Fatigue and Recovery in Gaelic Games

Reliance on data from other sports is a considerable factor in the determination of training, recovery and performance profiling within Gaelic games. This may not be sufficient to optimally address players preparation and recovery practices. With this in mind, our project aims to investigate the interplay between physical conditioning, workload and recovery responses/strategies across different sports, playing standards and sex in Gaelic athletes. Findings from this research project may be used to help develop players components of fitness and optimise recovery strategies. Importantly, sport-specific training and recovery strategies may help increase competitive in-game workloads, reduce performance attenuation and alleviate post-match fatigue. Additionally, informed preparation for the demands of Gaelic games and more effective post-exercise recovery strategies may improve players sporting experiences and help promote long-term participation. Our work suggests Gaelic football players experience substantial fatigue and muscle damage following competitive match-play. Importantly, players with superior physical conditioning levels display lower post-match disturbances, even despite undertaking greater workloads. Finally, to cope with these demands’ players use active cool downs, application of cold, sleep routines and nutritional strategies.

PHD Student

Lorcan Daly

Lorcan completed his undergraduate degree in Athlone IT, studying Sport Science with Exercise Physiology. Lorcan has presented posters and oral presentations at conferences locally and at a national postgraduate conference. Supervisors: Dr David Kelly, Dr Ciarán Ó Catháin and Dr Niamh Ní Chéilleachair.  Lorcan graduated from his PhD in 2022 and is now a lecturer in the Department of Sport and Health Sciences in TUS.

Publications

Daly, L.S.; Catháin, C.Ó.; Kelly, D.T. Gaelic Football Match-Play: Performance Attenuation and Timeline of Recovery. Sports 2020, 8, 166. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports8120166

Daly, L. S., Ó Catháin, C., & Kelly, D. T. (2022). Does Physical Conditioning Influence Performance Attenuation and Recovery in Gaelic Football?, International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 17(6), 862-870. Retrieved Jun 23, 2023, from https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2021-0342

Daly, L. S., Catháin, C. Ó., & Kelly, D. T. (2023). The Use of Recovery Strategies in Gaelic Games: A Mixed-Methods Analysis, International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance (published online ahead of print 2023). Retrieved Jun 23, 2023, from https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2022-0394