Archive for 'September 2016'

The last time it happened was in 2000 when the Galway team I was captain of was joined at the hip with Kerry after 70 minutes. Just to give you a picture of what it’s been like for the Mayo and Dublin players, it’s normal to book the week off work after you’ve played in an All-Ireland final. Be it for the sorrows or the celebrations, you want those few days cleared as preparing for an All-Ireland final is exhausting. You’d have your family up, plans made — but then a draw drastically changes all your plans. So you’re in a strange vacuum.



Padraic Joyce: People are saying that Dublin won’t play as badly again, but Mayo didn’t allow them to play

County , Dublin GAA and Mayo GAA | Thu Sep 29 15:46:12 IST 2016

Drawing an All-Ireland final is a weird sensation.

The last time it happened was in 2000 when the Galway team I was captain of was joined at the hip with Kerry after 70 minutes. Just to give you a picture of what it’s been like for the Mayo and Dublin players, it’s normal to book the week off work after you’ve played in an All-Ireland final. Be it for the sorrows or the celebrations, you want those few days cleared as preparing for an All-Ireland final is exhausting. You’d have your family up, plans made — but then a draw drastically changes all your plans. So you’re in a strange vacuum.

 

Read More »

No comments posted yet



Sean Quigley: Dublin need to make changes

County , Dublin GAA , Football and Mayo GAA | Thu Sep 22 18:43:48 IST 2016

You need a good free-taker in your team; believe me, I know full well the value of it. I kick them myself for Roslea and Fermanagh and it’s a great thing to have in your arsenal, but you need to offer something from open play too.

Read More »

No comments posted yet

As Sunday approaches and the column inches get filled, we hear more and more theories and stories about what each team is doing and why one will prevail over the other. At the same time, everybody is in fact hedging their bets (me included, as you will read later) just in case people ever find out that nasty secret about most experts. That is, they really are no better at predicting the future than anybody else a lot of the time (‘The Signal and the Noise’ by Nate Silver is worth reading if this topic interests you). And once Sunday is over we will be led to believe that what the victor did was all right and what the loser did was all wrong. It brings me back to 2005, to what was in fact one of Armagh’s more successful years but where eventually everybody told us we were doing everything wrong.





Kieran McGeeney: History is written by the victor

County , Dublin GAA and Mayo GAA | Thu Sep 15 12:18:07 IST 2016

“History is written by the victor”
(origin unknown)

 


As Sunday approaches and the column inches get filled, we hear more and more theories and stories about what each team is doing and why one will prevail over the other. At the same time, everybody is in fact hedging their bets (me included, as you will read later) just in case people ever find out that nasty secret about most experts. That is, they really are no better at predicting the future than anybody else a lot of the time (‘The Signal and the Noise’ by Nate Silver is worth reading if this topic interests you). And once Sunday is over we will be led to believe that what the victor did was all right and what the loser did was all wrong. It brings me back to 2005, to what was in fact one of Armagh’s more successful years but where eventually everybody told us we were doing everything wrong.



Read More »

No comments posted yet





You must bring something new to your game on All-Ireland final day

County , Dublin GAA , Football , Galway GAA and Mayo GAA | Fri Sep 09 16:19:00 IST 2016

You must bring something new to your game on All-Ireland final day as an individual and as a team. A different edge to your play and your performance. You have to bring a new skill set, something that the opposition and everyone in the country hasn’t already seen and studied on the television all year.

I remember back in 2001 when Galway came through the qualifiers after losing to Roscommon in the Connacht championship, and Meath were waiting for us in the final. The Royals were after trouncing Kerry in the semi-final and were red-hot favourites to lift Sam Maguire.

Read More »

No comments posted yet



What’s in a name? The origins of some of Ireland’s strangest club names

Carlow GAA , Club , Cork GAA , Dublin GAA , Football , Hurling , Kerry GAA , Kilkenny GAA , Limerick GAA , Longford GAA , Offaly GAA , Waterford GAA and Wexford GAA | Wed Sep 07 09:00:00 IST 2016

Words by Shane Stapleton

 

The history of the GAA is one ripe with objections, heartbreaks, glories, tears, downs, ups and cups.

None of that would be possible without the players, and they would never have been brought through without the teams.

Which brings us to some of the unusual names for sides across the country. There are times when you come across an opposition, and wonder “how the hell did they get that game?”

In the first part of our series on “What’s in a name?”, we find out how pubs, the strut of a woman, colours and war all make an impact. 

Read More »

2 Comments



Still got it - Ex Inter County stars still ripping up the club scene

Club , Kerry GAA , Kildare GAA , Kilkenny GAA , Limerick GAA , Longford GAA , Mayo GAA and Meath GAA | Thu Sep 01 09:00:00 IST 2016

Words by Shane Stapleton

 

You’ve seen them light up the big stages but it’s huge credit to the stars of the game to go back to where it all started, and keep the original flame burning.

 

 

We’ve compiled a list of players who are still covering every blade of grass at club level and are still fighting for #TheToughest titles.

 

 

There’s plenty of them around the country, so please let us know on Facebook and Twitter which experienced stars you would add to our list.

Read More »

No comments posted yet



Cushendall’s journey to Croke Park

Antrim GAA , Club and Hurling | Tue Mar 29 09:00:00 IST 2016

For the first time in GAA Club history, Cushendall contested the AIB All-Ireland Senior Club hurling final in 2016 after they demolished Galway champions Sarsfields. This was Cushendall’s first semi-final victory after nine previous attempts!

Read More »

No comments posted yet