It seems that with each passing year, the commitment required from players in order to play inter-county GAA steadily increases.
Most members of the general public could hardly fathom the amount of time that those players put into the sport each week. Between training, games, and gym sessions, they could be on the road five or six nights a week.
Of course, with the GAA being an amateur organisation, they do this while also balancing other commitments such as work or their studies.
That is something that is difficult to understand for some professional athletes.
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Donncha O'Callaghan makes admission about inter-county GAA
Donncha O'Callaghan has somewhat of a unique insight when it comes to this dynamic.
Having spent two decades as a professional rugby players with Munster, Ireland, and the Worcester Warriors, he has spent some time in the world of GAA in recent times. O'Callaghan was part of the backroom team with the Waterford hurlers in 2023.
Speaking on the Chadwicks Under Construction podcast alongside Limerick hurler Tom Morrissey and former players Shane Dowling and Séamus Hickey, he admitted that he felt that it was more difficult to be an inter-county GAA player than a professional athlete due to the balancing of commitments that is involved.
This pod obout Limerick hurling was a good time.
Donnacha O'Callaghan suggests inter-county hurling is more demanding of a players time than pro-rugby.
Clip with Tom Morrissey, Séamus Hickey & Shane Dowling: pic.twitter.com/67b7RGB5VU— Craic Of The Ash (@CraicOfTheAsh) February 13, 2024
One thing I'll say about being around the Waterford lads, I cannot believe the commitment level.
People have no idea, they really don't. The windows to make sure you're fuelled, the other things that are going on in your life, be it studies (or whatever).
Lads I'll be honest with you, being a professional player is so much easier.
I think we actually have to protect hurling and football from it going away from that.
I was lucky enough to be at the All-Ireland final against Galway when Limerick won. With the exception of a few games for me, like that Munster Glasgow one the day after Anthony Foley, you know those ones where you feel an emotion or an outpouring, there is something that connects between the pitch and the supporters.
I've never come across anything like it like that day at the Galway game.
The time commitment required from inter-county GAA players is certainly something that most members of the public would not be able to manage.
As O'Callaghan points out, even professional athletes, who always push to their body to the limit, can find it difficult to understand how they manage to juggle so many different balls at once.
That is certainly a credit to the players involved.
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