Welcome to the Radisson Hotel, where the Donegal Sport Hub roadshow is taking place live.
Paul Byrne of the Radisson Hotel has just presented Finn Harps captain Kevin McHugh with a memento – the match programme from the club’s first ever League of Ireland fixture in 1969, when Shamrock Rovers won 10-2 at Finn Park.
Charlie Collins of Donegal Sport Hub has introduced tonight’s guests – Michael Murphy, Nikki Bradley, Kevin McHugh and Jason Quigley.
Michael Murphy captained Donegal to the All-Ireland football championship in 2012, as well as Ulster titles in 2011, 2012 and 2014, and the 2010 Ulster Under-21 Championship. The 26-year-old also won the 2006 Ulster Minor Championship and won the 2011 and 2013 Donegal Senior Football Championship with his club Glenswilly
He skippered Ireland to victory in the International Rules Series of 2013 against Australia and was this week confirmed by manager Rory Gallagher as Donegal captain again for the 2016 season. Michael is the owner of Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure in Letterkenny.
Boxer Jason Quigley has won all nine of his professional bouts since joining forces with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions in April 2014, making the move to Los Angeles.
Beforehand, in 2013, Jason was the first Irishman to reach an AIBA World Senior Championship final having previously won European titles at Junior, Under-23 and Senior level. Quigley defeated Bogdan Juratoni in the European senior final in 2013 before losing out to Zhanibek Alimkhanuly in the World final in Almaty.
Nikki Bradley is an inspirational speaker and the founder of an awareness campaign called Fighting Fit For Ewing’s. Her campaign is based primarily around participating in physical challenges to highlight the importance of exercise for rehabilitation while raising awareness for Ewing’s Sarcoma.
She is also a columnist and JCI Donegal 2015 president. In August, Nikki became the first woman to abseil off Fanad Head LightHouse in Donegal. In 2016 Nikki hopes to abseil off many of Ireland’s iconic landmarks in a bid to change people’s view on ‘disability’
Kevin McHugh is a Finn Harps legend, having scored 185 goals for the Ballybofey club since making his debut against Fanad United back in 1998. A native of Killea, He has also lined out for Derry City and Linfield.
Last season Kevin helped Finn Harps to promotion to the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division following their second placed finish in Division One and two-legged play-off victories over UCD and then Limerick FC. Kevin last month opted to sign a one-year contract extension at Finn Park for 2016 meaning he’ll add to his 407 appearances for the club.
Our live podcast with @DonegalSportHub is underway here with some very inspirational words from @nikkibradley59 pic.twitter.com/l3M3TE7ufk
— RadissonLetterkenny (@RadissonBluLK) December 14, 2015
Nikki Bradley: “After my diagnosis with bone cancer (Ewing’s Sarcoma), I just decided to take on whatever challenges there were. I changed the way I look at life.
“The doctors in Ireland have washed their hands off me and at the minute I’m being treated in Birmingham. There’s a chance next year I might lose my leg. But that has made me more determined to do other things.”
Michael Murphy: “We had an OK 2015. We started well and the Ulster campaign was good. On the day of the final against Monaghan, there were positives in the performance. But it comes down to putting the ball over the bar. When you don’t do that you tend to get punished and that’s what happened against Monaghan.
“The front door is the way to go.”
Kevin McHugh: “I’m not one that believes you go out on the high. I don’t think that’s true. If you’re fit enough then go on. We managed to get promoted after winning against Limerick so thought I would give it one more year. We won the tie against Limerick down there. We only lost 1-0 but that wasn’t a bad result.
“We knew in the home leg that we would win. We could see it. BJ Banda will never forget that moment.”
Jason Quigley: “The boxing for me was never an issue, it was just the move to LA. It’s a different world over there. But boxing is all I wanted to do. Ever since I was young I dreamed of being a world champion. I loved my time as an amateur.”
Nikki Bradley: “In 2016, I hope to break the world record for a 5k on crutches. For anyone who tried to break a world record, they don’t really tell you what you need to do. But it’s what I want to focus on when the weather gets better, early in the New Year.”
Michael Murphy: “In 2016, we knew there’s a slightly aging team but there’s new players coming in. The young lads can reinvigorate the older lads. A new player can do so much for freshness. They’re new players; new characters and they will definitely help us.
“But this squad is hungry and everyone’s not just back to add on another year.
“Last year we had competitiveness. We came through the tough side of the draw in Ulster and when we lost to Ulster sometimes people look for excuses.
“I made the decision not to be in the International Rules. I had a break away there for a couple of weeks. I can’t wait till January.”
Kevin McHugh: “We have to be realistic next season. We’re all double-jobbing between work and Harps. It will take a huge effort to stay up but we have good technical players. In a way, I think some of our players will be more suited to the Premier Division. Some of our lads keep the ball very well.”
Very proud of @nikkibspeaks tonight at the @DonegalSportHub event in the @RadissonBluLK#Donegal
— Emma Boylan BSc MEIC (@EmmaBoylanPR) December 14, 2015
Kevin McHugh: “There was a bit of method in Ollie Horgan’s management. He always kept people’s feet on the ground. James Gallagher left now but he was very good in the changing room as well.”
Jason Quigley: “Oscar De La Hoya is an absolute gentleman. People adore the man. I’ve recently seen why. In Oscar’s homeplace, he built a high school. I was there for thanksgiving and he must’ve given out 500 turkeys to everyone. I’m delighted to be part of his team.
“You reassess everything after every fight. It’s Sheer Sports, the management team, and Golden Boy. There’s no hiding back. Everything is put out on the table. To know what that man has gone through inside and outside the ring, to have that sort of experience, well you cannot buy that.
“Professional boxing is a tough game. One shot can change a fight. I can never look past my next fight. My end goal is to be world champion. That’s why I made the sacrifices. There’s been talk of big fights in 2016 for me – the dream for me is to take a massive fight back to Ireland.
“To see the support here, is unbelievable. I’d really look forward to it.”
Enjoying the @DonegalSportHub podcast with @jay_quigleypic.twitter.com/g3lx6Gn47t
— Stephen Doherty (@dotsydoherty) December 14, 2015
The guests are talking about Conor McGregor – all positive – with Charlie Collins suggesting that “he might do a job for Donegal in the Ulster championship?”. Michael Murphy agrees!
General fitness is the topic now.
Nikki Bradley: “The best thing is to join a gym and go to classes. I used to walk about but it’s 80 per cent diet and 20 per cent exercise. Nutrition is very important.”
On sport – ups and downs
Michael Murphy: “You learn all the time. I’m going into my 10th year now with Donegal and all I wanted to do is keeping improving. We want to keep pushing and keep it going.”
Kevin McHugh: “The are nights your wife knows if you get beat. She goes off shopping the next day! But you cop yourself on then when you have children. But there’s a buzz from winning – you have to learn from those lows.”
Jason Quigley: “You might have a great two years, three years but the nature of boxing is that one fight can change your career. When I get into the ring I think of all the hard work over the years and I look at that man across the ring and I think ‘he’s not going to end this.'”
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