Cavanagh fears players are losing perspective

Sean Cavanagh has urged the GAA to look into the growing numbers of inter-county players that are putting the sport ahead of their careers.

The growing demands on players has resulted in some taking time out from their respective careers in order to focus on their playing commitments, while others are basing their career choices around football and hurling.

As an accountant, Cavanagh is fortunate to be in a position to play inter-county football, but the Tyrone veteran believes the GAA and GPA work with players to ensure they are making the correct decision when it comes to their careers.

"That’s a massive thing in Gaelic football, players foregoing careers. I’m seeing it in the past few years becoming a huge trend," Cavanagh told The Irish News.

"The biggest example is the amount of inter-county footballers that are teachers now. Everybody likes the idea of having the summer off and having a few hours free in the evening.

"Subconsciously, and even consciously, a lot of players are going down that route, and not necessarily because it’s the best for their chosen path in life or what they love doing. It’s because it’s the easiest road of resistance in terms of being an inter-county footballer.

“That, to me, is wrong and it’s something the GAA has to look at.”

Cavanagh is worried about the growing trend of players who are working shorter weeks to ensure they have enough recovery times between training sessions.

"I've seen players who are considering job-sharing because they like the idea of having a Wednesday and a Friday off to recover from a Tuesday and Thursday training," Cavanagh explained.

"To me, that's a ridiculously foreign concept. I've been in a sedentary job that allows me to work that balance, I'm office based or on the road and then training at night, but people shouldn't have to forego gaining the kind of career in a profession they should for the love of Gaelic football.

"They're going to do it naturally, the sacrifices that county players make whether they're from Tyrone or they're from Carlow or wherever, are quite similar.

"But we have to remember it's an amateur sport and that everyone has a life to lead afterwards." 

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