Back in March 2005 Gilly filled out a Player Profile for the Bridge Club Website ..... Back then he had given great service to the Club and its a huge testament to the man that he is still hurling just as good 10 years on ..
Heres the Gilly Profile from 2005 -
Name: Niall Gilligan
Year Born: 1976
Height: 6'1
Weight : 14st
Occupation: Auctioneer
Intercounty Experience:Under 21;
Senior (1997 - present)
Did you Captain any winning teams: Clare Under 21 Championship (1997).
Curently Senior team captain for 2005.
Honours: (Sixmilebridge) u14, u18, u21, 3 Senior, 2 Munster club, 1 All Ireland Club.
St. Flannan's u14A, u15A Munster Collages.
(Clare) u14 & Senior All Ireland. 2 Munster Senior, 1 Oireachtas;
4 All Star Nominee, 1 All Star.
Munster Club Hurler of the Year 2000
Favourite Ground: Croke Park.
Favourite Position: Corner Forward.
Least Favourite Position: Dont mind where I play.
Greatest Hurling Achievement: Scoring 3 points from play in the all Ireland Final 1997 having never played a full senior game for my club.
Most Memorable Sporting moment outside GAA: Munster Beating the All Black's. ( Usual old cliche).
Have you been/Are you involved in team management: Was with bridge seniors in 2003.Also selector with U-15 & U-21 in the past.
Pet Hates: None.
Worst player you know to train: Tied between Cyril Crowe & Pat Hayes.
Toughest Opponent: My next one.
Favourite Food: Steak.
Favourite Film: Man about Dog.
Favourite TV Programme: Go Racing.
Favourite Music: U2.
Influences on Your Career: Joe Brady & Coaches at under age level in Sixmilebridge GAA club.
Hobbies: Hurling, Horse racing, Always Enjoy the banter after winning a big game.
Favourite holiday destination: Fungeriola with SMB panel of '96.
Tip for this years All Ireland Hurling championship: Kilkenny have to be favourites again.
Advice for young players: Always give yourself the best possible chance to succeed. ( Prepare Well)
If you could buy one hurler on the xfer market to play for Clare, who would it be?:Eoin Kelly.
Ambitions yet to be fulfilled in life: By next paddy's day to have won another All Ireland with club & county, all star, & hurler of the year. (Not asking for much am I.)
If you became Taoiseach or minister for sport what would he do first: I think the country is being run very well. by the present government.
Opinion on rule 42 use of croke park for other codes: Open on GAA terms only.
Hoganstand.com had an earlier player profie of Gilly from 1997 - all of 18 years ago now ...
Gilligan Niall
Friday, September 12, 1997
Clare’s Niall Gilligan
NAME: Niall Gilligan
DATE OF BIRTH: 12-8-76
HEIGHT: 6’
WEIGHT: 13st
CLUB: Sixmilebridge
COUNTY: Clare
NOTABLE SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS (GAELIC): All-Ireland club success, Munster Senior Championship
NOTABLE SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS (OTHER): Reached quarter final of Cheers Cup with Kilmurry United
INTERCOUNTY DEBUT: 9th March 1997 v Laois
TOUGHEST OPPONENT: Jamesie Keogh
FAVOURITE GROUNDS: Cusack Park, Ennis
HOBBIES: Hurling, reading and cycling
FAVOURITE POSITION: Corner forward
FAVOURITE PLAYERS: John O’Connell, Gerry McInerney
INFLUENCES ON YOUR CAREER: Joe Brady (Kilmurry NS), mentors in the underage club in Sixmilebridge
THE HIGH POINT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE: Reaching the All-Ireland Final
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Losing the Cheers Cup quarter final
OTHER PLAYERS WITH A PROMISING FUTURE: John Redden
WAYS OF IMPROVING THE GAME: I do not think it can be improved any more
PERSON YOU WOULD MOST LIKE TO MEET: Diego Maradona
FAVOURITE PERSONAL SAYING OR TERM OF ABUSE: ’How a we goin’ on’
PET HATES: Players that don’t put it in in training
FAVOURITE MUSIC: Oasis
FAVOURITE FILM: Braveheart
IDEAL DATE: Kind, honest, caring. Be able to communicate well with
Taken from Hogan Stand magazine
12th September 1997
Vol 7 No 37
