The GAA has a strange relationship with alcohol.
Every club player in the country will tell you about drinking bans being in place, often for months at a time. The same is often true at inter-county level, where it seems managers don't trust players to go out and enjoy themselves without it affecting their performances.
Of course, such regiments has also turned many players off of GAA, especially at lower levels.
It is a very different story in other sports. Rugby, in particular, seems to encourage players to go out and bond after games, even if there is another fixture in the week or two that follows.
The recent picture of Caelan Doris and Andy Farrell enjoying a pint of the black stuff after Ireland's big win over France was a prime example.
A well deserved pint for these two boys after their efforts yesterday 🍻
World class 💪 pic.twitter.com/sx10t5OAcP— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) February 12, 2023
You can only imagine the reaction from some quarters had such a photo done the rounds of GAA personnel after a big win.
Pat Spillane calls for GAA to adopt rugby approach to alcohol
Pat Spillane believes that the GAA could follow rugby's lead in this regard.
Writing in his column in the Sunday World, the Kerry legend said the attitude to alcohol in other sports is far healthier than it is in Gaelic games.
The picture of Man of the Match Caelan Doris and coach Andy Farrell celebrating Ireland’s magnificent rugby win over France last weekend with two creamy pints was my moment from last weekend’s packed programme of global sport.
And, trust me, I watched everything from Limerick v Clare to the Phoenix Open.
The photograph encapsulated what sport – even at professional level – ought to be about.
Once the game is over the players should be allowed celebrate and have a bit of craic. What is the point of it otherwise.
Doris can thank his lucky stars he is not a county footballer or hurler.
The majority of inter-county players are obliged to stop drinking on January 1st, and this ban will not be relaxed by the team management until they exit the Championship.
Imagine the outcry on social media if a top GAA player and his manager were pictured with pints in their hands two weeks before a big Championship game.
Nobody bats an eyelid when it happens in other sports, and rightly so. Thankfully, our rugby internationals can have a life.
Meanwhile, the GAA’s elite players are obliged to adopt a lifestyle which would do justice to an enclosed order of monks.
In fairness, not all teams adhere to such strict policies.
There has been a movement in some quarters to move away from the strict regimes that were in place a few years ago.
Speaking on The Smaller Fish GAA podcast last year, Galway manager Padraic Joyce said he has never put a drinking ban in place with his squad.
I don’t think there’s an alcohol issue here with players...
I don’t think they’re actually big drinkers nowadays. The players put so much time into their training, they’re not going to mess it away in two or three days.
I’ve always allowed it. I’ve never had a drink ban in place with the lads. There’s no need because they’re such good fellas and they control themselves.
But I do like when the game is over for lads to go together for an hour or two and have their food, have their few beers and even meet family members.
That is probably a far healthier attitude to have on this subject.
Perhaps more GAA manager should follow suit.
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