Daire Cregg turned down a move to the AFL because he didn't want to spend his peak years as a Gaelic footballer away from the game.
The Boyle club man says he grew up dreaming of playing for Roscommon rather than in the AFL, while other factors such as family life and study/work also played their part.
The 22-year-old UCD star was speaking at the launch of the Electric Ireland Higher Education Championships on Wednesday when he discussed how the AFL offer came about last year.
Cregg was invited to AFL trials last year but didn't take part, with an eye on Roscommon's clash with Mayo in the championship, only for scouts to travel to the game a few weeks later.
Carlton Blues were in touch the day after the Mayo game about a move Down Under and while the professional lifestyle tempted Cregg, who is doing a masters in project management in Smurfit Business School, ties to home won out in the end.
"I didn't grow up dreaming of playing AFL. I grew up dreaming of playing for Roscommon," says Cregg.
"The professional draw was something to think about but it's hard to beat, as bad as it sounds, driving an hour up in the rain to Kiltoom or wherever we're training.
"And you're sitting with a couple of lads in the car having the craic. Playing for Roscommon is what I always wanted to do."
"We've a very close family here at home," he adds, "Farming and different things as well, that was all part of the decision making, my girlfriend as well."
Having completed an undergrad in Dairy Business, Cregg sees himself working in agri-business down the line.
"I could definitely see the masters playing a big role in terms of overseeing teams and projects going forward. I thought it would be a nice add-on.
"I definitely will be getting back into the agricultural industry in some form or another down the line."
It's a hectic time of the year for Cregg between studies and football, at various grades, but he has a simple approach to managing his time: study in the morning, football in the evening.
"Since I've been young, I've always liked to get up early in the morning to get stuff done.
"The hardest balance to find was when I was in leaving cert and playing county minor football.
"The way I struck a balance was getting up at half five/six, trying to get a couple of hours study done because the evenings aren't really your own.
"That's probably how I find the balance, get the college work done early in the morning, get it out of the way, and focus on the football then in the evening."
Cregg says the interest from AFL scouts gave him great confidence in his own game as a Gaelic footballer.
"The shout came the day after the Mayo game, they must have had scouts looking. It came out of the blue but listen I was delighted they'd seen something in me.
"It gave me confidence in my own game, playing Gaelic. It was good to have a chat with them to see what the story was."
"I know a lot of lads have gone out there and done very well. I know some lads haven't got on as well and I'd say a lot of them...not that they regret their decisions but did they miss out on a few years of their prime career at home, they possibly did so that was all part of it too."
Intercounty Camogie And GAA Stars To Look Ahead To The Upcoming Matches And Rivalries Across The Electric Ireland Camogie Third Level Championships And The Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Championships 8/1/2025
Pictured is UCD and Roscommon footballer, Daire Cregg, as Electric Ireland teams up with six intercounty Camogie and GAA stars to look ahead to the upcoming matches and rivalries across the Electric Ireland Camogie Third Level Championships and the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Championships. Through its #FirstClassRivals campaign, Electric Ireland will continue to celebrate the unique alliances that form between county rivals as they come together in pursuit of some of the most coveted titles across Camogie and GAA.
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
