Published: Tuesday, 30th December, 2008 12:00pm

Downes stars for Tir Chonnail in RTE Celebrity special

It"s a long way from hurling for Cavan to kicking points in front of thousands of TV viewers but that is the journey local dual player Kevin Downes has made this year. The former Cavan Gaels clubman, who now lines out for London senior football champions Tir Chonnail Gaels, featured in RTE"s Christmas Celebrity Bainisteoir special which was screened last week.

25-year-old Downes played a starring role on the day as well, kicking 0-4 and setting up the crucial goal from centre half-forward as his side, managed by comedian Patrick Kielty, defeated Marty Whelan"s Maryland by 1-6 to 0-7.

'It was a great experience,' explains Downes.

'The winner of the London senior championship were invited to play in a one-off Christmas special against last year"s Celebrity Bainisteoir winners Maryland. We didn"t know who the manager would be, the rumours going round were that it was going to be Dara O"Brian or Graham Norton, we didn"t pass any remarks and then one day Kielty just arrived down to training and introduced himself.'

Although it appeared on the final cut as if Tir Chonnail Gaels had been building up for the match for weeks, they had only a handful of meetings with Kielty in all.

'It comes across on the TV that we did a lot of training for the match but we only met Paddy Kielty about three times,' he says.

'He came in early November and we didn"t see him for another month and then he came to a training session on the Thursday night before we flew over here for the game, which was played on the first weekend in December.'

All eyes turn to the next big test for Downes" side now, as they face Connacht club champions Corofin of Galway in the All Ireland Senior Club Football Championship on January 18.

The former Cavan hurler is a key player for Tir Chonnail, having scooped the Man of the Match award in the county final win over Neasden Gaels. Downes also won a London senior hurling medal this year.