Fáilte chuig gaa.ie - suíomh oifigiúil CLG

Football

football

Eoghan McLaughlin hails departing 'role model' Lee Keegan

Pictured is University of Limerick and Mayo footballer, Eoghan McLaughlin, as Electric Ireland teams up with six intercounty Camogie and GAA stars to look ahead to the upcoming matches and rivalries across the Electric Ireland Camogie Third Level Championships and the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Championships. Through its #FirstClassRivals campaign, Electric Ireland will continue to celebrate the unexpected alliances that form between county rivals as they come together in pursuit of some of the most coveted titles across Camogie and GAA. 

Pictured is University of Limerick and Mayo footballer, Eoghan McLaughlin, as Electric Ireland teams up with six intercounty Camogie and GAA stars to look ahead to the upcoming matches and rivalries across the Electric Ireland Camogie Third Level Championships and the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Championships. Through its #FirstClassRivals campaign, Electric Ireland will continue to celebrate the unexpected alliances that form between county rivals as they come together in pursuit of some of the most coveted titles across Camogie and GAA. 

By John Harrington

Eoghan McLaughlin admits it was sad news when he heard Lee Keegan had decided to retire from inter-county football.

Club colleagues with Westport, McLaughlin regards the Mayo football legend as hugely influential role-model.

“Yeah, it was difficult to see him hang up the green and red jersey, but thank God I get to go back and play with him for the club,” says McLaughlin.

“Leroy is a role-model to me and obviously to a few of my younger team-mates.

“I played with him with Mayo for the last three years and he came to training every night willing to work.

“From talking to more of my older team-mates, he just hadn't changed since the day he walked in to the dressing-room. He has a desire to win at all costs. And he just trains really hard, he trains like he plays.

“Leroy inspired me and many of my team-mates around my age for the last three years. He's always been a leader in the dressing-room and just someone you could bounce stuff off and chat to about different things and he'd give you a straight and honest answer which was great.”

Recently retired Mayo footballer, Lee Keegan. 

Recently retired Mayo footballer, Lee Keegan. 

Much like Keegan was for most of his career, McLaughlin is a dynamic wing-back blessed with great athleticism who likes to contribute in attack as well as defence. To the naked eye it looks like he’s modelled his style of play on his club colleague’s.

“I suppose a lot of people do say that and I suppose we have a lot of the same characteristics and strengths on the pitch,” says McLaughlin.

“Growing up watching Mayo football and because Leroy was from Westport, I suppose he just kind of inspired me a lot and was a role model for me.

“Yeah, a bit of my game is definitely tailored to his, I suppose. He's a great team-mate and would always be giving you little tips and tricks in training and pulling you aside and giving you advice. He'd be very encouraging and you'd feel empowered by him, if that makes sense.”

McLaughlin is just back from a patellar tendon injury and hopes to play some part in UL’s Sigerson Cup campaign having missed their first match of the competition on Wednesday night.

Then it’ll be straight into inter-county duty with Mayo under new manager Kevin McStay who has made an early positive impression on the players.

“I was really delighted when Kevin and his backroom team got the job,” says McLaughlin. “I was so excited, couldn't wait to get started.

"He has a very experienced backroom team around him. Stephen Rochford, Donie Buckley, Liam McHale, and Damien Mulligan. So we're literally going to training every night and trying to improve, trying to get better.

“I suppose Kevin has just put a huge emphasis on nailing the pre-season period and preparing and focusing for the first round of the League. That's going really well for us.

“A lot of new young lads in with a mixture of really experienced guys which is a good blend. And, yeah, just really exciting times i suppose over the next few weeks with the first round of the League kicking off.”