Interview with hot prospect "Adam Kelleher"

1. You started playing football with Athenry FC then moved to Mervue Utd, how was your experience with Mervue?
- I moved to Mervue when I was 12 years old and during my time I played with some great players, won titles and cups going unbeaten in Galway for 5 years, including two Connacht Cups and getting a runners up medal in the Irish Cup, being coached by some great managers in the club.

2. While you where with Mervue you played in the same team as Aaron Connolly! What was the difference between Aaron and all the rest?
- Aaron joined Mervue from Maree Oranmore FC the same time I did along with other players. I knew Aaron from the Galway town set up from u12, in the five seasons I played with Aaron he always stood out as a player who wanted it that bit more than others, both technically and mentally which he still shows today.

3. You returned to Athenry FC at U17 and went on the win the U18 Premier Division, how good was the squad? Can you name the three best players?
When I returned to the club it took me awhile to settle back in but there was still quality in the team and going unbeaten the year we won the u18 first division and getting to the last 16 of the Irish cup was great to achieve, to name three of the best would be tough as there was quality throughout the squad.

4. The Galway FA U21 League started two seasons ago, the lack of games and structure has been frustrating. As a player this is difficult, how do you feel the league can be prioritised more by all the clubs involved?
- As a young player new to junior football, games down come around to often and with the lack of game time in the U21 league it is difficult to keep match sharpness, but the league is only new and hopefully it can run smoother next season if all the clubs are as dedicated as the squad we have.

5. Has the U21 league helped you and five others from the squad transition into Junior football?
- Some players like to use the U21 league as a platform to impress there junior managers and the standard in the league is strong. It is good to be able to play as much games as possible to try and work my way into junior football, I’m still young so I have a lot to learn.

6. How has your experience been with the first team?
- From a young age I suppose I’ve always been competitive and having that mentality throughout the squad is good to have, being used to a high standard football from a young age and then stepping it up to a junior team like Athenry, means I’m always learning and I couldn’t be learning from much more experienced players.

7. What coaches had the most impact on you as a player?
- I’ve had many coaches since I first started playing football but two that had the biggest impact on me are Damien Brennan from Mervue, who I had for the five years I was there along with Galway town and the Connacht set up, he helped me develop from early on. Second would be Stephen Lally, who took me to Mervue and helped me develop as a player with some of the best coaching a young player could get.

8. Having already made your debut, what is next for Adam Kelleher?
- Next would be pushing for a regular start in the junior side and to hopefully win titles in the years to come.

Thank you,
@athenry_afc / #athenry_afc