The Eirgrid U21 football final takes place this weekend and it got us thinking about how great life was when we were still under 21. In truth it was all downhill after that, so here's a list of reasons why the players should just appreciate being in an All Ireland final but should also enjoy being young in general...
1. You or your peers will start tucking their shirt into their jeans
We asked our Twitter followers for their thoughts on this worrying trend:
At what age, if any, is it acceptable for a man to tuck his shirt into his jeans?
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) April 30, 2015
@ballsdotie When he’s old enough for it to be acceptable he’s too old to be wearing jeans — arseblog (@arseblog) April 30, 2015
@ballsdotie The Bronze Age
— Gavan Casey (@GavanCasey) April 30, 2015
@ballsdotie They should have included that question in the referendum!
— Joseph Finegan (@joefinegan1) April 30, 2015
2. You can't drink everything that's handed to you
There will come a day when you can't abuse your stupid like some sort of open pit. Tesco Vodka will become a no go, drinking cider will be like dicing with death and as for Red Bull mixed with anything, it could bring the world to an end.
3. The battle against a receding hairline starts to become one-sided
I'm beginning to worry that this post is becoming a bit a pessimistic.
4. You're probably going to become an intern at some stage
Unless you're becoming a teacher, there's a good chance you'll end up interning. And the most depressing thing about that is you'll probably actually learn more in a day than you did in four years of college.
Yes!!! Got the next 12 minutes off for a rare lunch break, off to the Spar for a nice lunchtime treat, a sandwich maybe #workingman — Kevin The Intern (@JobBridgeIntern) October 7, 2014
Sugar! Got halfway to Spar before remembering I can't afford lunch. Homeless man outside shop lent me 50c to get an apple though #workingman — Kevin The Intern (@JobBridgeIntern) October 7, 2014
5. Those friends you made in college - say your goodbyes
Speaking of college, all those friends you hang around with 24/7 at the minute; you'll graduate, they'll graduate, you'll move somewhere for work, they'll move somewhere else for work and you'll see each other once every three months.
6. You actually appreciate quiet housemates
The lads that were no craic in college suddenly become the lads that are great for giving you a bit of peace. Hitler, in hindsight, probably would have made for a decent enough housemate.
7. The real world becomes a thing and it's shit
Yea, definitely becoming pessimistic.
8. You'll meet people who have no interest in playing the floor is lava
A travesty that I have yet to get over. There's no feeling of rejection greater than when you ask your new workmates for a quick game and they look at you like you've ten heads.
9. You start thinking about the food you eat
Turns you shouldn't eat that much red meat. Koka noodles do not form the basis of a balanced diet and those 20c pizzas in Tesco probably aren't that great for you.
10. Everyone becomes that lad
When you're younger there's always that one friend who's never around to have the craic because he's off with his bloody girlfriend. Pretty soon you'll find that the odd friend out will be you - alone and longing for someone to go play crazy golf with.
11. Sleep is heaven
Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm sleep.
12. You'll have to seek thrills in the little things in life
No I did not play 13 games of beer pong in row today and but I did get great satisfaction from watering some plants.
13. A routine will form and you'll become prisoner to it
Sleep, shower, eat, work, eat, work, eat, sit. Repeat.
14. People leave
It's bad enough only seeing your friends once every three months but then they go and emigrate or worse, go traveling the world. The bastards.
15. You'll have to start filling out grown up forms
Health insurance, car insurance, passport applications, Visa shit, motor tax, income tax, NCT stuff ... the list is endless, and then you finally get round to registering to vote when you turn 30.
16. And washing your own clothes
'There are so many buttons! What the hell do they all mean!? Fuck it I'll just put it on quick wash and hope for the best.'
The final between Tyrone and Tipperary takes place this Saturday evening at 6pm in Parnell Park. Make sure to check out all our coverage in the build-up.
Also read: Michael Meehan And Bryan Cullen Go Head To Head In Our GAA Cliche Quiz
