PASSION FOR SPORT/FIONN CARR:I STARTED playing Gaelic football from the age of four or five, probably as a direct result of my father being involved. I can't remember making a conscious choice but I absolutely loved playing. There is that sense of community. I played football and hurling for Ardclough right throughout my schooldays and only stopped because of a conflict in time terms with rugby.
I played midfield or anywhere in the forwards in football and corner-forward in hurling. In terms of the football I also had the responsibility of taking the frees; something I suppose that developed a style of kicking that I took to rugby. When you're kicking a ball at that age, it's more a natural thing than something that is structured. You develop your own routine.
When I was in fifth year in Newbridge College I was selected for the Kildare minors and enjoyed that experience.
That same season I was selected to go to a trial game for the Kildare Under-21 team and although I played I knew that I couldn't keep juggling several sports. I lined out for Peamount United soccer team in the South Dublin Boys' League, usually as a central midfielder or striker.
I used to play on a Friday night, Saturday morning and afternoon, Sunday morning and sometimes Sunday afternoon right across several sports. In fairness to my parents they told me that I would have to make a choice.
At the time I probably didn't appreciate that they had my best interests at heart because I thought I could keep it all going.
I had played hurling for Kildare up to under-16 and that was the second sport to go - I had to give up the soccer at 16 - followed several months later by the football. I had been accepted into the Leinster academy and knew that rugby had to be my singular focus. I had already represented Ireland at age-grade level and wanted to give myself every chance of a career in the sport.
When I look back know I know that there are some facets of football and rugby that overlap and playing those sports was mutually beneficial in terms of my development. During last season's All-Ireland football championship I managed to make it to four of Kildare's matches, something I really enjoyed. A free-flowing game of football is hard to beat as a spectacle.
I also did some athletics at school, sprinting mainly, when the rugby season ended. As a Liverpool fan I'd watch them on television but if I was asked for a pecking order of sports I'd sit down to or go to it would be football, hurling, boxing and of course, rugby. In fairness I would watch most sports with the probable exception of cricket, which I just can't warm to.
I'm really enjoying my rugby at Connacht and, while hoping for a successful season, part of me will be anticipating the return of those championship summer days following the Lilywhites.
Fionn Carr is a Connacht wing and currently the leading try scorer in the Magners League.
As told to JOHN O'SULLIVAN
