The Galway hurler tells of a journey that saw him outgrow his doubts and demons
Limerick performance psychology coach Tony Óg Regan before a Munster senior hurling championship match against Cork at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick in May 2019. Photograph: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
“Three years previously you played in your first All-Ireland senior final and were nominated for an All Star. You had two or three job offers. Then you think how quickly things can be swept from underneath your feet. You feel ashamed. You’re going into the dole office on a Wednesday with your hood up. It just felt like I had failed in a lot of aspects of my life. It took a month or two to admit that to myself.
Tony Óg Regan during the All-Ireland senior championship final replay in September 2012. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho “I competed in national finals at every age group, at times in front of 82,000 people,” he writes. “I had moments in my career where negative thoughts and feelings took over, and I choked in front of thousands of people.”
Galway's Tony Óg Regan and Joe Canning celebrate at the final whistle of the League Division 1 final in May 2010. Photograph: Cathal Noonan/Inpho Over time he looked for solutions. He embraced visualisation and yoga and breathing techniques, gateway practices for training an athlete’s mind. He was introduced to good people: John McGuire, Gerry Hussey. He read widely. He was open to knowledge and learning. And change.
Galway's Tony Óg Regan against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland senior championship final in September 2012. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho
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