MARK DOWNEY, ALONG with team-mate Felix English, recently qualified Ireland a spot for the Olympics in track cycling. In his fifth column for The42, he looks at sacrifices required in elite sport.
You definitely need to be a bit crazy to succeed in cycling.
When I was 18, I had a decision: do I go to university or try to make a career out of sport? You’re at that age where most of your peers are partying five days a week, whereas by choosing cycling, I might only have 5-10 nights a year to really go out and enjoy myself.
It was a big decision to make at such a young age. The maturity you develop over the years — you go to different countries and have to stand on your own two feet.
Most 18-year-olds were going to college and I was going to bed at nine o’clock. Mates I had gone to school with were FaceTiming me when they were a few beers in for a laugh, and I was starting to think: do I wish I had that other lifestyle?
We only get three or four weeks off a year and you get to party or go out with your friends for drinks. It’s only then you realise that’s not what you want to do every Saturday night and you decide that the initial decision was right.
I was an ambitious person and set out what I wanted to do right from the start. It was like a to-do list — I want to do this, this and this.
So the decision to pursue sport came quite easily, I never batted an eyelid. It was more persuading my father that was difficult. He’s a teacher, and was looking for me to focus on education.
He agreed to give me the funds to pursue a cycling career, which I would have got for going to university, for the first year. He said: ‘If you can’t fund it yourself from then on, you have to come back and go to university.’
I managed to get funding and hit the criteria to be able to stand on my own two feet.
It’s a results business but there are outside pressures that the fans don’t see. The pressure comes from yourself and the programme and your coaches if you’re not competing at the level you should be — other people around you are under pressure too. The main worry is financial — if you haven’t got any money, you’re not going to go very far.
The next challenge then was to really break into the scene and start to get the results that I was chasing for my career.
In terms of the constant travel in cycling, people say: ‘It’s class, you get to see a lot of the world.’ And that is a real nice part of the job, but you’re seeing a lot more hotel rooms that tourist locations.
The way I look at it, I’m there to do a job, I’m not there for holidays. You’re going to Australia and New Zealand, but you’re not going there to sun yourself and there are different things you have to take into consideration.
So the travelling is something I’m relishing not having to do at the moment, because you live out of a suitcase. When I come home, what I normally do, I wash all the clothes I have in my suitcase and then repack the suitcase, so that when I’m leaving, it’s ready to go.
On the relationships side of it, when I first started out, I had a serious girlfriend. I went to professional sport and she went to university. It fizzled out fairly quickly after that. I was chasing one thing and told her to enjoy the university experience.
My lifestyle now is not really conducive to a relationship. It’s a lot of hard work and I’m at that age where I’m wanting to make these years count, to be successful. I don’t really want to waste a lot of time and energy focusing on a relationship. It sounds quite selfish that I’m just focusing on myself, but that’s what I need to do to get to the level that I aspire to be at. So it’s something I’m not really looking for at the minute, a relationship, and settling down. I’m on a mission to go where I really want to be and to do that, you really have to make sacrifices and that probably is one of them.
I’m surrounded by a lot of good people in my family, so it does make things easier, to share the weight of the pressures of what I’m experiencing. My brother and parents can put me on the straight and narrow.
There’s a lot of people, like my brother, Sean, who has also experienced life as a successful cyclist and for many years had a long-distance relationship with his now-wife. She was really understanding of what he wanted to pursue. So it’s just a matter of finding the right person and every situation is different regarding relationships. Maybe I haven’t found the right one yet.
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Rob herring quality
@Gary Galligan: He should have been on the bench for NZ, form player. The experience got Ulster through this one and was obviously lacking, one or both of Bierne/POM would have been as usuful as it was for Ulster with hendo. Still, while neither team excelled Ulster were worth their comeback and defence even if it was a bit ruc crazy at times worked well to secure the home win.
We’ve a huge Sexton shaped hole to fill. Crowley didn’t impress again, I’d have serious concerns over him starting in the 6 Nations. He was very poor last night. I’m still not convinced he’s good enough to run a back line. The fact Farrell didn’t bring him on against New Zealand speaks volumes.
@Aidan Farrell: I taught Billy Burns was far better, despite being eeled by Casey for the first try. With Joey injured, Crowley will have serious game time and hopefully develop further, while the Leinster pretenders trip over each other. It really is Crowley’s jersey to lose. You didn’t mention your alternative?
@brian o’leary: Farrell picking Crowley over Ross Byrne also spoke volumes?
@Aidan Farrell: part, not giving Crowley a run with 10 minutes to go against New Zealand was a big mistake by Andy Farrow
@Aidan Farrell: Agreed. He’s got a long way to go to be undisputed #1 for Ireland. Plus he’s only ever really actually started 10-15 games at fly-half for Munster. So he’s still a total novice. You can see he has something about him to be fair but think he’s been hyped up beyond belief. I’d still be in favour of giving him a shot starting for Ireland in the 6N anyway, would be invaluable for him. But we need to be open to the thought that Ross Byrne or whoever else might be best for Ireland in the short term.
@Aidan Farrell: Ah here we go. The negative press, those that only love to hate, you won’t find Aiden on a Leinster article.
@Aidan Farrell: lads, Sexton got his 1st cap at 24. Crowley’s 23. Give it time
@Aidan Farrell: Frish dropped 3 excellent flat passes from Crowley each of which would have put him through. Plus Crowley’s kicking from hand was superb even if his captain should have taken the 3 points on offer on two occasions. I’d be more concerned with a player being held up over the line which is recurring way to much in Irish rugby. Forwards need to be coached to recycle until it’s a sure thing. Whiteline fever is costing us matches!
@Aidan Farrell: The Ulster supporters I was beside last night were impressed with some of Crowley’s play, his tackling, little kicks, and they thought he’d be a much more imaginative, skilful 10 than either of the Byrne brothers.
The fact Farrell selected Crowley before Byrne in most matches spoke volumes, it was a mistake not to have given him 10mins Vs NZ. Crowley’s Ireland future 10, that’s a fact.
@Aidan Farrell: The only reason Farrell didn’t bring Crowley on was because he didn’t dare take Sexton off. Speaks more to Farrells personal relationship with Sexton than any perceived faith (or lack of) in Crowley. One poor game does not make a poor player, especially first game back after a disappointing World Cup. Crowley has had many the good game when it matters and the 6 Nations will decide whether he is good or not.
Honest assessment, a lot of players were dreadful.
A lot of issues in their performance, but also need to acknowledge a lot of grit shown by Ulster to come back into the game, especially after losing McIlroy so early on (should have been a penalty try – there was no way he would not have crossed the line apart for the reckless challenge). For all the rightful hype with Stewart, Herring coming on really swung that match for them. For Munster, Jager coming in is seriously needed – Archer is a liability, while Crowley will hopefully improve with more matches at stand off, because he cannot control the game effectively yet. Casey would be a much better scrum half if he didn’t try to go for scores for himself all the time…he has flattered to deceive for two years now. Patterson should definitely be selected ahead of him more.
@JoeVlogs: Casey is massively overhyped too to be fair. Needs to kick on for Munster this season and start living it up to that hype. Caolin Blade tearing up trees – would be very disappointed if he’s not in the mix for Ireland come selection in January.
@JoeVlogs: The hate starts subtly with ye bai’s, again you won’t find such ‘in-depth’ analysis on a Connacht article. Can’t find a way to not mention Casey, even when get gets the tries. There is no hype around Casey, he’s a decent scrum half as are many, this idea that somehow he’s the most terrible player to lace up boots comes from you fools, that ‘s the ony hype. Literally, no one is saying he is a world-beater. Agree on Archer tho.
@Carmine Lorenzo: Neither Casey nor Blade appear to have the game for an international start. Ok, Blade ‘tears it up’ in support lines in broken plays, but these are a rarity with the organised defences at the top level. Casey’s white line fever has often been commented on, his head is rarely ‘up’ in the opponents 22. Neither have the quick decision making necessary for transition plays and game direction. They both may look good in cameos or highlights, but don’t cut it over 60-80 minutes. Harsh, but I’d be looking beyond them for the long term succession plan after JGP/CM.
@Thesaltyurchin: would you not say Patterson is better though? I would say he is. I think Crowley has potential – I think he is more naturally a 12 than a 10, but for Ireland’s sake I hope he gets more opportunities at ten and thrives there. I would criticise Connacht if there was a reason to (I think leaving behind BPs could bite us), but so far we have won every match we have played, so all I’ll say is tonight will be an insight if we have good squad depth, as we are playing an understrength side against an Edinburgh side with many returned internationals. If I’m honest, I think it will be a tough one for us to win…I think we lack a bit experience in key departments, and have some relatively untested partnerships. However, hope to be proven wrong.
@JoeVlogs: Patterson is two half-games back from 9 months out with a spent acl, so your analysis is based on what your ‘memory palace’ can remember from the middle of last season, like for like there’s nothing between them really, Patterson was caught in the headlights a few times last week, feel like Casey so much as spills a ball and there’s a line of moaners calling for his retirement, why? Who are these moaners and what is their bias? The treatment of Blade on the international stage is the reason (for you anyway) you can pretend all you like that you’re ‘impartial’ a fan of the game first but you’ve a few chips to let go of first… Crowley has always played out half, he literally has a handful of games at 12. He’s 23 and has 9 international appearances at 10, Sexton had his first at 24. Connacht win tonight would be with the run of play and well deserved. We lost every game for a few months last season and won the yolk
@John Morris: Interesting points. Who is on your radar then beyond Casey and Blade as a matter of interest? Doak? Patterson?
@JoeVlogs: Patterson is a good player, quick recycler but tends to go left right left right. Doesn’t switch things up. Twice last night he shoulda gone blind but didn’t spot it.
@JoeVlogs: connacht have won their home games, no more no less. They pretty much did to ulster last week what a stronger ulster side did to munster last night at home
@Carmine Lorenzo: The radar has a problem, as there will be few opportunities for a ‘breakout’ player other than at Leinster, enforced by McGrath’s injury. Doak and Patterson are obvious names, but why has Doak not even been around the Ireland camp before this? The longer term succession will likely come from the Ben Murphy/Ethan Coughlan generation but not in 2024.
Thought the refereeing of the ruck was dreadful….got the feeling Murphy was making sure that – given his roots and previous commentary – he was not going to be accused again of being biased in favour of Munster.
@Michael Murray: People always bemoan Murphy in an interpro as bias to his beloved home team when really he overcompensates all the time, that last ruc in particular was a massive mess of people leaping in at the side but felt Ulster’s defence was worth the ticket price for a home fan at the end. Experience won that, deserved, and look forward to the return leg.
@Thesaltyurchin: …yeah but it wasn’t just the last ruck….Dodge City all night!!
I like Rowntree but there’s an argument that actually the playoff Munster just wasn’t Munster, whilst last night’s Munster (and the game in Treviso and the home match against Glasgow etc etc) was.
@Justin Robinson: with a bit of luck then that playoff munster shows up every year. As the only Irish province with a trophy I’ll take a few loses during the season no bother
@munsterman: Fair enough. The league is a bit of waste of time. May as well just put the 16 teams in a hat and go straight to knock out rugby.
@Justin Robinson: True ‘fan of the game’ eh, lol
@Justin Robinson: The primary function of the league is financial, to cover expenses.
@brian o’leary: it is useful to keep the better players ticking over, and of course development.
@brian o’leary: but as for driving excellence among our elite, its practically useless, as even at the semi final stage, teams can have their priorities elsewhere.
@brian o’leary: meanwhile, in the southern hemisphere, there’s only super rugby. 15-20 elite level games, played off over 4 months without interruption. Then, during their international season they run their separate development competitions… its not the men, its the structure?
I thought Ulster should have won by more. Other than the first 10 minutes and the last 5 they dominated the game. If they are to take advantage of the new pitch they will have to cut out the handling errors and turn the chances they create into points. McFarland is a solid coach but I’m not sure he’s the right fit to get the best out of the exciting young players coming through the system.
Honest assessment but i have every confidence rowntree and co will sort it out. Shows how important ruck accuracy is to an on ball team. Really missed jk and pom in that aspect. Against teams with limited gameplans like ulster we have to be better at securing quick ball.
Still early in the season for both sides , very hard to read too much into it
The worst the most officiated game I have seen in my life neck rolls high tackles absolute terrible referee TMO not fit for purpose