‘The concept of a drink ban never sat well with me’ – Marc Ó Sé on GAA drinking bans

Five-time All-Ireland winner Marc Ó Sé has hit out at drinking bans in the GAA and fears that if players are unable to control their downtime they will begin to resent their existence.

Ó Sé's comments come on the back of Tipperary All-Ireland winner Kieran Bergin's remarks that no other sport is asking players to abstain for months without alcohol. Speaking to Colm Parkinson on Thursday's GAA Hour, Bergin said that the commitment can only be justified by victory.

"It is an awful lot to get back out of it, don't get me wrong. It's brilliant to win an All-Ireland. A lot of inter-county players don't get that chance," said Bergin.

"At the same time, too, for the level of commitment that went in that year, at the end of the day if you were to ask me was it worth it... it was, but if you were to ask me about the sacrifices you've made to get there, it's only worth it if you win it. "If you're not winning them regularly, I don't see how it's worth being involved in an inter-county set-up for the level of commitment, the level of your life you've to put on hold."

Writing in his column in today's Irish Mail On Sunday, Ó Sé noted that there needs to be a greater level of trust in players and that serious athletes will not abuse their bodies.