Cluxton reluctant to see a more professional game

Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton has a deep love of Gaelic football and is not keen for the sport to follow the likes of rugby and go down the route of professionalism.

Cluxton was speaking at the launch of a goalkeeping clinic run by Bohemians goalkeeping coach Gary Matthews which will take place in the coming weeks at the DCU Sportsground.

"We do it because we love it," said Cluxton, who will be involved in Matthews' clinic.

"I'm not going to turn around and say I'm not playing Gaelic football because I don't get paid. We love the sport, it's a hobby first and foremost. It's not about pay.

"We don't look at soccer goalkeepers and say we hate them because they get paid. That's not why you do it, you know. You concentrate on your own game - they are professionals, so let them do their own stuff," he added.

The 25-year-old does not allow the pressure of being Dublin's first choice goalkeeper get to him and admits that he would be very much in trouble if his concentration drifted away from matters on the pitch.

"You parade around at the start and you still wouldn't even see it (the crowd). You're kind of focused on what you're doing and it's like a script in your mind - what you are going to do and how you're going to do it, what happens if you concede a goal or what happens if you drop a ball, if things aren't going well.

"You try and get everything in your mind and keep on your toes. So it's not really a factor when you're out there. Only when you're really beating a team off the park you might let your concentration slip - but Dublin don't seem do that, it's never happened!", Cluxton admitted.

The 2006 All-Star knows how frustrating it is for players to be scrutinized heavily by the media.

"It's very frustrating for a team to be singled out all the time for doing anything, whether it's walking up to the Hill or clapping the management or whether it's standing in front of the Hill for the national anthem.

"I suppose you do have to switch off at times because we aren't the only team that has certain things or does certain things in games but we're still probably the only team that gets picked out," he added.

"My father always said that the paper never refuses ink. I mean, I don't believe everything I read in the papers."

Cluxton feels that the media focus is firmly on the Dubs because of their geographical base.

"A large part of it is that the media is based in Dublin so it's going to naturally be like that. I also think there are a lot of country folk living and working in Dublin, and they are probably going back to where they come from and saying: 'ah, Dublin this and Dublin that.'

"It's just frustrating to play for Dublin and see every little thing made into something big so I'm sure it's the same for them. You always see Dublin in the papers."

However Cluxton has and will not let the media attention get to him. The Parnells clubman believes that the Leinster champions need to maintain their composure if bigger titles are to be won.

"I definitely keep my feet on the ground. I don't need to be walking around hearing things to know where we are and what we're doing. We are going to have to keep our composure because I don't think we are going to be happy winning a Leinster title - you have to keep pushing yourself on.

"You go out and play for Dublin and that's fine, it's a hobby. It's like a job. But I teach as well, and you have got to keep your mind elsewhere at times. You can't be going around thinking about football all the time.

He added: "I've got a great set of friends who keep my feet on the ground and some of them aren't even interested in Gaelic football. You never hear me talking about it, in fairness."