FORMER MEATH GOALKEEPER Paddy O’Rourke says there’s a “huge upside” to not being involved with the inter-county set-up anymore and believes that many more players are enduring rather than enjoying their time with their counties.
The 28-year-old also revealed he was considering walking away from Meath as early as last summer — following defeat to Donegal — before eventually hanging up his gloves during a conversation with Royals’ boss Andy McEntee in November.
The reason for his decision is simple; the commitment levels required to play inter-county football have increased every year. O’Rourke says this leaves players isolated from family, friends and their club colleagues.
“How can you justify training five or six nights per week for eight or nine months of the year, without a realistic chance of winning anything?” O’Rourke told the AIB GAA Blog.
“I’m not the only one either. Donnacha Tobin has gone back to his club too, while Alan Douglas was so frustrated with a lack of game-time that he has since joined up with the county hurlers. I’d say there are loads more players up and down the country feeling the same way.
“Maybe four counties are exempted from that, the ones who can genuinely look their players in the eye and say there is a real chance of winning an All-Ireland title. You’ve Dublin and a couple of more that can win it, that’s it. Otherwise, there are no fluke winners, or teams even getting to the final in unexpected fashion.
“All that training and commitment for one or two big championship games, so many other players must also be hating it. I honestly couldn’t tell you what motivates the rest of them.”
O’Rourke also said he believes it will only get worse for players with the introduction of the Super 8s benefiting only the counties already in with a chance of winning silverware.
“How can a Carlow or Leitrim, for example, expect to make their way into a Super 8 group, beat a Tyrone for example, and then push on after that? They can’t.
“Maybe a secondary championship would make more sense, but once you get knocked out all you want to do is focus on your club at that point. Because pretty quickly, it’ll be October and you’ll be staring down the barrel of inter-county pre-season again. The cycle starts over.”
You can read O’Rourke’s full comments here.
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Up mayo
It’ll be close but Mayo by 2/3 points.
Kerry to help Mayo tomorrow – ie beating them so that they wont be in a position to lose 3 finals in a row
Yeah seriously. Mayo won’t be Dublin and it would be awful to lose three finals in a row. They’re actually better off losing tomorrow! lol
That’s right Petr – Kerry won’t fear Dublin one iota. They were extremely unlucky to lose the final 3 years ago and were leading by a point in the 69th minute of last year’s semi.
Yup. Kerry certainly won’t fear Dublin. That said, last year Dublin beat Kerry by seven points. That was the final score whatever way you slice or dice it. This Dublin team is something we haven’t seen before I think.
The current Dublin team doesn’t bear comparison with the Kerry team of the late 70s/early 80s, not yet anyway. To be considered a truly great team they will need to win at least 2 more all Ireland’s. The Tyrone team of 2003-2008 and Kerry between 2004- 2009 were superior units. Medals and trophies are what matters and Dublin still have a lot to achieve.
Yes I agree with that. What I’m saying is, I think they’re only getting going. None of those previous teams were putting teams away by 15 point margins. Well, let’s wait and see. Some great matches to come. :)
All those teams were putting teams away by 15 point margins. Dublin have been hugely impressive this season but let’s maintain perspective – Monaghan, Meath etc are very poor teams and it’s safe to assume that Dublin won’t be winning a semi or a final (assuming they are there) by such huge margins.
You lads are forgetting that this ‘great’ Dublin team only beat mayo by a point last year…
It’s a 70 min game you dope… They were also the first to score… If the ref blew it u then they would have won… How’s that for logic ???
“All those teams were putting teams away by 15 point margins.”
Eh, actually they weren’t.
Hope Mayo bate the shit out of them
Hope away!
I wonder who Mayo will be playing in the Final??????
There are related articles which are covering tomorrow’s Minor Semi final – so maybe you should check that out.
Come on Kerry best of luck.
Hon Mayo, Gooch is a massive loss, Mayo to win by a minimum of 3 points…
I have a feeling Kerry will be their usual snake in the grass selves and pull away with a 2/3 point win. Would love to see a Kerry Dublin final!
Kerry have come to this point very quietly. I think Mayo are not as strong as last year and they know it too. I think the doubt will kill them tomorrow.
Interesting the winning 2006 semi with Dublin is mentioned but not the total disaster the final was for them versus Kerry.
Kerry to win.
And maybe Donegal to beat Dublin….?
I hope your right jonny boy, I hope your right
Have a nice day at home pulling your plum, while we’re in Croke Park donal :)