The latest GAA player to court the top level of Irish basketball.
Michael Darragh MacAuley will play his first game in Irish Super League basketball on Thursday evening in UCD.
The 2013 Footballer of the Year has played with Eanna Basketball Club, Dublin, since he was a child. When he reached the end of his teenage years, the Ballyboden St. Enda’s club man chose the Gaelic football pitch ahead of the basketball court.
It proved a fruitful choice, with five All-Ireland medals now lining his back pocket. Basketball, however has always remained close to his heart.
When the football season ended throughout his career, MacAuley was straight back into action with the Rathfarnham based club. Both sports are mutually beneficial, according to the 6 ft 3 in specimen.
“I’ve played basketball since I was very young and it was always a really big part of my life until I was 17 or 18 and then football kind of took over,” he stated.“I’ve always played whenever it’s the off season with football – that has been my up season for basketball and this season isn’t any different. Playing basketball has hugely benefited me for both sports. There’s loads of players in the GAA who play basketball and it’s helped them tremendously and vice versa. It’s been a huge attribute to my Gaelic football game,” added the Dublin man.”
It’s no wonder, then, that there is a cross-over between footballers and basketball players in Ireland. MacAuley joins Kieran Donaghy in the top league of Irish basketball. Below them, in the men’s division One is Mayo star Aidan O’Shea, and the county’s former player Ronan McGarrity, who play with Sligo.
Previously, Mayo legend Liam MacHale was a well known basketballer.
MacAuley is looking forward to his debut at the top level.
“Eanna is going from strength to strength at the moment,” he continued.“And we are looking forward to the game v UCD this Thursday.”
