I think chasing the NFL dream is a realistic one
HIS childhood hero was a Galway hurling hero of the 1980s.
His cousin is a key cog on the current Galway team.
Former team-mates include John Egan and Daryl Horgan.
His future team-mates? Patrick Mahomes? Aaron Donald? Davante Adams?
Shane McInerney is allowed to dream.
After all, his sporting dreams have taken him from Ballinasloe to the USA, Sweden and Australia.
That was in soccer.
Now, at 29, he’s dreaming of American football and getting a shot at the NFL as a kicker.
What is most extraordinary about his story is the fact that he only took up the sport a few months ago.
Road
We all have reason to curse Covid, but the pandemic sent McInerney down a road that may end up changing his life.
“I went back to Galway during lockdown last year. Was living in Portumna, had plenty of free time and was looking for something to do,” he said.
“So I bought a kicking stick and NFL ball and had a go at kicking.
“Even though I played professionally as a centre-half, I was always a technical footballer in soccer.
“I played with John Egan at underage level for Ireland and he was at centre-half, but I was small then and was on the right wing.
“I’m 6ft4in now and the perception is that centre-halves are just strong in the air but I was always a good striker of a ball.”
It wasn’t a sight the locals were used to in Portumna.
They were familiar with Joe Canning taking to the local pitch to practise his frees and