'I never lost that longing for playing some fellows do' - Colm O'Rourke
Colm O'Rourke says he would love to have sampled life as a professional footballer and added that throughout his career he endured self-questioning torture that included sleepless nights AFTER rather than BEFORE games.
O' Rourke who, marked his 60th birthday last week, is well known as an analyst on the Sunday Game sat down for an exclusive interview with the Meath Chronicle.
Among the topics he touched upon was his love of playing and how nothing in the game has come near to matching the excitement and enjoyment he got from lining out for Skryne and Meath.
In a protracted playing career O'Rourke chalked up some memorable achievements including his role in helping Meath win two All-Ireland SFC medals in 1987 and '88 with a great Meath team that had Sean Boylan at the helm.
He has also enjoyed considerable success as a manager guiding St Pat's to three Hogan Cup triumphs, along with others, as well as the Irish International Rules selection in jousts against Australia in 1998 and '99.
Last year he achieved a notable triumph when, with his son Shane lining out in midfield, he guided Simonstown Gaels to their first Meath SFC triumph. He also won the Keegan Cup in his own playing days with Skryne.
Despite such glory days nothing compared to pulling on a jersey, taking up one of his customary forward positions, and pitting his wits against defenders at club or inter-county levels.
"I would have loved to have been a professional footballer, I would have liked that very much. That's the thing I miss most, not being able to play. I never lost that longing for playing which some fellows do. I still have a longing to play."
O'Rourke says that before big games he would never have any problem getting a good night's sleep.
It was after the action was over he would spend hours looking back and examing what he did right and what he did wrong.
"I never had any trouble sleeping before a game, the problem I've always was sleeping after games and always when I lost. If we lost a big game I mighn't sleep for several nights," he said.
"You're supposed to get wise with age but I seem to still get bothered by results."
O'Rourke says he doesn't feel 60, something he partly attributes to the fact that he is constantly working young people as principal of St Patrick's Classical School.
" I still feel young although I do realise the most energetic part of life is over. So many things I would still like to do. I'd like to get the best out of myself in everyway and try and do more things.
"I still love football and love to be involved in and stay involved in some shape or form, that would be important but a good lot of it is down to good health. I've been fortunate with good health and I've kept myself fit."
In the interview O'Rourke spoke about his concern about the effects social media has on the lives of young people and their mental health.
"We certainly have far more problems to deal with in regards to young people than we had five, 10, 15 years ago," he add.
Read an exclusive interview with Colm O'Rourke in this week's Meath Chronicle