The rough and tumble of top-level politics is sometimes referred to as senior hurling.
But it is skills homed in a different GAA code, and whether they can translate into the political world, which are the subject of the real comparisons for at least one candidate in this presidential campaign.
Jim Gavin's strongest card to play in the race to replace outgoing President Michael D Higgins is undoubtedly his near untouchable status as a legend of gaelic football.
A tough, driven, hard-working and skillful - if unspectacular - player for Dublin and Round Towers in the 1990s, during which he was part of Dublin's All-Ireland winning panel in 1995, Mr Gavin's biggest achievements came when he was elevated to manage the county in 2012.
Over the next seven years he oversaw Dublin's winning of an unprecedented six All-Ireland titles through a combination of skillful players on the pitch and a strong leader on the sidelines, who based his tactics as much on teamwork and work ethic as he did on raw ability.
His highly respected reputation in the GAA allowed Mr Gavin to become chair of the association's points review committee, which last autumn made the widely-applauded decision to change point-scoring rules in the sport - a move which has helped to instill a new drama in matches.
The attention to detail and clear focus involved in that work is something that has to date followed the 54-year-old from Clondalkin in Dublin, whose parents are from Co Clare, throughout his non-sporting career.
That career of course includes his lengthy association with another sector of society that demands work ethic and leadership, if not dramatic flair and public charisma, namely the Defence Forces, which Mr Gavin joined in 1990 at the age of 18.
Ultimately, Fianna Fáil's presidential candidate spent two decades working in the Air Corps, rising to the position of chief flying instructor and chief pilot in the ministerial air transport squadron.
Those admirable achievements also include his serving as chief of military aviation with the United Nations missions in the Central African Republic and in Chad.
After his military career ended, Mr Gavin was employed in the Irish Aviation Authority, eventually becoming its chief operations officer - a role giving him responsibility for air safety in Ireland.
In 2022, he was appointed as chair of the Citizens' Assembly examining the question of whether Dublin should have a directly elected mayor, while the following year he was again appointed to another important capital-focused role - this time as chair of the North East Inner City taskforce.
Those roles all underline skills few doubt Mr Gavin lacks - an ability to handle responsibility, to lead teams and to be someone who can be relied upon.
But while that CV has won plaudits in some circles, perhaps in part because of those roles, his persona - at least his public one to date - has also brought with it some detractors.
Throughout Mr Gavin's Dublin manager career he was viewed by many as giving little away and lacking any flashiness - a situation which often came across in media interviews.
Since his election as Fianna Fáil's presidential candidate, his supporters have been keen to re-balance this image, suggesting this was a tactic to not give away any information that could work against the team, a reality of someone who comes from military circles and importantly not a real reflection of the far more rounded man behind the deliberately silhouette public image.
It was, though, still a source of debate within Fianna Fáil when it came to choosing a candidate, with some supporters of Billy Kelleher - who lost the nomination election by 41 votes to 29 - arguing a more rounded, amiable public persona is needed to win a presidential campaign.
Watch: Micheál Martin backs Jim Gavin's presidential bid
For now, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin - whose forthright, or as some have said forceful, support for his chosen candidate led to a degree of friction within the party, and who needs Mr Gavin to produce another strong performance - remains confident in his choice.
But that is not to say Mr Gavin's campaign has started without any problems, with his Gaza comment that "it is unconscionable that the [Israeli government] bombing is still taking place when I believe that the military objectives have probably been reached for that military campaign" leading to an early political row over what he said.
A campaign video intending to highlight Mr Gavin's rural Ireland connections, posted the day before Fianna Fáil's pre-Dáil think-in and the National Ploughing Championships, also led to some political debate online, with critics pointing out he did not close the gate while walking through a field.
Confirmation that Fine Gael approached him to run in last year's European Elections also led to ripples of disquiet among traditional Fianna Fáil voters.
This trio of early issues, and a decision not to conduct any media interviews until he was officially confirmed as Fianna Fáil's candidate - a decision his supporters argue shows his decency and respect for the role he is now seeking, rather than any attempt to avoid scrutiny - have been pointed to by his opponents as signs of inexperience in high-level politics.
Whether fair or not, those criticisms and early skirmishes, of course, are not to be unexpected.
Political and, in particular, presidential campaigns are as much about opponents trying to take advantage of their rivals' perceived weaknesses as they are about the candidate and their team being able to formulate a clear plan, deliver it calmly and with control, while being able to deal with the pressure that comes with potential success.
Not unlike the white-hot reality of an All-Ireland final.
It's a skillset Mr Gavin's supporters are keen to point out, that with his CV and experience in other fields of combat, he might just know a thing or two about.
