There are four stand-out professions that just seem to suit Gaelic Games really well. The cliche jobs throughout the sport's history are bankers, farmers, teachers or guards and today we're all about the grá for the GAA farmers.
Last year, a survey by Agriland revealed that at least two in every five farmers are involved in the GAA at some level, it's so prevalent that O'Neils even released farm-themed jerseys at the Ploughing Championships in recent years so we've already got kit sorted on this.
So here is the ultimate farm-GAA crossover XV.
1. Cathal McCrann (Leitrim)
Leitrim's goalkeeper was the county's first ever FBD Farm safety champion and also scored two late frees against Mayo this year to seal his county's first Provincial Junior title since 2004.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3DjnjauGbI
2. Jimmy Feehan (Tipp)
When you are u14 but the minor team is short numbers #xbreds pic.twitter.com/Do0HCeYbUG
— jimmy feehan (@JimmyFeehan) May 25, 2017
You won't be surprised to know that Tipp's left cornerback is studying Business Dairy in UCD. Despite being on Twitter since 2011 this is the only photo that Feehan has ever tweeted.
3. Tim Kennelly (Kerry)
Five All-Irelands and three All-Stars Kennelly is possibly Ireland's most successful male farming footballer. Noel and Tadhg's dad picked up Man Of The Match in the 1980 and 1981 finals he juggled his career with running a pub and a farm in Listowel.
4. Noel Hickey (Kilkenny)
Nine All-Irelands is ok, not much on Glanbia’s overall Quality Grain Grower Award and the 1999 All-Ireland Agricultural Colleges title he also has on his mantle. The full-back/milk and tillage farmer can cut it no matter what field he's put on.
5. John Doyle (Tipperary)
The late John Doyle's senior career started at the age of 16 and he went on to win eight All-Irelands and become the record holder (later broke by Brendan Cummins in 2009) for most games anyone had played for Tipp, he also made 'Team of the Millenium' in 2000. Doyle left school at 14 to work on the family farm and continued working there after his retirement in 1967.
6. Mick Jacob (Wexford)
The Oulart-the-Ballagh man is most famed for his last-gasp goal against Kilkenny in the 2004 Leinster semi-final, which happens to be the last time the Slaneysiders made it through to a provincial final.
Jacob's Dad (also called Mick) was also a keen hurler who played right up until he was 56 years old. One of our readers Sean Kennedy got in touch to tell us of how Mick got himself fit during pre-season saying that he used to attach himself by rope to a "big old tractor tyre" and run around the fields surrounding the farm.
7. Ciaran Lenehan (Meath)
More of this today - reeling in two late-calvers. They're gone around 38 days. #breeding17 #sucklerbeef pic.twitter.com/NDpQD9TlbF
— Ciarán Lenehan 🐂🐄🐏🌱 (@CiaranLen) June 10, 2017
Lenehan is a "beef specialist" with the Irish Farmer's Journal
8. Lester Ryan (Kilkenny)
Kilkenny's captain is not only a dairy farmer but a teacher too.
9. Briege Corkery (Cork)
No wonder this lunatic is so fit! Great craic of an evening with @corkery5 and @DScanaill 🐄🐄🐄 pic.twitter.com/lNnktaaxsv
— Bríd Stack (@BridStackie) July 30, 2015
Probably the most successful GAA Sportsperson ever, Briege's dual efforts have got her 17 All-Irelands and 16 All-Stars across both codes which is an unmatchable record.
What's even more impressive is that she keeps up her work routine on match days. Last year, The Irish Times reported that she milked 400 cows before going on to kick four points against Monaghan later that day.
10. TJ Reid (Kilkenny)
Happy fathers day #FathersDay #🐶casper #🐮jasmine pic.twitter.com/cYoFUvdFCn
— TJ Reid (@_tjreid) June 19, 2016
Last time we compiled one of these lists, TJ was a sales rep who juggled his job with the family farm and hurling. He's now running his own health and fitness company but the other two aspects of his life still remain the same. The three-time All-Star is certainly the most well-known farming hurler who is still playing.
The three-time All-Star is certainly the most well-known farming hurler who is still playing.
11. Darren Hughes (Monaghan)
Hughes mans over 100 acres in Ballinode, just outside Scotstown, and loves being his own boss.
He told Balls.ie back in January:
I think it makes it easier. I'm my own boss. I take pity on the boys sitting in the office and then have to hop into the car and then drive down the road to training. I can prepare myself accordingly and I have Dad at home to help me.
People think that it's tougher on you but I do as I please. If I can't do something one day, I'll do it the next day. If I don't do it that day, I'll do it the day after.
I run my own ship and I've got no one telling me what to do. In my eyes I have it easier than the boys sitting in the office all day.
12. James Maher (Kilkenny)
The promising young Kilkenny man had a huge set back last year when he managed to break his knee-cap whilst on the farm. Maher had broken through to the senior squad in their 2016 league campaign but since coming back from the injury he has had to build from the U21s once again. Horrifically unlucky for the guy who scored 0-04 against Tipperary in that campaign.
13. Timmy McCarthy (Cork)
Tic Tac runs a dairy farm in Castlelyons in Cork and held the fort down whilst collecting three All-Ireland medals over the years. McCarthy has said before that his life on the farm was so busy that Donal O'Grady used to let him off on training sessions to let him get on top of his work.
McCarthy has said before that his life on the farm was so busy that Donal O'Grady used to let him off on training sessions to let him get on top of his work.
14. Zane Keenan (Laois)
Like many on the list, Keenan juggles the family farm with his full-time work making railway sleepers in a factory.
The Laois forward says he gets up at half five every morning in order to do some work on the yard before he reports to the factory at seven and then training in the evenings.
15. John Heslin (Westmeath)
Despite the numerous challenges #farming has to be one of the more satisfying occupations/lifestyles on offer #farmrewards pic.twitter.com/sgk221CvO9
— John Heslin (@jheslin14) May 22, 2017
The former Ireland u15 soccer player, Derby County trialist, and Aussie Rules player with The Richmond Tigers said he'd rather score against the Dubs in front of the Hill than for Deby County.
His return to Ireland was coupled with a return to the farming profession. He once had an agricultural column in The Westmeath Examiner.
And finally, an honourable mention goes to........
Sub:
Beauden Barrett
This may be a bit of a stretch, but 2016's World Rugby Player Of The Year is from a rich dairy farming background and in the late 1990s his parents came to Meath to manage a farm in Ballinacree for a few months.
In his time in Ireland Beauden attended school in the village and joined local club St Brigid's but eventually went back to New Zealand having learnt invaluable catching skills. He returns to Meath every now and again and recently donated a signed All Blacks jersey for the club to auction.
