Renowned fitness coach Mike McGurn believes GAA players at the highest level are making too many sacrifices.
The Antrim football coach - who has worked in a variety of professional sports including soccer, rugby and boxing - says GAA stars need to be allowed to cut loose from the shackles every now and again:
"There has to be a balance," he states in The Irish News. "There is too much made of this abstinence and this priest-like existence. There has to be balance because you've only one life.
"You hear of teams going off the drink for championship... When I worked in Rugby League and Rugby Union, the boys worked their balls off but they enjoyed themselves too.
"There is too much abstinence in the GAA compared to other sports - and I'm not just talking about drink. I'm talking about nights out and going to restaurants and going on a holiday. Paul O'Connell wouldn't have survived until 35 without having time off."
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