Should GAA players be aloud to go out and celebrate big championship wins?

Wexford management’s attitude to Kilkenny victory is a refreshing change.

Davy Fitz’s Wexford side had a huge victory over Kilkenny a few weeks ago and will play Galway in the Leinster decider with their involvement in the Hurling Championship guaranteed until the late Summer at least.

It was a huge day for the people of Wexford and the team itself and it was the first victory over their closest rivals in 15 years.

In an after match interview Wexford selector JJ Doyle told Malachy Clerkin of the Independent that..

‘We’re a county of optimists. We’ve been disappointed on so many occasions. As a Wexford man, to see family and friends out there, to see so many people that I’ve grown up with, played with, played against, to see them with tears in their eyes, it makes all the wet nights we’ve put in over the last number of months worth it’.

‘Listen, we’re going to enjoy this. We’re not going to go and say, ‘Listen lads, go home to your beds tonight’.

‘We have to enjoy it. Because, what’s the point of playing this game, having an occasion like that and a performance like that if you don’t go out and enjoy it?’

Everyone knows the sacrifices GAA players make and in a time where so much is asked of them, Doyle’s comments were a breath of fresh air.

County teams are the pinnacle for players and fans, what is the point of all the sacrifice if there is no down time, no time to celebrate the big victories.

While Wexford have not won anything yet, the game was a monumental achievement from a here to fore underperforming county. Its not everyday you beat a team who have been the number one team in the country for the past 15 years.

The Dublin footballers had a night out after last year’s Leinster final win over Westmeath. Something that Bernard Brogan said was important.

“We celebrated. You have to celebrate your wins. They don’t come around every day. Sport is fickle, as you know. Every time you lift a bit of silverware you have to enjoy it.

“I actually remember reading Johnny Wilkinson’s books. His first book was about how he went kicking straight after the World Cup final and all this type of stuff. His second book was then saying how he regretted not celebrating his wins.

“He thought he was going to have 10 years of winning all round him, and then he got injured and he didn’t get the career that he would have liked. He did all right! But he learned to celebrate your wins.

“I’m a firm believer in going out for a pint and celebrating with your teammates”.

So it begs the question, should players be allowed celebrate their wins or should they forget about the win and move on to the next game?

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