The beauty of debates like this is they are very often subjective and tough as hell to definitively prove.
Damien Hayes endured his fair share of injuries during his time with Portumna and the Galway hurlers. The three-time All Star recently recounted how his baby finger was badly injured in a league game against Dublin:
“When the game was over, they had a look at it and all the ligaments and all were gone in that finger. It needed time to heel but sure we didn’t get time so for the rest of the season I was strapping my baby finger to my next finger to play matches.”
Strap it up and get on with it.
That may sound recklessly impressive but Hayes told The GAA Hour Hurling Show [from 22:40 below] all about how he feels footballers have it worse. Not every hurling fan may agree with his comments.
Hayes told host Colm Parkinson:
“To be honest with you, what you’re saying there about getting the hurl [to the ribs] and all that, it doesn’t go on an awful amount, especially at the top level. It doesn’t and if it does, it’s only the odd jab.
“Being honest, I think football is an awful lot more physical than hurling.”
Hayes continued, “A lot more pulling, dragging, heavy hitting and shouldering, nudging and elbows compared to hurling.
“When the game is in full flight, there isn’t a lot of time for that sort of messing… It’s more physical and rougher and tougher in football.
“The one thing I will say about hurling is that, from over the years, there’s some marks and some dints on my shins… there isn’t a game I play where I don’t go home and there isn’t a scar or blood or skin taken off my shins, and I don’t wear shin-guards and I don’t know any inter-county hurler that does.”
Lord above, sounds pretty damn tough.
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