REBELS ARE GIVEN FRIGHT OF THEIR LIVES BY WATERFORD
Medical student is breaking modern GAA mould
‘FOOTBALL IS AN INTENSIVE HOBBY... YOU HAVE TO PAY THE BILLS
JACK McCAFFREY has already cast himself against type: Footballer of the Year in 2015, the UCD medical student decided to step away from Dublin’s bid for back-to-back All-Ireland senior football titles to spend time in Africa working with GOAL. Now five years into a six-year college course, he has spent the season not only back in a sky-blue shirt but on placement, the Mater Hospital a regular base as well as stints in Wexford and Westmeath.
He hasn’t thought about the way in which the GAA landscape has shifted, how the modern demands of the inter-county game have been reflected in career choices.
Of last year’s All-Ireland hurling finalists Tipperary and Kilkenny, a strong core were teachers or students.
There wasn’t a single tradesman on either of the starting 15s. Much of the changing landscape is down to players picking careers to fit with being a county player. Kerry’s Darran O’Sullivan and Donegal’s Karl Lacey are just two who put football demands first at different stages of their own career.
When it is put to him that the life of a junior doctor and an intercounty footballer might not be very compatible, he says he’ll cross that bridge when he comes to it.
‘I don’t think they are mutually exclusive. I’m sure it will be tough. Everyone works hard when they start their first job. I haven’t a clue what end [of medicine] I want to go in to. I’ll play it by ear.
‘My own first-hand experience is within the Dublin set-up and career comes first, to be honest. If you’re studying, your studies come first. That work-life balance is huge. Ultimately, Gaelic football is fantastic and we’re so privileged and honoured but, if you’re playing at 34 you’re doing well – your career is for the rest of your life.’
His fellow defender Cian O’Sullivan has echoed manager Jim Gavin’s line about all those involved juggling various ‘glass balls’, be it sport, work, family.
McCaffrey’s decision to broaden his horizons only last year shows he is living testimony to a life that is framed by a lot more than football.
‘It’s an amateur sport. An intensive hobby, if you can say that. Lads have to work. You have to pay the bills. It’s always something that’s gone hand-in-hand.
‘Obviously I haven’t been out in the working world yet but I’ve seen lads first-hand who are doing very, very well professionally, and manage it excellently. I think it’s still quite doable.
‘The break was fantastic. Really, really enjoyed it. I don’t think it brought any massive philosophical shift in my personality or anything but it was quite eye-opening alright. Something that gives you the desire further down the line, when I’m a bit older to offer something down there. Maybe go back, try and be a bit of help. At this stage, I was kind of in the way more than anything else.’
The story of the football championship so far has been next Saturday’s Leinster quarter-final opponent Carlow who took the scalp of Wexford to release joyous scenes of celebration after a first provincial championship victory in six years.
Since securing a third All-Ireland in six seasons against Mayo, holders Dublin have had to live with the perception that a 12th Leinster title in 13 seasons will be a cakewalk.
‘The mindset of most people is not our mindset,’ he replies. ‘That’s maybe one of the reasons we’ve had success, one of our principles, our philosophy is the next game is the most important game. As soon as you look away from that, you’re setting yourself up for a fall. All the focus is the first round of the championship. We’re not looking at anything else.’
One aspect of the Dublin camp that has changed is in relation to Bernard Dunne who has had to give up a sports performance role with the players after landing the job of high performance director at the Irish Athletic Boxing Association.
‘He was good to have around the place. This is a guy who has reached the pinnacle of an ultra-competitive sport. World champion. It was really interesting to be able to bounce stuff off him.’
Just last summer, McCaffrey was just a face in the crowd at Croke Park, only returning from his travels abroad a few days before Dublin’s thrilling All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry. ‘That game was incredible. One of the most entertaining games I’ve seen at any level. Really something. You just lose yourself in the game once the ball was thrown in. End-to-end stuff. Madness. You flick back into fan mode. I was a Dublin fan for 14, 15 years before I was ever a player so I have more experience of doing that.’
McCaffrey is more than conscious that he is lucky to be part of a golden generation for Dublin football. ‘I even look a bit closer to home. My father played for Dublin for a number of years – he lost an All-Ireland final and never got back. We’re extremely lucky.
‘It’s something I’m conscious of.’