Stephen Hunt responds to Joe Brolly’s criticism after controversial GAA comments

Hunt responded to Brolly's criticism over those controversial comments he made about GAA players last week.

Stephen Hunt used his column in the Sunday Independent this week as a platform to directly respond to GAA pundit Joe Brolly. The Sunday Game panelist was outraged over Hunt implying that GAA players couldn't hack the lifestyle of being a professional footballer. Hunt explained that he did not mean any ill will with his comments.

When I said that GAA players "wouldn't know what hit them", I wasn't saying they couldn't make it - although so few have when they've tried - but that they would experience a massive culture shock if they were to move from high-level amateur sport to the Premier League.

Ever the diplomat, Hunt declared his admiration for GAA players for the efforts they exude in training, while juggling a career outside the sport. He then reaffirmed his initial point that the vast majority would find it difficult to cope with life as a professional athelete.

Of course I understand the sacrifices that GAA players make to combine the pursuit of an amateur sport with a career outside the game. It is astonishing that they can play to such a high standard. However, the relentless professional demands of playing three matches a week is another level entirely and just because you are given the opportunity to compete at that level, doesn't mean you can.

Brolly argued that professional footballers did not make ideal role models,  citing Gandhi and Pope Francis as real role models kids should look up to.  He contested that footballers pale in comparison to these spiritual leaders. Hunt partially agreed with this remark.

Whether we like it or not, kids try to ape footballers. Ideally they'd want to be Gandhi but we should live in the real world. Gandhi was a great man but I haven't met too many kids saying they want to be him when they grow up. That is why I wanted to make the case that professional footballers are as worthy of respect as GAA stars. My point is that bad behaviour is universal, it isn't limited to any sport and only the foolish would claim that it is.

Hunt closed the article with a little dig at the Derry man.

"It never ceases to amuse me when you see these young fellas - many of whom have spent their lives playing soccer at the expense of education and come from very strong working-class backgrounds - being described as role models because they're famous," he (Brolly) was quoted as saying. Maybe he was misquoted because he seems to be suggesting that footballers can't be role models because they have come from working-class backgrounds and haven't been educated. I see it differently. As Bill Shankly once said, "Me having had no education, I had to use my brains."

We look forward to hearing Brolly's inevitable response. Hat-tip to Independent