'We have a really good chance of winning an All-Ireland and that's the only thing I am really too worried about'
Roscommon's Daire Cregg's dream was always to play senior for his county. That's one of the reasons he turned down an approach from Aussie Rules side Carlton as he continues to pursue an All-Ireland with Davy Burke's side.
Daire Cregg didn’t grow up watching AFL - or dreaming about wearing a Carlton jersey.
The Roscommon star had plenty of local heroes from the Boyle GAA club to inspire him in his childhood dream of donning the primrose and blue jersey - one he has since fulfilled.
Such was his form last year that Melbourne outfit Carlton came calling, and while Cregg went to trials he didn’t take part as Roscommon were in the middle of their Championship campaign.
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He later met with Carlton scouts in Dublin. The 22 year old UCD Dairy Business and Agricultural Science graduate listened to what they had to say but to the relief of Rossie fans he was “too wrapped up in winning an All-Ireland” and decided it wasn’t for him.
Cregg’s belief in Davy Burke’s Roscommon project - it’s year three now - and that they can win a Sam Maguire played a big part in his decision to resist AFL overtures.
As did his love for farming. A move ‘Down Under’ wasn’t for the Project Management Masters student, although he hasn’t entirely ruled it out in the future.
With the years passing it looks less and less likely: “Listen, I wanted to play for Roscommon since I was a child,” said Cregg. “I didn’t grow up wearing a Carlton jersey or whatever, when I was four or five years old.
“My whole life had been about trying to get to play with the Roscommon senior football team.
“I suppose I idolised lads roundabout, Enda and Donie Smith in our own club. They were heroes for me when I was five or six. Even Sean Purcell, a couple of years older and David Casey, they were heroes around Boyle.
“That’s what I always wanted to do. I didn’t grow up watching AFL, or didn’t grow up loving AFL. I grew up loving football so there was never really a doubt.
“Obviously, look, it sounded like a nice opportunity and the weather and all that is grand. There were more things to think about in terms of, we have a good family life here.
“I like the bit of farming. We are beefing it at home. We are raising dairy heifers so we are not actually dairying but I have worked on dairy farms.
“I would have a big interest in the farming but I would have big interest in the agricultural industry as well so that is where the business side of it came in. I will keep a couple of doors open for myself on the industry side of things.
“And especially even with the new (football) rules, just a different experience and hopefully have a crack at an All-Ireland, which is what you dream of. So there was never really a big thought in my mind about it (AFL).”
Cregg says he wouldn’t rule out a future approach without first exploring it with a club.
He continued: “I have not fully shut the door on it but I know it is not something that I wanted to do immediately.
“We have a really strong team with Roscommon this year and an excellent management team.
“We have a really good chance of winning an All-Ireland and that is the only thing that I am really too worried about. Listen, we will see whatever happens down the line.”
Cregg says the approach “came out of nowhere.” Years earlier he’d felt he had the physical attributes to give Aussie Rules a crack, but nothing had materialised.
“I always thought that athletically, I was confident in my running ability and my jumping and all that sort of stuff,” says Cregg.
“I thought I’d be well able for some of them trials, but never thought about it after that.”
When the call came, he “wasn’t that pushed” about going to trials in Dublin: “I said we were playing Mayo in a few weeks so I won’t be togging out as I am training hard enough as it is,” he explains.
“We had a challenge game then and supposedly there were some of their scouts at it. Then we played Mayo in the Connacht Championship and again, supposedly, there were two scouts from Carlton at it.
“The game was on the Sunday. I was outside farming on the Monday morning, just tipping away doing a bit and got a phone call asking would I be able to meet them, or could they call down to the house.
“I actually said I was heading for Dublin and they said they would meet me up there. We just had a chat.
"They showed me a video of the place over there, what it looks like and all that and they said they would be in touch. I suppose we met for an hour and talked about what it would entail and different things.
“There was more to it then after that, obviously. You had to do a medical and see was the body capable for it.
“That was all part of it but at the end of the day, it was probably a decision they wanted confirmation on.
“And I wasn’t really willing to give confirmation that I wanted to go because I was fully wrapped up in winning an All-Ireland.
“So that was at the front and centre of my mind. I really could not give them confirmation. Their interest, I suppose, petered out once they were not sure I could commit to them.”
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