Transitioning from life as a top level sports star to that of a member of the public is a move that happens thousands of times each year across all varieties of codes, though the move never appears to be an easy switch.
On this week's Off The Ball Saturday Panel Nathan Murphy was joined by the recently retired Alan Dillon, Emmet Bolton, and Brian Kavanagh to discuss life after leaving behind their inter-county footballing careers.
Every guest noted the difference their lives have gone through in terms of having more free time, though former Longford full-forward Brian Kavanagh was quick to point out that the time spent focusing on football was far from an unwanted duty.
"You've an extra 30 to 40 hours a week to yourself, where you can plan further than four days ahead. It's only when you step back, the commitment that's involved. It's when you stop doing it, I couldn't believe that I was doing it when you look back".
"Trying to beat the M50 traffic four days a week, and coming back up at one or half-one in the morning, and then up for work the next morning as well, it is a huge commitment but there's nobody holding a gun to your head either. We enjoy it, and we love it to bits, and that's the main reason we do it".
Kildare's Emmet Bolton agreed that life without the pressure of the routine required to excel at inter-county level provided a new lease of relaxation which is tough to find during a playing career, though pointed out that he wasn't exactly sitting around since hanging up the boots at county level.
"You're working from eight until half-five or six o'clock, and you come home. I've gone to the gym most nights, and you're back doing a little bit with the club as well so your nights are filled".
"There's a bit more freedom in your routine. Of a Tuesday night you might come home and think, 'nah I don't feel like going to the gym', I'll watch a bit of tele. It's great to have that freedom and that bit of relaxation there where you can do what you want".
"I retired in mid-November and I went training for a marathon straight away, and I joined the gym straight away, and I was doing a bit with the club so I didn't really have time to fully sit there for a week when you have nothing to do for a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, going 'what am I doing here?', so for me I just threw myself into something straight away".
Eight-time Connacht champion Alan Dillon has also thrown himself into other aspects of life since retiring in November, revealing on the show his intention to run in the general election in Castlebar, Mayo.
Having left the panel after losing his sixth All Ireland final last season, Dillon said that while he's looking forward to the next stage of his life, his last few days with the team last season were noticeably different to the ones which have since followed.
"We spent two or three days together, and I suppose once you get out of that bubble then everyone goes their own way, and we have our lives with our clubs and our family, and it's a completely different environment compared to when you're in the WhatsApp groups or the Snapchats".
"Once you step off the stage you're outside the bubble and there's a lot more to life than thinking about your next gym session, your recovery, your physio. When you're in that bubble everything is surrounded by performance and preparation. Your life is dictated daily".
Though he's finished with the county set-up, he brushed aside any possibility of jealousy if the Mayo lifts the Sam Maguire in his first year away from the panel.
"It's everyone's dream to actually walk up those steps. Being part of that group, they're a special bunch of lads, and I'd be the first to congratulate them. As a Mayo person I don't think I could any happier for the lads. It'd be such a relief, a release of energy for everyone just to get across the line. I think the whole country would just like Mayo to get it done at this stage".
"You're on the outside, and listen, we start as supporters and we finish as supporters, and I suppose that's the continuation over the next couple of weeks and months".
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