they reflect on their memories playing Minor and beyond.