Former Down GAA player John McGovern won’t be following Galway’s Seán Fitzpatrick onto the popular show.
Shamrock Rovers’ John McGovern celebrates(Image: INPHO/Ryan Byrne)
Shamrock Rovers striker John McGovern has revealed how he had to shed some muscle to get up to speed with League of Ireland football.
McGovern joined from Dungannon Swifts last summer – and the former Northern Ireland Under-21 international was also a highly regarded Gaelic footballer before his switch.
He was a Tailteann Cup winner with Down and his GAA commitments meant he had to bulk up to compete at the highest level.
After joining the Hoops, he went from 80kg to around 76kg – with most of that drop coming from muscle mass.
“The majority of Gaelic players are top heavy, especially with how the game is going in Gaelic,” said McGovern, who scored Rovers’ equaliser against Bohemians last Monday.
“So when I first came in, it wasn’t that I was in bad shape, but I needed to lean out a bit and lose a bit of muscle mass up top.
“Obviously the physical demands for football aren’t as high on your upper body. It was just about leaning out slightly and then getting in better shape for football.”
McGovern described it as a gradual process “because I wasn’t carrying a lot of body fat.”
He added: “I was sort of gradually reducing what I did in the gym and maintaining some muscle mass and trying to lose it in other areas. It was just a gradual change.”
While he didn’t feel like he was being held back initially, McGovern felt himself getting sharper as his weight dropped.
“With the demands of football being higher than Gaelic in terms of you need to be sharper on your feet and things like that,” he said.
“I think I’ve gotten sharper since I’ve lost a couple of kg but I wouldn’t have noticed it whenever I had it.”
Does he fear that losing some of his muscle mass might harm his chances of following Galway’s Seán Fitzgerald onto Love Island one day?
“I have a missus so I think I’ll be alright for a bit,” he replied.
McGovern does miss playing Gaelic football.
“I’ve played it all my life, so I keep in touch with lads I’ve played for Down with and I keep an eye on scores and things like that,” he said.
But the opportunity to play full-time football with Rovers, and compete for leagues and in European competition, was too good to turn down.
As for last Monday’s goal against Bohs, he said: “It’s a euphoric feeling, especially like that was the last game that’s going to be in Dalymount between Rovers and Bohs, and it’s a historic fixture.
“So to come on and make an impact and score a goal in a game like that is unbelievable, especially for me coming off the bench.
“You obviously want to contribute, and contribute with a goal and then for us to go on and win the game was unbelievable.”