There are plenty of good Gaelic footballers lying around but the question will always be: Could they do it on a snow-covered Thursday night in Convoy?
Because Shane Williams could.
We’re a long way from the Millenium Stadium now but the former rugby winger showed he’s made of tougher stuff in what, at times, literally looked like the toughest trade.
As part of AIB GAA’s aptly-named #TheToughest Trade, Williams was sent to Donegal to see if he could transfer his skills with the oval ball to an O’Neill’s equivalent.
.@ShaneWilliams11 handling skills will be put to the test tonight as his new team @GAAGlenswilly face @ConvoyGAA for #TheToughest Trade pic.twitter.com/KO5ZZF6yPk
— AIB_GAA (@AIB_GAA) January 12, 2017
And, on Thursday, he travelled with his adopted club Glenswilly to Convoy GAA for a pre-season clash to see how he’d fare.
If transferring sport wasn’t enough, if trudging through the soft Donegal pitches wasn’t enough and the task of filling Michael Murphy’s number 14 jersey wasn’t either, Shane Williams had to deal with good, old-fashioned north west weather conditions.
@ShaneWilliams11 is definitely Tough Enough but he's gona be cold enough tonight as well! #ToughestTrade pic.twitter.com/BPrGIrKE87
— Frank Craig (@FrankCraig13) January 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/RachelSolon/status/819658573013778433
Lining out at full forward for the Donegal champions, Williams raised four white flags – three from play – and he impressed the brave souls in attendance at St. Mary’s.
One supporter told SportsJOE that he did Michael Murphy’s jersey justice.
“He played very well. He got stuck in and the blizzard didn’t affect his performance at all.
“He’s still very, very speedy and he scored four points – one from a 25-yard free.
“I’d say he’s one of the few men worthy of wearing Murphy’s jersey!”
Welsh rugby legend Shane Williams scores for Glenswilly GAA. #AIB #thetoughest #Donegal #coolestplace2017 @donegalsport pic.twitter.com/q7T0LqCCf1
— Donna El Assaad (@donnamcb01) January 13, 2017
The bar was set by former NFL player Roberto Wallace in 2016 when he made the switch to ply his trade with Breaffy and looked an imposing full forward.
But very few would rack up those sort of numbers that Shane Williams did on a stormy, winter’s Thursday night in Donegal.
Magic debut by @ShaneWilliams11 who chipped in with 0-04 in difficult conditions #legend #TheToughest trade pic.twitter.com/xRpiri8iLp
— CLG Ghleann tSúilí (@GaaGlenswilly) January 12, 2017
Unbelievable few days with this legend @ShaneWilliams11 in #TheGlen Scored 0-4 on his debut 2nite 4 @GaaGlenswilly @AIB_GAA #TheToughest pic.twitter.com/qbj36vxK7Y
— Gary Mc Daid (@GaryMcDaid78) January 12, 2017
This will be some watch.
Feature image courtesy of Donna McBride, Donegal News staff photographer.
