Sunderland players baffled by Kernan

Aaron Kernan said the vast majority of the Sunderland players he encountered couldn’t understand why he put so much into an amateur sports career.

As part of AIB’s The Toughest Trade documentary to be screened on TV3 at 10pm tonight, the former Armagh footballer spent five days with the Premier League club.

Apart from Republic of Ireland international John O’Shea, only one of their U21 players who had come from a non-league side could appreciate Kernan’s background. He found difference in motivations were staggering.

“A lot of them just couldn’t grasp that, the time we were putting in. They thought it was weird, that we weren’t getting a wage. They might have needed another six weeks to get their mindset into the GAA.

“For me, I loved their lifestyle, but I love the life I’ve got out of the GAA. I was lucky enough to make the top, for club and county. So I have no regrets.

“That young fella again, only 17 or 18, knew exactly what I meant, because he trained, did weights etc, and still worked. The boys in the academy from 14 or 15, couldn’t understand it, and thought it was madness.

“A couple of the young lads though were in tune with reality, had the books as well. Three of the lads were already told they were gone, but were still giving everything, to make the most of it.

“But every one of them there knew only one or two of them were going to make it. That’s the stats. One in 200 might make it, and I see the skill level, the work ethic, and that’s a completely different pressure than what we have. Because we have our work to go to.”

While surprised by how strong and fit soccer players were, Kernan was disappointed with his endurance test results during his time at the club. However, he noticed little difference between Sunderland and Armagh’s physical preparations and is convinced GAA players’ fitness levels are up there with the professional sportsmen.

Comparing the two, he said of soccer: “It’s tougher in that they are picking from the whole world now – it’s obviously a bigger pool. But is it tougher to get yourself in top condition to perform as an inter-county footballer? It is. Because that’s their job and everything is laid on for them, whereas we can get to the same fitness level, same endurance level and all that without the same time to put in.”

Although Kernan dismisses the idea of professionalism in Gaelic games, he would like to see an equalisation of resources. “I don’t like mentioning Leitrim but it wasn’t until we went to Leitrim and played them in that qualifier that I happened to be in Carrick-on-Shannon. Somebody said that’s the biggest town in Leitrim. Take Armagh — Portadown, Craigavon, Lurgan, Armagh City – they’re all three or four times the size. So how are they (Leitrim) going to generate enough money? Where’s the hotels or big multinational companies who are going to pump money in? It’s just not possible.”

“They’re GAA people. Help them with funding or facilities. Because a GAA man in Leitrim is no different to a GAA man in Dublin. We’re all GAA people.”