Shane Curran is one of GAA's 'characters'. So when he was asked about the much talked about 'drink ban', you perhaps could have guessed that he wouldn't be one to advocate a saint-like lifestyle. The former Roscommon goalkeeper was speaking on 2FM's Game On when the issue of Jack Guiney's removal from the Wexford panel was brought up.
Speaking about drink bans in general, Curran certainly didn't hold back.
I think it’s a joke.
They [the players] give up their time quite freely, they get dog’s abuse morning, noon and night in a lot of counties depending on their results. And, in a lot of cases, these incidents are blown completely out of proportion by jealous, muppeteers in the localities.
They will pick up the phone to managers and say ‘such and such is having a pint and he’s blind drunk’ when he may have only been having a couple of shandies with his family or his girlfriend for a night out or a meal or whatever it may be.
Curran went on to state his belief that the introduction of a hard-line drink ban is indicative of a manager who doesn't have the confidence to adequately control the dressing room.
I really think some managers don’t have the confidence in themselves to support their players in a lot of ways, and also they want to rule with an iron fist. It works sometimes but you’ve got to remember that players are human beings.
They have the same problems outside of football that everybody else has. And maybe they could do with that release of an odd pint or the odd fag now and again, which they are well-entitled to.
It’s not as if they are drinking a bottle of brandy in the dressing room or the night before a match. Generally you’ll find these issues are in counties where there is not a lot of success.
It's not surprising that Curran would be of that opinion but it's nonetheless entertaining to hear.
