Mr. Michael Darragh MacAuley:

I have worked as an ambassador with Acquired Brain Injury Ireland for the past three years. As a Gaelic player at both club and county level, I have suffered my fair share of concussions. I know first-hand what it feels like. I have both been knocked out cold and suffered concussions that left me dizzy and off-balance. The reality is that one is no good to anyone on the field in that condition, yet sometimes players feel they know differently. Players are their own worst enemies when it comes to handling concussion. I am no stranger to injuries, as demonstrated by the fact that my arm is in a cast, and I knew last Saturday that it was time to come off when I could see my thumb was broken.

However, brain injury is different. We think that because we cannot see it it will be grand and we will stay on the pitch, even though we know inside that something is not right. This comes down to the wire ethos within many sports, including the GAA. It should be more than acceptable, it should be admirable to sit out after receiving a concussion. A concussed player has impaired decision-making capacities and is in no fit state to make a judgement call on whether or not to remain on the pitch. The coach or the management team must make the decision for the player to sit out. It cannot be left in the hands of the player because as well as being impaired cognitively we are emotionally involved. All any player wants to do is to finish the game to the final whistle, preferably on the winning team. Do not leave the decision up to us; take us out of the game.