Louth GAA dual star hoping to balance football and hurling commitments in 2020

Paul Mathews is the great enigma of Louth inter-county teams at the moment, with the St. Fechinâs man having committed to both the senior hurlers and footballers for the campaign ahead.
Having lined out for Paul McCormackâs small ball side in Decemberâs McGurk Cup opener against Queens University, the 22-year-old featured in all three of the footballersâ OâByrne Cup affairs, including Saturdayâs defeat by Westmeath.
There have previously been players who switched codes from year-to-year, with St. Brideâs and Knockbridge clubman Andrew Smyth one such example, but Mathews is keen to balance his commitments, with McCormack and football counterpart Wayne Kierans open to the arrangement.
âIâm hoping it is (going to be a dual thing),â Mathews told The Democrat.
âIâm fully committed to both. Wayne and Paul, they work really well together so thereâs no real issues over who Iâm training with.
âSometimes we train on different nights, sometimes not. Itâs just whichever team are closer to a game, youâll train with them.â
However, four of The Wee Countyâs hurlersâ National League matches are set to clash with big ball games, including in the opening round when McCormackâs men face Tyrone in Darver shortly before the footballers take on Longford at Pearse Park.
Ultimately, Mathews will have decisions to make. In theory, on March 1, he could play some part for the footballers, who face Leitrim in Drogheda at 2:30pm, two hours after the hurlers throw-in against Monaghan in Inniskeen. But whether such an organisation could be catered for is up in the air.
The former IT Carlow student feels the logistical collision will be dealt with in time and rejects the notion that his longer association with the hurlers, along with the fact that his brother, Conor, is also a member of that squad, will dictate where his laurels lie.
âWeâve talked about it, but weâll meet that crossroads when it comes, I suppose,â he says of the predicament.
âI wouldnât say Iâve really favoured the hurlers in the past, Iâve just found myself starting with the hurlers and itâs only now that Iâve got my chance with the footballers. Iâll just take what comes to me really.
âIâve been doing both all my life with the Fechinâs, so I see no reason why I canât do both at a higher level.â
Of course, by representing the footballers, heâs following in his father Paddyâs footsteps, the latter, now a referee, having been an Oliver Plunkettâs stalwart in his playing days.
âYou hear great stories about him, so itâs nice to put on the jersey, following in his footsteps. Itâs a great honour,â says Paul.
Report: CaoimhĂn Reilly (Dundalk Democrat)
https://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/news/sport/506731/louth-gaa-dual-star-hoping-to-balance-football-and-hurling-commitments-in-2020.html
Photo: Arthur Kinahan