Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Three games in just six days... it is simply an abuse of young stars
‘WE’RE a players’ organisation, we need to remain there to fight for players and to actually make sure players are looked after’.
This was the comment made this week by David Collins, the GPA president, a fine young man and a fine hurler.
But ask young intercounty and college players how they feel now about GPA and I believe words like abandoned, neglected and abused would be among the replies.
The GPA, in my opinion, is not looking after these players.
These young players are being flogged to death, beyond anything that’s acceptable in modern day sport.
I’m sick listening to county boards, college managements, etc. about their player management. Another year must not be allowed go by when all these games overlap.
It’s a state of emergency. These young men are being whipped. In Jim Gavin’s own words, ‘You wouldn’t do it to a greyhound’.
Almost everyone is looking out only for themselves but in recent weeks we’ve seen Gavin and Derek Mcgrath stand players down. That’s very commendable.
Where does it stop? In Kerry, David Clifford played three games in six days. His body succumbed to the top-heavy load placed on it.
And because it’s Clifford, everyone has heard the story.
Lesser names are suffering in silence. There are many examples. It’s a disgrace but because they’re not marquee players in high-profile counties, nobody gives a damn.
The GPA and the GAA should hang their heads in shame.
Ciaran Russell is a young Garda, a brilliant young Clare footballer with a great atitude. He has just played six games in 12 days – two with the Gardai in the Sigerson and two in the Fitzgibbon, and two with Clare.
His body gave up after 20 minutes against Meath on Sunday.
In the middle of this he worked nightshifts until 4am. Add in the travel involved and, in his own words: “I don’t know how I managed without a serious injury. It’s just not fair on players.”
No wonder Brian Howard, who stayed home when Dublin went on their team holiday, has said no to DIT.
He knows that if he said yes, he commits to a ludicrous schedule and won’t make the Dublin team.
His team-mate Paul Mannion broke down last year and missed two Dublin games.
Limerick’s Gearoid Hegarty was also expected to play five games in 12 days – the same player played 11 games in 33 days two years ago.
Where’s the protection? These guys are being treated like sacrifical GAA lambs to the slaughter.
I spoke to Killian Doyle on Thursday. Killian is a superb young Westmeath dual player. A lad I coached in the past.
He’s now with the county’s senior hurlers and he told me that, over 13 days, he had 11 training and playing commitments to make with the county and the college.
For two of them, he physically wasn’t able to walk. He just couldn’t do them. “It’s horrible, it’s wrong and something must be done,” Killian told me. “It’s not enjoyable.”
Oisin O’neill, the big Crossmaglen player with a huge future for Armagh, isn’t playing any county football this year. He said: “I’m trying to get my body right.”
O’neill played over 20 games between January and April last year. His body gave way to injury after injury. By the summer he was banjaxed.
The GPA are supposed to be representing these lads. But, for me, the GPA are now just an extended arm of Croke Park.
I didn’t know any different when I was 18. In that one year I played minor, under-21 and senior for my club and county, plus a bit of college football.
I only see it now, that I was in a state. I picked up injuries and never got many of them right.
When I retired due to injury, I discovered years after it was the early injuries that had caused the real damage.
College and county bosses, the directors of sports in colleges, the S & C coaches, the doctors and physios, all these professional people involved – what have they done?
I haven’t seen too many of them make a stance and walk away.
These players are still kids. They’re not adults. The mental toll is also killing them – so many don’t know if they’re coming or going.
Good, young county players deserve more than to be plucked, used and abused.
It’s crying out for someone to put a halt to this epidemic and exploitation. No wonder they’re falling off at a younger age in droves.