PICS: “I tip my hat off to them.” Former NFL star hails GAA players after playing in club game in Mayo
You’re a long way from Miami, Roberto.
There aren't many people that can say they’ve played wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins and have also played in a Gaelic Football challenge game in Mayo, but Roberto Wallace can.
The 29-year old former NFL star togged out at full-forward for Breaffy in their 4-12 – 2-6 victory over Parke in a challenge game at the weekend and afterwards, he was full of praise for his Breaffy teammates and spoke of the challenges that the new game provided for him.
Wallace arrived as a replacement for Mayo star, Aidan O’Shea, who headed Stateside to try his hand at American Football.
Both Wallace and O’Shea, as well as Tipperary hurler Brendan Maher and Ashes-winning English cricketer Steve Harmison, will appear in The Toughest Trade, a documentary film commissioned by AIB that will air on RTE2 in March ahead of the AIB GAA Club Championship Finals.
Speaking about his experience with Breaffy, Wallace said: “It’s unique, what they do here is not easy, no question. It’s just a little bit different from pro sports being that they have to work and play. They can’t dedicate as much time to their craft.
“I tip my hat off to them, it’s great, but it’s just different,” Wallace added.
“It’s like comparing apples and oranges. They won’t ever be the same, unless this sport goes pro. The guys only have so much time in their day to practise and train and play. They still have to work and go and earn their money.
On the challenge of playing Gaelic Football, Wallace said: “It’s definitely a different experience for me. I haven’t played in any kind of field or pitch like that.
“I definitely have a new appreciation for the sport. I keep stressing it’s not easy. It’s tough, it’s consistent movement, running for 30 minutes, there’s no time-outs, no breaks.
“It’s a tough sport, you’ve got to be able to run in that, bounce in that, shut a guy off and kick the ball or punch it, whatever you have to do to get it in,” added Wallace, who’ll be keeping an eye on Breaffy’s progress during the year.
Breaffy have lost two of the last three county finals in Mayo, and will once again be bidding to lift the Paddy Moclair Cup for the first time in their history in 2016.
The Toughest Trade is a documentary film commissioned by AIB as part of its #TheToughest campaign.
The two-part documentary series will air on RTE2 in March ahead of the AIB GAA Club Championship Finals, and will subsequently be available to view on the AIB You Tube channel.
