Last year, Kieran Donaghy returned to playing basketball for the first time since 2008. It's a sport, one he calls his first love, which features extensively in his recently released autobiography.
The return would result in Tralee side St. Brendan's winning the inaugural Intermediate Cup against Leixlip Nemunas. This year, Tralee has a side in the top tier of Irish basketball for the first time since 2009 and Donaghy will be a key part.
Donaghy's GAA career did not suffer from him stepping back onto the basketball court. In fact, it thrived.
Welcome to @SligoAllStars @AIDOXI pic.twitter.com/DLhtb1v8Br
— 🏀Ej Sligo All-Stars🏀 (@SligoAllStars) November 3, 2016
Aidan O'Shea - just off the back of a poor year by his standards - is following Donaghy onto the court this winter. The Mayo footballer has signed with Sligo All-Stars.
O'Shea told Ocean FM that he trained with the club on Wednesday night.
I always played basketball as a young fella and I was mad into it. I probably played up until I was 18 when I left school and I played a small bit in Dublin when I went to college.
I haven't really played since obviously because football has kind of taken over.
I met Shane [O'Meara, Sligo coach] last year just by chance and he was obviously telling me about Sligo All-Stars.
As the summer wore on this year, I knew there was going to be no International Rules and the club was over as well.
Over the weekend I got a bit bored.
It was the first weekend I had off all year and I had a thought. I said I'd message him and see if I could just come along and train to be honest. I came with zero expectations. I enjoy playing basketball and I'm grateful for Shane for letting me to go train.
Shane O'Meara said that his side are delighted to have O'Shea involved.
We’re delighted to have Aidan on board, he’s a great athlete and there’s been a great buzz around the gym here for his first training session. Sligo is a big sporting county, so it’s great for the young basketball players here - who also love GAA - to see one of the big heroes of the game coming down here and shooting some baskets. We’re really looking forward to seeing him in action over the coming months.
