Miles upon miles upon miles. Leaving work or college at 3pm and getting home at 1am with a rigorous training session and two epic car rides in between.
As so many who live outside of Dublin will tell you, heading to the capital city is often imperative for career or education prospects.
There are jobs and college places on the go, closer to home, but they don’t always suit. Dublin is a thriving hub for so much and lures the best and brightest from across the country.
That includes GAA players – club and inter-county. Every evening and weekend, across the country, young men and women will hop into their cars or get a lift with a teammate to trek home. The lure of representing their hometown team is equally strong.
The commitment required is, in many cases, immense.
SportsJOE spoke with Joe Canning [Galway], Tiernan McCann [Tyrone] and Mayo boss Stephen Rochford about the everyday reality of those long drives to and from Dublin and discovered just what is required to go the distance.
Joe Canning
The Galway talisman is now working much closer to home but, for many years, he faced a massive commute from Dublin. He told us:
“You were coming up three or four times a week – it was just the recovery part of it more than anything.
“You were fine doing it but, in the long run, you weren’t able to get to the sea after training or small things like that – or wait on for a physio just to get the body right.
“You couldn’t do things like that because you’re sitting in the car for two hours again and your hamstrings and your hips and stuff are tightening up because you’re sitting in the car straight after training.”
Tiernan McCann
The Tryone defender works as a pharmacist in Dublin. One benefit from working so far from home, he says, is that most people he chats with on weekdays don’t tie him up with GAA questions.
The downside must be the sheer amount of time he spends shooting up and down the N2. McCann says:
“Most of the time I would try to get away on time for training because it’s a two-hour trek to Garvaghey and then another two-hour trek back up the road,” he said.
“Then you have to factor in your foam rolling after the drive and stretching and getting something to eat too. It’s working out at the minute but, long term, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
Stephen Rochford
Colm Parkinson caught up with the Mayo boss after his side’s thrilling All-Ireland semi final draw with Kerry.
Six days out from another replay at Croke Park [their second in a month], Rochford reflected on the journeys ahead for some of his key players.
“Well I suppose we have experience with that at this stage. But, look, it’s the same for everybody else.
“We have a couple of players that live and work in Dublin so how we manage their energy levels this week, in relation to their travel and what they have to do, we’ll throw that all in.”
A few of the Mayo panel may well be tempted to use up some annual leave over the coming days so they can pour everything into the effort of reaching the All-Ireland final again.
“Well, I’d probably be considering it,” said Rochford. “If their boss listens to The GAA Hour, you might put in a word with them!”
You can listen to the full interview with Rochford here:
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