Ballyroan-Abbey were crowned Laois U-20 ‘A’ football champions for the third year running on Sunday following victory over St Joseph’s.
They were pushed all the way by St Joseph’s but came good in the second half to win by three points in the end.
And that is the exact tally that their wing back from Rathdowney – Padraig Rafter – scored.
He was subsequently named man of the match and spoke to us afterwards about how he ended up playing for Ballyroan-Abbey in the first place.
Padraig said: “I was always interested in football from a young age which would be rare enough in Rathdowney.
“When I was 8 or 9, I actually went over to Ballyroan for the Cul Camps. I then played a few years with The Harps as well.
“But then my father put in an underage football team for Rathdowney. We played U-13, U-15 and my first year of minor.
“It was driven by myself and my father but as time went on, it was getting harder to get lads to come to training as the tradition isn’t there.
“I was in with the Laois Development squads from U-14 so I kept going that way.
“We are farmers at home and one day, Mick Fitzpatrick (Shaun’s dad and member of the Ballyroan-Abbey management team) came in to the yard and asked if I’d be interested in coming to play for them.
“I said I would. So in my last year of minor, I won the championship with Ballyroan-Abbey.
“After that, I have to play junior football with Rathdowney so the only football I got with Ballyroan-Abbey for the last three years is U-20.
“I was with the Laois U-20 footballers this year, but that was the only bit of training outside of U-20 with Ballyroan that I got over the last three years.”
Earlier this year, Rafter attempted to transfer to Ballyroan-Abbey for football and wished to remain playing hurling for Rathdowney-Errill.
However, this was refused. But he says that he will try again for 2024.
He said: “This could easily be my last game for Ballyroan-Abbey if the transfer doesn’t go through.
“And in fairness to Rathdowney, they have never tried to stop me. They are not the issue at all but the hunger for football with them just isn’t there.
“I love playing football and I just hope I get the chance to continue.”
You can check it the full interview with Padraig below:
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