At the age of 12, Craig Gilroy headed for a rugby school but with little intention of being a rugby star.
Raised in Bangor, Co. Down, Gilroy hopped on a bus each Monday morning and journeyed to Malone Road in Belfast – home of Methodist College.
‘Methody’ have won the Ulster Schools Cup a record 35 times and produced provincial stars such as Niall Malone, Jeremy Davidson and, more recently, Paddy Jackson.
“I went because my brother boarded there and I wanted to follow him,” Gilroy tells SportsJOE. “I was into a lot of sports – football, rugby, athletics. It was only when I was 14 or 15 that I took rugby seriously.”
So seriously did the 24-year-old take it that, in the past five years, he has won over 115 Ulster caps and made six Test appearances with Ireland.
Having burst onto the international scene in 2012, a return of six Test outings is somewhat of a disappointment for Gilroy.
He says, “I’ve got my short- and long-term goals. I’m enjoying it at Ulster so far and have signed up for another two years. Ireland too.
“I really want to add to my six caps next year. That is one of my main aspirations. I’m improving, all the time, as a player so I feel I can get there.”
Missing the busy festive schedule due to a fractured eye socket, we asked Gilroy to talk us through his typical match-day schedule, when he is fit and firing.
Matchday
“Everyone has a couple of routines or superstitions. I always clean my boots and pack my bag the night before a match. That leaves me clear to focus on the game.
“On the morning of the match I will have a big breakfast and lunch and usually leave it at that. I don’t want to go into a game – usually an evening kick-off – feeling full.
“The one thing I always eat an hour or so before a game, however, is rice cakes. I usually have them with peanut butter, jam and some banana.
“I often meet up with a couple of guys, on the afternoon of the game, for lunch and some coffee. We bounce between a few spots in [Belfast].
I like to get to the ground early, get in some stretches, do my warm-up and then have a laugh with a couple of the lads. I like to stay relaxed before games so I find I gravitate to the likes of Andrew Trimble or Darren Cave, who have similar mindsets.”
“Once the game nears, I take on board some words from the coaches and set some side for visualisation – seeing scenarios and anticipating how I will react to certain ones.
“It is something I am using more and more in recent years and I find it beneficial. The mental side of the game is something I have worked on a lot.
“Getting your head right, and focused, is almost more important than that work you put in when you are in the gym.
“It is vital to contain all that energy and enthusiasm until you get out on the pitch.
“Once I get out there, it is all about placing trust in my teammates and all the work we put in, as a squad, during the week.”
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