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Paul Mannion features in Episode Three of AIB series 'The Drive'

Former Dublin footballer and Kilmacud Crokes’ star, Paul Mannion pictured at the launch of AIB’s new series, The Drive, which explores the adversity faced by inter-county players in the modern game and what drives them to pull on the jersey year after year. Hosted by Ardal O’Hanlon, The Drive features the stories of four inter-county players and their journeys on and off the pitch, celebrating the incredible perseverance showed by players across the country, who despite logic, can’t quit, no matter how tough it gets, because Tough Can’t Quit.

Former Dublin footballer and Kilmacud Crokes’ star, Paul Mannion pictured at the launch of AIB’s new series, The Drive, which explores the adversity faced by inter-county players in the modern game and what drives them to pull on the jersey year after year. Hosted by Ardal O’Hanlon, The Drive features the stories of four inter-county players and their journeys on and off the pitch, celebrating the incredible perseverance showed by players across the country, who despite logic, can’t quit, no matter how tough it gets, because Tough Can’t Quit.

AIB, proud sponsors of both Club and County, have today released the third episode of their new content series The Drive featuring former Dublin forward Paul Mannion. The episode sees Mannion speak to Ardal O’Hanlon about his decision to leave the Dublin panel and switch his focus back to his club, Kilmacud Crokes, while touching on the hunger that remains to win the Andy Merrigan Cup after losing out on an AIB GAA All-Ireland Club Championship title earlier this year.  

In the episode, O’Hanlon chats to the All-Ireland winner about the dedication needed to fulfill commitments to both club and county, the impact that criticism can have on players, as well as the difficulty of informing his Dublin teammates and management of his decision to walk away. The pair were joined Kilmacud Crokes manager Robbie Brennan for the last leg of the journey. Brennan chats through Crokes’ memorable run to the Club Championship Final where they ultimately came up short against Kilcoo, beaten with the last kick of the ball in an unforgettable final. Reflecting on the occasion, Brennan and Mannion believe the South Dublin club has the drive to return to the showpiece of club football this season, with Crokes set to be bolstered by Mannion’s return from the States later this year. 

You can view the episode here: https://youtu.be/ZzT2hv7CctI 

The final episode of The Drive will feature up-and-coming Kerry star, Stefan Okunbor, as the Tralee man chats through his return to the Kingdom and the Kerry squad. After getting the better of Dublin in Sunday’s semi-final, Kerry now have their sights firmly set on Padraic Joyce’s Galway who they will take on in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final on Sunday July 24th. 

The first episode of the series saw Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan join O’Hanlon on The Drive, as Morgan looked back on a memorable 2021 season and the highs and lows since his inter-county career began in 2013. The second episode saw Galway’s Seán Mulkerrin join O’Hanlon for a trip from Seán’s the Aran Islands to the mainland, as Mulkerrin spoke about his pride in being the first Aran Islander to play senior football for Galway as well as his long road back from a serious knee injury.   

AIB, now in its eighth year as sponsors of the GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, has launched The Drive to celebrate those players who persevere, no matter how tough it gets, because it’s who they are. For them, it’s about never giving up and never giving in, because Tough Can’t Quit.  

For more information on The Drive and for more exclusive content and to see why AIB are backing Club and County follow them on @AIB_GAA on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or find out more on www.AIB.ie/GAA.