GAA's warm weather training camp: One month's work in a week

Waterford are one of many inter-county teams availing of a warm weather training camp ahead of championship, and Shane McGrath says it is invaluable time for both management and players.

The Deise signed off their league campaign with a two-point defeat to Kilkenny at the weekend.

A second successive loss in Division 1B means they fail to make the semi-finals, with manager Davy Fitzgerald taking the panel on a warm weather training camp to Portugal tomorrow ahead of their Munster SHC opener against All-Ireland champions Limerick, which is just a month away.

The Treaty are only recently back from a training stint in Portugal – the panel returned just before the league win over Westmeath – and a number of teams are expected to travel to warmer shores to gear up for championship.

Speaking in 2020 after a Portuguese training camp, Limerick manager John Kiely said it was a huge benefit to preparations.

"We got five pitch sessions in - you can't get that done here in two and a half weeks," he insisted at the time.

Discussing the topic further on this week's RTÉ GAA podcast, former Tipperary hurler Shane McGrath outlined what the likely schedule for foreign training camp.

"You get a month’s worth of work between meetings and training sessions," he outlined.

"You’ll do a tough morning session, usually a pitch session. The afternoon might be a collective gym session and then lunch, and you will be eating well for the week.

"In the evening you are probably back doing a pitch session, playing an internal game, working on something.

"You’ll have something to eat and then maybe at 7, 8 o’clock and going through video stuff in groups. That’s what it is, three group sessions and video/tactical work

The 2010 All-Ireland winner said there while