1 Up and at it – what is your morning routine?
I'm normally awakened between 6.45 and 7.15am by one of my two daughters (Eva is five and Clara, three). I make breakfast for the family, amid trying to get two girls dressed, hair in plaits, pigtails and bows. I do the nursery run so leave the house around 8am to get into work by 8.45am for a rest.
2 What might you eat in a typical working day for?
Breakfast: A bowl of cereal followed by toast and baked beans and/or eggs. I don't deviate from this until the weekend where I allow myself some bacon – less than three per cent fat bacon medallions, that is.
Lunch: I work in CavanaghKelly Accountants and I am based mostly in Dungannon. I would call into one of the local delis for soup and a chicken or ham sandwich, or, if I am training with Tyrone on the field I have hot food, which could be chicken curry and rice, Shepherd’s pie and vegetable, or a reheat of last night’s dinner.
Evening meal: When I am training with Tyrone, Kelly's Inn cater for the team, while my wife is a mean cook. I try to eat lean foods such as chicken or turkey stirfry, chicken/beef curry, fish, spaghetti Bolognese, or lasagne.
3 Is nutrition important to you?
I've been playing high-level sport for 15 years and while nutrition is important, I don’t get carried away with the fads or diets. When training at least five nights per week you expend a great deal of energy, so I can afford the odd treat. I try to incorporate as many vegetables as possible into my diet, so my wife has clever ways of getting the peppers, onions, mangetout and broccoli in, and I have sweet potato wedges or mash on my shepherd's pie and maybe some spinach and avocado on the side. I love my food and enjoy eating well.
4 Are you a calorie counter?
No. I don't weigh myself; I eat foods that are good for me and luckily I have acquired the taste for healthy, nutritious food. Everything in moderation, of course, but with planning and being resourceful, you can eat a well-balanced diet. Substituting beefburgers with, for example, turkey burgers, is a great way of enjoying food without feeling guilty. I do worry sometimes about some people's unhealthy relationship with food. I was told if you eat what grows in the ground, swims in the sea, flies in the air and eat things with fewer than five ingredients, you'll not go far wrong.
5 Best meal ever?
My wife Fionnuala’s steak with all the trimmings, or she cooks a pork fillet in filo pastry with a bacon and pistachio cream sauce. Yes, I am spoilt.
6 Do you have a guilty pleasure?
I'm partial to a piece of my mother-in-law’s chocolate cake with a cup of coffee on a Sunday night.
7 Have you ever been on a diet? If so, how did it go?
At university I did manage to ‘bulk’ myself; my GAA coach at the time, Damian Barton, told me I was fat and to "eat half of everything" I was eating and not to eat anything "from a fryer". That was in 2002 and things have been like that ever since. Thanks Damien – sound advice.
8 Do you take health supplements?
I take Glucosamine and Pernaton each morning for my joints, particularly my knees.
9 Teetotal or tipple?
I enjoy a tipple on the rare occasion that the opportunity arises.
10 Fruit or fry-up?
I enjoy bacon and eggs at the weekend, so I suppose ‘partial fry’ – although the eggs are poached and it's bacon medallions.
11 Stairs or lift?
Depends how many stairs. I have two bad knees, so I might need a stair lift in the house when my football days are over.
12 Do you have a daily exercise regime?
We normally have group training on the field on Tuesday and Thursdays and a game at the weekends – each session normally lasts about one and-a-half hours. We also have ‘strength and conditioning’ sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays of almost an hour in the gym. I also do my own yoga, stretching and weights work at home.
13 On a scale of one to 10, how fit do you think you are; how fit would you like to be?
About an eight compared to most of the population, about a five compared to most of the younger Tyrone players on our team. It definitely takes more effort now to maintain my fitness.
14 Best tip for everyday fitness?
Do what suits you best and learn to enjoy it.
15 Do you have a memory from school sport / PE days you would rather forget?
A friend of mine, Philip McCann, cost me a three-legged race gold medal after falling over his fancy Adidas pop-button tracksuit bottoms. He now sticks to reporting sporting events, rather than participating – @MoysPhillyMc
16 Did you ever have a health epiphany which made you change your lifestyle?
Reference answer number 7 and Mr Barton.
17 Best health advice you were ever given and would pass on to others?
You only get out what you put into your body. Being married to a GP, you'd think there would be plenty of sympathy on hand for all my ailments, but she always helps me put my injuries into perspective – there is always someone worse off than me.
18 Who would you try to emulate in terms of fitness / attitude to life?
As a Man Utd supporter I always admired Roy Keane growing up, although I wouldn’t necessarily have agreed with some of his decisions.
19 What time do you get to bed normally and do you think you get enough sleep?
Normally I'm in bed from 11pm onwards. I enjoy my sleep, but can’t complain when the alternative is having fun with my kids in the mornings.
20 Would you say you have a healthy attitude towards your own mortality?
I would say so. Faith is important to me and having experienced the loss of family members and friends, I am content knowing that they are happy and that we'll see each other again. I am very optimistic and try to take the positives from most things in life.
