Mayo star Lee Keegan has shone a light on the booze ban culture that has pervaded in the GAA for many a year now.

In addition to the multitude of demands being placed on footballers and hurlers nowadays, they are expected to live the life of a monk during the playing season.

And it’s not a problem that is confined to the inter-county scene – it’s, arguably, more of an issue at club level.

Players are often the talk of the town if they are seen in or around the vicinity of a pub in the build-up to a big championship game.

Former ‘Footballer of the Year’ Keegan drew comparisons with professional rugby and correctly pointed out how that there are no eyebrows raised when pictures emerge of Ireland’s rugby stars celebrating a big win with a can of beer post-match in the dressing room.

It doesn’t matter that they might have another big game to come the following weekend - they are allowed to let their hair down and celebrate the achievement. Or drown their sorrows as the case may be!

Not all managers should be tarnished with the same brush.

Indeed, there are a number of forward-thinking managers who realise that if they want to get the best out of their players on the field of play then they have to facilitate a better balance with life away from what is, after all, their hobby.

Trust is a two-way street and players have to act responsibly but Keegan’s comments shouldn’t be ignored by managers who want to see their team realise their full potential after they cross the white line.

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