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Con Houlihan passed away this morning after a long illness. He was 86.

A fine writer, Kerryman, sports lover and above all a gent.

Ar dheis De a anam.

While the post mortem's continue lets look forward to the next instalment.

Any one recall if there is a home and away issue here or is it a neutral venue - Gaelic Grounds?

Kerry Team announced.

1. Brendan Kealy (Kilcummin)

2. Marc Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht) 3. Aidan O'Mahony (Rathmore) 4. Killian Young (Renard)

5. Tomás Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht) 6. Eoin Brosnan (Dr Crokes) 7. Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers)

8. Anthony Maher (Duagh) 9. Seamus Scanlon (Currow)

10. Paul Galvin (Finuge) 11. Declan O'Sullivan (Piarsaigh Na Dromada) 12. Darran O'Sullivan (Glenbeigh/Glencar)

13. Colm Cooper (Dr Crokes) Captain 14. Kieran Donaghy (Austin Stacks) 15. Kieran O'Leary (Dr Crokes)

Substitutes:
16. Brian Kelly (Legion)
17. Patrick Curtin (Moyvane)
18. Shane Enright (Tarbert)
19. Daniel Bohan (Austin Stacks)
20. James O'Donoghue (Legion)
21. Brian Maguire (Listowel Emmett's)
22. Barry John Keane (Kerins O'Rahillys)
23. Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes)
24. Jonathan Lyne (Legion)
25. Michael Geaney (Daingean Ui Chuis)
26. Fionn Fitzgerald (Dr Crokes)

[Triskaidekaphobia]

Came upon this recently about a famous son of Killarney

Triskaidekaphobia

An buachaillin rua
in his dancing shoes
Lone rangering
refuses to lose
Trouble maker always
battle and bruise

In the shadow of the post
in the face of the target
In the eye of the enemy
never to fret

Interconnects
Star duet
trio, quartet, quintet, sextet
Knuckle wrap
toe tap
Posing threat
creating havoc
causing upset

Pity poor marksman
shaking in his boots
What's up next
where will he drill
Left, right or centre
in for the kill
High or low
at will
Cross and curl
frill of skill

Eagleye
tight rope channel
when its right
divine right
territorial right
Spite, in spite
Travel light
speed of light
Knight in dark of night
Mite and mighty
Swift and silent
powerful pounce
kite flight
out of sight
some fright
no fight
sharp knife
flick incision
such plight

From the floor
sky high
in the gwal

Look listen learn
three card trick
always another in his sleeve
oh so quick

Ball Magnet
running, standing
Meet and greet
trick or treat
discreet receit
no retreat
Create space
route one war path

Ballerina tip toe
rings round
springs back
headstand
dummy, hop and skip
Through needle's eye
or penetrate stone wall
Flash fast or slow stall
man and ball
in harmony

Target in sight
scents risk
sizes up
Sail up and over
delegate to running mate
Force feeding goal mouth
rasper rattling the net
down the throat

No jumping with joy
no lap of honour
only business as usual
All that's in the head
is what's going down next

Corner Boy in name
Corner Man in game
No pain no gain
no gain no fame
no acclaim
not the same
All is fair in love and war
all is fair game

Triskaidekaphobia
incurable it is
It is
the Fear of Number 13
Incurable as
Himself it is

Another generation.

Like father, like son: O'Dwyer jnr making waves

By Mark Kennedy

Monday, August 01, 2011

MICK O'DWYER'S son Karl is making waves as a team manager in Wicklow.

Karl, who played football for Kildare when his father managed the Lilywhites, is now managing two teams in Wicklow, group team St Mary's in the SFC and Coolkenno in the IFC.

At Aughrim yesterday he guided St Mary's, a combination of neighbours Coolkenno and Shillelagh, to a surprise 1-11 to 0-6 win over fancied Blessington, putting them in pole position to make the knockout quarter-final stages of the championship.

If he maintains this winning steak with both teams, he might well be considered to succeed his father as manager of Wicklow's county team.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/like-father-like-son-odwyer-jnr-making-waves-162812.html

Colleagues,

I know this isn't GAA but can I announce a fund raiser happening this weekend.

In aid of cancer research, with the support of the Irish Cancer Society, the Casey clan and friends are doing a vintage tractor run from Mizen Head to Malin Head starting tomorrow morning. (All jokes about Kerrymen and their tractors - get them out now).

Route is through Bantry, Kenmare, Killarney, Tralee, Listowel and via the Tarbert-Killimer ferry to West Clare and via the coast road to Galway. From there its via the N17 (diverting through Swinford) to Sligo and on up through Donegal Town, Letterkenny to Malin Head - hopefully arriving Tuesday.

If any of you meet a raggle taggle of animals and a 1963 Fordson Dexta called Betsy, anywhere along the way, could you spare a couple of coppers and apologies in advance if we delay your journey any where along the road.


Thanks.

For anyone who thinks that Kerry don't care about whats happens between themselves and Cork in the Munster championship read this article in today's 'De Paper'.

Classic quote from Michael Quirke - We want to go out and beat Cork if we're playing scrabble

http://irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/we-want-to-beat-cork-even-if-its-at-scrabble-119241.html

Will they stop at nothing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1AlMx3IO_A

Apologies but here goes



Casey Goes To Croke Park

It was in the year of noughty eight in the lovely month of June
When the gadflies were swarming and dogs howling at the moon
With rosary beads and sandwiches for Croker we began
Casey packed his Dublin phrasebook and jumpleads for the van.

Some of the lads had never been away from home before
'Twas the first time Mucker put his foot outside of Ard an Bothair
Before we left for Dublin we knew we'd need a plan
So we all agreed that Casey was the man to drive the van.

In Dublin the dual carriageway, 'twas like the Killorglin Road
There was every make of car and van all carrying the full load
Ford Transits and Hiaces and an old Ferguson from Tralee
With the engine overheating from long hauling Frank Casey.

There was fans from Ballinskellings, Lixnaw and Filemore
On the journey of a lifetime, and the crack was ninety-four
Casey met a Dub's daughter somewhere in Dublin nine
And he told her she'd be welcome in Ballyferriter any time.

As soon as we found the North Circular we got the wagons in a ring
Sean Og got out the banjo and Peter played the mandolin
There was fans there from everywhere attracted by the sound
At the first Fleadh Ceoil in Dublin 1, and Casey passed the poteen round.

But the session it ended when we'd finished all the stout
The air mattresses inflated and the sleeping bags rolled out
As one by one we fell asleep Casey had a dream
He dreamt himself and Pat O'Shea sat down to pick the team.

Casey dreamt they both agreed on Diarmuid Murphy straightaway
And that the Gooch and the 3 O'Se's were certainly to play
But tempers they began to rise and patience wearing thin
Pat wanted Eoin Brosnan but Casey wanted Paul Galvin.

The dream turned into a nightmare, Casey stuck O'Shea a crack
Who wanted to bring Pat Spillane and the Bomber back
The c**k crew in the morning, it crew both loud and shrill
Casey woke up in his sleeping bag around many miles from Brandon Hill.

The next morning none of the experts gave us the slightest chance
They said the Tyrone team would lead us on a merry dance
With their Red Hands all them Tyrone fans for victory they were set
Until Paul Galvin got the ball and he stuck it in the net.

What happened next is history, brought tears to many eyes
That day will be the highlight of many people's lives
Casey climbed right over the top and the next thing we did see
He was arm in arm with Pat O'Shea singing, Revenge for 2003.

Now Mucker's back in Ard an Bothair, he's living with his mam
And Pat O'Shea has been proclaimed an honorary Dingle man
Do you remember that Dub's daughter from round Dublin 9
Well, didn't she show up in Ballyferriter last week and ...

If any of you are in the Kingdom for the long weekend and are at a loose end tomorrow afternoon.......

MICK O'Dwyer's Wicklow will play a South Kerry selection in a senior football challenge in Waterville tomorrow (2.30pm).

The game marks the official opening of a new development which includes four new dressing rooms, a gym alley along with meeting rooms and catering facilities. Former Sports Minister John O'Donoghue will officially open the development.

Right its the eve of Mothers Day. I hope you've al got the flowers/chocolates/Sunday lunch organised. But anyway heres to the unsung hero of GAA "The Mammy". Washing kit, making sangers, applying first aid and a well chosen word of comfort, rooting for the most useless of us from the sidelines, taking no crap from the mammy of that scut who's kicking lumps out of you.

For all that and more thanks mum.

Anyway anyone got any stories/legends/good lies about the GAA Mammy? What could the good Bean Ui Se from Ard an Bothair tell us about the 3 lads or even her brother in law. What about a certain Mrs Spillane from Templenoe?

Answers on a postcard.......................

[in principle]

RTE 6 one news reporting that a final decision is still required by the Central Council to ratify the proposed grants scheme. December decision was in principle only.

Something up??

This is from the press statement released by the GAA in December.

"Following a debate on the issue of the Government's proposed Awards scheme for Senior Intercounty players, the GAA's Central Council today passed the following proposal:

"Arising out of the unanimous decision of Ard Chomhairle at its meeting in February 2007 to authorise negotiations on the issue of government awards to GAA players, Ard Chomhairle now approves, in principle, the agreement reached in November 2007- subject to the establishment of an acceptable, centralised system for disbursement of funding. Recognising a concern expressed at various levels of the Association, Ard Chomhairle  agrees that disbursement will not be made directly through County Boards and that details of a centralised system for disbursement, when finalised, will be presented to Ard Chomhairle for approval.     

Regarding the Association's amateur status, Ard Chomhairle recognises the many concerns that have been expressed in the course of this debate. It asks all clubs and county committees to consider their compliance with the relevant rules and regulations and to submit their views and proposals prior to a full discussion on the preservation of our amateur status by Coiste Bainisti and Ard Chomhairle."   

Central Council decided to ask all parties to the agreement to accept the following amendment to the section of the agreement which refers to amateur status to read: All parties recognise that the GAA is an Amateur Association and state their absolute commitment to the maintenance of the amateur status of the Association. They state that nothing in this agreement shall be allowed to undermine the amateur status of Gaelic games. 

The Council indicated that the proposed scheme was acceptable in principle on the basis that the money involved is exchequer revenue, that it will be paid via the Sports Council and that it is for agreed and defined purposes which will be monitored and audited by that body.   It was also clarified that the GAA had received formal commitment from the Government that the proposed Awards would not impact adversely in any way on any current or future capital or games development funding and that the Government accepts full responsibility for scale and continuity.   It was pointed out that the GPA has also formally agreed and accepted that the GAA has no responsibility in providing any future funding for Player Awards/Grants."

Former President Sean Kelly is plugging his new book "Rule 42 and all that" in todays Irish Examiner.

From www.irishexaminer.com

27 October 2007

No one at Croker the day €40m gift arrived by taxi, reveals Kelly

By Tony Leen, Sports Editor

IT WAS the €40 million government gift to the GAA that came with no strings attached — except for someone to be at Croke Park to accept the cheque.

Astonishingly, ex-GAA president Seán Kelly reveals in a new book that when a Government official came calling to GAA headquarters with the 40m handout to finish off Croker, no one was there to greet him.

"I wasn't in Croke Park the day they rang, but was the news greeted with delight and fanfare? No, they were simply told to send it over to Croke Park in a taxi.

"When the taxi arrived, no one from Croke Park was there to meet them. I was told this sometime after Christmas by a Government official. I couldn't believe it. Could you imagine any other body telling the Government to send over €40m in a taxi, and not being there to meet them? Enough said."

The incident is one of a series of intriguing revelations in Mr Kelly's new memoir, Rule 42 and All That, serialised today and on Monday in the Irish Examiner.

Mr Kelly lifts the lid on the struggle to win supoport in the corridors of GAA power for the historic change to Rule 42 and suggests he often had fewer friends within Croke Park than outside it. He details the depth of subterfuge involved in a climactic debate that literally split the GAA, but united the country.

The depth of opposition to Mr Kelly's bid to open up Croke Park is underlined in the book by claims of a highly provocative comment from former Ulster Council chairman Michael Greenan, who said any comparison between Judas Iscariot and Mr Kelly was unfair because "Judas has the decency to hand back the money and do away with himself".

"I was in two minds whether to go over and floor him, but I kept my cool," admits the Kerryman.

Mr Kelly suggests that former Progressive Democrats leader Mary Harney intimated in a meeting at her home that the Government could sweeten the grant to €50m if the GAA would agree to open up Croke Park to other sports as a condition.

"I told her that it would be counterproductive to link the grant aid for Croke Park with opening it to soccer and rugby. She listened carefully and obviously took on board what I had said because, contrary to what many had surmised, when John O'Donoghue and Charlie McCreevy did come to delivering, Mary and the PDs rowed in behind them enthusiastically."

When the funding was agreed, the GAA did even better than it had hoped.

"I had been hoping for possibly €20m, but they told me that with savings and juggling they were not giving us €20m, not even €38m, but two more on top of that: €40m in all.

"They respected our no-strings-attached viewpoint and indeed, to the Government's credit, from the Taoiseach down they all said that opening Croke Park was a matter for the GAA. While they had their personal preferences, they weren't going to interfere with the GAA's right to decide.

"The €40m would be paid in two tranches — €20m in December 2004 and €20m in December 2005. However, prior to Christmas 2004 the Government decided to pay it all in one tranche, saving us about €1.5m in interest alone."

This is from www.eveningecho.ie.

Do any posters thing that resting a ref for a while would be the answer where a holy mary of a c**k up is made like say blowing up early in an Offaly hurling match a few years ago or sending off Charlie Redmond and then not putting him off. I know the ref has to be backed but if he cocks up then shouldn't he be sacked..........or at least rested??

I'm mentioning no incidents from this years championship as they're a bit raw/fresh.

No game this weekend for Merseyside derby ref

22/10/2007 - 1:53:34 PM

Mark Clattenburg will not be refereeing a Premier League match this weekend, it has been announced.

The official was criticised for his handling of the Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on Saturday.

The Professional Game Match Board have now decided Clattenburg will not take charge of a top flight game this weekend.

Now I normally only buy the Sunday World to read Con Houlihans wonderful prose and to have a titter at Pat Spillane's latest rant. But what about the piece today about the fine fillies that some of our GAA lads brought to the All Stars. Oh and Ciaran Whelan's mammy.

This is from www.irishexaminer.com. What do posters thing about:

1. The right of the county champions to nominate the county captain.
2. The manager having the call on his selectors - with/without a right for a representative of the county champions on the selection committee.
3. The right number of selectors to work with a manager.

The Cork vote may well be the excuse that Morgan wanted to walk. "I didn't go because of a little Croke Park reversal, I went because of the County Board!!!!!"


10 October 2007

Champions lose the call in Cork

By Brendan Larkin
CORK County Board last night sensationally broke with a long-standing tradition by abolishing the county champions' right to automatically have a selector or the captaincy on all county teams.

In another major departure, the meeting decided that a seven-man committee, comprising of four from the Executive and three from the clubs, would pick the manager and selectors of the county senior football team for 2008.

The captaincy issue arose from a motion submitted on behalf of the Ballinhassig club by their delegate Donal Coleman. He cited the case of Brian Corcoran, who commented in his book that, at 19 years old, he found it very uncomfortable to be talking to players who were far more experience than he was back in 1993.

Noel Kearney, O'Donovan Rossa, proposed that the county champions would not have an automatic right to a selector on the county team: "County champions don't always allow the best selector to take on the county job. Clubs are always slow to let a good man go to the county."

Midleton delegate Sean Keohane said he totally opposed the motion: "We had great captains of Cork teams over the years and they served us well. Kerry, Tipperary and Kilkenny operate the system where the county champions have the right to the captaincy of their county team.

"Why should it be any different here in Cork? I would be very disappointed, even gutted, if it were to change."

Al Buckley (Newtown) said his club would be opposed to the change: "We deemed it a great honour to have the captaincy of the Cork team every time we won the county. It was a tremendous fillip to the club and locality.

"Now is not the time to be discussing this, on the eve of this year's county final. Any decision should be postponed until the start of the year," he said.

Kieran Hegarty (Clonakilty) said he recalled such a motion being brought forward about 10 years ago and it failed: "I'm surprised it has taken that length of time for it to appear again."

Mr Coleman, whose original motion was only for senior hurling and football, agreed that it should apply right across the board. On a show of hands, his motion was passed by 69 votes to 23.

Several delegates were critical of the decision to increase the insurance for teams for the coming season and many felt clubs would be withdrawing teams rather than affiliating more.

Central Delegate Bob Honohan agreed to articulate the views of the delegates at the next Council meeting.

Regarding the county senior football set-up for 2008, St Nick's delegate Denis Owens proposed that the sub-committee should be balanced in favour of the clubs: "Four delegates representing the clubs and three from the Executive should be appointed."

However, Bob Honohan said the board should discontinue with giving the manager the right to pick his own selectors.

"It may not be fair to burden a manager with selectors he cannot work with, but it has worked for two of our teams this year who won All-Ireland titles at junior and under 21 and I see no reason why it cannot work at senior level.

"If he had his own way, Ian Paisley would not have picked Martin McGuinness to work with in the Northern Assembly, but it has worked out well for all concerned," he said.

"Some of our selection committees have been divorced from the County Board in recent years. I strongly advocate we go back to the old way, which served us well in the past."

Several delegates were critical of the county senior footballers' performance in the All-Ireland final.

Glanmire delegate Denis Kelleher was critical of the style of football being played by Cork and called for more use of the long ball.

Mick Barry, Delanys, said he felt that team managements had taken control of players to the detriment of the clubs and that should stop: "Control of our teams should revert back to the Executive."

Delegates eventually voted by 81 to 14 that the sub-committee comprise of members of the Executive and three from the clubs and that they would pick the managers and selectors.

The three club delegates on the committee for hurling are: Sean Keohane (Midleton), Michael Burns (Ballyhea), Donie Cahill (Cloyne).

The three football delegates are: Bob Honohan, Finbarr Hennessy (Dohenys) Kieran Hegarty (Clonakilty).

County secretary Frank Murphy told the meeting that the All-Ireland junior football selectors committee wanted to stay on for another year, adding that four of five of the under-21 committee were prepared to stay on. However, he said coach Tony Leahy had intimated he was not going forward.

Mr Murphy also told the delegates that the decision regarding the picking of team managers, would not apply to the senior hurling team for 2008 as they had a year of their tenure to run.

Letters from Na Piarsaigh, Blackrock and Glen Rovers regarding promotion and relegation were taken as notices of motion for the next meeting. 

At the end of the intercounty season we'll all be seeing awards for the best of this or the greatest of that. What about the alternative we could call the all sh**s.

Worst miss
Worst team performance
Worst individual performance
Biggest hype
Nastiest tackle
Nastiest tackle gotten away with
Worst/best dive
Maddest hair style - Willie Joe Padden going for 20 in a row
Worst supporters
Worst/best example of using the rules to subvert disciplinary system - Frank Murphy going for 20 in a row
Worst "autobiography"

Any others for just a general moan?

Billy Morgan had a dream.
Felt he'd made the perfect team.
When the goalie was polled
Star Donaghy goaled
And Cork came apart at the seam.

So that ye can sing along later this evening when the new Mary is crowned. The words could be handy around 5.00pm on Sunday as well.

The pale moon was rising above the green mountain
The sun was declining beneath the blue sea
When I strayed with my love to the pure crystal fountain
That stands in beautiful vale of Tralee.
She was lovely and fair as the rose of the summer
Yet, 'twas not her beauty alone that won me
Oh no! 'Twas the the truth in her eye ever beaming
That made me love Mary, the Rose of Tralee.


The cool shades of evening their mantle were spreading
And Mary all smiling was listening to me
The moon through the valley her pale rays was shedding
When I won the heart of the Rose of Tralee.
Though lovely and fair as the rose of the summer
Yet, 'twas not her beauty alone that won me
Oh no! 'Twas the the truth in her eye ever beaming
That made me love Mary, the Rose of Tralee.

From today's Irsih Examiner. The wagons are circling and the knives are being sharpened!

Seroiusly it this another example of the boorishness of a manager who believes is his own omnipotence or a reporter and paper who can't take a joke. There must be a joke somewhere in stuffing a dictaphone in your underpants though.

What's eating Billy Morgan?

By Michael Moynihan
ON SUNDAY, Cork football manager Billy Morgan finally reached the promised land. His side reached the All-Ireland final, and not by the skin of their teeth either: they put a 10-point trimming on fancied semi-final opponents Meath, the conquerors of Tyrone.

For Morgan, the man who steered Cork through some stormy encounters with the Royals in the late eighties and early nineties, the result must have been extra sweet.

A shame, then, that he chose to mark a fine victory with settling some scores at the final whistle. Right after the game the Cork manager had a word for RTÉ's sideline reporter: ("Would you tell Michael Lyster . . .").

A little later he expanded on that point for the print media at the usual post-game scrum in the bowels of Croke Park ("The boys upstairs gave us plenty, and some of ye too").

At that point Morgan took a journalist's dictaphone and put it inside the waistband of his pants. When the journalist asked for his dictaphone back Morgan handed it over and then ended the briefing abruptly, walking away.

People tend to have a low opinion of reporters generally, and no doubt as word seeped out about the incident some belly laughs were enjoyed: serves them right, what are they getting so precious about anyway, etc. You know the stuff.

But by any of the normal rules of society Morgan's action was grossly insulting, a gratuitous attempt to humiliate someone going about their day's work. If it happened in any other sport in any other country you can only imagine the reaction.

In fact, you don't have to stretch your imagination that hard: just picture having to confront that scenario as part of your working day. Or your father dealing with it. Or your wife.

If Billy Morgan has a problem with the media in general, then there's no excusing an attempt to humiliate the representative of one particular newspaper. He can co-operate with the State broadcaster, after all, in the heat of the post-game moment.

If Billy's problem is with this particular newspaper, then that's news to us. Over the last few months we've interviewed Cork football players and selectors and reported on all their games. At no time have we been told there's a problem with the Irish Examiner and/or its coverage of the Cork footballers.

If Billy has a problem with the bona fides of the journalist involved, Brendan Larkin of this parish, then he certainly picked the wrong man.

Brendan Larkin represented Cork at football and was on the first Cork team to win an All-Ireland minor championship. He has a record of almost 50 years service as player and administrator with his own club and the Cork County Board.

It might be worth pointing out that his record of service to the GAA in Cork stands comparison with anybody's. That includes Billy Morgan.

It's easy to get up on your high horse and preach about standards. A pulpit can be an intoxicating place to stand, and preaching from that high can go to one's head. Often you can end up making a plea for standards which are impossible to reach. Not here, though. This is more about reaching minimum standards.

Cork's victory on Sunday was overshadowed by Billy Morgan's odd behaviour, and the Cork County Board's reluctance to comment on the matter at the time of writing doesn't cover them in glory either — particularly when the person involved is a past officer of that body.

The goodwill generated on Sunday by a young team breaking free of the confines of Croke Park to express themselves with a free-flowing performance was tainted by their manager's behaviour afterwards. The whole incident brought to mind the old saying that whatever about the after-effects of failure, it takes a rare individual to be embittered by success.

IRISH EXAMINER STATEMENT

"WE were surprised and disappointed with Sunday's incident when Billy Morgan took reporter Brendan Larkin's dictaphone from him. Brendan had not even asked him a question.

We don't know why it happened, but by any standards it was unacceptable behaviour from someone who has a responsibility not only to win matches, but also to act appropriately when managing his team, representing his county and the GAA.

It's a pity it happened after a brilliant performance by Cork, which was a credit not only to the players who gave it their all, but also to Billy Morgan and his management team. It was all the more surprising because Brendan Larkin has been covering GAA matters with distinction for this newspaper for many years, and has had a lifelong involvement with the GAA at all levels. Thankfully nothing like this happened before and we would like to believe it will not happen again.

But we want to put it behind us, move on, and concentrate on the enticing prospect of a Cork-Dublin All Ireland final or the even more intriguing prospect of a historic showdown between Cork and Kerry in Croke Park on September 16. That's what the fans, young and old, expect from all of us."

Tim Vaughan, Editor