No Country for (not even) old men

The past few weeks appear to have revealed an unprecedented number of high profile retirements - Tyrone footballers - Kilkenny hurlers - Tipp Hurlers etc.

Now some of these are explained by rumoured tiffs and some by ageing limbs - but that aside there would still appear to be quite a high incident of players at the very top level calling it a day when they are in what traditionally would have been their "prime years".

Clearly there is an increasing demand on all intercounty players and it is even more intense for those playing for counties that have genuine champioship aspirations.


Is there a possibility that we are now reaching a crossroads in the sport - In proffessional sport someone who is earning a lucrative living can invest the time in ensuring that they are conditioned to play on at the highest level into their eary to mid thirties. Brian O Driscoll, Ryan Giggs, Ronan O Gara, Roger Federer, dozens of boxers etc etc.

These competitors can afford to put in the effort required during "working hours" and still allow some balance for the family demands that often come with hitting that age band.

In the GAA students or "young carefree cubs" in their early twenties are able to put in the dual commitment that comes with a 40 hour working week (with some leeway as they are often in "trainee roles") and another 30 hours of GAA related activty - plus they also enjoy the benefit of natural fitness that becomes more of a chore and more recovery time as the clock ticks on.

for the player in his late twenties or early thirties the amateur game of old accomodated the level of fitness that was achievable with two nights training and a game at the weekend, which still allowed time for the family and career/business commitments that are more likely to present themselves in that cohort.

But I fear that where the game is going the "older player" is going to have to make increased sacrificies and we will naturally see more players deciding that they cannot make the commitment.

So we end up with a Dilemna of a "proffessional" commitment sport where players cannot be proffessional in which case its going to be an increasingly young mans game.