What might have been.
The funny thing about those who make it to the top of any sport is that quite often they could just as easily have made it to the top of another.
In Ireland, there is a GAA club in every parish, there’ll be a rugby club in every town. Young stars are in demand by both but when they pass their teenage years they realise that it’s impossible to commit to both.
The choice has to be made. We’ve seen many lads, like Tadhg Furlong, Darren Sweetnam, Tomás O’Leary, Tommy Bowe and Rob Kearney go the other way, so it’s about time we gave a shout to the lads who stuck with the GAA despite enjoying promising rugby careers.
In fairness, the skills involved in both are very transferable. Hand eye co-ordination is key, strength, bravery and speed. Are we talking about the GAA or rugby?
Butit can be a tough decision to make. All sports are enjoyable to play, so often it just comes down to the ability lads have in either of the sports, or the potential of success.
1. Andy Smith (Galway)
The former Galway hurling vice captain could just as easily have mad it with the oval ball, having represented his country at underage level. Hurling was always going to win his focus, however, considering the golden generation of hurlers that were present in Portumna during that period.
Smith could turn his hand to anything. He’s also a low handicapped golfer.
He went on to win four All-Ireland club titles with the East Galway outfit. That’s not a bad innings. Who knows where the rugby path might have taken him to?
2. Kevin ‘Chunky’ Hayes (Galway)
In fairness, ‘Chunky’ is a nickname you’d expect to hear on the hurling field over the rugby one, but down in east Galway you’ll hear it on both. Kevin Hayes still plays hurling for Portumna. He also plays rugby with his local club.
Built like a brick wall, after one of club hurling’s most successful sides were knocked out of the Galway championship last year, that size was put to good use in the winter months where he played for Portumna RFC as a number eight.
“He’s unbelievable, an absolute bear,” said a teammate to us.
With the club preparing for a top of the table clash with rivals Loughrea in the Senior League Final this weekend, Hayes’ contribution will be key.
3. Conor Sweeney (Tipperary)
Tipperary’s sharpshooting corner forward could just as easily have been an out-half for Munster.
“I played rugby for six years when I was in school – I went to a rugby-playing school. I played for a year when I went to college and, after that, I just focused on the round ball,” he explained on the latest GAA Hour.
“When you’re playing it for seven years on the trot, you develop the skills and the know-how to go with it but I never thought about it too much to be honest. I always enjoyed it.”
“When you’re playing out-half, you kind of have control over the game which I enjoyed. A lot of stuff would go through the out-half which suited me but I’m happy enough where I am now. With the knocks the rugby boys are taking these days, I don’t think I fancy too much of that to be honest.”
4. Sean Armstrong (Galway)
Armstrong played All-Ireland League with Shannon RFC before he turned his attention to gaelic football.
He has been on the scene for quite a while now, but the 3-1 he scored in an All-Ireland under-21 final for his county in 2005 must have made that decision a little bit easier.
Shannon RFC are still ruing the blow.
Galway's No.13,Sean Armstrong is a former AIL player with us..a great rugby prospect until County Board put the pressure on…nice guy too..
— Shannon RFC (@Shannon_RFC) May 19, 2013
5. Graham Geraghty (Meath)
The man who won All-Irelands with Meath, got soccer trials with Arsenal and played rugby with the Buccaneers.
The Royal County legend was a sporting prodigy from a young age, and he won a Junior Cup medal with the Buccs during his eventful career.
So athletic, so skillful. The man had it all.
6. Diarmuid ‘The Rock’ O’Sullivan (Cork)
After hanging up his hurl, the number three who always looked like more of a rugby player played in the All-Ireland League with Midleton.
Imagine him in the scrum. We’re thinking Paul O’Connell-esque.
7. Dean Rock (Dublin)
The Ballymun Kickhams man played rugby with his secondary school, CUS, as he told SportsJOE earlier this year.
“I would have played a huge amount of rugby and I would have went to rugby training rather than Gaelic training on numerous occasions.”
“I suppose when I came to 18, I thought which one am I better at and I was slightly better at the Gaelic even though I enjoyed rugby just as much. It was just a decision that I made that I would stick with the Gaelic. Obviously, I’m glad that I have done so.”
Fresh from kicking the winning point in the All-Ireland final, the whole of Dublin are glad he did, too.
8. David Beggy (Meath)
One of the zippiest, paciest and most talented forwards to have ever put boot to an O’Neill’s Size Five, Beggy also graced many a rugby pitch with his presence.
The man who’s talent knew no bounds wore the blue of Leinster in the 1980s.
Some lads can turn their hands to anything.
Have we left anybody out?
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