The thorny issue of burn-out amongst younger GAA stars has raised its head once more with claims from Carlow hurling star Alan McDonald that he is burnt out following a string of matches at all levels in recent weeks.

Teen ace McDonald is one of the up and coming stars of hurling in the county, having represented Carlow at minor, U21 and senior level.

He is still eligible for minor with his club Erin's Own, and he admits that the prospect of wall-to-wall GAA - with six games scheduled in the space of nine days this month - is leaving him on the brink.

Speaking to the Carlow Nationalist, he said, "When I was burnt out two weeks ago I was tired the whole day and I couldn't sleep either.

"I was staying up all night. You'd be hungry the whole time and there's be a load of things that would be wrong with you.

"You get bored of hurling ... You don't really want to play but you have to do it. You don't want to be letting down the team." Tweet

Most Read Stories