Criticism of Jamie Barron’s and Cillian O’Connor’s attitude to teaching misses the point entirely

Football is number one for Cillian O'Connor.

Football is number one for almost every inter-county footballer in the country. The same goes for hurlers. The commitment required to survive in an inter-county team is so savage that you simply wouldn't make it if you weren't obsessed with the game.

"Yeah I'd say it was probably in the back of mind alright when I was a young fella. Football would have always been number one for me since I was very small. Most of my decisions would be based around how best I'll be able to play," said the Mayo star to us yesterday.

GAA players are obsessed with their game. Jamie Barron is obsessed with hurling. Cillian O'Connor is obsessed with football. The pair are primary school teachers and both of them admitted this week that the working hours and lifestyle of a teacher suits them as GAA players. And a big deal was made out of it. What's the big deal when it clearly does? Whether they like to admit it or not, teachers have the summer off. That is a luxury that few other jobs can offer. https://twitter.com/SportsJOE_GAA/status/954045982374850560 And nobody's saying they don't deserve it. Teachers work hard. Their hours are 9-3, but every one of these hours are full on in the classroom. They hold the responsibility of a class full of youngsters. There is pressure from all corners, including parents. They have to put in work outside of the classroom in preparation for teaching and lots of it,  but crucially, they can perform this work in their own time - for inter-county players - when they're not training or travelling to training - that doesn't make them any less of a teacher. Because they are putting in the work.

"It's probably important to have a balance," says O'Connor.  "That's probably stating the obvious, but having a balance between work, family and sport."

He discovered his love for teaching through coaching, and he strikes the balance between work and the GAA well. It's a healthy balance.

"Probably through doing a bit of coaching with young footballers I thought it was cool to see little improvements in people. Coaching and teaching is something I enjoy and it's definitely beneficial having the Christmas period at home and Easter and summer, and having your evenings generally free makes it easier," he said.

Surely we shouldn't be criticising lads who are availing of an opportunity that has arisen for them? Isn't this more suitable for a GAA player than say, a farmer who milks 100 dairy cows and has to perform that physical labour every morning and evening? Or a lad who works shifts and can't possibly get out of work to make it to training? Shouldn't these two lads be complimented for pursuing their obsession, and giving themselves the best possible chance to excel at it. Isn't it a good sign that they're obsessed with the GAA - because we all know that a person who gives up easily won't make it on an inter-county panel. Their characteristics, their big personalities are exactly what is required of a teacher. That's why GAA is so big in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, in St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra - because there are big personalities pursuing a big career and a successful, happy life. Those who took issue with Barron's comments based their argument on the GAA only being there for the time off and the handiness of it all. Well, wouldn't that be a little bit of a poor reflection on teachers that they could get away with a half-hearted approach to the job? They're obviously getting all the work done and putting all the necessary hours in to their job to ensure they're doing a satisfactory job, because, otherwise, wouldn't they be caught out? Isn't a hard-working, full on lifestyle the type of role model we want our kids to be? So, then, why, if a career of a teacher was something they said they fancied, anyway, wouldn't they become one? As O'Connor says himself, it's the best of both worlds. All of the other players on inter-county panels would bite their hand off for that lifestyle. Pharmacist and Tyrone footballer Tiernan McCann told us exactly that last summer.

"I'm very jealous of all my friends who are teachers, especially this time of the year when they've loads of time off,"  he said.

He'd love to have the same set-up. He doesn't and he gets on with it. Teachers have that set-up, and they get on with it, too. And so should we.