WITH county season parked and clubs all over Ulster aiming for silverware, training and performance is important. We are all looking that edge over the opposition. Whether it’s preparing or recovering better.

This week, we meet Tommy McKernan and his range of TNT performance products that have been helping athletes meet their goals in a range of sports.

GL: Tell us a bit about yourself.

T McK: I played senior football for 20 years with Lamh Dhearg. The club was my Gaelic family since I was five years of age and now my young son Tom is playing with my local team from my youth.

GL: So where did the TNT journey begin?

T McK: I founded our TNT Performance Premium Cream Range in 2020. As a sports injury practitioner, I own BelfastFit clinic in the west of the city.

I have worked with athletes for over eight years, so I’m well versed in injury, performance and recovery.

GL: What about the name?

T McK: It’s simple and close to my heart, ‘T’ stands for Tom, ‘N’ for my wife Nic and the other ‘T’ for myself. We’ll have to get an ‘R’ in there somewhere after our new daughter Ruby.

GL: How does working with sporting injuries develop into producing your own product?

T McK: With his years of experience, treating elite athletes and hearing their feedback, it has helped me create these premium performance creams. Athletes are always striving for that extra one per cent. With nearly three years of extensive research and testing, I created the TNT range to help them achieve this.

GL: It sounds like you have been busy.

T McK: Also, Covid-19 hit and the clinic closed for nearly half a year. This is when I came up with the idea of creating my own Premium Performance Cream Range.

GL: But where did the idea come from?

T McK: I have used essential oils in my creams and oil in the clinic for years and seen the benefits that they have.

I studied and researched the various properties of these oils, finding some great studies. I found that the application of these oils not only helps to prevent and cure sports injuries but also to stimulate and relax the mind and body leading to higher fitness levels.

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GL: How did you begin the production process?

T McK: I saw nothing on the market that consisted of all these essential oils in a cream for athletes, that matched my standards within the BelfastFit Clinic. In conjunction with a company in England, I created this range and it’s now nearly three years in the making.

I now have the TNT Performance Cream Range, consisting of both a warm-up cream and a recovery cream.

I have run through numerous levels of testing, by elite athletes to make sure they are the best standard available.

GL: So you use a different one before and after activity?

T McK: The warm-up cream is like your ‘warm-up in a bottle’ when we are all tight for time. This complex formulation of essential oils with help you prime your muscles for activity. It’s applied 10 minutes before or, in my case, before you leave the house on an early run.

The recovery cream is being called ‘the DOM cream’ now. Apply after your shower or before bed, it’s great for helping tired and sore muscles.

GL: Who are all using them?

T McK: These creams are being used by the elite players in Gaelic football, hurling, football and rugby right now to help them stay at the top. The reviews have been amazing so far.

Use code GAELICLIFE20 for a 20% discount at checkout at www.tnt-performance.com