Michael (11) inspires Wexford win with stirring ‘team talk for the ages’
AFTER capturing the hearts of the nation with his appearance on The Late Late Toy Show before Christmas, young Michael O’Brien from Co Kerry arrived at Innovate Wexford Park on Sunday to provide manager Davy Fitzgerald with some assistance ahead of the team’s clash with Tipperary.
Michael (11), who is visually impaired, is a big fan of the Wexford manager and he was overjoyed when host Ryan Tubridy brought him out to meet the star-struck young man.
Quick as you like, an excited Michael shot in with ‘I have your book in the back, and I need you to sign it!’
Davy, however, had a request of his own. ‘I need a small bit of help. I need another passionate man with me,’ he said, before asking Michael to come and give a team talk to the Wexford players ahead of one of their home league ties at Wexford Park.
True to his word, Fitzgerald threw out the red carpet to the young Kerry man as he arrived to the park, decked out head to toe in Wexford gear. Michael stuck by Davy’s side as the Wexford players warmed up and he may just have proved a good luck charm, with Wexford pulling off a miraculous comeback from eight points down to beat Tipperary by a solitary point.
Wexford coach Seoirse Bulfin took to Twitter to sing Michael’s praises and he indicated that his team talk might just have had a big impact on the lads.
‘Absolute privilege to have Michael O’Brien with @OfficialWexGAA today,’ he said. ‘What an inspiration to kids and adults alike. You could hear a pin drop when he spoke to the players before the game. A truly super young man #AllianzLeague #Inspiration.’
Meanwhile the Official Wexford GAA Twitter page described Michael’s inspiring words as ‘a team talk for the ages!’