Speaking exclusively with BoyleSports, former Premier League star Shane Long has spoken about his grounding in the GAA and what could have been with Tipperary.
Long also speaks up about the talent of Jake O’Brien stating he “Has It All” he states that former team-mate Damien Duff ticks all the boxes when it comes to managing Celtic as he makes his way in the League of Ireland and Stephen Kenny’s legacy in Irish Football.
Long’s GAA Background
I've been doing my own kids now, trying to let them play as many sports as possible. I think the best thing about sports is being part of a team.
You learn that team camaraderie, you go out there for the player beside you, and I think that translates into every sport you play. When I was young, I always thought I was going to be a hurler. I never thought I'd be a footballer, but then the chance came, and I took my shot at it, and it worked out, thankfully, in the end.
Hurling was brilliant for me, I suppose maybe tougher and stronger and more determined I suppose, and I didn't hit the ground that easy at the start.
What Could Have Been With Tipperary
Obviously being from TIPP. I suppose my dream was to play for my county and I don't know if I would have made that in hurling. I showed the signs to be a good hurler and then football got in the way almost.
But yeah, I love the game, I love watching it now. Every year I was over here, I was watching the TIPP playing All-Ireland and stuff and you miss the hurling but it's just a great sport, it makes you proud to be Irish as well.
Jake O’Brien Has It All
Jake O’Brien has got all the attributes. He's 6'6", he's dominant in the air, he's good on the ball as well and he's determined. He's one of those players I think a manager will look at and they'll know what they'll get out of him every time they put him on the pitch.
He's earned that right, he's proved it. He went to Lyon and ripped it up. He's got all the attributes to become a top centre back and it's nice to watch him show his stuff in the Premier League at the moment.
Enigmatic Damien Duff
Duffer is a hell of a man. I think anyone that's met him loves to see him do well. He's an infectious person. He loves football. Even when he was a player he was doing extra bits in training Even though he was ripping it up in the Premier League, he was one of my idols.
He was a great example for us younger players coming through; to see him going to management, I think we all have seen that he had that in him. It's never easy to be a good manager and he's made it look easy.
He came in the first year and won the cup and now he's got the league under his belt, and I think he's a good image for the League of Ireland. He's a good forefront, someone who has done it as a player who loves the league and wants to better the league.
Duff “Happy” In The League of Ireland
Could Damien Duff be a future Premier League manager? I would hope to see it because he's got the respect already, from what he's done in his career.
He's learning and doing pretty well in Ireland at the moment. The next step is maybe a Championship team or a League One team. But I know Duffers is happy back in Ireland. He's happy to grow the league back in Ireland and it would have to be a big club to come in from to sway his head.
Duff Back To Celtic?
Could Damien Duff be a future Celtic manager? He's obviously an Irish legend and there’s a big Irish following in Glasgow for Celtic so it would tick all the boxes. But we'll see how it goes. He's doing all the right things, like I said at the moment. Hopefully, he goes on to really be one of the top managers of the future.
Stephen Kenny’s “Grown” Irish Football
It was a shame for Stephen Kenny because he's a very proud Irishman and you can see that when he came into the squad. He wanted to improve the Irish way of playing football. He wanted to grow the game, and he was very proud of his Irish heritage. I think the whole country wanted to go well but sadly the results didn't back that up.
He took his time out; he's gone back to St Pat's now and he's up there near the top of the table. He's really grown Irish football; he's grown the league over there. He seems to be doing well there so we'll see how he goes in the future.
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