Northern Ireland are currently participating in the CP Football World Cup finalsin Spain – and we are highlighting the players who are donning the famous green shirt at the International Federation of CP Football (IFCPF) tournament.
Name: Declan McDonnell.
Age: 17.
Home city/town: Derriaghy.
How long have you been playing football? Since the age of 14.
Position? Winger.
Any previous clubs? Rosario and Hillsborough Boys.
Favourite team/s? Manchester United.
Favourite player/s – who inspires you? Cristiano Ronaldo.
What’s the best goal you have scored? I once scored from the halfway line against the Republic of Ireland.
Do you play/like any other sports apart from football? Snooker and basketball.
What’s the best team you have played against? The Republic of Ireland senior squad.
What’s the best pitch you have played on? The AUL Complex near Dublin.
What’s the best stadium you have visited? FC Basel’s home ground in Switzerland (St Jakob-Park).
Most difficult opponent – who is the best player you have come up against? Gary Messett, who captains the Republic’s CP team.
The CP World Cup finals are under way in Salou and will run until 16 May. Northern Ireland are currently ranked 20th in the world in the seven-a-side Cerebral Palsy game. It’s Northern Ireland’s third appearance at the IFCPF tournament. They finished in 14th place in England in 2015 and 11th in Argentina in 2017.
