Mickey Harte joins the Irish News

[longball]

I really dont like Mickey Hartes column in the Irish News. He is far too serious and think maybe should have left this until he finished management. He will never say anyhin contraversal which limits the 'talking points' of his pieces.

[rrhf]

He certainly puts himself up there to be liked or not to be liked.  Did somebody not say previously that it was only going to run until the championship? 

[Mike Sheehy]

apart from 1987 to 1996... 98-99-01 to 03 05 08... ho hum     This Kerry need to beat an Ulster team in the final to prove they have the bottle...

ha ha, a Tyrone man talking about bottle. 1995, 1996 and the biggest choke of them all 7 points up and lose by 8, 1986

They only thing we bottled was not taking out your key players or resorting to general skullduggery. I guess we have too much pride in the jersey for that which, I will concede, is a weakness
in the modern game.

[rionach 4]

They only thing we bottled was not taking out your key players or resorting to general skullduggery. I guess we have too much pride in the jersey for that which, I will concede, is a weakness
in the modern game...mike sheehy

You resorted to it in 2006 when you took out Armagh in the second half by whatever way possible . don't come the squeaky clean now.

[longball]

Can anyone post todays off the fence?

[Doogie Browser]

I thought it would be all Ross Carr today, is there some Mickey Harte fan mail also?

[Archie Mitchell]

Down fans point the finger at management for Erne defeat
Off The Fence
By Brendan Crossan
21/05/2009

THERE'S a cold wind blowing through the Mournes this week. No amount of overcoats can shelter defeated managerial duo Ross Carr and DJ Kane from some of the criticism that was deposited in Off The Fence's in-box this week.

We had some familiar voices (bless them!) crying down the phone and slamming the Mournemen, just like they did the day and hour Ross and DJ took the job.

You would think they were almost gleeful seeing Ross and DJ – and their native county – slip up.

It behoves Off The Fence to sift through what constitutes gloating and ridiculous hyperbole and what is broadly justifiable criticism.

So, to the 'Down Female Caller' who continues to ring Off The Fence each and every time Down lose and who talks about having to "calm down" before she could lift the phone - do everyone a favour: Go away!

It's a game of football we're talking about here - not some sordid political scandal. Alas, there were a few callers that kept it real...but only just!

- 'DOWN Supporter' kicks off this week's two-pager by offering some constructive criticism of Down following last Sunday's three-point Ulster SFC defeat to Fermanagh.

"I was very disappointed with the Down performance," said 'Down Supporter'.

"We were well in the game in the first half, but we just fell apart early in the second half. I thought the defence played quite well, but midfield and the forward line was where our problems lay in the second half.

"I think Ross should have switched Dan Gordon and Peter Fitzpatrick because Dan has played very well at full-forward in the past. I think Down need to get players to play in their natural positions. Now we have to try and regroup for the Qualifiers."

All fair comment, but your suggestion to play Dan Gordon at full-forward doesn't quite tally with playing players in their rightful positions.

- 'DOWN Caller' said: "I think there are far better players in Down who are not playing for the county. I think it's time for Ross and DJ to step down. They've taken us into the Third Division and now we've been beaten by Fermanagh, which is unheard of."

Will you come back to us if this hugely under-rated Fermanagh side wins this year's provincial title? Just a small point: Down are no longer in Division Three. They gained promotion. Remember?

- ANOTHER 'Down Caller' left this message: "I know Ross Carr and DJ Kane will be made the scapegoats for last Sunday's defeat, but I do think after three years in charge they should step down. I'm just wondering are there 15 players in Down who could do a better job than those on the field on Sunday?

You are probably correct in saying there are better players not playing for the county team. But the best players aren't always the most committed ones. The Down management team will undoubtedly shoulder their responsibilities for last weekend's defeat and so too must the players.

It's hard to fathom the Down team's collapse early in the second half as things were going smoothly up until the 47th minute. It was a strange day all round because Down's much-maligned defence played well.

It was their faltering long-ball tactic and Benny Coulter's lack of match fitness that cost them in the end. It's important to remember, too, that managers can't mould players into leaders.

But if Coulter stays injury-free and the Down defence continues to improve, maybe the team can put together a run in the Qualifiers.

- 'MICHAEL from Aghagallon' visits familiar territory. He emailed to complain about the price into last Sunday's Ulster Championship opener at Brewster Park.

"To my chagrin, the price for tickets was e25. Can someone please explain the Ulster Council's ticket pricing policy during these difficult economic times?

"Luckily, I only had one fee to pay but for several of my friends they had families and relatives, especially at a time when rugby and other foreign games are vying for their market share.

"Would it not make more sense to reduce ticket prices in an effort to fill our grounds instead of trying to churn as much as possible out of the loyal match-goers they already have?

"The best way of doing this is to fill our grounds particularly when one considers that this was the showpiece being broadcast on television...I will think twice about maintaining this

age-old family tradition in the coming years."

- 'MARTIN from Lurgan' takes us away from Brewster Park by having a pop at Paraic Duffy's allegations of an Ulster county manager receiving a £30,000 payment.

"So what is the name of this Ulster-based manager who is responsible for bringing the GAA into disrepute?" asks Martin.

"Present the evidence and give the alleged offender the right to defend himself instead of hanging the shroud of suspicion over every Ulster manager from the recent past.

"If he actually has evidence then it should be robust enough to scrutiny and if it isn't then what was his reason for the statement – more conspiracy theories.

"Paraic Duffy does not have the shield of parliamentary privilege to fall back on and if he feels that he can move on and let this 'comment' die a natural death he is mistaken.

"If he doesn't deal with it, it could tarnish his reputation and credibility for the remainder of his time in office.

"By pin-pointing an 'Ulster culprit' he is perpetuating the impression that our southern cousins have the knives ready for instant use when it comes to Ulster. Does he seriously expect everyone to believe that it only happened(s) in Ulster?"

"Anecdotal evidence has abounded for many years about managers and players, at all levels, getting paid for their services or having their own job creation scheme.

"If a county board has the good fortune to have a backer with the sort of money Paraic has talked about good luck to them, but that is not to condone the practice of payment to managers or players."



- 'ODR from Belfast' is sick of the perceived pessimism around Antrim ahead of the senior hurlers' Leinster Championship clash with Dublin on June 7.

ODR emailed: "Has anyone else noticed the lack of enthusiasm for Antrim's opening match [v Dublin]? This is something we have yearned for, yet there seems to be a defeatist attitude in the county.

"Indeed, some of the comments from the players and management in recent weeks would suggest that feeling is in the camp.

"At the Senior Hurling Championship launch, Neil McManus said: "We would hopefully be competitive on the day".

"This is not Kilkenny or Galway and we shouldn't have an inferior attitude against the Dubs. Cushendall or Loughgiel would not be going out against any Dublin team with that attitude and whilst they have had a good League campaign, surely we are confident that we are as good man-for-man."

Have you ever had-a-dozen

tape-recorders shoved in your face? Getting interviewed isn't as easy as it seems. I think you're secretly hankering after former Antrim hurling manager Dinny Cahill. Dinny knew how to sock it to the Free-Staters.

Remember in 2004 he told assembled reporters that Brian Corcoran was finished and Niall McCarthy was a 'wooden one'. Remember a couple of weeks later Cork hammered Antrim by 22 points?





Then there is alot about Soccer namely Celtic and Gordon Strachan

[armaghniac]

- 'MICHAEL from Aghagallon' visits familiar territory. He emailed to complain about the price into last Sunday's Ulster Championship opener at Brewster Park.

"To my chagrin, the price for tickets was e25. Can someone please explain the Ulster Council's ticket pricing policy during these difficult economic times?

"Luckily, I only had one fee to pay but for several of my friends they had families and relatives, especially at a time when rugby and other foreign games are vying for their market share.

How much is it into Rugby and Foreign Games? Why do you have to pay for your relatives?

[tyssam5]

Was it really E25 into Brewster Park, I see it's E20 for the Pat McGrane stand for Tyrone v Armagh?

[omagh_gael]

Was it really E25 into Brewster Park, I see it's E20 for the Pat McGrane stand for Tyrone v Armagh?

...and 13 euro for the hill!

[ExiledGael]

Was it really E25 into Brewster Park, I see it's E20 for the Pat McGrane stand for Tyrone v Armagh?

May have been 25 euro for covered stand. I was on the terraces behind the goals for £13. Don't think it's worth complaining about, you wouldn't be long spending it in the Paragon or some other dive in Clones.

[Mike Sheehy]

"By pin-pointing an 'Ulster culprit' he is perpetuating the impression that our southern cousins have the knives ready for instant use when it comes to Ulster. Does he seriously expect everyone to believe that it only happened(s) in Ulster?"

"Anecdotal evidence has abounded for many years about managers and players, at all levels, getting paid for their services or having their own job creation scheme.

"If a county board has the good fortune to have a backer with the sort of money Paraic has talked about good luck to them, but that is not to condone the practice of payment to managers or players."

jesus christ, its hard to get over the hypocrisy of Ulster people.

Basically with this statement "Anecdotal evidence has abounded for many years about managers and players, at all levels, getting paid "    he is openly admitting that the saintly Ulster folk have engaged in whispering campaigns (and many times downright slander) about certain mangers for years on the basis of "anecdotal" evidence but now, once the spotlight has turned on Ulster, he is whining about it.

[corcaioch]

Peter Canavan when he was twelve - commentating on a Mickey Harte goal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un7tF9so9y0

[tyrone86]

Cue the Harte to stand down at the end of this year talk 

http://www.booktrade.info/index.php/showarticle/21365


Tyrone Manager Mickey Harte to Write Autobiography

Posted at 10:46AM Friday 22 May 2009
Manager of three-time All Ireland winners Tyrone, Mickey Harte, has signed a publishing contract with Poolbeg Press, one of Ireland's foremost publishers. Mr. Harte's autobiography, provisionally titled Harte, will be published in October 2009.

The charismatic Mr Harte is looking forward to working with the team at Poolbeg Press. Poolbeg Press negotiated the deal in the face of stiff competition from Irish and
international publishers. "We're delighted to be publishing in October the biography of one of the game's most successful managers. It will be a 'must-read' for all GAA fans and the many admirers of the man himself," says Kieran Devlin, Managing Director of Poolbeg Press. Commissioning Editor Brian Langan also expressed his excitement. "Mickey Harte is such a fascinating, complex man and manager. I think his autobiography will be a revelation."

Harte will be written with Michael Foley, GAA correspondent with the Irish edition of The Sunday Times and a previous winner of the "Boylesports Irish Sportsbook of the Year" award.

Mickey Harte says, "I feel this is an ideal time to do this. It is a project that I have given some thought to over the past year or so. Hopefully, people will find it an enjoyable and informative read."

Mickey Harte has been in football management since 1991, having previously coached the Tyrone Minors and Under-21s to All Ireland victories. He has been Senior Football
Manager since November 2002.

[Fuzzman]

What's Harte on about today in the Irish News?