Mungret St Paul's footballer Ciaran Uwatse hoping he can inspire others

MUNGRET ST PAUL'S corner-back Ciaran Uwatse says he hopes his Gaelic Games journey can inspire others coming through the club’s ranks and further afield.

Uwatse told Leader Sport “let's call a spade a spade I am probably the only black person that I know playing with Mungret at this level.”

Uwatse takes great pride in helping Mungret St Paul’s win their first-ever Limerick Senior Football Championship, a moment made even more special because of his family’s Nigerian roots. His mother, originally from Nigeria, moved to Limerick in 2001.

“It's something you would not see that often and to be part of this team and do something great, it's a great achievement. There is definitely pros to playing football and there are cons to it as well.”

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Uwatse is hoping his journey can inspire others to play football.

“It's nice to be looked at, somewhat in that sense, to be going out there and I am doing this, hopefully a few people will follow suit coming up through the ranks.”

A moment that stands out for the Mungret St Paul's defender is when he met his mother and brother on the pitch in Mick Neville Park when the city club defeated Newcastle West in the Limerick SFC final.

“I didn't see my brother coming, he came out of nowhere and he gave me a massive hug, it was great to have that happen. As well as winning a county title for yourself and the team, it's the people around you as well.”

The TUS student said it still hasn't sunk in that they are county champions.

“It's still a bit surreal, to only come up two years ago, last year getting to a semi-final and to win it this year is mad. You see how long Newcastle West and Adare are dominating and for us to be in our second year in senior and do it is unbelievable.”

Uwatse is hoping that Kevin O'Hagan's side can build on this in the years to come.

“Everyone wrote us off at the start of the year, going into the county final we had no fear. In my age group we grew up winning stuff, it's nothing we are not used to. All we want to do now is win it next year and the year after, we have younger lads coming through.”

Uwatse is relishing the opportunity of potentially man marking Paul Geaney or Dylan Geaney or Conor Geaney this weekend when they face Dingle in the Munster SFC semi-final.

“It will be a good test for myself, to see how I do marking the likes of those players. Hopefully anyways it goes well, I'm excited to mark the likes of them players.”

“Obviously, it will be a tough game, we know how good Dingle are, any team coming out of Kerry is going to be amazing. They are one of the favourites for the All-Ireland, it will be a good test to see where we really are, we really have nothing to lose,” he said.

Uwatse is hoping his club form can earn him a call-in into the Limerick set-up.

“Playing underage is great and everything, to play with the Limerick seniors would be the next goal anyways. The next goal for myself would be to try get in with the Limerick seniors,” he said.