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12th Feb 2016

Philly McMahon speaks eloquently on tragically losing his brother to drug addiction

A different side to the Dublin footballer

SportsJOE

A different side to the Dublin footballer.

Philly McMahon appeared on the Late Late Show on Friday evening. The Ballymun native was involved in a high profile alleged eye-gouging incident with Kieran Donaghy during the GAA Championship last summer.

However, the corner-back didn’t speak too much on the “physical” side to his game to Ryan Tubridy, but instead gave a rare insight into his personal life.

The 28 year old spoke about growing up in Ballymun, inspiring youngsters from the area, repeating his Leaving Cert, and the pain of losing his older brother.

McMahon’s brother John “struggled with drug abuse all his life”, according to the Dublin footballer.

“Everything I am today is because of him,” McMahon said about his late brother, who passed away in 2012. “I’ve seen the pain he’s gone through with drugs, and that’s probably why I’ve taken up sport and business.”

Here’s how Twitter reacted to McMahon’s TV appearance:

https://twitter.com/SharleenOReilly/status/698279586984026112

https://twitter.com/khealy_23/status/698278756541210624

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