Season Four, Episode Four of the ‘GAA Minor Moments’ podcast, features former Offaly Hurler Michael Duignan.
Electric Ireland, proud sponsor of the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships and the Electric Ireland Camogie Minor Championships, has today released Season Four, Episode Four of the ‘GAA Minor Moments’ podcast, featuring former Offaly Hurler Michael Duignan.
- Web link: https://www.electricireland.ie/residential/helpful-links/our-sponsorships/gaa-minor-championships#podcast
- Acast link: https://shows.acast.com/gaa-minor-moments
- Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/show/0eR5edt47YzZlEuTQ7GEGF
- Apple link: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/gaa-minor-moments/id1621714393
This week, host Fergal O’Keeffe sits down with the two-time All-Ireland winner and Offaly hurling legend to chat about his time representing Offaly from minor and through to senior. Duignan has been a pivotal figure in Offaly GAA both on the pitch and at board level, serving as the Chairman of the Offaly County board.
Throughout the episode, Michael speaks with great pride about his own personal development up through minor as well as the progress of Offaly GAA throughout the 1980’s - describing it as a ‘perfect storm in many ways’. Michael and his Offaly teammates went on to All-Ireland minor hurling success in 1986, bringing home the first minor hurling All-Ireland in the county’s history.
Duignan fondly remembers the incredible support Offaly fans showed their teams in the 1980s, drawing a parallel to the strong support seen at underage level in Offaly over the past ten years. He recalls a particularly special memory; playing in the Féile tournament in Kilkenny at age 11. He stayed with the Murphy family, fully immersed in their lives for the duration of the competition. Seven years later, he then went on to mark one of the sons, Joe Murphy in the first round of the Leinster Minor Championship, citing it as unbelievable moment in his own development.
Michael goes on to give advice to any up-and-coming Minor players to ‘set yourself a goal to be the best that you can be’ and to ‘have the desire to get the most that you can out of the ability and gifts that you have.’ He also reflects on his own journey, from winning two senior Hurling All-Ireland titles to transitioning from the pitch to leadership roles in both Offaly GAA and his club, Ballinamere/Durrow. Ultimately, this episode explores themes of personal and collective development, the resurgence of Offaly hurling, and its growing popularity throughout the county.
Electric Ireland’s ‘GAA Minor Moments’ Podcast will air on Tuesdays throughout the Electric Ireland Camogie & GAA Minor Championships as 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.
This season, Fergal will be joined by a host of excellent guests including Ciaran Murphy of Galway and many more as they reflect on their time spent playing Minor and shed light on some great personal stories.
For more information on the Electric Ireland Camogie Minor Championships go to https://www.electricireland.ie/camogie-minor-championships.
For more information on the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships go to https://www.electricireland.ie/gaa-minor-championships.
You can also follow the campaign on social media @ElectricIreland and via the hashtag #ThisIsMajor.
