Peak performance crucial, says Dublin star Nolan

ALLIANZ FL DIVISION 1 SEMI-FINAL:

Diagnosed with an under-active thyroid after feeling unwell in 2010, Nolan, who has recently reclaimed his place in an increasingly competitive Dublin half-back line, found out three days after the 2011 All-Ireland final that he was a coeliac.

“The doctors had known the week before but they did not want to mess with my head, so they didn’t tell me until the week after,” he said.

Nolan popped up with a crucial late score in that final against Kerry but just a few months later he was told he had Type 1 diabetes. After the diagnosis he looked to other sports for inspiration to overcome his challenge, particularly to those who reached the top of their profession despite their condition.

“I would have taken a lot of encouragement from the likes of [former Tottenham captain] Gary Mabbutt and Stephen Redgrave winning an Olympic gold medal with diabetes. It is just another challenge.”

Now Nolan wants the GAA to reexamine its rulebook to allow him the option of using an insulin pump, a small computerised device that delivers doses through a tube with a needle inserted into the skin.

“I got a phone call from a player in Monaghan there recently and he said you’re not allowed wear it. It’s illegal. It’s classified as a weapon on a Gaelic pitch.

“I don’t use pumps. I use pens to inject insulin but it’s something I might look into. It’s attached to you and constantly dropping insulin in but it’s something I’d have to ask the GAA about.

“I’m not going to be taking it off, swinging it around and hitting someone on the head but it’s something that I need and if it’s a case of needing it, surely it can be allowed?

“You have teams wearing these GPS monitors and heart-rate monitors and I see nothing different about this. It’s just a matter of wearing one of those sports vests and clipping it into that and away you go.”

Nolan is quick to point out that he is aware of the risks of bringing such a device on to the field.

“From what I’ve heard it costs between €3,000-4,000. It’s not something you might want on a GAA pitch because it’s not the politest of games and a few knocks could damage it very easily.

“But if it benefits me or anyone wanting to participate in sport, I see no reason why it couldn’t be used.”

Nolan has recently experienced how the benefit of having the device would have helped avert a potentially dangerous situation.

“There was a club game last year in O’Toole Park. I got to half-time and my blood sugars were really low, which basically meant I needed glucose, be it Powerade or Lucozade or whatever, something sweet, something sugary. But that’s the only time I’ve ever had it where the sugars go low and there’s a fear of collapsing.

“It’s just a matter of controlling it. If I go on to a pitch knowing what my blood sugar levels are, I’m happy. Thankfully I had it right against Tyrone so I went into the game with a perfect mindset. Even if it’s slightly off, it isn’t something that would take away from the performance.”

Nolan, who started at centre-back in that win against Tyrone last weekend, is looking forward to continuing his reintegration into the side, with Dublin facing Cork in the league semi-final this weekend.

“I am just happy to play in another game. Every game is something to improve and for myself, it is nice to be back out there. There is fierce competition within the squad and for me to get in the team, hopefully it shows that I have improved in the manager’s eyes. For me, it’s a stepping stone. If I stop now, I will be caught by team-mates and opposition so it is a case of keep improving, every training session, every game.”