McNamara: Davy right about alcohol abuse

Former Clare manager Mike McNamara has admitted alcohol and substance abuse were issues he encountered amongst players during his two-year spell in charge.

All-Ireland-winning Banner boss Davy Fitzgerald claimed this week there was an issue in the Clare senior hurling panel with regard to alcohol consumption and abuse of “other harder substances” in the middle of the last decade.

When asked if he was aware of Clare hurlers engaging in alcohol and substance abuse during his spell at the helm, McNamara replied: “There are times when it would have been widespread, yeah.”

Fitzgerald labelled Clare a “social team” in the mid-2000s and McNamara said there was a strong element of truth to that assertion.

McNamara added that previous Clare teams have been home to “socialising stars”, an issue he was forced to address when taking the reins for the 2008 campaign.

“It really depends on the type of player you have and what you have as back-up. You may find yourself in the situation where you could have 30 inter-county players in a county and you have to do with that.

“There may be an occasion when you have to overlook things.

“Every management team would be aware that if there is a social element to the team, if it is a team of socialising stars then success won’t come your way. That is not possible.

“The levels of fitness and levels of discipline on the big day see to that. It is just not possible. So if you have socialising stars, which we have had in the past, then success will not be forthcoming.

“I did address the issue on more than one occasion. That is part and parcel of management and it would be the first thing most managements would do.

“The first thing you do is sit down with your players and lay out the rules and guidelines, so it wouldn’t be unusual to sit down with your players and discuss what is necessary going forward.”

McNamara said there was a responsibility on the part of inter-county managers to ensure players were looking after themselves.

“No management or player wants to get caught up in a failed drug test and it would be horrendous for a player if they were to get caught up on that. The alcohol levels aren’t part and parcel of that test. Anything that may take from your performance would have to be looked at and shoved to one side. If drink is interfering with your performance, management will be the first too notice. As management, you are with the players 15 to 20 hours a week. I would expect the manager to know what is going on and if he doesn’t he shouldn’t be there. It is the management’s responsibility to present the team in the best possible manner on match day so they must deal with problems as they arise.”

The Gaelic Players’ Association, when contacted, did not wish to comment on Fitzgerald’s claims.