Spillane: It was always my dream to wear the Rebel red

“I’d say 1999 (stands out). I remember the All-Ireland in the rain. That was the first and we’d a vested interest in it because Timmy Mac was playing. They’re special occasions.”

“I was delighted last year to make my championship debut and once you get a taste for it it’s not something you want to give up easily. It takes it a while to put an injury behind you because you know the consequences, being out for a year. Once you’ve your rehab done and you get used to it you don’t think about it again.”

“When I was younger my father and brothers had a huge influence on me. We were all hurling mad. That led into Colman’s. I’ve always loved the game and always been surrounded by it.”
