Fintan Burke says that balancing a high level hurling career with working a trade is challenging.
The Galway and St. Thomas’ star, who is eyeing up an All-Ireland semi-final encounter with back to back holders, Ballyhale Shamrocks at Semple Stadium on Sunday, is an electrician by trade.
Very few inter-county players are in the trades any more.
“It’s that small bit harder to manage,” says Burke (24).
“You’re up at quarter past or half past five in the morning and you’re on the tools all day til maybe five in the evening - then a full training session.
“It’s not easy. It takes a lot of planning. You need a good woman behind you with the meals ready, the gear washed, but it has its pros.
“It’s good in that you’re on your feet, not getting stiff at a desk, but you can get tired.
“In fairness my boss is good, Colm Burke. If I need to slip away early or need a day off coming up to a match, he’d have no problem leaving me off.
“But it’s a rarity. There are very few lads who are on the tools and who are inter county hurling.”
Burke will be one of those tasked with stopping a much-vaunted Ballyhale Shamrocks attack, which has been hailed as one of the best club forward lines ever.
It includes the winners of the Young Hurler of the Year for the past three seasons, Eoin Cody (2020/21) and Adrian Mullen, the legendary TJ Reid and goal machine Colin Fennelly.
“Everyone knows if those six lads started for Kilkenny in the morning no-one would bat an eyelid,” says Burke.
“Obviously they’re a serious force and we’ll be under pressure, but it’s days like this you really get to see how good you are, when you pit yourself against the very best.”
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