THE LENGTH OF the GAA club season has been branded as ‘ridiculous’ and ‘nonsense’ by Limerick senior hurler David Breen.
The 28 year-old was yesterday honoured with the Munster club hurler of the year award for 2013 for his exploits with the Na Piarsaigh team who won the provincial title last November before losing to Portumna in their recent All-Ireland semi-final.
After enduring a nine-week wait for the game, Breen believes it is time to finish the club championships in a calendar year rather than sticking with the traditional St Patrick’s Day slot.
“I just think the length of the season is ridiculous, especially when you take county lads who are coming back in November 2012 and then you keep going playing with your county and then your club and you are finishing up in February 2014. It is nonsense.
“It is one thing to say that it is about tradition and Paddy’s Day. It is something fantastic that players dream about but at the end of the day it is constant loading, constant training, constant driving for guys who are away.
“The fact that there is nine weeks between matches does not mean that players take a break for those nine weeks. Managers just keep going and you keep training away.
“I know it is great running out on Paddy’s Day but it is a bloody long wait until then. And the feedback from players is that everyone would like to have it done and dusted in the calendar year.”
Expert View
Breen works as a physio in the Sports Surgery Clinic in Santry in Dublin. He is set to go under the knife soon to correct a knee problem and believes there is a wider problem of GAA players being flogged which impacts on the longevity of their careers.
“A lot of GAA players will suck it up and get on with it. But by the time things come to a head and guys are going in for knee replacements and hip replacements they have hung up the boots a long time ago and no one is listening to them at that stage.
The whole issue is brushed under the carpet. It needs to be regulated. Guys careers are being cut short because guys are flogging themselves, not taking adequate down time.”
Gave it his all, just an out and out dogged grafter, which is what’s you want from your backrowers. signed my son’s jersey and couldn’t have been more polite. An absolute gent. Thanks for everything Kevin
Great player. Big loss to Irish and Leinster Rugby. Hope he stays involved in the game in some capacity as he has a lot to offer. All the best
That’s a shame. Great player and contributor to Leinster rugby. All the best to him.
Top bloke, sad to see him go.
All the best for the future Kev. Thanks for the memories.
Always sad to read this. A great servant to Leinster. Best of luck in whatever you decide to do.
Best of luck Kev- those line out steals v Leicester in the 1/4 finals kind of summed up that win for us (for me)- great performance from a true professional.
At least he has a few Ireland caps as a reward for his efforts. A gentleman on the pitch and very nearly missed out on it all a few years back. Deserves luck in the “afterlife”.
sad news. was a good player .
Showed belief and commitment to come through the injuries that dogged him til he was 25 , deserved his caps and was excellent for Leinster on so many occasions . Sad to see him go out this way , he deserves more .
Seems like a lot of players retiring lately!! Always gave it his all!! Wish him well for the future!!
Great player and total grafter that allowed others to take the plaudits . I hope he gets a break with a coaching role if he wants to continue. I suspect he’s got a lot to offer Irish and Leinster rugby.
Has ” an absolute gent” replaced ” ledge” as the cliche used to describe these guys ? Lol
Are calling Ken a CocoNUT?
is,he brown and hairy?
Sad to see a player that good having to finish like this but he has a life after rugby too , your health is your wealth Kevin , the very best of luck to you in the future