Longford senior footballer Paddy Fox pictured at the launch of the Tailteann Cup. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
By Cian O’Connell
“What you want to do is to play at the highest level possible,” Longford’s Paddy Fox says about operating at inter-county level.
“So, I love playing with Longford, testing yourself against the best, whether it be players from Kildare, Leitrim or Waterford - whoever it may be. I love playing inter-county, it is super.”
The experienced Fox is still delivering for Longford, who face Waterford in the Tailteann Cup in Laois Hire O’Moore Park on Saturday. Has Fox’s perspective altered as the years have gone on? “I don't think I've changed a huge amount; it was probably a bit later for me when I started playing for Longford seniors, maybe 25 before I was first in,” he responds.
“I was never really in as a 19 or 20 year old. I still get the same enjoyment out of it, I love the craic. With the Longford team there is constantly new lads and faces coming in, so it is enjoyable. There is a bit of craic.
“I don't think my approach has changed a huge amount, maybe if you talk to other boys they might say I'm a bit more outgoing or vocal than when I first came in. I was probably a bit more shy, I'd take a backseat, now I'd be a bit more outgoing.”
Fox relishes Tailteann Cup schedule with matches on the agenda. Defeats to Kildare and Leitrim hurt, but the competition affords teams an opportunity to develop. “It is great, every player, club or county, wants to be playing games week on week,” Fox responds.
“You're guaranteed three games, last year we got four games in the Tailteann and if you count the Leinster Championship, we had five games. So, it is brilliant. I'd happily play games every week, if you could, it is a super competition.”
Mickey Quinn and Paddy Fox celebrate following Longford's Dioraltye O'Byrne Cup triumph in January. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Now, Longford face Waterford at the weekend, hoping to maintain their interest in the Tailteann Cup. “From round three of the league on we generated a bit of momentum this year,” Fox says.
“We got four wins in a row, we needed to get a fifth win against Wexford, but we played poorly on the day and were caught. You'd be hoping that in the Tailteann Cup to do the same again.
“You're playing all Division Three and Four teams for next year, so you'd be hoping to get a run, to get into the preliminary quarter-final or quarter-final, to see where that takes you.
“You hope that if you can get a win or two that you can build momentum which can happen when you're playing weekly, you're just rolling from week to week.”
Summer football is what Fox craves. “The commitment is harder on my wife at home, it is her that is left at home nearly three or four days a week, I'm off in the car with the boys having a bit of craic, I love training and that side of it,” he explains.
“Of course, it can be tough earlier on in the year when you're traipsing up and down for training. This time of the year is what you do it all for, when you're playing games week on week in good weather. There is no floodlights, you're getting into Pearse Park the odd time for training, it is what you want, it is what you're playing for.”
Fox remains passionate about the Longford cause.
