Hurling gladiators must prioritise rest over relaxation as relentless schedule leaves no time for craic

RTÉ News​

24-04-2025

Sometimes in life we build things up too much and are left with a sense of anti-climax.
This certainly cannot be said of the Munster hurling championship, as once again last weekend it gave us all we hoped for and more. All boxes were ticked - atmosphere, intensity, drama and some brilliant hurling displays.
Are we seriously expecting more of the same again a week later? Yes, yes we are.
The Colosseum served as a powerful symbol of Roman power and entertainment, attracting vast crowds and offering a range of thrilling and often bloody spectacles.
Hurling fans attending matches this weekend at Walsh Park and Páirc Uí Chaoimh will have similar expectations, minus perhaps the lust for actual death. We're not at the point where we are literally calling for heads, but are we right to expect so much from these modern-day gladiators?
Recently I asked some inter-county players what their Monday after championship Sunday in the round-robin looks like. Recovery is the main thing. Recovery hubs and physio visits result in many taking the Monday off work, with some understanding bosses to allow them to do so.
I recall taking Mondays off after championship games during my own time, but the recovery back then was in the form of elbow stretches in a public house. We lived for those days out as a group. Even better if there was a cup for company, but it was all about the enjoyment of the group. Some of the best memories I have from my time with Tipp came from those bonding sessions.
Nowadays there simply isn't the time for this. There is barely the time for players to get a pizza or a greasy bag of chips afterwards and I'd be confident the majority would not want it in their system either just in case it jeopardised preparation for the following week.
This is where I really do feel for the modern player. Sure they get to play in front of packed stadiums and get all the plaudits that go with it, but those days represent a tiny percentage of the work and commitment they give to get to that 75 minutes on game day.
I was involved with the University of Limerick in their Fitzgibbon Cup campaign this year and I got a real flavour of the culture among elite young hurlers. They are great ambassadors for our game on and off the pitch, but I can't help but feel the craic away from the field of play is lacking.
Only one team gets to win each year and I think any players pictured having a few drinks gets blown out of all context. The GAA culture appears so anti-drink, especially compared to sports such as rugby.
All-Star trips are great at fostering that sense of community among opposing inter-county players, but only a select group of hurlers experience those getaways.
I would love to see the day where, similar to rugby, both teams come together post-match and share some form of beverage. Rivalries cast aside, it would allow players to meet the human inside the helmet, to share stories and shake hands. It would be a sign of respect.
It might seem crazy, but maybe referees could even pop down and have a chat with the players, talk about what they got right and maybe what they got wrong but in a safe environment, once again creating that human connection between all. It would also serve to benefit the on-field relations between officials and players alike.
The longevity of hurling careers will reduce due to the intensity of these games and the time between them.
Finally, I'm repeating myself here, but the championship simply must go back to a May start. It felt all wrong being down in Nowlan Park last week and looking down at the date reading 19 April.
Easter should not be for championship, it should be for egg and the resurrection of Jesus, not the comeback of Nickie Quaid!