TONY BROWNE HAS revealed that his own punishing training regimes were crucial to prolonging his Waterford hurling career for 23 seasons.
The 40 year-old called time on his inter-county involvement last week after a staggering career that started back in 1991.
Speaking to Newstalk’s Off The Ball programme tonight, Browne revealed how he managed to keep going for so long at the top.
“A lot of people would have thought that I came back in to training very late on in the year but that really wasn’t the case. You can’t afford to do that with the level the game has gone to now.
“I went back training the 1st of January every year but I was working to different programmes. Coming into the latter end of my career, the big thing for me would have been recovery. I would have fitted a huge amount of training in to one day and then a full recovery the day after.
“To give you an example of a day in my late 30′s, I knew I needed to have the capacity to cover a lot of distances in the field. If we were training on a Tuesday, I’d have a 5k or 8k run done before I’d even head in to squad training.
“I’d have that done early in the morning or early in the evening so that when I hit the training session, I was well warmed up. A lot of people wouldn’t have known that.”
Browne paid tribute to the managers who helped facilitate him.
“In Justin McCarthy and Davy Fitz, I was really lucky that they wanted me around. Davy Fitz was super for me. He knew the way I trained. It was completely scheduled and tailored. He was tipping me off and giving me plenty notice when he wanted me to be ready and fresh (for A v B games or challenges).
“I think we have this perception in GAA that when you hit 31, 32, 33, that you’re written off at that stage or you’re on the back burner.
“I think if you manage yourself right and you’ve very understanding managers around the camp, and it’s managed in the right way, I’m a firm believer that you can play well into your 30′s.”
The Mount Sion club man pinpointed the 2010 Munster final replay win as a special moment and believed he bowed out at the ‘right time’ for himself and Waterford.
“2010 was special for me. I was well into my 30′s and I won the battle proving that it could still be done and go out seven days after for the replay. I sensed it was probably the last Munster final that I’d win. It was fantastic to still be part and parcel of it.
“I didn’t want to go back feeling that maybe it was time to leave some of the younger talent coming through. It was the perfect time for me and for the future of Waterford hurling as well.”
You can listen to the full interview from Off The Ball on Newstalk here
A truly dedicated athlete at the highest level. He will be hugely missed from championship hurling.
Hopefully his knowledge won’t be lost to either Mt Sion or Waterford. Thanks for so many great years Tony. DèiseAbú
He makes me feel totally inadequate as a human being.
He’ll be missed by us all in Waterford.
Absolute class act and a gentleman off the pitch. He has done it all and won most honours and He will have no regrets – the Under 21 medal in 92 was fantastic and set the Deise on a track of success
Well done Tony
One of Waterford’s greatest hurlers in the last 30 years
Great player, loved watching him play even against Cork, my own county. Huge respect for him
Fabulous hurler. Still had two or three years left as a super sub….
What a warrior
Fair play to the man..as a cat I love my hurling..and wouldnt have begrudged him a celtic cross..terrific achievement to have played inter county for so long.
Tony Browne is telling porkies !!!
5 or 8km? That is a warm up for elite athletes no matter what. If Tony, fine player as he was, thinks that is particulartly dedicated then maybe the mad Kerryman Kiernan was right about GAA players.
@winston. An elite athlete who still had to do the 9-5 job and raise a family. Not like these “athletes” kiernan refers to who piss around living on grants
He’s not professional, sounds like a lot of dedication for somebody with a day job too