Messages

I'm sure Sean Hurson will watch the recording of today's Hogan Final and regret that he denied Wexford a perfectly good goal in the first two minutes. The lad passed the ball on his 5th step. Given that there are several examples of him allowing seven and eight steps elsewhere in the game, it was a very very poor call. He may also want to have a word with his officials, four of whom missed the push on the Wexford full forward which sent the player tumbling in the penalty area a few minutes later. The disapproving roar from the crowd will have alerted him to it but too late. The Kerry team may well have gone on to win the match anyway, but Sean did the Leinster boys no favours.

Power, pace, presence and panache. The four Ps to describe the Cork team today. Some of the Rebels had two of those, some had three. Kerrigan had all four. Despite his playing for the opposition, he was a treat to watch.

Derry to win comfortably.

I took a lot of criticism for predicting a comfortable victory over Armagh but was proved correct, and I see another easy win in the final.

Derry to score goals, dominate midfield and win by at least 5 or 6 points.

I'd advise all the Donegal supporters to stick a whack of money on Derry just to soften the blow of defeat.

Final score Donegal 1-11  Derry 0-8

Any predictions for today?

You seem to have an unhealthy obsession with my posts. It might be better for your mental health to just ignore them in future.

There there Stallion. Do not let these jesters bring out that wild side in you. Hold your head high, be calm and continue to coach those underage players in your club the way football should be played. At least you are giving freely of your time. Every week you are there at the pitch, striving to make the wee lads future county stars. I'm proud of you!

So today I had my first visit to Celtic Park since returning from the monastery in Patagonia. I can thoroughly recommend it for cleansing the soul, getting a different perspective on life and colonic irrigation.
As I arrived in the area I was met with a huge redevelopment site and I thought 'At long last the county board has sold that carbuncle of a ground for zillions and we can look forward to a proper stadium at Owenbeg, complete with multi-storey carpark and retail outlets similar to Tesco Glenullin Park'. But alas, i was wrong and soon I was inside the white elephant, looking forward to be entertained by the football and the wee announcer with the free state accent who gets things wrong for a living. Anyway, I digress.
My nephew, Christiano, had been telling me about Derry's new way of playing, where they allowed the other teams to come right up the pitch until they get into shooting range and then kick it over the bar. Sure enough the wee lad was right and they did it perfectly in the first half. Then, in the second half, Kildare did the same. They must have liked the Derry approach and they copied it beautifully. I have to say that Derry tried out an old way of playing in the second half and it worked too. Now the pitch was as soft as a mouse's underbelly so that made them very tired and it was hard for them to all run 100m up and down and up and down about 40 times without making the odd mistake. But they got through in the end thanks be to God.
Talk soon
By the way, check out this.

http://www.adventure-life.com/patagonia

Sad to see journalists linking playing success with the number of possessions. True enough, Ciaran Kilkenny, with his 50+, merited MOTM, but some hacks are using it as a principal measure of success. How do we measure the contribution of the corner back who simply ensures his opponent is rarely an option for a pass or the forward who continually creates space for the man 'in possession'?

Great to see the decision made so quickly.
Hope he gets a proper fitness coach as part of the ticket.
Either that or just let Gerry chase them around the dunes in Bettystown.

It's always a fitness coach isn't it. Why not a top skills coach as well?

You know the GAA's in decline when.....you have the TV on in the background and you only glance at the Ulster final when the commentator shows any sign of interest!

I do feel that the Derry senior team did make progress this year in terms of attacking and scoring, though this has come at the expense of an effective, miserly defensive system. It is extremely difficult to successfully engage the two at the one time; a very easy thing to discuss but a huge task to complete.
In order for a team to become adept at attacking, while also being noted for its unyielding defence the manager has a lot of big calls to make. He must be prepared to discard those players without genuine pace and the ability to sustain that pace. To work as a unit, moving forward swiftly and covering back equally quickly in sufficient numbers, there can be no room for the talented but ultimately lazy/tired/slower player. Another big call for the manager is to identify those who are prepared to sacrifice the game they play at club level, for the one demanded on a much bigger stage. Such players are not in plentiful supply.
When it comes to backroom staff, the manager must also be ready to add to his team, regardless of how a present incumbent feels about his role being compromised. If the proven needs of a county team (eg a more watertight defensive system) cannot be delivered by coaches who will 'give it a go', then it's time for them to put their hands up and ask for help from a known and recognised defensive coordinator (be he from within the county or without).
Loyalty, be it to players or to management, is laudable; but it remains 'the elephant in the room' if the manager thinks....I know change is needed, but I can't be disloyal.
If he values loyalty above necessity, then he must settle for mediocrity for the foreseeable future.

Identifying underage players with potential has always been fraught with difficulty. Take a group of current U15s in a county. If the 'trial' rather than 'invitation' method is used, at least have some sort of quality control where clubs score the players they intend to send and cross reference these scores with those given by schools' coaches. From this comes your core group of players, usually 20-25 who are nailed on.
The trials may also throw up a few dark horses and some who, having been afforded the chance to play with better footballers, will shine. These, and others, make up the next group of 10-15 who must then be scouted for a number of club games to check on performance, particularly against strong opposition. Only some will deserve to make it.
Even after this protracted process, the key to real development is the quality of coaching delivered at each session and over a lengthy period. So many players are now used to well organised club sessions that they will be quick to find reasons to miss county sessions if they are not up to standard!
But what does 'up to standard' mean?

Surely University of Ulster will win the SIGERSON at a canter. Such an array of stars, a panel with more depth than the North Sea and a backroom team bigger than Man City and with more experience.
Put your money on UU now when the odds are good. They may not have taken the honours since 2008 but they are destined to do so in 2016. They're that good my granny (God rest her) could still coach them to the title.

Would a typical week's training of 2 sessions (180 mins) look like this?

Warm ups                      40 mins
S&C work                       50 mins
Running                         15 mins
Drills                              30 mins
Games                           45 mins               
Individual Coaching           0 mins (excluding goalkeepers and free takers)

If you are one of the 28 who turned up to address the county board, does the new man have to keep you on the panel?

[Don't see how this point in relevant in both sports the ball has to stick with the forward to enable attacks to build and prevent counter attacks]

May I begin by acknowledging the fact that lads love playing soccer and are usually happy to combine it and gaelic football from week to week. May I also say that their parents are happy to support them doing do, as any form of sporting participation is always better than xbox!
My gripe this time is not with the fixture clashes or the injury risks or the way soccer teams use the GAA to get their players fit.
I'm more concerned nowadays with the habits players develop through regular exposure to soccer and how this leads to a 'one step forward, one step back' situation for Gaelic football coaches.
Let me give some examples:
We need forwards to attack the ball - soccer asks them to cushion the pass. Don't see how this point in relevant in both sports the ball has to stick with the forward to enable attacks to build and prevent counter attacks
We need the ball kept out of the corners - soccer puts it there. A kick pass into the corner for a corner forward is a good ball surely
We need space left up front - soccer promotes packing the box for crosses. Not really anymore, look at the successful soccer teams
We promote driving forward to break tackles - soccer teaches them to check back in possession and pass laterally. Soccer promotes keeping possession if you are capable of going by a man in the right position do it, i dont think messi is instructed not to take his man on.
We see the virtue of a strong kick pass - soccer is an instep pass with a lighter ball. I've been coached to play a pass with the instep that bounces in front of the corner forward
We need defenders to mark opponents - soccer promotes zonal marking. I agree with this point

So, week in week out, we promote a set of skills while soccer offers them a different set. A few of best can separate both and use them appropriately. The average Gaelic footballer, the weaker one and many of those with promise, cannot.
And so we make much less progress than hoped. Our squad of 24 has 17 who play both sports. Most are taking one step forward and one step back.

Imo gaelic teams have benefitted from playing more like soccer teams, i certainly don't see it as a scourge.

It's like comparing the stereotypical english game to the slower european game. English soccer is seen as exciting high tempo, get the ball in the box. The europeans realised that this is a stupid way to play the game, possession should be the foundation of any successful team, people who are used to watching english teams might find barcelona boring but if you appreciate the game you dont.

The same analogy is now true for Gaelic, pre 00's gaelic was perceived as more exciting by the old school, basically because we kicked the ball away a lot into our forwards, hoping they would win 50 50 ball. You hear it at games all the time 'kick the fking ball in'. Teams realise now possession is key, the better teams can pull off the more risky passes and shots, but its suicide to kick the ball away now. The older generation might find this boring but the reality is the modern game is much more effective

I appreciate a modern game of gaelic football it annoys me watching teams play with a big man in full forward and kicking 50 50 balls into him. I've seen plenty of good games were teams have scored less than 12 points, if the intensity is in the game, and both teams have a chance at winning it I will enjoy it.

Modern gaelic teams have benefitted from looking at soccer tactics and tactics of other sports. The point remains they are two different games and players should be able to do both independently, cycling a bike doesnt effect how i drive my car.

A typical response from a dual player and a malcontent - choose the exceptions to the rule and identify them as the norm. Dungiven Celtic written all over it.

May I begin by acknowledging the fact that lads love playing soccer and are usually happy to combine it and gaelic football from week to week. May I also say that their parents are happy to support them doing do, as any form of sporting participation is always better than xbox!
My gripe this time is not with the fixture clashes or the injury risks or the way soccer teams use the GAA to get their players fit.
I'm more concerned nowadays with the habits players develop through regular exposure to soccer and how this leads to a 'one step forward, one step back' situation for Gaelic football coaches.
Let me give some examples:
We need forwards to attack the ball - soccer asks them to cushion the pass.
We need the ball kept out of the corners - soccer puts it there.
We need space left up front - soccer promotes packing the box for crosses.
We promote driving forward to break tackles - soccer teaches them to check back in possession and pass laterally .
We see the virtue of a strong kick pass - soccer is an instep pass with a lighter ball.
We need defenders to mark opponents - soccer promotes zonal marking.

So, week in week out, we promote a set of skills while soccer offers them a different set. A few of best can separate both and use them appropriately. The average Gaelic footballer, the weaker one and many of those with promise, cannot.
And so we make much less progress than hoped. Our squad of 24 has 17 who play both sports. Most are taking one step forward and one step back.