Mick Fitzsimons grabbing every opportunity with both hands

Not many modern footballers will openly admit to shifting the priority from career to county and then back again, at least not the way Michael Fitzsimons has gone about it.

Fitzsimons considers himself a latecomer to the Dublin panel, part of their 2011 All-Ireland-winning defence, by which time he’d already qualified as a physiotherapist. Now, having spent four years trying to win back his place in the Dublin defence, he’s decided to qualify as a doctor.

It may be okay for the likes of team-mates Jack McCaffrey, or Rory O’Carroll, who are taking a time out from their county to focus on their careers. Unless they let themselves go completely there’s every expectation they’ll walk back into the Dublin panel next year, or indeed the year after.

For Fitzsimons, who turns 28 next month, it’s more about what happens when he stops playing with Dublin. He’s in his first year of the graduate entry into medicine at UCD, which still means another four years before he’s qualified, although so far he feels he’s found the right balance.

“I was working as a physio, and just decided I wanted to try something a bit more challenging,” he says. “I might have come to it (medicine) a bit quicker, without football. A good work-life balance is important. I think if you’re enjoying your life and your studies that will actually benefit your football.

Career choices

“Some lads do end up committing to football a bit too much, and overanalysing it. It can become a little all-consuming at times. You can think that football is the be-all and end-all, in a very professional set-up, with a bit of a spotlight, whereas obviously your career and your life goes on past football.

“The GPA are actually quite good on that now, about career choices, making sure lads are not just thinking of football. But I didn’t go back to college to play Sigerson, no. It’s a slightly accelerated programme, four years, and I’m still working as a physio anyway.”

Still he understands why players such as McCaffrey and O’Carroll might feel like taking a breather from the county.

“I was lucky enough that I got to travel a bit when I was younger, because it was late enough when I got the call up to Dublin. It’s definitely is a temptation . ..

“I’m just taking it a year at a time. I’d be fortunate enough, I’d say, to be still on the Dublin team in a couple of years. So I’d be happy if I had that decision to face. We’ll see how it goes, how the body is, without looking too far ahead.”

In Dublin’s current league campaign versatile Fitzsimons slotted into the full back position for the win over Down the last day, and is expected to do likewise when they host Donegal in Croke Park on Saturday evening.

He was first choice corner back in their 2011 All-Ireland winning team, starting that epic final win over Kerry (the first Cuala player to start an All-Ireland for Dublin since the late Mick Holden, in 1983); by 2012 he’d lost his place, initially through injury.

“I had a fair bit of groin pain in 2012,” he says, “and I eventually got it operated on at the end of 2012, and didn’t get back to mid 2013.

“It was a result of the football and probably being a little bow-legged, so genetics as well. I had a bit of wear-and-tear on my left hip, and they decided to operate on it. . . Once I got through the recovery and it didn’t flare up again I was confident I could stay on top of it.”

New management

Entering the 2013 campaign, Jim Gavin had taken over from Pat Gilroy – and Fitzsimons found himself having to stake his claim all over again.

“With a new management, at the time, you do have to prove yourself all over again. You definitely get a bit of self-doubt and it takes a while to get back into it. So 2013 didn’t go great for me. I might have played two league games as a sub, and didn’t play in the championship. . .

“Last year I got huge enjoyment coming off the bench and contributing to the team. I didn’t feel I missed out on anything by not starting in an All-Ireland final last year or anything. Everyone wants to start in an All Ireland final, but if you can come on to make a small contribution you appreciate it.

“Even with the few vacancies now, I would have still fancied my chance to try to break back into it. And with other young lads stepping in too, the competition is still quite strong.