Gavin McEvoy Interview
By Paddy McIlwaine
While covering the Antrim v London game on Sunday at Corrigan Park my attention was drawn to London keeper, Gavin McEvoy as he issued instructions to his defence. Nothing strange about that you might say but it wasn’t so much the instructions as the broad Cockney action he was bellowing them out in that attracted my attention.
Like most people, I suspect the perception is that the Exiles teams are made up of Irish men working in the English capital but Gavin was obviously someone who had lived most if not all of his life in London
After the game, which Antrim won but in which London performed very well and were in contention until late in the game, I spoke to Gavin McEvoy, interested in finding out just how the game in London is developing and how many of the ‘home grown’ fraternity are now taking up the game.
Saffron Gael: Gavin, thank you for speaking to us. I guessed by your accent that you were born in London. What made you take up Gaelic football?
Gavin: I was born and raised in North West London in an area called Harlesden, my parents Edward and Mary both hail from Wexford originally and moved to London in the 60s.
It was my father who introduced me and my brothers to GAA. He was working with a man called Denis O’Leary who is from Cork. Denis was setting up a new age group for Tir Chonaill Gaels and asked my father if we were interested in joining. I would have been around 10 at the time so we went down to the local park which had a small GAA pitch in the prefabs beside and it all went from there. I have played for the club ever since.
Saffron Gael: I see you play for Tir Chonaill Gaels, an old club mate of mine and former Antrim player, Timmy Connolly played for them and I think managed them for a spell. Did you know Timmy and what are your memories of him?
Gavin: Timmy is a bit of a legend around the club. His picture hangs on the walls of the clubhouse with his teammates of the 90s in what was a very successful period for the club. He managed the club for a short period also, so I have had plenty of dealings with Timmy down the years
Saffron Gael: Gaelic games seem to be in a very healthy state in London and indeed in other parts of England at present. Are there many local boys and girls taking up the game?
Gavin: The games are in the best condition I’ve ever known. When I was playing under age you played for 8-10 weeks in the summer with maybe 6-8 teams. Now there is GAA played in several schools across London throughout the year due to the influx of Irish teachers. Every year there is a tournament called the All British Championship and there would be upwards of 200 teams from all under age groups from all over England, Scotland and Wales, it’s an incredible event to see held over 2-3 days on the bank holiday.
Saffron Gael: It would be good if in future years London could field teams made up of players born in England. How realistic a proposition is that?
Gavin: Anything is possible, the more young 2nd/3rd generation players involved at club level the greater chance there is for this to happen, but there will always be lads from Ireland interested in playing county football and the management will always pick the best team available.
Saffron Gael: How long have you been playing for London and who are the people who have influenced your career and who are the young English born players we should be looking out for in the future?
Gavin: I made my senior debut in 2004 when I was 19 and made my championship debut that summer against Galway. I was in and out of the panel throughout my 20s but have established myself as first choice for the last 3-4 years. My main influences would definitely be my father for taking me to all my training and matches along with men like Denis O’Leary and Lennie O’Sullivan who ran the underage teams in TCG. I’ve also had great managers and trainers for the senior team like Maurice Carr and Paul Coggins.
London has produced some great home grown players in the last few years like Phillip and Killian Butler, our current captain Liam Gallagher and I have no doubt there will be many more off the production line.
Saffron Gael: Was Sunday your first visit to Belfast to play in a National League game. How did you enjoy it and what were your impressions of Antrim?
Gavin: This was my first game in Belfast. I’ve played against Antrim a few times in the league but always at home in Ruislip. It was a very open game due to the red and black cards but we are disappointed to be coming out the wrong side of the result. Antrim played with great pace, the best I’ve seen so far this year and the forwards hit some brilliant scores from distance which proved decisive in the end so fair play to them.
