Coach's Lab with John Murphy Integrating New Players, Load Management & What GAA Can Learn From Rugby? - Donnacha Mulcahy
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In this episode of Coach’s Lab, Dr John Murphy is joined by Donnacha Mulcahy, Lecturer in Strength & Conditioning at TUS and S&C Coach with the Tipperary Senior Hurling and Football teams.
Donnacha has worked across GAA, rugby, and schools rugby systems, giving him a unique view of what connects and separates elite sport, youth development, and coach education in Ireland.
Together we discuss:
🏋️‍♂️ Integrating new players into adult panels and managing different training ages
đź“Š Monitoring load, jump testing, and profiling in intercounty squads
⚡ Preparing underage athletes for the physical demands of senior sport
🔄 Lessons GAA can learn from rugby’s structured coach-education model
🤝 How to balance theory, experience, and enjoyment in S&C
🧠Why “keeping it simple” often delivers the best results
Donnacha’s blend of academic insight and on-the-ground coaching experience makes this one a must-listen for anyone serious about athlete development in Gaelic Games.
Follow Coach’s Lab for more conversations on Gaelic Games, coaching, youth development, and applied sports science.
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