AIB launched its 10th year sponsoring the AIB GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championships, as #TheToughest players in Gaelic Games set their sights on All-Ireland success. Armagh's Ethan Rafferty pictured at the launch.
By Cian O’Connell
It has been an eventful couple of years for Ethan Rafferty.
A busy agenda, on and off the field, but Rafferty has remained cool and composed. A serious leg injury in 2023 had to be treated and minded.
When Rafferty was launching his comeback, Blaine Hughes returned in Armagh’s All-Ireland winning campaign last year.
Rafferty won an All-Ireland Intermediate Road Bowls Championship hours after Armagh’s stirring success over Kerry at the penultimate stage at Croke Park. “There was stuff that got me through it; I had my wedding through the middle of it all,” Rafferty says.
"There are other things going on off the field that you can focus towards, trying to keep fit and healthy. Coming back last year, as much as it was a slow process, it still had its challenges.
"As long as you're challenging Blaine, and Blaine should have got an All-Star, I suppose, but as long as you were pushing him along, he obviously delivered for us, then, throughout the year.”
A balancing act, undoubtedly, but Rafferty remains a key figure in the Armagh panel. The Allianz Football League illustrated Rafferty’s ability to influence matches. Saturday’s Corrigan Park clash against Antrim is the next challenge for Armagh to embrace.
Being an inter-county footballer is enjoyable for Rafferty. “You're not far off fully immersing yourself, as much as you can,” Rafferty says.
“I'd always have a firm belief, there are bigger things in life. If you've good people around you, which I thankfully have, you can then have as many good days off the field as much as we did on the field."
The core enhancements brought in for the 2025 campaign ensured teams had to tweak approaches during the league. "You try to deal with it as best you can," Rafferty responds. "There is obviously a lot of talk about the goalkeeping thing, but there were changes elsewhere as well.
Armagh goalkeeper Ethan Rafferty in Allianz Football League action. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
“As a collective, we have the best set of coaches in the country, they've been watching it, looking at it, and the wording around it.
“So, we come to training knowing what changes had been made the night before. You've to adapt to it ourselves as a collective and then look at the nuances that come with it.”
Does Rafferty have a constant thirst for knowledge or gleaning information? “I wouldn't say it comes naturally to me,” Rafferty reflects.
“Most people, who know me down around home, they'd know I'd be quite laid back and easy going. I'd always be trying to help others rather than myself, but I'm trying my best to.
"There are so many changes this year, if you're not proactive than maybe you're going to be left behind. It is something I'm trying to do; a Lenten promise this year to try to think of ways to better yourself more off the field as well as on it.”
The Road Bowls was part of Rafferty’s sporting year in 2024. "I was a bit lucky last year, it was local to me, so it didn't take up too much time,” Rafferty explains.
“My grandparents were big into it and if you're down around home, and have a half an hour or whatever, my uncle and my mate we'd throw a few shots, practising. It's not that strenuous of a sport. It's more technical on the skill side of things.
Rafferty triumphed on the national stage in Cork. “It was a long old spin after the Kerry game last year to go the final,” he adds. “Thankfully, it worked out.
“It is something I did as a child, but I hadn't maintained it. I don't know whether I'll go back this year. As a child, I always did it.
“My mum is Toal, and her family are quite big into it. My uncle holds the record with nine official titles, All-Irelands, and has competed in World Championships. So, it always has been a bit of fun at home. I'll see how the season goes."
