HOME FROM HOME: THE LAST time we caught up with Sujon Alamgir he was enthusiastically cheering the Bangladesh 'A' cricket side during their game against Ireland at College Park during the summer.
The 16-year-old Lucan lad played the game in his native Bangladesh before moving to Ireland when he was nine, but since then it is ash and not willow that has dominated his sporting career.
Alamgir admits he "didn't pick it (hurling) up straight away", crediting his teachers at Archbishop Ryan National School in Balgaddy for instilling a love of the game.
Their faith was more than repaid when Alamgir went on to score 2-5 in the school's Cumann na mBunscol final victory at Croke Park in 2003.
Lightning quick and blessed with a fine touch he continued his development when he moved on to Lucan CBS and also made a name for himself with the underage set-ups at both Lucan Sarsfields and Dublin.
Lucan hurling liaison officer Pat O'Keeffe has taken a keen interest in a young man who has made a great impression at the west Dublin club.
"As regards the heart he has shown as a hurler down through the years, he really has became a legend at the club.
"He's a pure pleasure to deal with in terms of his personality, he's a real happy-go-lucky sort of a guy. At Feile one year I remember he took a tackle off a guy during one of the matches and he went down in a lump. I thought he was banjaxed but he got up and he kept going. He has tremendous heart."
O'Keeffe has seen a big influx of players born outside of Ireland in recent years, with Moldovan Pavel Romanchuk also starring in the underage teams with the west Dublin club.
Alamgir played on the Lucan side that won last year's Minor 'B' Championship, although his slight stature has seen him switch positions.
O'Keeffe is confident he will learn to cope with the increased physicality of the game. "His size came against him, other lads got bigger than him. He would have been playing midfield for a number of years or centre-forward. Now because of his size we play him in at corner-forward for his skill. If he gets on to a ball he'll use it."
Although he occasionally still plays cricket, Alamgir's intentions are to go as far with hurling as he can.
"I've played at Croke Park before for my school and I'd love to play there for Dublin at senior level," admits Alamgir.
