GALWAY hurling legend Iggy Clarke is concerned that increasing pressure on GAA players is causing some to turn to drugs and gambling.

Clarke was one of the greats of his era, claiming four All-Star awards before retiring from the inter-county game in 1984.

1

Now working as a psychotherapist, he acknowledges that the demands on modern players have grown considerably since his own heyday.

But the Mullagh man is appealing to them not to neglect their mental wellbeing while investing so heavily in physical fitness.

He said: “The pressure on players now has to have an impact on mental health.

“There is great emphasis on being physically fit and doing the strength and conditioning, but you have to have time for mental health as well, for other hobbies, for balance in life.

“And if you’re mentally fit, I believe you can be physically well able to perform skilfully on the field.

“Compared to our time, there’s massive pressure on players now and it’s probably why some players escape to gambling and in clubs especially to drugs. It’s just an outlet really. I think that’s part of the extreme pressure on them.

“In our day in the 1970s and 80s, we didn’t have that type of pressure. We trained twice a week and played on a Sunday and carried on with the rest of our lives in the meantime.

“I felt there was a good balance in our approach at that time.”

Clarke was on hand as an ambassador for the GAA’s mental health partnership with the Samaritans, which recently marked its ten-year anniversary.

Through its freephone number 116 123, the Samaritans invites people to talk through any problem that may be affecting their mental health.

The suicide prevention charity can also be reached through e-mail via [email protected].

Urging players to speak up if they are suffering, Clarke advised: “Any time we externalise what’s inside ourselves, we lighten the load.”

Despite missing the final through injury, Clarke was a star of the team that ended Galway’s 57-year wait for All-Ireland SHC glory in 1980.

He added: “Later on, we lost players to accidents and sickness but mental health wasn’t discussed. I suppose we had more natural lives outside the game and no social media.

“We had more time for life and more time for a balance in life. I think that’s fiercely important.”

Meanwhile, Clarke welcomed the recent appointment of Micheál Donoghue for a second stint as Tribe boss.

The man who steered the county to the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 2017 is back in the hotseat on a four-year term, having spent the last two seasons in charge of Dublin.

But Galway must rebound from a dismal season under Henry Shefflin, which saw them fail to advance to the All-Ireland knockout stages after finishing fourth in the Leinster round robin.

With that in mind, Clarke reckons Tribe fans will have to be patient while Donoghue attempts to get them back on track.

He said: “I think it’s a good move. He has a lot of experience and is from Galway. He has largely a Galway team background and the experience of winning in 2017.

“Probably when I look at the overall picture, it’s a time to rebuild. We need younger players to come in and help to replace the older players. I wouldn’t expect success straight away.”