Coghlan Eyeing Up the Dream Start to Interprovincial Career

Clontarf's in-form Bill Coghlan opened the batting today for Leinster Lightning and ended the day 71 not out, a great start to his Interprovincial career.

Barry Chambers: Bill a great start to your Interprovincial career you must be delighted?

Bill Coghlan (Leinster Lightning): Absolutely chuffed yeah. I was delighted to get an opportunity. I was chatting to Ger Siggins there a couple of days ago, and just to be given that chance, I've obviously had a good 2012-2013 seasons. So I 've put in the effort, kind of on my own, I've never been a great man for my fitness, the fitness side of things. But I did a good bit of work over the winter and said there was no point in wasting a good season, try and bring it into this season and luckily I've had a good four, five weeks, so far so good.

So today was an extra bonus. Great to get an opportunity obviously, but delighted to be able to contribute to the team. And 71 on the opening day is more than I could have hoped for. So I'm delighted.

Barry Chambers: And I suppose this interprovincial series is a perfect vehicle for somebody like yourself who has been doing well in club cricket, and maybe thinking that the A Team was maybe beyond you?

Bill Coghlan: Absolutely and it's great for guys like me who've, obviously I've played a good bit of under-age stuff, but from a senior point of view the gap between playing for Clontarf and the gap playing international stuff, you know yourself, there's a big difference there.

So obviously bridging the gap here, to be able to test yourself against guys who have played a hundred times for their country or fifty times for their country, it's always good to test yourself against these guys, and if you do well, sure well then hopefully you can knock, just keep knocking on the door, keep scoring runs, keep them talking about you, I suppose, is the main thing.

And hopefully today has gone some way towards maybe getting kind of my name out there a little bit more than it has been in previous years, so to be honest I'm absolutely delighted to be able to contribute. 105 for 1 on the opening day is as we had planned, we said we didn't want to lose any wickets, but losing one that's going to happen sometimes. But we're in a great position now, so hopefully we can bring it in tomorrow and capitalise on it.

Barry Chambers: And I suppose the dream would be get a century here?

Bill Coghlan: The dream would be to get a century. I love playing here. I haven't played much cricket here. But any game I've played we've done well, have the team. And a good few of the Clontarf younger guys have turned out, the family all here, so to get a hundred tomorrow would be great. But listen if I get 71 and I'm out first ball tomorrow, but we still win the game, and we can go on to get 300, 400, I'll be a happy man.