London

[Ciarrai_thuaidh]

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!

[kevmy]

They have 4 Mayo lads on the panel - there was a bit about them in the local paper the week before the London game.

Tony Gaughan especially is playing good stuff for them at the moment

[irunthev]

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 !

I guess that would be a certain Mr Byrne..... big hits.... warrior.... has to be. Played a bit for London too did Chris, going back four or five years ago. Strong enough and tough enough, but lacked the pace. Same could be said for most of us I guess.

[passedit]

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 !

I guess that would be a certain Mr Byrne..... big hits.... warrior.... has to be. Played a bit for London too did Chris, going back four or five years ago. Strong enough and tough enough, but lacked the pace. Same could be said for most of us I guess.

Jesus Irunthev, I thought you were someone else. I apologise.

[bamboo]

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.

[irunthev]

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 !

I guess that would be a certain Mr Byrne..... big hits.... warrior.... has to be. Played a bit for London too did Chris, going back four or five years ago. Strong enough and tough enough, but lacked the pace. Same could be said for most of us I guess.

Jesus Irunthev, I thought you were someone else. I apologise.

What you reckon I wasn't too slow? Or do you think I wasn't tough enough or strong enough??

Feck it, who am I trying to kid. I wasn't tough enough, strong enough or fast enough.

[passedit]

I was referring to your great speed of course, I'm fairly feeling my age seeing young Byrne described as an old warrior.

[ludermor]

I guess that would be a certain Mr Byrne..... big hits.... warrior.... has to be. Played a bit for London too did Chris, going back four or five years ago. Strong enough and tough enough, but lacked the pace. Same could be said for most of us I guess.

Thats the lad, what he lacks in pace he makes up for in pure brute ignorance.
Yeah Tony is from the same club as myself and himself and John Scanlon are playing very well, Scanlon is out for a while with a broken bone in his foot i think but he had an absolute blinder against Mayo.

[irunthev]

I was referring to your great speed of course, I'm fairly feeling my age seeing young Byrne described as an old warrior.

You think that's bad. I spent the whole day yesterday getting scans on various joints that no longer function properly. I blame Beezer.

[Offalylad]

Great achievement by London, but an away draw would be the end of them I'm afraid

[irunthev]

Great achievement by London, but an away draw would be the end of them I'm afraid

Maybe so. but you ride the luck you're given. God knows they've had their share of crap luck in the past. Consider 2004... hammered by Galway who scored 8 goals against them and then you get Dublin away in the qualifier. Well overdue a bit of luck I'd say.
But yes, I take your point, Ruislip is a help. Two years ago Waterford were there in the League and were beaten by a point, probably cost them promotion that year, so they won't be looking forward to the trip, that's for sure.

[Ciarrai_thuaidh]

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?

[irunthev]

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?

Don't know the names of them all but it is a wide range of characters from people like current hurler Martin Finn through to guys who have been in town for 50 years. Good idea from him. Fair play.

[bamboo]

The hurling team of the 70's which reached several all-Ireland semi's, St.Pauls Academy including the aforementioned Tiny Tempah, Jason Ryan, The Met Police setting up a team are some of the chapters involved.

Also a chapter about the Rea brothers who faced each other in an all-ireland semi. There's also a cracking chapter about a fella called Ambrose Rogers who travelled to Dublin every Sunday to record the Sunday game and bring the video back, duplicate it and distribute them round the Irish pubs and made a fortune out of it until RTE got hold of him.

I have the book somewhere here in the house but cant seem to put my hands on it.

Coincidentally the author is on Newstalk right now with Jason Ryan on the "Off The Ball" show. Dunno if the repeat can be caught online if you miss it.

[passedit]

The hurling team of the 70's which reached several all-Ireland semi's, St.Pauls Academy including the aforementioned Tiny Tempah, Jason Ryan, The Met Police setting up a team are some of the chapters involved.

Also a chapter about the Rea brothers who faced each other in an all-ireland semi. There's also a cracking chapter about a fella called Ambrose Rogers who travelled to Dublin every Sunday to record the Sunday game and bring the video back, duplicate it and distribute them round the Irish pubs and made a fortune out of it until RTE got hold of him.

I have the book somewhere here in the house but cant seem to put my hands on it.

Coincidentally the author is on Newstalk right now with Jason Ryan on the "Off The Ball" show. Dunno if the repeat can be caught online if you miss it.

Ambrose Gordan?