Micheál Martin on relationship with father, political ambitions and Cork hopes
Micheál Aodh Martin and his father keep an eye on how the other is performing but, beyond that, they don't tend to swap opinions.
'We probably have a mutual thing there,' explains the Cork football goalkeeper of that aspect of his relationship with his namesake. 'I won't scrutinise his performance if he doesn't scrutinise mine! We've probably both learned over the years that it doesn't work otherwise."
Still, during his first spell as Taoiseach, when the Covid-19 pandemic was raging and inter-county training and games were shut down, the younger Micheál couldn't resist the odd light-hearted barb, but not so much now.
"Yeah, in fairness, over the last couple of years the WhatsApp has gotten a bit quieter and I don't give him as much stick.
'But I'd say he's probably enjoying this year more. I think anyone in his generation cannot understand the handpass. You'd be trying to explain. He kind of gave up on that one a few years ago and doesn't scrutinise it too much."
The Fianna Fáil leader is a regular at his son's games - but plenty of others too.
"He'd go to all the hurling as well. He genuinely loves it. If you check who Nemo were playing in the junior league, and my brother plays with our junior team, he'd be a good attendee at their Division 7 league games as well. That'd be his break really."
His father isn't the only politician in the family with the Taoiseach's brother, Seán Martin, the sitting on Cork City Council and another sibling, Pádraig, has also dabbled, though Micheál Aodh, who works in corporate finance for PwC, is somewhat coy when asked about the prospect of putting his name forward some day.
"I think I've enough on my plate now. Inter-county football definitely takes up most of my time and I'm happy in the day job."
In the long-term?
"Look, we're all interested in it. Whether I'd have an interest in taking on a role, because I can see what it entails, I haven't thought that far ahead. I just have an interest in him and the issues locally.
'Really, to be honest, I have an ambition with Cork. I really want Cork football to keep improving. That's my driver at the moment. I'd love to get back into big games."
In that regard, they had a huge opportunity last month when pushing Kerry to extra time in the Munster semi-final only to lose narrowly. In the head to heads, they've been getting closer to their fiercest rivals in recent years but having had them on the rack with an extra man for long periods, Martin doesn't subscribe to the view that this was the chance they simply had to take.
"That's not the way I'd look at it, no. We beat them in 2020 and subsequently didn't win a Munster Championship. The goal was to win a Munster Championship and Cork haven't won it for a long time.
'No member of our squad has a Munster medal so that was our goal going into it. We fell short and then you just move on and you have to get ready for the All-Ireland series.
'We have no interest in getting close. We just have to move on now and hopefully have a good All-Ireland series."
They don't have to wait too long to face Kerry again in any event, with the counties both drawn in Group 2 of the All-Ireland series, though Cork start with a trip to Meath tomorrow.
The new rules have changed the game for everyone, though it is Martin's position that is most profoundly affected.
Apart from the kickout having to go longer and the restrictions on goalkeepers joining the play, he says much more is demanded of him in terms of goalmouth action now.
'Year on year, you probably spent less time doing the old, traditional stuff to do with goalkeeping like shot-stopping, handling, high balls.
'But actually that's increased because there are two-pointers dropping short in and around the square so you have to command your square and make good decisions around that. And then also there are definitely more shots per game on goal.
'I wonder if that will increase now as the summer goes on.'
His Tyrone counterpart Niall Morgan said that the position would be much less attractive to him if goalkeepers were not allowed to join the play outfield, but Martin was drawn to the position because he 'always enjoyed saving the ball'.
Indeed, he keeps goal for Nemo Rangers in hurling too.
'I wouldn't be as against that rule change or anything like that [goalkeepers roaming]. But that will always come down to personal preferences and goalkeepers should really not have too much of a say in that debate because that rule change is about the game for the spectator, as opposed to a goalkeeper's individual feelings.'
Be it his father's politics or goalkeeping, Martin knows when to keep a lid on things.
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