Employers ‘wary of GAA player commitments’

Gaelic players are increasingly becoming a turn-off to employers, according to a recruitment consultant. 

CPL Recruitment’s Shane Kelly says GPA scholarships are not appealing to prospective bosses who are wary of their football and hurling careers dictating their lives.

“Players are now in an era where careers are being constructed around GAA commitments, to allow them time to fulfil the duties of a GAA ‘career’.

The problem with this idea and GPA scholarships is that they don’t make you an attractive prospect in today’s employment market. Employers want to see real careers with real stages of progression on display.”

After news that Kerry footballer Darran O’Sullivan had left his bank job for employment more suitable to his football, Mayo’s Cillian O’Connor warned players making such sacrifices was “a short term solution” and sending out the wrong message.

Kelly said both club and county managers are not appreciative enough of players’ need to develop their working careers.

“I have seen hundreds of CVs which detail stories of busy and hectic GAA careers depicting huge achievements on the field of play while at the same time highlighting major shortcomings throughout disjointed career paths.

“By the time these players break through to U21 level this ‘back-seat’ syndrome afforded to most aspects of their lives outside of sport is firmly cemented when dealing with figures of management at both club and county level. This is then where careers begin to get affected.”

Writing on the company’s website blog, Kelly concludes: “The players must now become masters of their own destiny in this light.

"They must now accept that the responsibility lies with them, to start putting careers first. In a nutshell, GAA playing careers start in your early 20s and finish in your early 30s — professional careers last 40-50 years, and are getting longer.

"Players must recognise that going from job to job, or scholarship to scholarship, eventually comes back to bite you. Careers need to be developed throughout your 20s, not left on hold until you finish playing.”