Ten Questions with Conor Mortimer

Fielding the questions this week is Mayo forward and 2006 GAA All Star Conor Mortimer. Conor lines out for Mayo against Kerry the Allianz Football League Division I semi-final at Croke Park next Sunday (2.00pm).

Q: What's the most you have ever scored in any game you played in, from U12 all the way up?A: That's hard to remember now, but I think I scored 2-12 or 2-13 when I was a young fella. I scored 1-12 against New York in a Senior Connacht Championship match a couple of years ago (2004). I also got a hat-trick against Tyrone in a League game up in Omagh.

Q: What's the biggest sacrifice you've had to make to be an inter-county player?A: It's probably the same as everyone, you miss out on time with your friends and holidays with your girlfriend. You can't really plan anything until the football is over. I think it's the same for everyone and it's part and parcel of it really.

Q: What's your favourite inter-county jersey?A: I liked Armagh's a couple of years ago - the collarless one that they had.

Q: When you are taking frees, do you have a particular routine or specific techniques?A: Not particularly. I take a few steps. Once you get a free, depending on the time in the game, you want to take your time, take a few seconds and get back to your own routine of taking your steps and kicking it over - or having a shot at it anyway. I take a few mini-steps, a few shorter steps and then kick it.

Q: Have you ever shown any talent in a sport other than Gaelic football and would you like to have pursued it?A: I probably would have been a better soccer player back in the day. I played a lot more soccer when I was younger. I played with Murvue United and Galway United as a goalkeeper for years before playing outfield in later years when I played a bit of junior soccer. I had to make a choice when I was 16 or 17 and I went with Gaelic football. You don't have time to mix the two when you are playing at senior level.

Q: You're a big Liverpool fan. Would you rather see Liverpool win their first league title since 1989-'90 or Ireland win Euro 2012?A: I would have to say Liverpool winning the league. You would hear more grief about that than about Ireland. But it would be nice to see Ireland winning as well. It's not very likely, but you never know.

Q: Is Michael Jackson your music hero?A: I wouldn't say so. No to be honest with you. I don't really have any music heroes. I listen to everything and anything. I just hope they all stay alive!

Q: Have you ever sent out a Tweet that you later regretted?A: I've sent out plenty but I don't think I would regret them to be honest. At the start, when it (Twitter) first came out, you would send out a few that you would be doubtful about. But you have to think about them a lot more carefully nowadays, as long as you are playing.

Q: Is there any moment in your career that you would like to revisit and change?A: There are always a few games. I think in every game you always look back and think that you could have done something different. You never have a perfect game. There are probably too many to pinpoint one. In every game you want to change things to get that performance that you need.

Q: If you could have one particular skill or attribute from a particular player, what would be the skill and who would be the player?A: Maurice Fitzgerald and the skill of hitting the ball at the same level with both feet. It's a good trait to have. Most players would have a preferred foot, but it's great to have one foot as good as the other one. If I was 19 years old, maybe I could start again but not at this stage now.