Interview With Conor Devitt

Conor Devitt, Technical Service Engineer

Q: You’ve witnessed your club prepare for this big day but you’re forced to remain on the sideline due to injury, how do you feel about that?

A: It’s bittersweet. I’ve watched these lads put in a massive effort this year. They thoroughly deserve to be knocking on the door of senior football again. For me, we play for days like these. Even though I’ve taken part in the training sessions in the run-up to today, I won’t be out there on the field. That will hit me when the ball is thrown in. However, these lads have put in the work and I’m fully convinced they’ll come out on top today.

Q: You’re quite a grounded individual, surrounded by a strong circle of friends and family. It’s surely fulfilling to see your club mates seize the moment in a bid to climb back to senior ranks?

A: It’s been a pleasure watching these lads gain momentum from the early rounds of the championship. They play a really exciting brand of football. Most of all, I notice that they play with an incredible focus. They take each encounter as it comes. There’s no mention of county finals or senior football. It’s a real testament to the men at the helm of the squad. They keep each player level-headed and keep everyone focused on the job in hand.

Q: Is it difficult to keep a positive mentality about your ACL injury? Are there bad days and good days?

A: It was a year yesterday (14th October) since the operation. Between then and now, I’ve had plenty of good days and bad days. It comes in waves. Sometimes, I’d want to get out, go to the gym to keep up the rehab, keep an eye on the diet. Sometimes, I might get down to the field for a puck/kick around. But then I experience some hiccups. I could lose complete interest in all of those things. I’m lucky to be surrounded by great people in my friends and family. They really help me when things got tough. They give me that little bit of motivation I need to get me back on track.

Q: Is there a personal desire to come back stronger next year?

A: To be honest, I’m not really thinking that far ahead. Of course, I would love to get back to the level I was at before I tore my ACL. Most of all, I want to get back out there with the lads playing today. I’ll get a good winter under my belt and I’ll take it from there.

Q: You landed at INNOVATE almost accidentally! Did your maths degree give you the opportunity to work instead of return to education?

A: Yes, I fell on my feet with INNOVATE. I’m extremely happy how it all fell into place. I had originally planned to develop my education after taking a year-out. As soon as the opportunity arose in INNOVATE, I couldn’t turn it down. Everyday is a fresh challenge in INNOVATE. I am constantly learning new things everyday. After earning an Arts degree at UCD, I’ve learned that the most important thing for any graduate is to treat your skills as transferable and adaptable. Maths is an in-demand proficiency today. If you follow what you enjoy doing, you’ll end up carving out a pathway to your ideal career.