'Football doesn't put food on the table' GAA's Pat Spillane Junior's mum keeps him grounded

The name Spillane will forever echo in the hallways of GAA history and as one generation leads on to the next, Pat Spillane Junior is making sure to make his mark.

While his family are heroes in Kerry, Pat has switched from the colour of green and yellow to the black and white of Sligo.

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Growing up he would have had the advice of his All-Ireland-winning dad Pat Spillane but the 26-year-old says his mum had as much of an influence on him, if not even more.

Pat Spillane Jr with his mother Rosarii. Pic: Pat Spillane/Instagram

With AIB launching the Championship for its ninth year in a row, Pat spoke to us about how it was the small things growing up that his mum Rosarii Spillane did that helped him build his sporting career.

‘I played a number of sports growing up and it’s only now when you look back and think of all the lifts to training and all the meals and the gear always washed. Realistically, I wouldn’t have been able to play sports without the time that she dedicated to me,’ he told EVOKE.

Pat continued: ‘She’s phenomenal and I’d probably say she’s the biggest influence in my career, to be honest. She’s brilliant.’

Rosarii Spillane, Pat Spillane. Pic: VIPIRELAND.com

While Pat’s dad’s love for the sport was ingrained in his children, Pat Jr. says it was his mum that kept them grounded.

Laughing, he said: ‘She kept focused on my schoolwork and my career as well, even though sports was always the epicentre of my life, she always kept me grounded and reminded me that football doesn’t put food on the table.’

Keeping the family in tow, Pat did reveal that it is a running joke in the family that his dad says: ‘He never won an All Ireland after he got married so maybe there is something in that. ‘

Pat Spillane Jr with dad Pat Spillane Senior. Pic: Pat Spillane/Instagram

When it comes to playing at the county level, Pat admits there is a level of selfishness attached to the sport. ‘You need to focus on your own performance and recovery, so I know it is difficult,’ he said.

But come sun, rain or shine he says over the years his mum has backed him 100 per cent on and off the pitch.

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