Moyna warns of training health risks

Elite GAA players face the risk of kidney failure and long term health issues due to the growing training demands being placed on them.

That’s the stark warning made last night by coaching guru, Professor Niall Moyna, who fears that Croke Park could face legal action from those who suffer such serious side effects.

He said: “The loads and demands we’re imposing, particularly on young, developing bodies and even on developed players – because of their amateur status and lack of recovery – is leading to an epidemic of chronic injuries and resulting in a lot players retiring from the game much earlier than they would in previous generations.

“When you undertake strenuous exercise, you damage your muscles and there are certain little proteins in your muscles that leak into the blood,” he continued.

“We can measure them in the blood. The average values for that protein in a person should be between 38 and 174.”

Citing a study carried out a few years ago on players who played two games in three days he discovered some disturbing results.

“We had two guys in that study who were above 2,000. This is before the game even started. The average before we even started was above the upper limits of normal.

“Come the end of the second match, the DCU players were a ridiculous 182% above average. This can cause kidney failure or worse.

“There’s something called Rhabdomyolysis that can cause death if it’s very serious. It happens to troops who march for long periods and two players [were at risk].

“If you took the average blood level of the average U21, Sigerson and inter-county, instead of the upper range being about 174, I would expect it to be about 800.”

Meanwhile, Derry’s Eoin Bradley has ruled himself out of the Allianz League after signing a contract for Irish League club Coleraine until May. However, Bradley hopes to return for the Ulster championship opener against Donegal if selected by Oak Leaf boss Brian McIver.

“I think I can play both sports but Brian doesn’t,” Bradley said.

“I wouldn’t say I’ve turned my back on Derry — I’m enjoying it at Coleraine and didn’t think it would go so well.”

The 30-year-old added: “I had to make the decision for myself. You get a few pounds and while it’s not all about the money, it’s nice to get paid.

“I explained the situation to Brian, he understands and said the door is always open.

Hopefully, I will wear the Derry shirt again and hopefully it will be in May against Donegal, although I probably won’t start.”