Michael Duignan reflects on his Offaly career on 'GAA Minor Moments' podcast

Former Offaly hurler Michael Duignan is the latest personality to be interviewed for the GAA Minor Moments podcast created in association with Electric Ireland, sponsor of the GAA Minor Championships and the Camogie Minor Championships.

Host Fergal O’Keeffe sits down with the two-time All-Ireland winner and Offaly hurling legend to chat about his time representing the Faithful County from minor and through to senior.

Duignan has been a pivotal figure in Offaly GAA both on the pitch and at board level, serving as the Chairman of the Offaly County board.

Throughout the episode, Michael speaks with great pride about his own personal development up through minor as well as the progress of Offaly GAA throughout the 1980’s - describing it as "a perfect storm in many ways".

Michael and his Offaly teammates went on to All-Ireland minor hurling success in 1986, bringing home the first minor hurling All-Ireland in the county’s history.

Duignan fondly remembers the incredible support Offaly fans showed their teams in the 1980s, drawing a parallel to the strong support seen at underage level in Offaly over the past ten years.

He recalls a particularly special memory; playing in the Féile tournament in Kilkenny at age 11. He stayed with the Murphy family, fully immersed in their lives for the duration of the competition.

Seven years later, he then went on to mark one of the sons, Joe Murphy in the first round of the Leinster Minor Championship, citing it as unbelievable moment in his own development.

Michael goes on to give advice to any up-and-coming Minor players to "set yourself a goal to be the best that you can be" and to "have the desire to get the most that you can out of the ability and gifts that you have".

He also reflects on his own journey, from winning two senior Hurling All-Ireland titles to transitioning from the pitch to leadership roles in both Offaly GAA and his club, Ballinamere/Durrow.

Ultimately, this episode explores themes of personal and collective development, the resurgence of Offaly hurling, and its growing popularity throughout the county.

Electric Ireland’s GAA Minor Moments podcast is available on all podcast platforms and airs on Tuesdays throughout the Electric Ireland Camogie and GAA Minor Championships.