FORMER IRELAND INTERNATIONAL Stephen Hunt came in for some stinging criticism after suggesting that GAA players could not handle the lifestyle of a professional footballer.

Writing in the Sunday Independent, the Waterford native outlined the extreme discipline needed for a daily routine that consists of training, resting, and not a lot else.

It followed recent comments by outspoken GAA pundit Joe Brolly who argued that soccer players were poor role models.

Hunt wrote:

I think footballers can be role models, even if one or two let people down, but I get the impression with Joe that he feels we lack the spirit of the true Gaels he admires so much. As somebody who grew up in the GAA, I can tell you that, as much as I love the games, if GAA players tried to live with the level of commitment shown by a professional footballer, they wouldn’t know what hit them.

Mayo Allstar Colm Boyle was one of the first to hit back at Hunt and branded him “a clown”, while Monaghan veteran Dick Clerkin tweeted: “Someone should remind Stephen Hunt in today’s @TheSundayIndo that when he is so busy resting we are busy working!”

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Here’s some more of the reaction:

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Hunt, who hurled at underage level for Waterford, took to Twitter on Sunday evening to clarify that he wasn’t taking a shot at GAA players but “trying to paint a better picture for footballers, it’s boring most of the time!!”

He tweeted “#ILoveGAA” in response to another tweet.

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