Macauley rarin’ to go for Leinster SFC opener

Michael Darragh Macauley is rarin’ to as the Dublin senior footballers fine-tune their preparations for Saturday week’s Leinster SFC quarter-final against Laois in Nowlan Park, Kilkenny (7.0).

The Ballyboden St Enda’s man was club-tied for this spring’s successful NFL and then aggravating a hamstring in the All-Ireland club final but has been back to 100 per cent for some time now.

“I’m kind of good to go, I’ve ticked all the boxes at the moment.

“There’s a lot of in-house games so there’s a lot of chances for lads to stick their hands up.

“But your attitude around the place. What you’re doing off the field.

“Maybe some players think it goes unnoticed but I know they don’t go unnoticed.

“There’s a million thing the lads can or can’t do off the field and I think Jim (Gavin) notices them as well, to be honest.”

Michael Darragh also gave some insight into the life of a modern day elite Gaelic footballer.

“I’d have my week pretty meticulously planned.

“But I won’t be running a mountain, it’s nothing stupid and I talk it through with Bryan Cullen as well in terms of where I’m planning Yoga sessions, a few sprints, an extra ball session.

“Planning is a huge thing with lads because we don’t have the joys of being off and if you have to get up at six o’clock, you have to get up at six o’clock and get work done.”

He’ll be hoping the best laid plans come to fruition against the O’Moore County.

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