Interview: Ian O'Riordan talks to Gerry Loftus about the training regime he has introduced to Laois

Those who witnessed Laois inflict a nine-point defeat on Derry on Sunday were left thinking this must be the fittest team in Ireland - at least in Gaelic football. The combination of speed, strength and endurance was breathtaking, but no great surprise considering their new trainer, Gerry Loftus, could once claim to be the fittest man in Ireland.

Loftus is a relative newcomer to the world of GAA training, and is probably better known for his success in the Superstars TV series in the early 1980s. He entered the 1982 finals as the unheard of Army trampoline champion, and ended up beating such household names as Pat Spillane and Bernard Brogan. He twice represented Ireland in the World Superstars in Florida, finishing runner-up to British pole-vaulter Brian Hooper in 1983.

Now 52, Loftus is a sports injury specialist with several coaching qualifications, including soccer, Tai Chi and various martial arts. But he still practices what he preaches, holds a third dan black belt and will happily demonstrate how to do 60 pull-ups in a minute.

His introduction to Gaelic football came under the apprenticeship of Seán Boylan in Meath, but, when Laois found themselves looking for a new fitness trainer late last year, Loftus was happy to move in. Though still based in his native Newbridge, he travels to Portlaoise twice a week, and last Sunday gave the clearest indication yet of just how much the Laois footballers are benefiting from his input.

"I have to admit I am very happy with their level of fitness at the moment," says Loftus. "Their progression has been very good. But after this stage we'll be ready to take them to a different level. This level is nothing. I'll stop this level dead, bring it back a bit, and then take it to a higher level. This is still early season, although we are coming close to mid season.

"But to be honest, they're still not half as fit as I want them to be. There was a freshness there on Sunday, that's because I haven't lifted it in the last three weeks. But I'll pull that back again, and take it to new phase.

"And I certainly wouldn't be worried about them peaking too soon. It's all about phasing the things in correctly. I can bring players to a peak, and bring them down again. I don't believe you have to lose the peak.

"I do believe you can train way too hard too close to an event, but there's no reason to think you only have one peak in every season."

When it comes to talking fitness, Loftus constantly refers to phases and various components involved in getting players into optimum condition. All training, he says, is a combination of strength, stamina, speed, suppleness and skill - and for football purposes the phases can be divided into closed, early, middle and peak season.

"It's all about progression," he explains, "and incorporating the different components. You're trying to collectively develop the team, like athletes training together and sharing the workload.

"But every player has talent, so you have decide which of those components they're deficient in.

"But essentially, you start out with stamina work, phased into faster work. Players need a barrel of strength and stamina before you take them to the next phase. Without that base they're open to injury.

"I don't believe in collective weight training, but only collective circuit training. You can't expect every player to lift the same weight as the guy beside him. I would give each player a weight training programme, but it's really up to them to do it. The closed season is really the time to do any strength training you want."

While Mick O'Dwyer still has the last say in football tactics, Loftus has very specific ideas on the importance of proper movement, flexibility, and even centre of gravity.

"The whole definition of flexibility is the range of movement around the joint. I think GAA players definitely need more flexibility in their backs, so they can twist and turn a little quicker.

"One of the things I'm trying to teach them is not just to run into somebody, but to ride the tackle. They should be able to brush off the player, and keep going. Or turn off them. You can't stop a player that turns off you, unless you drag him down. You don't have to run through every brick wall. You can run around it. But you have to practice that.

"An awful lot of footballers stand too tall, and don't use their centre of gravity very well. If you watch the top soccer players, they have a fantastic centre of gravity.

"I also think they need to stay closer to the opposition. I think footballers stand way too far off the other player. I like to see them right on top of them."

His ultimate measure of fitness is the simplest of all - running: "A fitness peak is all about where you bring them running. You could be starting at eight minutes for a mile, but the real fitness is five minutes for the mile. I'd say they're at six-and-a-half or seven minutes at the moment. So they only think they're fit right now. They've a long way to go."