GAA ‘professionals’ no longer dedicated followers of career path

With the elite Gaelic footballer being amateur yet professional, his actual profession seems guaranteed to suffer. Major sponsors, like AIB, employ some but most players remain as students until their legs are flogged.

In the case of Neil Patrick Collins, the line blurs. Always has.

“I work in the fashion industry,” the Roscommon full back explained. “I study a Masters in fashion business, I work for Brown Thomas with their men’s brands and I got my own clothing brand as well that I put a lot of energy into.

“This T-shirt is mine,” he smiles, protruding his chest. “Yeah, it’s cool, baggy and relaxed looking.”

The 26-year-old is quick to laugh at himself but beneath the engaging exterior there exists a ferocious work ethic. There has to be. Life as an intercounty footballer has become a ridiculously demanding pursuit where every-day expenses are barely covered.

Borders on madness

So to embark on a career in fashion or any profession borders on madness. Add family life into the equation and it no longer seems possible. Something inevitably snaps (usually a cruciate).

“I definitely find it challenging sometimes to devote a lot of time to it,” Collins admitted. “We are expected to put in a lot of time into it and if you have other things that you are focused on it can sometimes take away from that.

“I suppose the bottom line is I don’t have to play for Roscommon if I choose to focus on something else. It’s a conscious decision for me to put that time and energy into playing with my county.”

But an overriding impression is that really talented players are compelled to live up to their underage pedigree.

“I am not compelled,” Collins disagreed. “I am compelled to do whatever I want to do. I play football for a reason. I really enjoy it.

“I make a decision to put that time and energy into it. When you are enjoying it and the team is rising it makes it a lot easier.”

The Paul Galvin comparison is mentioned. “Yeah, he is getting on well with his brand in Dunnes Stores. I have always interested to see what he is doing as we have similar interests.”

His own website, in partnership with Jamie Maguire, is crypticclique.com. “It’s challenging to find the time but we are still working on it.”

A double life of sorts, this makes Collins a rarity in Gaelic games.

“Maybe so. I would say my lifestyle outside of sport is quite different. I guess I have to be very current in my interests outside sport because that’s the industry I am in.

“But when I come back to playing for Roscommon I try to be as conservative as possible, get it done, which is challenging as well!

“When I play football I believe I am a tough competitor. I am very focused when I am on the football pitch so I really don’t think it matters what I do outside of that. Nobody really cares what I do so long as I am tough mentally and physically.”

Tyrone is different to anywhere else. Ronan O'Neill has been their rising star since minor. The student's transition into Mickey Harte's senior team, which his 2-2 against Derry last Sunday so emphatically proved is complete, was stalled by a cruciate ligament tear in 2012.

Questions about his fitness levels ever since saw him bracketed in the Icarus realm alongside Kyle Coney.

“I had to think long and hard in the off-season whether I wanted to be with Tyrone, whether I was good enough to be there,” said O’Neill. “I made the decision I would give it a right good lash.”

The way Tyrone play demands fitness levels that are only comparable to professional athletes. It requires sacrifice that would make any extracurricular pursuit horrendously challenging.

Get in shape

“Mickey was looking for me to push on this year, to be an important part of the team. I took it upon myself to get in shape.”

It seems all-consuming, playing football for Tyrone, perhaps only comparable to Kerry and Kilkenny.

“It’s an absolute privilege to play for Tyrone,” O’Neill replied. “Just the players who have worn the jersey before us ... It’s great to be part of this Tyrone team. Great.”

Colm O'Neill is at the other end of the scale. The brilliant 27-year-old Cork forward has seen his football career – his actual job being in the bank – devastated by knee problems. But he keeps returning.

“The game has gone unbelievably fast. The amount of time and effort involved, I’d say very few intercounty players have family or kids. It’s nearly full time in terms of being professional.”

So the system is rigged? “Ah, I think you get plenty back. I don’t think players are really calling out to get paid for it. I don’t think it will ever get to that. Intercounty players are well looked after. Just the pure enjoyment, that hope and expectation. And when you get to big games like All-Ireland finals you appreciate all the time that has gone into it. But they don’t come around all that often.”

With that attitude change can never come. Professional amateurs they remain.