HE WAS ONE of the leading lights when Dublin lifted Sam Maguire in 2015 but was watching on from the stands when they retained the All-Ireland title last October.
Two years ago Jack McCaffrey was crowned the best footballer in the country but he harbours no regrets at his decision to miss out on their Sam Maguire defence in 2016.
While Dublin were plotting a course through the championship last summer, UCD medical student McCaffrey was in Africa.
He worked with GOAL in Ethiopia before taking in Kenya, Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania en route to a return home for a seat in Croke Park as Dublin engaged in thunderous All-Ireland clashes with Kerry and Mayo.
Now he’s back in harness as another championship campaign beckons.
A troublesome hamstring injury sidelined him for the league final last month but from opening day against Cavan to a sweetly-struck goal against Monaghan, he offered glimpses throughout the spring of what he will add to Dublin’s summer.
“It was a pretty good experience for me. No, no regrets. There was a lot in it. It’s just you’re grateful that you’re in a very lucky position.
“You can be a bit sheltered here. Football or study is your big priority and your forget there’s more to life than a lot of these things. So it was quite humbling alright.
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“I got back for the Kerry game which was incredible, it was so exciting. That was great to watch, you would have loved to be playing, from a spectator’s point of view it was one of the entertaining games I’ve ever seen.
“The first final was tough to watch. It was just a really weird game of football. And then at the end I was just terrified that Dublin were going to lose.
“The second final was great again, it was edge of your seat stuff.”
Jack McCaffrey in action against Cavan in February Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
McCaffrey is getting set for his final medicine exams in UCD and despite the demands of juggling studies with football commitments, he feels the two can go hand in hand.
“They complement each other at the moment. You need something outside of medicine to keep you sane and something outside of football to keep you sane so they go hand-in-hand.
“You do definitely see some people who are in some really awful predicaments and they’re staying quite positive and doing everything they can to get back to a good quality of life.
“Football is a release, but I don’t think that’s a revelation. Even going back to school and you’re studying for exams, football was always a way to get out and clear the head.”
The 2014 All-Ireland U21 winning captain did not find the return to the pace of top-level football a harsh experience.
He tipped away at the gym during his sojourn in Africa, had plenty club football with Clontarf upon flying home and there was a UCD Sigerson campaign to get set for over the winter.
“I didn’t find it too drastically difficult. it’s been really fun to be back in just around the dressing-room and having the craic with the lads again.
“Some of my very good friends are in there and it was a relatively painless transition back in.
“It was just a matter of thinking what do I really enjoy doing when I got back. The answer is playing football at the highest level I can.
“Luckily Jim invited me back in and it’s going well.”
'No regrets' over Africa trip, juggling medicine and football, returning to the Dublin camp
HE WAS ONE of the leading lights when Dublin lifted Sam Maguire in 2015 but was watching on from the stands when they retained the All-Ireland title last October.
Two years ago Jack McCaffrey was crowned the best footballer in the country but he harbours no regrets at his decision to miss out on their Sam Maguire defence in 2016.
While Dublin were plotting a course through the championship last summer, UCD medical student McCaffrey was in Africa.
He worked with GOAL in Ethiopia before taking in Kenya, Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania en route to a return home for a seat in Croke Park as Dublin engaged in thunderous All-Ireland clashes with Kerry and Mayo.
Now he’s back in harness as another championship campaign beckons.
A troublesome hamstring injury sidelined him for the league final last month but from opening day against Cavan to a sweetly-struck goal against Monaghan, he offered glimpses throughout the spring of what he will add to Dublin’s summer.
“It was a pretty good experience for me. No, no regrets. There was a lot in it. It’s just you’re grateful that you’re in a very lucky position.
“You can be a bit sheltered here. Football or study is your big priority and your forget there’s more to life than a lot of these things. So it was quite humbling alright.
“I got back for the Kerry game which was incredible, it was so exciting. That was great to watch, you would have loved to be playing, from a spectator’s point of view it was one of the entertaining games I’ve ever seen.
“The first final was tough to watch. It was just a really weird game of football. And then at the end I was just terrified that Dublin were going to lose.
“The second final was great again, it was edge of your seat stuff.”
McCaffrey is getting set for his final medicine exams in UCD and despite the demands of juggling studies with football commitments, he feels the two can go hand in hand.
“They complement each other at the moment. You need something outside of medicine to keep you sane and something outside of football to keep you sane so they go hand-in-hand.
“You do definitely see some people who are in some really awful predicaments and they’re staying quite positive and doing everything they can to get back to a good quality of life.
“Football is a release, but I don’t think that’s a revelation. Even going back to school and you’re studying for exams, football was always a way to get out and clear the head.”
The 2014 All-Ireland U21 winning captain did not find the return to the pace of top-level football a harsh experience.
He tipped away at the gym during his sojourn in Africa, had plenty club football with Clontarf upon flying home and there was a UCD Sigerson campaign to get set for over the winter.
“I didn’t find it too drastically difficult. it’s been really fun to be back in just around the dressing-room and having the craic with the lads again.
“Some of my very good friends are in there and it was a relatively painless transition back in.
“It was just a matter of thinking what do I really enjoy doing when I got back. The answer is playing football at the highest level I can.
“Luckily Jim invited me back in and it’s going well.”
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