MOVE OVER GAVIN DUFFY, there’s a new code-breaker in town.
Last night, as Ballinteer St. Johns beat O’Tooles in the first round of the Dublin Senior Football Championship, they had a very familiar face in midfield.
However, while those watching from the sidelines would be more accustomed to seeing David Gillick on an athletics track, this was far from his first foray unto a football field.
Though it was the 30-year old’s first competitive game in over a decade.
“I’m a bit stiff this morning after the game,” he tells TheScore.ie.
“It’s my first competitive game with the parish since 2003 so it’s been a long time. I’ve been training for a few months, giving the lads a hand with speed work and fitness, etc but I picked up a hamstring injury so I’ve been watching that for a bit.
“It was good to get out there and get the win though. We haven’t had a great league so it was great to get a win in the first round of Championship.”
For a man used to forty-odd second sprints around an athletics track, getting acquainted with the cut and thrust of a club championship game will take some time.
“I’m too used to running in straight lines,” he laughs, “so going from side to side is a new challenge.
“I loved it though. There’s a difference between fitness and match fitness. The stop/start nature of a football game is so different to athletics and then there’s the tactics as well.
“I just told the lads to shout at me and tell me where to go if I was out of position and in fairness, they’re a great bunch so they helped me out.”
One thing Gillick was conscious of was someone thinking about making a name for themselves when they saw him.
“You do worry if lads are going to kill you,” he jokes “but, to be honest, I was lucky I didn’t receive a black card myself early on for pulling down a lad so maybe it’s my own discipline I have to watch.”
Despite Ballinteer running up an impressive 3-13 in last night’s win, Gillick failed to get on the scoreboard, something he has a handy excuse for but an oversight he’s keen to put right.
“No I didn’t score sadly. In my defence I was more of a holding midfielder and I did a lot of the defensive work that allowed other players to go forward.
“In fairness, they’re better shots than me so it was probably for the best but I will definitely have to practise my scoring ahead of the next game.”
Off the field, Gillick is still in demand for his culinary skills following his success in Masterchef Ireland last year and has a regular slot on TV3′s Ireland AM where he showcases healthy eating.
He’s also keeping busy with corporate work and promises he’ll have some big news soon but won’t go into it just yet.
However, in the immediate future, Gillick and Ballinteer are gearing up for a league fixture at the end of the month. They’ll have to wait until autumn though to resume their Championship campaign.
Who knows, by that stage, he may even be part of Jim Gavin’s plans.
I’m sorry but if he’s playing league one we surely can’t consider him for Ireland duty ?? Give one of the younger lads game time
@BMJF: James McCarthy he’s playing super football back in the epl, Glen has been great servant.
@Paully kelly: McCarthy probably deserves a start on form but Whelan also has defied his club status with recent international performances. He’s been better than Hendrick in every game this campaign
@Jason Oliver: I agree, Hendrick shouldn’t be in the team, hasn’t done much in the last couple of years, Whelan and McCarthy much better
@BMJF: molumby will take his place in time. For now he is still our best option, never let us down and plays with pride. McCarthy?? Has performed in PL but never translated this to international duty, has to be Super Glenn in the playoff
@BMJF: that’s right,in our biggest game in this campaign, give one of the young lads a chance
@Dan2078:
Failed at Hearts and no championship club thought he was any better than what they already have in the summer or January.
Best option he had was a mediocre L1 team managed by a sociopath.
… walks into the ireland team
@Michael Anthony Murray: You must be really mollycoddled by the modern game if you think Barton is a sociopath
@Dan2078: agree Dan, every game I’ve seen McCarthy he’s unwillingness to actually get on the ball is odd. He never moves into position to receive a pass like a CM should he almost ‘chooses to hide’. Whereas Whelan will always take the ball either with his back to goal of moving forward.
On paper it should be McCarthy all the way, but imo on the pitch the evidence is it’s Whelan who is far more effective and contributes more.
@Jason Oliver: I agree with that
Will probably start v Slovakia.Had a great campaign but James McCarthy has shown in the last few weeks what a superior option he is as has Molumby although he’s more box to box.
But does James want to play for us again.
Molumby is ahead of him just by performances lately,Mick will pick him and we won’t qualify
I was never a great fan of Whelan however his performances in this campaign have been excellent.
Well done Glenn.
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@Anna69: