As a youngster, John Egan had it all.
Soccer, Gaelic football, hurling, golf. You name the sport and the kid from Cork with the famous Kerry father could turn his hand to it in an instant.
Ger McGreevy was his soccer coach with Greenwood FC and though Egan was one of the best young players he’s ever seen on the football pitch, he was an even better hurler and gaelic footballer.
“He was unbelievable,” says McGreevy.
Bishopstown’s and Cork’s loss is Sheffield United’s gain.
Egan made the move over to England as a teenager but a couple of setbacks would hold him back. A broken leg and a change in managers hit hard, but there was no blow as devastating as the loss of his father – with whom he shared a special relationship – in April 2012.
The centre half took a while to recover from that, but through the support of his mother Mary and sister Máirín, and through his own drive and determination, Egan is playing the football of his life and he’s dominating the Premier League with Sheffield United.
“When you talk to John, he still has a sense that his dad is still there, that his dad is still watching him and that dad is still advising him,” says family friend, John’s former teacher and Bishopstown GAA chairman Brian Cuthbert.
Egan often wears the number 15 jersey – the same number his dad won five All-Irelands with Kerry in – as a tribute. He returns to Bishopstown GAA club at every chance he gets. He’s still a GAA man at heart and he’ll never forget his roots.
Watch his story here.
John Egan 15 ⭐
The normal Cork man with the Kerry GAA roots dominating the Premier League with @SheffieldUnited 👊
It's in the blood for @JohnEgan92 🩸 pic.twitter.com/e1s8EwdFBo
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) November 15, 2019
