Finding a balance between a top flight inter-county career and a personal life can be tough, according to Joe Canning.

In a really interesting interview in today's Irish Independent, Galway's talisman talks about the culture of drinking in the GAA and how hurlers and gaelic footballers are viewed differently from their professional counterparts in rugby and soccer.

"The balance is wrong," he explained to interviewer Vincent Hogan ahead of tomorrow's eagerly anticipated All-Ireland SHC semi-final showdown with Tipperary.

"Like before the third Lions Test, there were pictures of the players drinking beer. After Ireland beat Italy at the Euros last year, there were pictures of them slugging bottles in the dressing-room. It was accepted.

"I'm in Limerick a lot now (where he is a partner in the Camile Thai restaurant) and you'll see Munster players out after a PRO12 game, having a few beers, nothing major. It's fine, it's accepted. But the amateur athlete does that and it's frowned upon.

"Because of that, the culture in the GAA is for lads to go on the p*ss for a day or two after a big game. And that's totally wrong for your body and for your mind. They end up sick for nearly a week afterwards because they feel they have to go ballistic.

"I'm not for a second recommending a drink culture, but the balance is so wrong. You're always kind of on edge now when you're out. You're almost paranoid. And that's wrong too."

The Portumna player will turn 29 in October and whatever the future may hols in store for him from a hurling point of view, he has his priorities in order.

"This is hurling at the end of the day.

"When I said recently that it won't define me, I had people asking me 'Why don't you take it seriously?' I do take it seriously, but what defines me is how I am seen by my family more than anything else. Like my family don't look at my medals at home. I don't even know where the medals are.

"Perspective is lost on so many things in Irish society, it's crazy!"

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