Are GAA players the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders of Ireland?

Although they are dedicated, committed, and  train as hard as many professional athletes, cheerleaders and GAA players are both staggeringly underpaid

Mayo’s Sam Callinan lifts the Sam Maguire after his team’s victory in the All-Ireland SFC final in Croke Park on Sunday. Picture: James Crombie/Inpho

We have witnessed history. Mayo strode out onto Croke Park’s luscious (despite the heatwave) green and defeated the curse that followed them since 1951. 

While I watched the lads celebrate their historic victory I was struck with a queer realisation. A thought really. A, dare I say it, notion.