Stephen Hunt described himself as 'a big fan of GAA' as he tried to explain the point he wanted to get across in the Sunday Independent article which generated an angry response from gaelic footballers and hurlers throughout the country.
The Ipswich Town player was a guest on RTE 2FM's show 'Game On' last night and defended his claim that GAA players "wouldn't know what hit them" when it comes to the commitment levels required to succeed in professional soccer.
"From a GAA point of view, I'm probably one of the biggest fans in terms of being a soccer player towards the GAA," Hunt remarked.
"In terms of what I said, if hurlers and footballers turn professional - which obviously would be great if they did in five six years time if it goes down that route - they would require rest.
"One their training intensity would go up and their bodies might not be able to deal with it. I was just trying to lay across the difference between amateurs and professionals. Now I'm a big fan of GAA.
"Obviously people have got the wrong way of what I was trying to get across. For sure there's a massive difference. I'm not saying they couldn't deal with it but there's a high ratio of people who come across to England fail and go back because it's a different level.
"I understand when I say rest, it seems lazy. But that is the best thing to do as a professional athlete. I am not saying they don't train hard, I know they everything they have.
"I turned up in Wexford during the summer with Liam Dunne and the Wexford hurling team. I bought into all their ideas of how to train and I absolutely loved it. Having the discipline to turn to rest, it's not as easy as it seems."
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