Absence a timely reminder that sport is to be enjoyed

I like so many others love my sport, from playing soccer, GAA, tennis, golf and squash. I’ve had a lifetime of enjoyment participating and watching sport and over the last few weeks have missed the football on the TV, in Oriel Park, watching Dundalk Schoolboys League action and my small involvement with Glenmuir United in a coaching/managing capacity for one of their teams.

Thankfully golf was one of the last sports to stop prior to the lockdown and one of the first to resume playing over four weeks ago.

However in the weeks of lockdown, I have read plenty of sports pieces in our newspapers, local and national, as well as online sources such as The Athletic, while I have dipped in and out of The Last Dance, a fabulous insightful, behind the scenes look at the Chicago Bulls and their iconic player of the 1990s - Michael Jordan, which was released on Netflix and became a big talking point when there was little other sport to talk about.

Two conclusions I’ve drawn in the last number of weeks, is that professional top level sport, is a money game, it’s all about the money, whether it is staging the competitions, the prizemoney on offer, the big contracts of Premier League stars and the eye-boggling transfers commanded not only by the very top players, but the countless millions wasted on average Premier League footballers.

Nothing new in all of that, but the struggles to restart the Airtricity League here in Ireland and the brewing row between the IRFU and players over wage cuts remind us that top level sport is big business and with that big expenses and contracts that need people expect to be honoured.

The other conclusion I’ve drawn is how sport has become so, so serious, that the fun has been sucked out of sport.

Recently one of the national newspapers featured a lengthly interview with legendary RTE commentator Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh and in it, he made the point that it seemed to him that the fun of sport, seems lost in the obession to get fitter, faster, stronger and to win at the expense of all else.

Leading strength and conditioning coach Lukasz Kirszenstein who was in the backroom team as Tipperary and Galway won the 2016 and 2017 All Ireland titles is concerned that the drink bans imposed by so many GAA teams as part of the commitment expected off amateur players, has led to unhealthy relationship with alcohol and high incidences of binge drinking.

In recent days, there has been much looking back at Euro ‘88 and Italia ‘90, Ireland’s first two experiences of tournament football.

It was time of marvellous memories for those old enough, a time of great adventures and innoence as the nation partied and enjoyed those heady days.

The players weren’t cocooned away from fans as would be the case today, they enjoyed a pint or two with supporters in the aftermath of wins over England in Germany and Romania in Turin. You wonder if today’s equivalent would garner such treasured memories.

Former international Niall Quinn reflected that Ireland gained an edge from their approach, in having a relaxed approach and remembering to enjoy the achievement in getting to the 1990 World Cup, where lest we forget the team reached the quarter finals.

Perhaps we have lost the aspect of enjoying sport along the way as coaching manuals, coaching badges, TV anyalsis developed, strength and conditioning coaches and dietiticans took over the pitches and dressingrooms.

We have forgotten to enjoy our sport, whether are playing, coaching or just watching from the sideline.

It is ten years since Louth reached last reached a Leinster Final and their previous appearance was 50 years before that. Two finals in sixty years in a competition limited to eleven counties, with Kilkenny discounted.

It’s not to point out the failure of Louth teams down the years, but perhaps we might enjoy the journey a bit more, especially when the chances of success are relatively slim.

Playing for your county is an honour and every player wants to be competitive, but the whole point when we first kicked a ball as children was fun and enjoyment. It wasn’t a grind as a child.

Winning is great, but there can only be one winner in every competition.

Dundalk have enjoyed more than their fair share of success in recent seasons and we have all enjoyed those victories, trophies and European adventures, but there is a bigger picture.

Perhaps we might remember to enjoy our sport a bit more when it is unleashed again in the coming weeks. Winning isn’t everything, taking part is part the fun.