Philly McMahon
Who: Dublin footballer. Four-time All-Ireland winner.
Why is he interesting:
Philly McMahon doesn't have your average GAA player job - that is, sales rep, bank official, guard, teacher. He's a bit of an entrepreneur.
McMahon runs multiple gyms in Dublin. He also has a food business called 'Fit Food' and plans to open a restaurant in the near future.
Along with his business interests, the Ballymun man has an altruistic streak. He's starting a charity which aims to aid young people in disadvantaged areas.
Eamon McGee
Who: Donegal footballer. All-Ireland winner 2012.
Why is he interesting:
One of the most outspoken liberals in the GAA.
McGee was one of the first GAA players to support a Yes vote in last year's marriage referendum. Such was opposition to his stance in his home village of Gweedore, McGee was denounced from the pulpit by a visiting priest. He also received hate mail because of his views.
There’s been letters to the house with no names on them saying that I’m going to hell and leading the people of Ireland to hell, all this off-the-wall stuff. Obviously, you’d prefer it didn’t happen but I feel I’m doing the right thing.
McGee was no angel during the pre-Jim McGuinness days.
On Off The Ball last year, he told of an escapade back in 2006.
I remember back to 2006 and it was Paddy's Day. I decided to go for one pint on the Friday, which turned into a massive session.
We were due to play Clare on the Sunday and I missed the bus and I thought to myself 'oh no, what am I going to do?' So I jumped in a taxi and told to him to take me to Carlow. This is from Donegal and I'm on my way to Carlow.
I rang Brian McIver [Donegal manager at the time] and he said 'Jesus. Eamon, we're down in Clare here'. So I cut across the country and landed in Galway.
That was the type of thing that was going on and that was mild.
Obviously I didn't start that Sunday.
The taxi actually left me off in a pub where there was a traveller's funeral going on.
I got one of my mates in Galway to pick me up and drop me in Clare.
McGee also divulged that he managed a couple of drinks at that funeral.
Two quick pints with the boys, they were good craic. That's deadly serious.
Neil Collins
Who: Roscommon footballer.
Why is he interesting:
Paul Galvin was at the vanguard of GAA players being unafraid to express an alternative sense of fashion.
Others have followed, including Neil Collins. In an engaging column for the Irish Daily Mirror recently, the Roscommon player told of his passion out side of football.
I've always been interested in personal style and self expression.
I see at as a way of communicating a lot of personality, in a very edgy, creative way.
Between living in Dublin and travelling the world, I have seen a lot of different forms of expression, but my favourite is through clothes and personal styling.
Jackie Tyrrell
Who: Former Kilkenny hurler. Nine-time All-Ireland winner.
Why is he interesting:
Gaelic football has Paul Galvin and Neil Collins - hurling has Jackie Tyrrell.
As we've outlined in the past, Tyrell is not abashed about showing off his sartorial side.
Jack McCaffrey
Who: Dublin footballer. Two-time All-Ireland winner.
Why is he interesting:
2015 was a momentous season for Jack McCaffrey. He won his second All-Ireland medal and was named Footballer of the Year. This year, rather than remain with the Dublin panel, and win another All-Ireland with the Dublin juggernaut, McCaffrey chose instead to depart during the league. His reason: a summer working with in Africa as part of his medical degree.
McCaffrey told the Sunday Independent about his trip.
I suppose if you jumped ship and just went out to America, you know, football would be following you around the place, whereas here I can find different things to talk about. I'd heard of this programme where I am going to be working in a hospital in Zambia for a couple of weeks. I'd heard murmurings of it. Then I got a presentation on it and it sounded fantastic. If all goes to plan and I am involved in football again, would I be glad to say the only summer I took off was to go and play football in America? This is a good clean break.
Richie Hogan
Who: Kilkenny hurler
Why is he interesting:
Generally, you don't get much of interest from a Kilkenny hurler. Brian Cody has a tight grip on information coming out of the panel.
Richie Hogan is somewhat of an outlier though. He tends to be a little bit looser with his tongue.
Last year, during the Championship, he told Off The Ball about his hatred of the current format.
To be honest with you, I don't like the system at all. I hate it. I'd rather have a match every two weeks. [This year, we've] played three games and we're in an All-Ireland final. Last year, after three games, we were in a Leinster final so it's a stark contrast. If I had the choice, I'd love to play six or seven games at least in championship.
Sean Quigley
Who: Fermanagh footballer.
Why is he interesting:
Sean Quigley is a throwback to a long-forgotten age of GAA. He doesn't adhere to the strict diets employed these days by many of the top stars.
In an interview with the Irish Times, he said that he 'wasn't into stuff' like lettuce and celery. Instead, Quigley believes in late night snacking - and we're not talking a bowl of Rice Krispies.
Ahead of a qualifier against Laois two years ago, the Fermanagh full-forward went on a late night excursion to a local pizza place.
The Laois full back was a nice lad and we were just chatting away as the game went on about the different things we do for preparation and whatnot. I was asking him about what they ate before a game and that and he said the usual chicken and pasta in the hotel or whatever. Then he asked me and I was telling him all the same oul’ bullshit.
But then I started laughing and I said, ‘Here, to be totally honest about it, I ate a half a pizza last night about two o’clock in the morning. Then I got up for a drink of water about four o’clock and I ate the other half.’ He burst out laughing. I’d say he thought I was taking the piss. But I was totally serious.
