Professionalism is coming, warns Shields
January 14, 2018
Cork's Michael Shields celebrates.
©INPHO/Tommy Dickson.
Recently-retired Cork full back Michael Shields is predicting that the GAA will turn professional in the not too distant future.
The 31-year-old, who captained the Rebels to All-Ireland glory in 2010, feels that the demands on inter-county players are such that professionalism is inevitable.
"If you look at the average ages of players retiring 10 years ago, it was about 35 or 36. The players I played with - Graham Canty, Nicholas Murphy - they all finished at about that age. In the last couple of years, the average age of people retiring is hitting 31 and 32," the St. Finbarr's clubman said on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport.
"Definitely players are retiring a little bit earlier. Because of the demands coming in around them with family commitments and work commitments. You can't do it all, really. I think we're going to see a lot more players retiring at that age in the GAA around the country.
"I'm not calling for professionalism, but I do see it coming down the line, especially with the demands that are out there. I do (think it's inevitable). I really do. If we see more players retiring early, the GAA is going to have to have a think about it."
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