Everything you wanted to know about Cappataggle GAA Club, but were too afraid to ask.
The Galway side take on Kilburn Gaels of London in Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds on Sunday, hoping to reach their second All-Ireland intermediate hurling final in six years.
Cappataggle have had a decent break since defeating Ballyhaunis to win the Connacht title last month but boy did they need it. After defeating Ahascragh/Fohenagh in a replay to take the Galway intermediate title, the men from East Galway only had 24 hours to recover before overcoming the Mayo side to take the provincial crown.
Ahead of their last-four encounter we wanted go get the lowdown on life in the Cappataggle dressing room, so we caught up with versatile defender Alan Loughnane to tell us a bit about the club and to dish the dirt on his teammates.
Spotlight on Cappataggle
Club: Cappataggle
Club colours: Red and black hoops
Year established: 1890
Estimated size of population covered by parish: 1,100
Proudest moment in the club’s history? Reaching the All Ireland intermediate hurling final in Croke Park in 2009.
Most loyal/fanatical supporter? Sean Stankard, always at every game and sponsors the club every year and he is the first man to volunteer to help at every fundraiser.
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Best nickname: Our 6ft 5in midfielder James Garvey has earned the nickname ‘Crouchy’ in honour of his enormous size and his uncanny resemblance to Stoke City’s Peter Crouch.
Most likely player to be found on Tinder? Patrick ‘biceps’ Egan, who is a firm believer that curls are instrumental in pulling girls.
Most likely player to break a beer ban? Mark Loughnane, who, it’s reported, is “some man for the sauce” and enjoys a cheeky West Coast Cooler at the weekends.
Player still dressing themselves like it’s 1999? Ronan Garvey (twin to midfielder ‘Crouchy’), tries to set trends but so far they haven’t been catching on with the rest of the team.
Alan (right) and his brother Conor celebrate Cappataggle’s county final win
Team-mate you wouldn’t like to meet down a dark alley? James Skehill strikes quite an imposing figure at 6ft 5in and is a questionable character at the best of times.
Biggest shaper on the pitch? Our captain Steven Creaven, who earned himself the nickname ‘Shapes’ early in his career.
Oldest player to ever have played for the club: Seamus ‘Flicker’ Goldrick who led the Cappataggle to Junior C glory in 2013 at the tender age of 44.
Best ‘Junior B story’ involving your club: In a junior game a few years ago, we lined up against a team who had a full-forward line with a combined age of 155. One of them wore steel toecap boots with jeans and the other two sported tracksuit pants.
Main pic via flickr/joe_keane
