The walls of sporting segregation in this country have been broken down a long time ago. The first and most significant blow was landed in 1971 when the infamous Ban was abolished.
The most recent significant step occurred in the mid-noughties when Croke Park was officially opened up to rugby and soccer.
The new fashion is to be relaxed about the interaction between GAA, soccer and rugby. Colm O'Rourke struck a discordant note ahead of Derry's clash with Down on Sunday.
Eoin Bradley's habit of playing soccer (for Glenavon) during the winter months got on O'Rourke's tits.
Bradley wouldn't be my cup of tea, I must say. If you want to play senior county football, you have to devote your time to it. You can't play soccer and come back play a bit of football... I wouldn't be that gone on having Bradley in my team...
Godless liberal Pat Spillane adopted a more live and let live stance, saying he couldn't care less if Bradley spent his winter 'modelling', reasoning that he is a potential match-winner.
Colm o rourke would u like 2 go 4 a cup of tea.......
— eoinbradley (@skinnerlad) June 7, 2015
Incidentally, O'Rourke did predict that Bradley, for all his fannying about with soccer, would prosper against the rookie full back Brendan Rogers.
A bold prediction, not least because Rogers plays for Derry.
