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Valleys Abroad – Interview with Jack Lyons

  • Jan 16,2021

Our Valleys Abroad interviews are back! In this edition we head down under to catch up with Jack Lyons. If anyone has any suggestions or knows of anyone who would like to take part in the Valleys Abroad interviews please let us know.


So, let’s wind the clock back to a time before you left Valleys and tell us what your connection was with the Club?

So, I started playing when I was probably 7 or 8 just the usual blitzes and things like that. Played football all the way up then until a couple of years ago but had a few problems with my shouldersunfortunately so decided to take a break. My hurling career ended a bit more prematurely inmy late teens, was never my strong point but I enjoyed it, nonetheless.

 

When did you move away and what was it like getting settled in?

 Moved away in the last year to Melbourne. Was very different at the start being in a big city but it’s anice ‘different’, always something to do, but it all went a bit mad with lockdowns and stuff so thattook a bit of getting used to. Was travelling for a month there up north so back again now searchingfor a job and house.


Can you briefly describe to us your life now, work, family (if any) and have you time to be involved in GAA activities?

So was just travelling in Queensland and before that I was working on farms in northern Victoria formy visa days. Had to do 3 months planting tomatoes and working on garlic harvest so it wastough going, surprised a few others & myself that I was able to do it but it was good fun.Haven’t started playing any sport yet, all only beginning to start training again in the next fewweeks as it was all cancelled last year. Might start playing hurling, bit easier on the shoulders and thestandard might not be as high over here so hopefully get on free taking duties.




Looking back again at your time in Valleys, what would be your prominent memory of being around the GAA fields?

I suppose a lot of the memorable matches would have been played in the city or wherever, so my main memory of home would be playing wings down the Bleach with the brothers and the rest of the Roselawn rowdy’s. Throw a few village heads in then so we always had a nice crew down there, was always good fun. Some big names in the group too, Looney, Chris, myself, so was always very

close.


Tell us a little bit more about your life away from Valleys, for instance, what’s your weekly routine, how do you attack the weekend, and what’s a holiday from where you currently live?

At the moment not much just looking for a house and job. Was away from the city for about 5 months altogether so must try and settle back in again. The weekends are always lively here, all the different suburbs have their own little twist, so nights out are never boring.


If you could replay one game with Valleys again, which game would it be and why?

In terms of regret possibly the u21 semi-final against Nemo in 2014. We were in the game the whole way without ever really playing too well so if we could have found an extra gear and got through, we would have won the final after. We won either side of that year which was great but 3 in a row would have been unbelievable.



Who is your favourite Valley's player, past and/or present?

Very tough question but I will go with Johnny Kiely. Nothing quite like him in full flight on a solo run and as a back myself he was always a nice option to give the ball to.


Have you any funny memories/stories from your time involved with Valley's, be it whilst playing, supporting etc.

There is one story that always makes me laugh, I won’t name names, but it was some junior game and there was a long ball went into the forwards and the ball was fumbled. A certain supporter then proceeded to say “You wouldn’t catch a f****** washing machine “. Always makes me laugh.


What’s your favourite sporting moment of all time?

I will go with Usain Bolt breaking the most recent world record, got to love watching him run.


Finally, do you have a message to send home to Innishannon?

Just hope everyone is doing well and to try to keep positive through these tough times. Also, if John Lynch could put me down for 6, 14, 24, 29 in the next draw, I’ll send him on the money.