Humans of Gaelic

Join 7k+ athletes - Gaelic Games S&C, Performance and Coaching newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://portal.humansofgaelic.com/newsletter What does two years in the AFL system actually teach you that you can bring back to inter-county football?  Why is a call-out culture one of the hardest things a squad can build, and why does it matter so much?  And what was it really like sitting in a room with Novak Djok...

Join 7k+ athletes - Gaelic Games S&C, Performance and Coaching newsletter: ⁠⁠https://portal.humansofgaelic.com/newsletter Why are GAA players being dictated to by their dominant foot without even knowing it? Why does dominant-side kicking shape a team's entire tactical shape? And why is what we're currently doing to develop the non-dominant side simply not working? Dr. Karol Dillon has just co...

I’m joined by Jonny McGailey, a Louth native who has worked across elite rugby, GAA, basketball and high-performance sport in Australia, with the Sydney Kings in the NBL. I played under Jonny for a season at Clan na Gael Sydney in 2023, so it was great to catch-up with him. We discuss: • Coaching NBA-level talent and managing elite athletes • The realities of working in professional sport • What G...

If you’re training hard, ticking every box in the gym and on the pitch, but still feeling flat, stressed, or close to burnout - it might not be physical. In this episode, I sit down with Aoibheann NicGhiolla Bhuí, who researched mental health in GAA players, to break down what’s really going on behind the scenes - and why so many players are struggling to keep up. We talk about: • Why GAA demands...

My guest this week is former Offaly captain Declan Hogan , who is currently combining playing club football while also working as S&C coach with the Tullamore senior hurlers. ⁠📲 Follow Dec's coaching page on Instagram here We discuss: - What inter-county S&C looks like and the changes he witnessed in gym work over the last decade - The level of work (gym, skill and recovery) needed to tur...

What factors contribute to the high prevalence of ACL injuries in the GAA and why are females more at risk? Why do hurlers recover better from ACL surgery than footballers? And how are GAA players outpacing the AFL in return-to-play rates? These are just some of the findings from the biggest ever ACL study in the GAA. One of its lead authors, rehab specialist, biomechanics PhD, and Kildare S&C...

Is your half-time team talk doing more harm than good?  Armagh native and GAA coach Eamon Devlin is the specialist who changes the way world-class sports teams approach half-time. He worked with Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid and now Brazil, while he also consults for Argentina Rugby, several inter-county GAA teams, Premier League clubs and NBA sides to help them fix the most chaotic 15 minutes in...

If you’re training hard but still feeling sluggish, flat, or injured — your sleep is probably the missing piece. In this episode, elite sleep coach Tom Coleman breaks down the science behind high performance recovery, and why most GAA players are undermining their progress every night. We talk about: The most common sleep disruptors for club players What evening games and late training sessions do...

Most Gaelic footballers — even at the top level — are still heavily one-sided. In this fascinating episode, Karol Dillon breaks down the science and psychology behind laterality, the gap between drills and decisions, and how to truly develop more two-sided players. We explore: Why elite players still avoid their weaker side under pressure How cross-lateral athletes like David Clifford (e.g. left f...

Paudie Kissane – 2010 All-Ireland winner with Cork, now an S&C coach and owner of his own athlete development company. In this episode, we unpack: How Paudie transitioned from inter-county football to high-performance coaching The myths around S&C in club setups Why most speed training is poorly implemented in GAA How warm-ups and training loads must adapt to the new rules What players and...

We’ve all heard it: “he’s low on confidence.” But what if confidence isn’t actually the key to playing well? Sports psychologist Eddy Sheeky breaks down why elite players perform regardless of how they feel — and how you can too. We discuss: The myth of confidence — and why elite players perform without it The reset triggers, breathing drills, and mindset habits used at inter-county level How stre...

In this episode, Tony Óg Regan shares his journey from playing in All-Ireland hurling finals with Galway, to dealing with being dropped from the panel multiple times and becoming one of Ireland’s top high-performance coaches . He discusses mental resilience, overcoming self-doubt, burnout, and the mindset needed to thrive in sport and life . In this episode, we break down: How burnout at 23 almost...

Pre-season is where teams lay the foundation for success, but many get it wrong —leading to avoidable injuries, burnout, and underperformance when it matters most. In this episode, Rob Mulcahy , Head of Athletic Development at Setanta College and former Clare senior football S&C coach, breaks down the most common mistakes and how to avoid them. We discuss: - Why most teams neglect a proper nee...

Paul Flanagan’s inter-county journey is one of perseverance and mental resilience. After first breaking onto the Clare hurling panel for the All-Ireland win in 2013, he didn’t make his first senior championship start until 10 seasons later aged 28. He finished the season with an All-Star nomination and retired last year after winning his second Celtic Cross. We discuss: 🧠 How he stayed motivated...

Tipperary's Conor Sweeney has recently retired after 15 years of senior inter-county football. We discuss: 🏐 The ‘massive relief’ of stepping away from county football 🎯 Mastering free-taking – are great kickers born or made? 🔥 The conversation that changed everything in his career 💪 Balancing football, life, and the sacrifices required to succeed If you're curious about what it really takes t...

Clare footballer Eoin Cleary has recently returned to the county panel after taking a year out. We chat about: - The craic and benefits of a summer playing football in Chicago- His battle with osteitis pubis and how he recovered - Burnout after 10 years playing senior inter-county football- What football's new rules means for forwards ➕ We've got some great guests coming up. Make sure you subscri...

AFLW Talent ID & Elite Coach Mike Currane joins us to explore how players can successfully transition to Australian Rules. We chat about: - Why Irish players have excelled in making the move to AFLW - The journey from being scouted to securing a contract - The key physical traits that AFL and AFLW clubs prioritise - What Irish players can realistically expect to earn  You can follow Mike at @A...

S&C Coach Kevin Mulcahy joins me to discuss the new Gaelic football rules and their impact on strength and conditioning for players. We discuss: The new Gaelic football rules and the S&C training players now need Managing injury risks with less recovery time Why some county teams are doing too much high-intensity work Incentivising solo & go in training The athletic profile now require...

Drewe Broughton, known as The Fear Coach, is the latest guest on the podcast. We discuss: His journey from professional football to performance coaching Facing internal battles with fear and self-doubt Consistency and authenticity in high-pressure environments Working with elite athletes, including Tyrone's Conor Meyler Key mindset shifts for performing under pressure The dangers of over-preparati...

Cavan footballer and former Collingwood player Aishling Sheridan is the latest guest on the podcast. We discuss: Her decision to step away from AFLW The recruitment process and trials Navigating her early years in Australia during Covid Melbourne living Training week structure at Collingwood Key S&C tips from AFL Pre-game journaling Media training and building a personal brand Working in onlin...

Great chat with Laois footballer Kieran Lillis on this week’s show.   We discuss: Huge success he enjoyed early in his career The lifestyle habits needed to play at inter-county level Key S&C metrics he looks to hit How he mentally preps for big games Growing up with Zach Tuohy His experience of training with elite athletes in Kenya  ➕We've got some great guests coming up. Make sure you subsc...

I’m joined by sports psychologist Kelley Fay on this week’s show.   She currently works with the Roscommon men’s and Meath ladies footballers.  She has been part of the Royals’ backroom team for a number of years, including their back-to-back All-Ireland successes. In the past, Kelley has worked with Team GB, Ulster Rugby, plus a host of individual athletes across GAA and rugby, athletics, golf, g...

Conor McDonald has been on the road for 12 seasons with Wexford hurlers. Over the past year he has battled nerve damage in his back that he feared would rule him out for the entire 2024 season. He opens up about the low point of not being able to lift his infant daughter up out of her bed, to the difficulties of navigating a lengthy rehab with no finish line in sight. We discuss: The long road to...

There is a lot players will learn from this conversation with one of Ireland’s leading sports nutritionists. We discuss: * Life in the Kerry dressing room * How to nail the basics of nutrition * Importance of individualisation* Caffeine & Performance* Recovery* Post-Game fuelling* Drinking after games* Body composition changes during the season* AFL vs GAA nutritionYou can follow John O'Connor...

Ashling Thompson is coming fresh off the back of her sixth All-Ireland victory. We chat about: ACL comeback journey Chasing the one percenters in S&C and nutrition Missed chance to equalise in 2022 All-Ireland final Handling on-field targeting by opponents Interest in sports psychology Life after camogie