People always said to Conor McDonald that teaching would suit him, the summer holidays would coincide nicely with the prime time of the hurling championship.
Having studied geography and Irish at UCD, it would have been an obvious road for the Wexford hurler to go down. Instead, the 22-year-old veered off course, taking one travelled increasingly by GAA players.
Last September, McDonald spent some time in England where he worked in a gym. He left having decided it was a career he wanted to pursue. Though, it was an idea which had been brewing for nearly a year.
Earlier this year, he opened a fitness studio in his native Gorey - it's called '14 Fitness'. Its name may have led to the odd bit of slagging from the Wexford panel. Not named for the number he regularly wears on his back for his county, it's instead a reference to the 14-week programme on which his clients embark.
"Generally it's one-to-one stuff or small group classes," McDonald told Balls at the launch of Bord Gáis Energy’s summer of hurling.
That's the way it's kind of panned out at the minute. It can be [about] losing weight, gaining some muscle and stuff like that.
I just enjoy helping people and essentially changing people's lives really and you get a boost from that when you're helping other people.
Andy Moran, TJ Reid, Aidan O'Mahony and Colm Callanan are just some of the footballers and hurlers in recent years to open their own fitness-related businesses.
"I think a lot of GAA players are going down that route because they're comfortable in that environment and I think they've a lot to offer in that environment, especially in Ireland.
"It can aid your GAA career but I think an awful lot of players are using it to their advantage to try and work both ways on the field and off."
McDonald says the venture is going well, he's adding more classes every week. A hectic upcoming Leinster Championship schedule means the Naomh Éanna player doesn't envision his work schedule being too heavy over the next month or so.
The name recognition which comes with being a Wexford hurler undoubtedly helps but ultimately he wants the business to flourish because people recognise his ability in the gym.
"You'd obviously hope so that it could draw a bit of a crowd. But talking from an off the field thing I would like to hope that people who wouldn't be into GAA would recognise me as a good trainer. You kind of want to attack that angle as well and that's what I'd be hoping and be good enough in that respect."
In attendance at the launch of Bord Gáis Energy’s summer of hurling is ambassador Conor McDonald of Wexford. Throughout the Senior Hurling Championship, Bord Gáis Energy will be offering fans unmissable GAA rewards through the Bord Gáis Energy Rewards Club. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
