Messages

Great to see London finally getting a bit of recognition and good press for once and also great to read some of you boys comments.

I'm hoping my next few sentences don't come across as spam and if they do please free to ask the mods to delete this comment or even pm me directly and i'll delete it myself.

My mate has recently written a book on the london scene but not your typical book. Its basically a 12 chapter book focussing on 12 different people/teams who he's interviewed directly about their times in London GAA. For all i know some of you boys might be in it or have already got it.

It's called "A Very Different County" and has a foreword written by Mickey Harte and is widely available both in the UK and Ireland.

It has its own facebook page and also its own website   http://www.averydifferentcounty.com/


This not a sales pitch in any way but i'm certain that some of you ex London fellas would have a great interest in reading it.

Again apologies if this comes across the wrong way.

Must have a look at that bamboo, will def buy it id say...any idea who the 12 people they talk to are?

Was down on 3rd page. Good to have another kerry perspective on this board

http://gaaboard.com/board/index.php?topic=19626.0

3rd page? I can't be looking down that far! I assume the mods or someone can integrate the threads or whatever.

Keirans seemed to have a lot of English accents playing with them last year, good to see so many coming through to senior level

They do, and both John Gallagher and Philip Morgan have played senior for London and neither has embarrassed themselves. I think Philip's progress was halted a few years ago by injury, but from the age of 18 he had been on the county panel for 5 years and played Championship several times. Kiernans and TCG are probably the best two clubs at developing players all the way through from youngsters to senior. Parnells are good up to minor and then abandon all loyalty to the homegrown lads as soon as some lad from Ireland lands on their mat. The fact that they haven't won a SFC since 1991 has left them undeterred in their pursuit of glory through imports. Round Towers also have a decent contingent of English lads as well as St Clarets. Thomas McCurtains develop very young players well, but then seem to lose their way a bit around under 16 or so. That's my opinion anyway, I'm sure plenty will argue different. Tara also have traditionally had a lot of English players in their side... not sure if there has been a fresh injection recently though, but they did win a SFC in 2003 or 2004 with six or seven London born players playing with them.

Yeah my cousin played with Keirans underage and 2 of his mates play senior with them now ( they would be around the 20 mark) i was surprised how technically good they were if maybe a bit flimsy. Surprised to see an old warrior from home playing full back for Keirans who has been on the go for a long time, still putting in the big hits !

A fine lump of Mayo granite he is too!

[Cork]

No thread yet?

Venue:


Probable teams:
Cork            Kerry
1. Quirke                                 1. Kealy
2. Cadogan                              2. Enright
3. Canty                                  3. Marc O'Sé
4. Shields                                 4. Tom O'Sullivan
5. O'Leary                                5. O'Mahony
6. Miskella                                 6. Brosnan
7. Kissane                                 7. Young
8. A. Walsh                               8. Maher
9. A O'Connor                           9. Bryan Sheehan
10. P O'Neill                              10. Darran O'Sullivan
11. Kelly                                   11. Declan O'Sullivan
12. C. Sheehan                         12. Donnacha Walsh
13. Goulding                             13. Cooper
14. Donnacha O'Connor              14. Donaghy
15. Kerrigan                              15. K O'Leary

Whats the predictions?

Head would say Cork if they play near their current potential might sneak it by the odd point, but If Kerry could somehow scramble enough possession to keep the supply to the forward line going it could be close....Its a cliché at this stage but I think these 2 will prove on sunday why they are the 2 main contenders for Sam....

I agree with what you are saying irunthev...Was just speaking from my own perspective really....I've spent a couple of years over there,played with a team who don't have any underage structure and rely heavily on a group of long term settlers and an infusion of new immigrants each year..they do have a few English born lads alright but not many. Still, they were A1 and really worked hard for the club. I do admire Kiernans for bringing through so many native players to senior level..TCG have a good few aswell making the grade it seems. There is some savage work being done, like the St Pauls academy mentioned above..its great to see.

4 lads from Kerry played the last day anyway I think. Mike Moloney at full back (former Kerry minor and U-21), Shane Doolan at wing back (both Dr. Crokes men), Kevin O'Leary at centre forward and Cathal O'Sullivan who came on.

Some great men working tirelessly in GAA clubs in london...helped out manys a young lad who landed off plane/boat in their time.