5 minutes with Ben McDonnell

How does it feel to be in the All-Ireland Final with your club for the first time?

It’s an incredible feeling. The club is where you start and finish playing football—it’s the heart of the community. Seeing the joy it brings to the volunteers, the kids, and everyone involved makes it even more special. It’s a privilege to represent the place where my football journey began on such a big stage.

How have skills learned through sports, such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and resilience influenced your professional career?

Playing football from a young age taught me the importance of working in a team to achieve a common goal – in the workplace it’s the same. Whether it’s building and maintaining strong, long-lasting relationships with clients, or how I communicate and collaborate with team members.

In sport, things can often arise unexpectedly, whether that’s an injury or a sudden change in strategy, so quick thinking is often required to overcome these challenges, learning these skills on the pitch has shaped how I approach my professional career at INSPIRED as well.

Are there any specific moments or memories from your journey to the final that stand out to you the most?

Definitely the five minutes after the county final and the Ulster final. Those moments when you embrace your teammates, knowing all the hard work has paid off, and then seeing the supporters and family flood onto the pitch to celebrate with you—it’s something special you’ll never forget. A worthy mention has to go to the Monday clubs after both finals too—great craic, great company, and memories that will last a lifetime!

How many days of annual leave will you need to celebrate the win if all goes to plan?

Ah sure, I’ll definitely need a few days to recover— if all goes well, celebrating a win like that doesn’t wrap up quickly! Maybe INSPIRED could gift me a bit of extra leave as a reward haha. Either way, I’ll be taking a couple of days to enjoy it properly, soak it all in, and rest up before getting back to work!