Noel Connors expects the brave decision by his Waterford team-mate Maurice Shanahan to speak publicly about his battle with depression to change the perception of inter-county players as being immune to real-life issues.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner ahead of tomorrow's Waterford GAA and Genzyme Health & Wellbeing Conference, Connors said: "I am not sure that role model is the correct term for Maurice given everything he has been through, but that is how he will be seen as he had the courage to come out in public and talk about the difficult times he went through.

"He has changed the norm. When people look at inter-county hurlers, they think of muscular, dominant individuals. That perception makes it harder for players to come out in public and let people know of their struggles.

"Maurice has opened up doors. He has led the way.

"Noel McGrath is another who should be seen as a role model. Their actions will enable others to have the courage to come out and speak of issues which have affected them. This wouldn't have been done 10 years ago, players coming out in public to talk about off-field issues.

"Athletes are often seen as machines or robots and sometimes people on the outside don't realise that players are dealing with issues away from their sport. The outside perception is often that players don't have issues. It is quite the opposite. Inter-county players who are in education are dealing with exams, deadlines. They bring with them their own stress."

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