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 coach Neil Welch, breaks it all down on this week’s episode of the Humans of Gaelic podcast.

He also shares advice on what players and coaches are still getting wrong in ACL rehab.

In this episode, we also cover:
• The role of the inter-county S&C coach in the off-season
• Hamstring injuries and the best exercises to help prevent them
• How to structure ACL rehab for better outcomes
• Warm-up design for injury prevention
• The role of movement analysis in spotting risk early
• Exercises every player should be doing to protect their ACL
• ACL recovery rates in GAA vs pro sports
• Why female players are more at risk of ACL injuries than males

Whether you’re a coach, an athlete returning from injury, or just want to avoid common mistakes - this is essential listening.

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Time stamps:

• ACL injury trends in GAA (3:45)

• Why most rehab skips cutting work (9:00)

• Is NordBord testing enough? (15:30)

• Key benchmarks before returning to play (22:15)

• Hamstring strain risks during deceleration (28:00)

• Why multi-directional mechanics matter (35:00)

• What AFL can teach GAA (42:00)

• How to assess movement quality (47:30)

  *************

  ➕ We've got some great guests coming up. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes.

  Stay Connected

  Subscribe to the Humans of Gaelic podcast wherever you're listening.

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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 sport.

We talk about:

• The biggest mistakes GAA coaches make at half-time
• What world class coaches like Carlo Ancelotti and Felipe Contepomi have in common
• Why emotional regulation is the coach’s first job
• How Real Madrid and the All-Blacks structure their team-talks
• What happens when you give out too many messages?
• Should the full management team go into the dressing room?
• Is letting your opponents wait on the pitch at HT beneficial?
• When should players flip the switch pre-game?

Whether you're a coach or chasing an edge as a player, this episode will permanently change how you think about game day and half-time.

➕ We've got some great guests coming up. Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss any episodes.

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𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝

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Subscribe to the Humans of Gaelic podcast wherever you're listening.

Leave a Review: If you found value in this episode, please give it a rating and review. It helps us hugely

Share the Episode: Know someone who'd enjoy this show? Share it and help us spread the word!

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𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠

****************************

For more performance tips, insights, and the latest updates, visit:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠humansofgaelic.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@humansofgaelic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Humans of Gaelic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@humansofgaelic⁠⁠⁠⁠

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 to your nervous system

• Why caffeine timing matters more than you think

• The 5-minute bedtime routine to help you recover faster

• And how county players are now using sleep as a weapon

Whether you're chasing fitness gains, better focus or just want to feel fresher for matches — this episode will give you a serious edge.

➕ We've got some great guests coming up. Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss any episodes.

****************************

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝

****************************

Subscribe to the Humans of Gaelic podcast wherever you're listening.

Leave a Review: If you found value in this episode, please give it a rating and review. It helps us hugely

Share the Episode: Know someone who'd enjoy this show? Share it and help us spread the word!

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𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠

****************************

For more performance tips, insights, and the latest updates, visit:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠humansofgaelic.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@humansofgaelic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Humans of Gaelic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@humansofgaelic⁠⁠⁠⁠

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:

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 coaches can do to future-proof their performance

  
  

➕ We've got some great guests coming up. Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss any episodes.

****************************

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝

****************************

Subscribe to the Humans of Gaelic podcast wherever you're listening.

Leave a Review: If you found value in this episode, please give it a rating and review. It helps us hugely

Share the Episode: Know someone who'd enjoy this show? Share it and help us spread the word!

****************************

𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠

****************************

For more performance tips, insights, and the latest updates, visit:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠humansofgaelic.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@humansofgaelic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Humans of Gaelic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@humansofgaelic⁠⁠⁠⁠

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 stress outside of sport is secretly killing recovery and performance
• Tools for players who get sick with nerves or lose control mid-game
• What separates consistent performers at club vs county level
• The mindset mistakes most GAA players make when things go wrong

You can follow Eddy on Instagram here: @esperformancepsychology

➕ We've got some great guests coming up. Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss any episodes.

****************************

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝

****************************

Subscribe to the Humans of Gaelic podcast wherever you're listening.

Leave a Review: If you found value in this episode, please give it a rating and review. It helps us hugely

Share the Episode: Know someone who'd enjoy this show? Share it and help us spread the word!

****************************

𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠

****************************

For more performance tips, insights, and the latest updates, visit:

• Website: ⁠⁠⁠humansofgaelic.com⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@humansofgaelic⁠⁠⁠
• Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠Humans of Gaelic⁠⁠⁠
• TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@humansofgaelic⁠⁠⁠

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 derailed his career
• The mindset shift that helped him recover from setbacks
• Why he struggled in big finals and how he overcame mental blocks
• The power of sports psychology, self-talk, and visualisation
• Lessons from working with All-Ireland-winning teams
• How top teams like Limerick & Tipperary manage pressure and expectations
• Social media's impact on players and how to handle criticism

📖 Buy Tony’s Book

Timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction
3:45 – Losing the love for the game & overcoming burnout
8:20 – The mental impact of setbacks & self-worth in sport
14:30 – How testing and training smarter transformed his game
21:15 – Handling pressure in big games & breaking mental barriers
30:40 – The importance of mentors, sports psychology & mindset work
40:15 – What makes top teams like Limerick, Ballygunner and Tipp different
50:00 – Navigating retirement and finding purpose beyond sport

➕ We've got some great guests coming up. Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss any episodes.

****************************𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝****************************

• Subscribe to the Humans of Gaelic podcast wherever you're listening.
• Leave a Review: If you found value in this episode, please give it a rating and review. It helps us hugely
• Share the Episode: Know someone who'd enjoy this show? Share it and help us spread the word!

****************************𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠****************************For more performance tips, insights, and the latest updates, visit:

• Website: humansofgaelic.com
• Instagram: @humansofgaelic
• Facebook: Humans of Gaelic
• TikTok: @humansofgaelic

Pre-season is where teams lay the foundation for success, butmany get it wrong—leading toavoidable 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 downthe most common mistakes and how to avoid them.

We discuss:

-Why most teams neglect a proper needs analysis (and how it impacts results)
-The importance of movement quality before chasing strength numbers
-How testing should actually inform training—not just be a numbers game
-The right way to integrate conditioning with skill work for better performance
-Why gradual load management is key to staying injury-free
-How coaching should adapt based on the experience level of players
-The role of reflective practice in making better coaching decisions
-Why underage success means nothing without long-term development

This episode isa must-listen for GAA coaches and players who want totrain smarter, avoid burnout, and maximise performance this season.

➕ We've got some great guests coming up.Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes.

Stay Connected

Subscribe to the Humans of Gaelic podcast wherever you're listening.

⭐Leave a Review: If you found value in this episode, please give it a rating and review—it helps us hugely!
📢Share the Episode: Know someone who’d benefit from this? Share it to help us spread the word!

Follow Along

📍 Website:humansofgaelic.com
📸 Instagram:@humansofgaelic
📘 Facebook:Humans of Gaelic
🎥 TikTok: @humansofgaelic

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 despite years of setbacks

💪 The impact of studying performance psychology on his game

🏆 Lessons from his All-Ireland-winning Clare team

⚡ How he helps athletes as a mental skills coach

A brilliant episode for players looking to develop the mental edge needed to thrive at the highest level.

➕ We've got some great guests coming up. Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss any episodes.

****************************

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝

****************************

Subscribe to the Humans of Gaelic podcast wherever you're listening.

Leave a Review: If you found value in this episode, please give it a rating and review. It helps us hugely

Share the Episode: Know someone who'd enjoy this show? Share it and help us spread the word!

****************************

𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠

****************************

For more performance tips, insights, and the latest updates, visit:Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠humansofgaelic.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@humansofgaelic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Humans of Gaelic⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@humansofgaelic⁠⁠⁠

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 to make it at the top level and how the best free-takers practice, you'll enjoy this.

➕ We've got some great guests coming up. Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss any episodes.

****************************

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝

****************************

Subscribe to the Humans of Gaelic podcast wherever you're listening.

Leave a Review: If you found value in this episode, please give it a rating and review. It helps us hugely

Share the Episode: Know someone who'd enjoy this show? Share it and help us spread the word!

****************************

𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠

****************************

For more performance tips, insights, and the latest updates, visit:Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠humansofgaelic.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@humansofgaelic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠Humans of Gaelic⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@humansofgaelic⁠⁠⁠