"I can't take these lads seriously," Michael Darragh Macauley told Damian Lawlor during RTÉ's coverage of the Dublin GAA SFC quarter-final between Ballyboden St Enda's and Castleknock.
Macauley was referring to RTÉ's analysis team for the game, his former Dublin teammates Jonny Cooper and Diarmuid Connolly.
"They think they're pundits! Youse must be stuck is all I'm saying!" said Macauley.
23 September 2023; Michael Darragh MacAuley of Ballyboden St Enda's in action against Eoin O'Brien, right, and Kevin Stephenson of Castleknock during the Dublin GAA Senior Football Championship quarter-final match between Ballyboden St Enda's and Castleknock at Parnell Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Ballyboden won the game 1-19 to 0-11. Macauley was subbed off with 10 minutes to play. "What are you doing away from the pitch? What age are you now?" Cooper asked.
"I'm about 407," quipped Macauley.
"I'm playing with all my grandchildren out there.
"Of course I'm serious about the game. I'm serious whenever I do anything. If we're playing a game of Mario Kart there, I will play till the death. I want to win everything. That's how I operate. I'm still training twice a day.
"I was talking to Paul Flynn there and he was like, 'How are you still operating?' I'm like, 'I'm not chasing three kids around'. That helps. You have time to do a bit of yoga, do a bit of recovery."
23 September 2023; Michael Darragh MacAuley of Ballyboden St Enda's is tackled by Shane Boland of Castleknock during the Dublin GAA Senior Football Championship quarter-final match between Ballyboden St Enda's and Castleknock at Parnell Park in Dublin. Photo by John Sheridan/Sportsfile
Ballyboden will face St Jude's in their semi-final while reigning All-Ireland champions Kilmacud Crokes will play Raheny.
"We weren't taking Castleknock lightly, and all that sort of stuff," said Macauley.
"In fairness, they've been going through teams and they gave us a good battle early on this year.
"I'm still happy I'm in one piece and still a functioning human being. At half-time, it was still in the mixer there. We had a strong bench.
"In years gone by we would have had 20 - 25 at training. We have 30 - 35 at training every day.
"The focus is that we want to win an All-Ireland - that's the plan. We got murdered the last three years by 10 points and we haven't forgot it. We're still a mile off.
"Double digits the last three years is what we went out in the semi-finals. We're going into a semi-final now and we definitely won't have our heads up our arses. Am I allowed say arses on RTÉ?"
"I'm about 407. I'm playing with all my grandchildren out there." Michael Darragh Macauley was in fine form after Ballyboden St Enda's Dublin SFC win over Castleknock #GAA pic.twitter.com/vaxr0WU1O0
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) September 24, 2023
See Also: Dublin GAA's 2013 All-Ireland Winners: Where Are They Now?
