‘It can feel like a bit of a chore and not optional at times’ – the problem with GAA autograph hunters (2024)

You can’t get inside the ropes at the Masters to speak to Rory McIlroy or make it onto the Anfield sod to meet Virgil van Dijk, so it’s a special facet which the GAA possesses.

The biggest stars often stay on up to an hour after games as they sign hurls, jerseys, helmets, balls, sliotars, or whatever comes nearest to hand for their young admirers.

“Can I have your hurl, jersey, helmet or boots?” is commonly heard after big games, and players are generally more than happy to sate the appetite of the next generation.

We’ve all seen the hordes of children making a beeline for Kerry football star David Clifford at the final whistle, while Joe Canning was in similar demand during his glittering hurling days with Galway.

Kilkenny legend Henry Shefflin is rumoured to have been a passenger in the county kit van on occasion as the Cats’ team bus sped down the road, while ‘The King’ stayed on to satisfy his subjects.

The level of footfall which Clifford receives after games is a sight to behold — it could be 20- or 30-people deep around him just seconds after the final whistle as fans scramble for their own memento.

Interestingly, the two-time Footballer of the Year was quickly escorted off the pitch by an official in O’Moore Park after last Sunday’s victory over Louth as he avoided the latest bout of Clifford-mania.

That won’t happen again for the remainder of his county season, as pitch invasions are off limits in Croke Park — but GAA stars, Clifford even more than most, are incredibly giving of their time and there’s rarely anything left unsigned.

But what do they really feel about this growing craze and being public property while still trying to digest the result of an important game just moments after its conclusion?

“There is something beautiful about a child or adult wanting to meet their idols or heroes and then they get that chance,” one player says anonymously.

“You will always appreciate the genuine fan among the swarm and you can almost tell by the way they approach you. When you are approached with politeness and patience, that goes a long way with me.

“In saying that, it can feel like a bit of a chore and not optional at times. It can be frustrating after a game that you have put all your energy into. All you want to do is get to the lads and embrace each other, win or lose.

“I’ve missed many dressing room moments, sing songs and celebrations. I’d even say the heartbroken dressing room is missed, being there to console lads and vice versa.

“Being caught outside signing autographs and taking pictures with a fake smile is the hardest. The frustrating thing about it is how rude and inconsiderate some people can be in those moments.

“They can stick anything in your face and demand a signature or pull and drag out of you for a photo so they can get on their way home; it feels like there is zero consideration for me and my time.

“I’ve never a problem with embracing fans to shake hands or a friendly hug, that’s the stuff I really enjoy. There is something really nice and genuine about that, but the autographs and pictures can be a lot in those moments.”

​Kerry journalist Adam Moynihan found himself inundated with incredulous replies earlier this year after stating that it was “just plain wrong” that Kilmacud Crokes star Shane Walsh was “immediately surrounded” after their All-Ireland club SFC semi-final loss to Glen.

“Shane Walsh is immediately surrounded by kids looking for selfies and autographs. I’m sorry, but after a tough defeat, it’s just plain wrong. Parents should have more cop on,” Moynihan posted on X.

The responses ranged from “are you for real?” to “would you wise up”, as well as “cop on” and “calm down”, but that view is shared by some GAA players when speaking off the record.

“I’m sure they’re very excited going out to meet their heroes, but it can definitely be done in a better manner,” another top player says.

“Stewards and parents need to take a bit of ownership in that regard. Players generally don’t mind, as long as it’s done in the right way. The way that Clifford is being hounded after games, and I say hounded because there’s just throngs of kids running at him.

“Parents and stewards could manage the kids a lot better. I don’t mind waiting around at all, but it’s weather dependant too during the league where you’re potentially freezing cold and it’s lashing rain.

“That’s not as enjoyable. Where it’s warm or that, I don’t think players see it as any hassle waiting around and signing some stuff. You absolutely do enjoy giving back because you were in that situation yourself.”

Players can be damned if they do and damned if they don’t, with Bernard Flynn’s comments about Mayo football star Aidan O’Shea following a challenge game in 2017 springing to mind.

“There were 15, 20 kids around and he signed autographs,” former Meath ace Flynn said. “The team was in a circle 10 yards away. No one asked him to leave what he was doing. Every other player was in a circle in a huddle talking.

“He was left outside the ring and allowed do what he wanted. He decided then after a while to come into the ring when all the photographs were finished, which I found absolutely incredible. They did a warm-down and the same thing happened.

“The whole team did a warm-down. Ten yards away he proceeded to have photos and selfies and whatnot and he was allowed to do his own thing. I stood back in amazement.”

​Mayo noses were seriously out of joint as a result, while some Dublin hurling fans took issue with John Mullane’s observations following their 2022 Leinster SHC hammering to Kilkenny in Parnell Park.

“I couldn’t get over what my eyes were seeing. You’re after losing a game by 17 points, you accept that you have to do right by kids and get photos, take selfies and do a few autographs, that’s grand, we’ve all been there. But you make your way to the dressing room. I couldn’t get over it, the Kilkenny lads, TJ Reid and that, were gone in. And there was about 12 of the Dublin lads out on the field.

“The first part of trying to redeem yourself for the following week is getting into the dressing room and feeling that pain. You can take five minutes, but they were still on the field 20 or 25 minutes later. There’s a time and a place for it.”

Many Dublin and Mayo footballers were still out on the pitch in Dr Hyde Park long after the final whistle of their epic draw last Sunday, while Limerick’s all-conquering hurlers are regularly swarmed after their record-breaking exploits.

Former Kilkenny star Richie Hogan “never found it an issue”, but there was nervousness after losing a game as “the manager generally always wants all his players in the dressing room within a couple of minutes”.

Hogan insists that such access to its stars and their willingness to give back is what separates the GAA from other sports.

“It’s a brilliant part of the GAA and I don’t think we’ll ever lose that,” Hogan said recently. “You could never imagine Kylian Mbappe or any one of the young international soccer players having to go through it, but that’s an incredible part of what we have and it differentiates us from other sports.”

​Offaly under 20 star Adam Screeney is the next big thing in hurling with his adoring fans wasting little time after the final whistle, and sometimes before it, to meet him — and he has no issue doing whatever is needed to inspire the “future”.

“I used to be going out annoying the TJ Reids, the Henry Shefflins and the Joe Cannings,” he says. “I still have a hurl at home with Joe Canning’s signature on it and sellotape over it so it wouldn’t come off.

“I don’t really mind because they are the future of Offaly and they are the ones that are going to drive Offaly to the next level. I suppose we’re lucky enough to be successful at the minute and we don’t mind waiting. If it took an hour on the field afterwards to sign all them autographs, then so be it because we were once those kids.”

The autograph/selfie craze won’t be going away any time soon as the present stars continue to play their part by inspiring the future, no matter the circ*mstances. That’s the beauty of the GAA.