HE HAS EMERGED as one of Dublin’s most influential players but Footballer of the Year Michael Darragh Macauley insists he’s not a ‘naturally gifted footballer’.
Rather the powerful midfielder says he has reached the pinnacle of the game through sheer hard work and outlasting those who ‘were like superstars when I was 18′.
The Ballyboden St Enda’s club man wasn’t billed for stardom as a teenager and was a talented basketball player before fully focusing on Gaelic games from minor level onwards.
At 23, he eventually made his Dublin senior debut in 2010 and has made rapid progress since, winning two All-Ireland medals and developing into a player that opponents like Donegal on Sunday know they simply must stop.
“Talent is over rated,” insisted Macauley, who turned 28 last week. “I would have always stressed that from a young age because I have never been a big believer in it. Hard work will always beat talent.
“Some lads just haven’t been able to put it in, for millions of reasons. A lot of the guys who I grew up with were like superstars when I was 18 but a lot of them are nowhere to be seen now.
“Sometimes it is luck, sometimes it is attitude. I always had the highest of expectations for myself and you always should. I always backed myself in everything I did. It’s not a cockiness, it’s just a self belief thing.
“At the stage when I was watching games on Hill 16, I felt I should be on the pitch. So I was always going to take every opportunity I could get when I did get on the pitch to really grab the chance.
“I’ll always back myself with that sort of stuff. It’s not because I’m a naturally gifted footballer. It’s because I work harder than the guy next to me. That’s what has gotten me anywhere I’ve gotten.”
Dublin’s Cian O’Sullivan and Michael Darragh MacAuley celebrate after the Leinster final. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Ironically enough, Macauley has strong ties to Donegal whom he will face off against on Sunday for a place in the All-Ireland final.
His late father, Michael, hailed from Lettermacaward, between Dungloe and Glenties.
“I used to be up there as a kid,” he said. “I caught my one and only fish in a stream up in Donegal! There used to be a little stream in the back garden where I’d go fishing. I wouldn’t have much family left up there but I still have a few Donegal cousins, texting me abuse and some stuff. It’s all part and parcel of when we’re playing the Donegal games.”
Can’t say I’d agree but speaking as someone who does not support Dublin I respect McCauley for reaching the level he is at. Serious commitment. Fair play to him.
I know what he is saying but certainly wouldn’t agree that had work will always beat talent. If you are useless at a particular sport all the hard work in the world won’t make you any better than the natural athlete.
Having said that, the flip side is also true. We all new the brilliantly talented kid growing up who could have done anything sports wise but drink, laziness or whatever reason got in the way and just never made it.
Top athletes = Talent + application
Great player to watch always gives 100%. One of the vital cogs in the Dublin machine. Hope the dubs tear Donegal apart. Usually I’d go against Dublin but hoping they knock Donegal back around ten years.
Pretty obvious that macauley has made the best of his limited footballing ability, he is correct – he is not a natural.
I think anyone who knows football knows macauley is not a good technical footballer, he struggles with basics like the solo run, constant technical fouls like throw balls off his hand pass, his shooting and passing are atrocious. He seems like a guy who took up the game late and never mastered the skillset. More of a rugby league hybrid guy with his smash running style.
Great player but hard work won’t beat talent. Look at brian corkery dat played for cork wasn’t hardest working player but his talent took over. I know Cooper works hard but even if he wasn’t fit his talent would prevail. How many times was Michael Meehan not fully fit but let his talent out class other players.
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Can’t say I’d agree but speaking as someone who does not support Dublin I respect McCauley for reaching the level he is at. Serious commitment. Fair play to him.
I know what he is saying but certainly wouldn’t agree that had work will always beat talent. If you are useless at a particular sport all the hard work in the world won’t make you any better than the natural athlete.
Having said that, the flip side is also true. We all new the brilliantly talented kid growing up who could have done anything sports wise but drink, laziness or whatever reason got in the way and just never made it.
Top athletes = Talent + application
Agree joe, one or the other will only get you so far, if you got both you are going places.
A true sporting role model
Great player to watch always gives 100%. One of the vital cogs in the Dublin machine. Hope the dubs tear Donegal apart. Usually I’d go against Dublin but hoping they knock Donegal back around ten years.
Will be very interesting to see how he develops as a player when Dublin lose Cluxton to retirement.
Dublin legend !
Pretty obvious that macauley has made the best of his limited footballing ability, he is correct – he is not a natural.
I think anyone who knows football knows macauley is not a good technical footballer, he struggles with basics like the solo run, constant technical fouls like throw balls off his hand pass, his shooting and passing are atrocious. He seems like a guy who took up the game late and never mastered the skillset. More of a rugby league hybrid guy with his smash running style.
Great player but hard work won’t beat talent. Look at brian corkery dat played for cork wasn’t hardest working player but his talent took over. I know Cooper works hard but even if he wasn’t fit his talent would prevail. How many times was Michael Meehan not fully fit but let his talent out class other players.