Wicklow manager Johnny Magee says that the gap between the GAA’s haves and have-nots continues to grow.
The Garden County finished the Allianz League mid-table in Division 4 and are amongst Gaelic football’s minnows.
They play in the Leinster Championship alongside Dublin – one of the best funded and successful counties in the Association.
This makes for an uneven playing field and Magee, a former Dubs centre-back, admits that it’s tough to keep the show on the road, but says that his players have earned his respect and admiration for the commitment they show.
“It’s very hard to sell it to a player to commit to five sessions a week, three on the field and two in the gym, when you can’t guarantee that you’re going to play more than two Championship games in a summer,” said the Kilmacud Crokes man.
“It’s very hard to sell that to a player who wants to go to the States and earn a few bob.
“I experienced at the start of the season, when I went in as joint-manager with the Under-21s and I rang players but they told me they were unable to commit because they had part-time jobs or were busy in college.
“You can’t fault them for it, it’s just the way the structures are and it’s a hard sell," said Magee, speaking to RTÉ Sport.
“You strive to get your players in the best condition possible and the way the game has gone, it’s down to a fine art scientifically.
“The majority of teams are working very hard, but it’s that level of expertise and that extra level of funding that has seen that gap develop.
“The players have shown me huge enthusiasm and character. I take my hat off to them for going out to giving everything in games and training, especially when there’s no guarantee of more than two games in the Championship. I admire that they have that sense of drive."
Wicklow open their Leinster campaign against Laois, who were relegated from Division 2 earlier this season, this afternoon at 7pm this evening.
The O’Moore County are expected to win, particularly with the game at their O’Moore Park base, but Magee remains bullish about his team’s chances.
“We’ve prepared fairly well for the last six, seven weeks since the League,” he noted.
"To have them for the last six or seven weeks, to work closely with them with the one focus will benefit them.
“It’s easy to zone in on one team and prepare them.
"Last year we played Meath in mid-June so we had good time to prepare for them and we had our chances to beat them on the day, we just weren’t clinical enough and we were a bit naive. We won’t fear Laois.”
