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[The Coach - 2nd January 2008 - with DVDsales.ie Written by Liam Horan (or by "Staff Reporter" in the online version) Wednesday, 02 January 2008Stopping the big man with the auld triangle]

Easy Peasy... or so says the Galway Independent this week with an article about how to stop a full-forward like Kieran Donaghy...

The Coach - 2nd January 2008 - with DVDsales.ie     
Written by Liam Horan (or by "Staff Reporter" in the online version)   
Wednesday, 02 January 2008
Stopping the big man with the auld triangle

Over the last two weeks, we examined how players like Kieran Donaghy use the basketball drop-step to good effect under the high ball.
(http://www.galwayindependent.com/sport/sport/the-coach-%11-19th-december-2007-%11-with-dvdsales.ie-/)

This week, we will look at how a defender can best curb this threat.

Again we talked to an Irish basketball international who is a big Gaelic football fan. He believes the "triangle" approach can restrict the likes of Donaghy under a high pass.

"The ironic thing is, when you are marking the most dangerous forward in the country, you don't mark him that tightly at all – at least when the ball is coming in high.

The natural instinct for a full-back is to get in close to his man and try to contest or break ball. However, if you get too close to Donaghy, you run the risk of him catching cleanly and rolling you with a drop-step – leaving you with no way back as he heads for goal.

One alternative approach might be to stand off a little, playing the forward from the front and from the side. You try to create a triangle between you, the forward and the ball – making sure that the angle you create allows you to keep your eye on both the ball and your man. With Donaghy, he is likely to pull wide to the right when the ball is on the left and vice versa, so you will stay between him and the ball.

I would say your first priority is keeping an eye on the man, using your peripheral vision to track the source and trajectory of the incoming pass. The closer your opponents are to goal, the easier this should be.

Now when the high ball does travel in the forward's direction, you should be in a good position to judge the flight of the ball.

When you do challenge for the dropping ball, you should time your run to arrive with momentum to contest the ball while your man is jumping from a static position. At the very least, you will be well placed to have what we call in my part of the world 'a clatter' at him. It might be the best you can do."

As Brian Lacey pointed out in his Coach column a few weeks ago, all the other defenders should stay goal side of their men while retreating towards goal until the attack has ended. If you missed this column, email us and we will forward it.

The Coach is compiled by Liam Horan. Questions to coach@dvdsales.ie

Its that easy guys...

Seriously though, in theory that all sounds great but its a little dangerous playing in front of your man like that.
Especially in a pitch with open spaces like Croke Park and marking a great player... Sometimes you can get severely punished by a good forward when playing in front.

I think they are forgetting that if Donaghy did get the ball over your head there is open country between him and the goal with only the keeper to beat...

But its so crazy it just might work... 

 

Does such a competition exist?
Last year I was looking around for an Inter County GAA Fantasy Football competition but to no avail.

Has anyone any links to one that would be run on the 'net similar to the soccer versions like http://fantasy.premierleague.com/ ?

I was a bit surprised at the GPA logo when I saw it the last day.

The colours struck me straight away, blue red and white...

Not only does it resemble something from American sports associations like the NBA;
but the colours are a particular grievance as they are the same colours as the Union Jack !

Could they not have something mildly patriotic and use hint of green?

[Staunton calls for equal rights]

I had a feeling this one was coming...


Staunton calls for equal rights
01 December 2007

Mayo ladies football star Cora Staunton has joined camogie president Liz Howard in calling for a grants scheme to be set up for female GAA players in the wake of the historic deal secured by their male counterparts.

Staunton, who inspired her club Carnacon to All-Ireland glory last weekend, said: "We put in every bit as much effort, sacrifice and time as the men.

"In fact, this year the Mayo ladies football team were involved training later in the summer for the All-Ireland championship than the Mayo men's team were. So I feel that there should be no discrimination, and that equality should prevail between both men and women.

"I think the Ladies Football Association should make the first move in this regard, and obviously the Government and the National Sports Council would also be involved in the discussions on the issue.

"I know that ladies football matches don't generate anything like the level of gate receipts that men's matches do. But I don't feel that should be a stumbling block, as the Government provided the funding for the setting up of the men's deal.

"Of course, as well as ladies football, the camogie players should also benefit from any new arrangement."


************************************

It might be a bit much to say that the ladies "put in every bit as much effort, sacrifice and time as the men", however in the interest of equality and fairness, should Ladies GAA get a slice or perhaps their own grants from the government ??

[Croke Park will not host league finals, says Brennan]

I just heard on Today FM news that the National Football League Final wont be played in croke park because the pitch isnt able for it...


Croke Park will not host league finals, says Brennan
27/11/2007 - 22:09:02

GAA President Nickey Brennan confirmed today that the 2008 National Football and Hurling League finals will not take place at Croke Park.

Speaking at the launch of the National Fixtures Plan for next year, Brennan said: "The National League finals will not be played at Croke Park in 2008. The Sports Turf Research Institute would like a further opportunity to do some broader work on the pitch."

Despite many observers praising the condition of the Croke Park surface this year, the GAA President confessed that he was not totally satisfied with its condition.

"I know a lot of people think the pitch was looking great this year but I wouldn't be totally happy with it. And the STRI have advised us to get a bit more work done on it."

He added: "Moving the league finals from Croke Park is a once off. You need to have this work done at a time of year when the growth is reasonable. And we couldn't do it in June, July or August for obvious reasons with the championship."

Brennan is also unsure as to whether the four All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals, scheduled for the weekend of August 9-10, would all take place at GAA headquarters.

"We are not committed to having all four football quarter-finals at Croke Park. It will effectively depend on how the pairings work out," he admitted.

"It may be a case that we can accommodate Dublin in a stand-alone fixture at Croke Park."

Brennan also confirmed that the M Donnelly Interprovincial championships are likely to return next year, but no confirmation can yet be given in relation to the future of the International Rules Series.

"They are not in the Masters Fixtures List but I am confident that the Martin Donnelly tournament will be played next year. I can't say at this stage whether there will be an International Rules series.

"I was happy with the attendance at the recent Interprovincial finals. It was the biggest in a long number of years and the TV audience was quite high."

New GAA proposals will cause the dumbing down of inter-county standard

I cant believe that the GAA are considering abolishing the county U-21 and U-18 grades. It will cause the senior inter county standard to drop as not as many young players would have gone through county training regimes.

At the moment we have young players that have played either U-18 or U-21 football for their county, that are able break onto county senior panels because of the training and experience they received from those playing at those grades at inter-county level.

If we abolish the two grades in place of an U-19 grade, not as many young players will ever have gotten the chance to play and gain experience and develop as players.

For instance if there is a panel of 25 players at minor grade playing for any particular county.
Those players will all have gained from their experience and developed immensely as players.
Then, three years later another panel of 25 players are playing at U-21 level. Let say, for the sake of argument that 10 of the players at U-21 level played minor level for their county three years previously. Even still there is 15 extra young players playing and training for their county for the first time that are all gaining experience and developing as inter county players.

Thats a total of approx 40 players (possibly more) with more potential to play as senior inter county players because of their development of skills, fitness and experience at playing in either grade.

If we have a single panel of 25, U-19 inter-county players it is not giving lads a chance or a bite at the apple because it will be much harder to break onto a single panel.


I do agree that some inter-county teams should be scrapped. The likes of U-16 county "development" panels should be scrapped because it is very rare that a player makes it from U-16 (so called) development panels up to U-21 or senior level. I heard a statistic that only one player made it from the U-16 development squad to a recent U-21 team in my county.
County vocational schools teams also need to be considered for the chop.

Hi guys,
Im heading to Vancouver soon for a two week break and im wondering can anyone recommend any good books to read or any advise for the flight? (last book I have read was Keys to the Kingdom - lets just say it wasnt the greatest piece of lititure I have ever read).
The longest flight I was on was to Turkey which lasted 4 hours or so and the boredom was unreal. The boredom is the only thing that kills me when flying. From Dublin to Toranto its 6.5 hours and then another 4 hours to Vancouver so its over 10 hours on the plane, going over not incl the time spent in airports! Coming back will be longer again.

I was thinking of reading but I may just pop a sleeping tablet instead!?

[Connelly looks forward]

Connelly looks forward
17 May 2007

Former Mayo captain Noel Connelly will line out at full forward at Pearse Stadium on Sunday (May 20th), but the westerners supporters need not worry, senior manager John O'Mahony has not lost the plot.

Connelly, who played at right half back in the 1997 All-Ireland defeat to Kerry, will line out for Mayo juniors against Sligo in the Connacht championship final at Pearse Stadium.

The provincial decider is a curtainraiser to the eagerly awaited senior clash between Galway and Mayo as the venue is expected to be full to capacity.

However, Connelly is focused on winning a provincial junior medal and admits that his new role is a breath of fresh air in the twilight of his career.

"It's a new experience for me. I've been playing there for the club now the last year and a half or so, and I'm playing where I'm put," said Connelly.

"It's a different role. You're playing in front as opposed to man marking, and you're trying to get free and getting loose and timing your runs correctly.

"I've had a long career now and it suits me better than defending all the time. I'm enjoying it."


****************************************


Does anyone know the team yet? Id say it will be a good curtainraiser...

BTW what time is throw in for this one?

Donaghy cleared to play for Kerry in Cork clash
09/02/2007 - 09:14:41

Kieran Donaghy is understood to have been cleared to play for Kerry in their NFL clash with Cork tomorrow night.

He was originally handed a two-week ban for two yellow card offences in last weeks clash against Mayo.

The suspension, which he was given because it was his second such infraction within a 48-week period, was described as "extremely harsh" by the Kerry County Board.

******************************************

Im glad for him. I was at the match and he did not deserve to get sent off. Trevour Mortimor didnt deserve his two yellows either. The referee was terrible to say the least.

[Croke is made to put lumps in rugby throats]

Croke is made to put lumps in rugby throats

There couldn't be a finer venue than Croke Park to host Ireland's rugby matches, but the founders of Gaelic football would beg to differ.
Frank Keating

February 6, 2007 12:10 AM

Early in this inordinate span of mine here in the back basement of the toy department I would waste, enchanted, no end of time inhaling the aura (and the whiff of liniment) in that sweaty emporium of wham-bam, snort and shuffle down London's Old Kent Road, namely the Thomas à Becket gymnasium where such decent flat-nosed prizefighters as Henry Cooper and Joe Lucy would sock it, in turn, to the heavy bag and brother pros. It was the first sporting haunt I frequented named after an archbishop. Second time was more than a quarter of a century ago when I watched a European football qualifier in Cyprus at Nicosia's low-slung sun-baked Archbishop Makarios Stadium.

Third and most auspicious occasion at a sports centre dedicated to a Right Rev ecclesiastical Eminence was in 1984 when I was detailed to Dublin to report on the Gaelic football All-Ireland final - the very centenary match of the sport itself, no less - contested by the classic them-and-us rivals Dublin and Kerry. The Dubs v The Kingdom. Even then it was vast, roomy, sheer-faced Croke Park which most took the breath away, used as I had been to watching rugby across town at rickety, rackety, run-down old Lansdowne Road. Ireland should play its rugby here, I remember saying - a sacrilege met with freezy silence; and you don't get many of those over there.

But so it has come to pass: Ireland v France this Sunday; and glory be, in even more of a primeval convulsion, Ireland v England two Saturdays later. Yer man, that eminently good soul in heaven, I fancy, won't be tickled over-pink about it - ie the Rt Rev Dr Tom Croke, the late Archbishop of Cashel, onlie begetter and fidei defensor himself of the two great games of the Gaels.

The Gaelic Athletic Association was born out of the lamentable British colonial philosophy which banned indigenous sports in conquered lands on the assumption they were cover for freedom fighters' training. In 1884 two Fenian patriots, the champion Tipperary athlete Maurice Davin and political firebrand from Clare, Michael Cusack, called a clandestine meeting in Thurles, Tipperary, to demand restoration of native Irish sports. Only five turned up, including two local journalists, and when the Archbish read their reports he preached an ardent sermon of support.

Propelled by such passion from the pontifical pulpit, the fledgling GAA at once gathered an ever larger and bonny following all over. By 1913 it had bought the freehold of the north Dublin field where All-Ireland finals had been staged since 1895. Obviously it christened the field after its late holy father inspiration Archbishop Tom.

History will pervade every pore of Croke on Sunday. Can there possibly be a more clamorously dramatic lifting of "The Ban"? We shall read in all the public prints this week how a GAA battalion fought shoulder to shoulder with rebel-poet Patrick Pearse at the Dublin GPO over Easter 1916; how rubble from that fight built Croke's northern terrace (sacred Hill 16); and how, five Novembers later on Bloody Sunday, vengeful Black and Tans machine-gunned a dozen innocents in the crowd (including the visiting captain Mick Hogan) when the Dubs played Tipperary. The Hogan Stand is still a shrine at Croke; there's another, too, named for 1884's founding father Cusack.

A century later, on the eve of my first Croke experience, Dublin's latest famed poet and sport, Ulick O'Connor, took me to a select party at Scruffy Murphy's upstairs bar just off Mount Street. Simply everyone was there, my dears, all up for the match: JP Donleavy, Con Houlihan, Norman Rodway, Cyril Cusack, green-eyed Abbey actresses, the captains and the kings and two past and future Taoiseachs, too: Jack Lynch, a true-great Gael of the 1940s (five All-Irelands, four of them for hurling), and raffish Charlie Haughey, who claimed he'd been a dual demon at UCD.

It was one of the best parties I can ever (just about) remember. Out of the blue Lynch softly asked me: "Frank, are you by any chance related to 'Babs' Keating?" (Tipperary's "Babs", I later learned, was a dual-Gael luminary with three All-Ireland hurling medals in the 1960s, then a football one in 1972). "Most assuredly I am, sir," I blatantly lied in my convivial cups.

Ever since, down the years whenever I met O'Connor, Houlihan or Rodway, they'd reproachingly address me, to my shame, as "Babs." No one else knew why. Ah, no worries, to be sure, and I'll be proud to answer to "Babs" on either of these coming weekends.

*********************

This is exactly the sort of triumphant bullshit that I have mentioned in previous arguments opposing the opening of Croke Park. The GAA are inadvertently promoting other games; our biggest rivals. We will stand to lose the most out of all of this.

Did anybody stop to ask why the FA cup final is played in Cardiff and national team games all over England when they could be using the RFU home ground of Twickenham ? Because the RFU have more sense than to lets their biggest rivals compete in their stadium!

Rule 42 was put in place to protect the GAAs hard work and investments. GAA was protecting its own market, like any other business, and not too dissimilar to what FAI and Rugby Union do. With discrepancies and unknowns about the planning permission for Landsdown road and with no clear structure put in place as to when the FAI and IRFU will need Croke Park, the GAA has opened a floodgate that could well spell the end of Croke Park being uniquely GAA HQ.

I am not against the FAI or IRFU playing in Croke Park in the short to medium term. I am however very unhappy with the deal the GAA took in having no timelines in place for not promoting and protecting our "brand", for want of a better word.


By the way are the BBC or French television going to show highlights of Hurling and Gaelic before in their build up to their Internationals ? 

[Bosses' favourite 'A N Other' could end up costing counties €1,000Friday January 26th 2007]

Personally I think all this legislation and red-tape coming from GAA HQ is too much.

It smacks of personal vendettas to reform the game and copy other sports, and leave some sort of legacy to look back on; or to 'stamp their mark'.

Does our game need all these reforms?

Are the reasons to reform for the good of the game or is it to satisfy ego's?



Bosses' favourite 'A N Other' could end up costing counties €1,000
Friday January 26th 2007

A N OTHER may have his uses in the psychological warfare deployed by some GAA managers but he could end up costing County Boards €1,000 if he makes an appearance in All-Ireland finals or semi-finals.

The versatile character will attract the highest rate of fines for the GAA's new match regulations which will come into effect at the start of the National Leagues.

Counties are being notified that if A N Other is included on the squad list for the official programmes, they will be levied €1,000. They will also be hit for a €500 fine if they fail to provide their teams to the GAA at least six days before the game.

However, that doesn't mean that the public will have early access to the teams as the GAA's demand for the lists is for programme purposes only and will not be released to the media.

No fewer than 15 match regulations are included on the list for which fines for breaching the regulations will apply. Banishing mangers/selectors to the stand for sideline infringements will also apply.

The fines range from €1,000 down to €200, with the majority being in the €400-€700 bracket. The new regulations were drafted after consultation with the team managers, all of whom will be effected by the stipulation that states they must remain between the two 45 metre lines and will not be allowed onto the pitch under any circumstances.

Instead, a designated 'runner' will be allowed on to the pitch to issue instructions. However, he will only be permitted to enter during a break in play which has been defined as when the ball is out of play prior to a kick-out for line balls. Free kicks will not be classified as breaks in play. The fine for breaking the regulation on sideline behaviour is €700, while the guilty party could also be banned to the stands for subsequent games.

Fines are not a satisfactory way of punishing offenders but with the added threat of banishment to the stands, the GAA are confident the new regulations will be effective.

"These are being introduced to improve match day presentation which had become a bit sloppy in recent seasons," said GAA President Nickey Brennan, who is in Dubai for tomorrow's Vodafone All-Star football game.

He stressed that the regulations would be strictly enforced from the start of the Leagues and no warnings will apply. "Counties are being told there will be no period of grace. The regulations are here now and it's up to everybody to familiarise themselves with the details," said Brennan.


©2006 Irish Independent


*************************


Brennan hits out at 'unworkable' proposals claim
21 January 2007

GAA President Nickey Brennan has hit out at critics who say proposals to implement new disciplinary procedures at inter-county level would be unworkable at club level.

Attempts made recently to bring the idea of accumulative yellow cards and the sin back on the agenda have been declared as unworkable at club level by some officials.

"I don't think people should muddy the water between an inter-county game and a club match - they are completely separate scenarios and we shouldn't muddy the waters in that it involves club matches as well. They are two separate entities.

©2006 Lynn Publications

[GAA break own rules by opening Croke Park before Lansdowne work begins]

GAA break own rules by opening Croke Park before Lansdowne work begins

Friday January 26th 2007

Ulster chairman Grennan insists wording of motion is being ignored

THE GAA has sold out on its principles by opening Croke Park to other sports and is also breaking its own rules by allowing rugby and soccer international to take place there next month.

That's the strident view of Ulster Council chairman Michael Greenan, who is also a vice-president of the GAA. He is due to step down as Ulster chairman at the end of next month, ironically on the day Ireland play England in a Six Nations rugby international in Croke Park, although he insists the provincial convention's clash with the big game is purely coincidental.

In a searing critique of the GAA's links with rugby and soccer, Greenan slams the decision to open Croke Park in advance of work commencing on the Lansdowne Road redevelopment.

"People are beginning to see now that not only have we been sold a pup, we have been sold a whole litter. The motion (regarding opening Croke Park) as passed by 2005 Congress is not being adhered to. Work has not started on Lansdowne Road, yet, we're opening Croke Park for rugby and soccer. That's a wrong decision," he said.

As a member of the GAA's high-powered Management Committee, Greenan will be entitled to tickets for the forthcoming rugby internationals. However, he won't be attending the games and will decide later what to do with the tickets.

Will he send them back? "We'll see - I haven't got them yet so the matter doesn't arise as of now," he said.

Opponent

Asked if he would watch the game against France on TV he replied: "If I have nothing better to do, I might - it all depends on the day. I have no particular interest in rugby. People who don't see fit to play our national anthem at all times do nothing for me."

A native of Cavan, Greenan has been involved in GAA administration since becoming assistant secretary of his club at the age of 14. He also played for Cavan and rose to the highest echelons as a referee, prior to progressing up the administrative ladder to Ulster chairman level.

A leading opponent of the move to amend Rule 42 and allow soccer and rugby into Croke Park, he famously failed to stand when former GAA President, Seán Kelly was being feted by Congress as he left office last April.

However, Greenan refutes the suggestion that he is a controversial figure, arguing instead that he merely backs up his own beliefs. He also insists that his views on Croke Park resonate with many GAA people and was delighted to have got such a positive reaction to his opposition to opening the stadium.

"I represent a broader view than some people think. You would be absolutely amazed at the number of phone calls I got after the 2005 Congress. They came from all over Ireland. People were saying 'well done, it's a pity we haven't more like you.'

"I don't run with the crowd just because it's popular. I have my views on the use of Croke Park and I'm prepared to express them. I'm afraid we've lost the plot on this one. We're giving away our best asset to other people to generate money to either help pay their share of the Lansdowne Road redevelopment or promote their sports.

"Despite opening Croke Park, we're not allowed into Lansdowne Road although we were supposed to. Where's the justice in that.

"I believe we should be promoting our games, not those of our rivals. By opening Croke Park, we're promoting their sports and raising finance for them to do so. The GAA will make money from opening Croke Park but rugby and soccer will make five times as much. There no point making a pound for yourself and five or six for the other fella.

"Nobody in business is doing that so why are we," said Greenan, who was speaking in Dubai where he's on tour with the Vodafone All-Star footballers.

Greenan dabbled in soccer and rugby during his playing days and says he has no problems with either sport.

"It's just a question of where they're being played. Anybody who plays Gaelic Games should have a prospect of playing in Croke Park. At the moment they don't, yet we're allowing other sports in. If you play soccer for the 26 counties - not for Ireland because it's a partitionist situation - you'll get into Croke Park but not all GAA players can. We should be looking after our own first.

"You wouldn't let other people in to your own house and stop your own family sleeping there," he said.

He claims that the international rugby team are being better treated than All-Ireland finalists in relation to Croke Park.

"How many training sessions do All-Ireland final teams get in Croke Park? One if they're lucky and even then they are restricted in what they can do but the Irish rugby team has five sessions. Was that the motion we passed? They get five sessions and our own people get one and in many cases none at all. Where are we going? Are we being fair to our own? No, is the answer."

He said that the Government were effectively paying for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road, that's assuming it goes ahead.

"I'm not totally convinced about it. Planning permission has been very slow and the people who are objecting to the new Lansdowne Road would hold more clout than those around Croke Park. Pensioners wouldn't have as much clout as senior counsel in Dublin 4.

"The GAA is being penalised and run down for having something while others are being indulged for having nothing. The net effect is that the Government is going to build a stadium for non-GAA sports.

"They gave a few pounds to the GAA and both they and we were criticised for it. The Government are effectively building a stadium for the two biggest professional sporting organisations in the country and in the meantime the GAA has to accommodate them," he said.

We should be promoting our games, not those of our rivals. By opening Croke Park, we're promoting their sports and raising finance for them to do so.

Greenan is delighted by progress made during his three years as Ulster chairman and believes the GAA is well placed to continue its growth into the future.

"We in Ulster have moved very much forward over the past three years. We have put full time secretaries in place in the various counties, employed up to forty coaches, put floodlighting in three venues, while more are due to come on line.

"We have been depicted as backwoodsmen from time to time but if you examine Ulster's performance on and off the pitch it paints a different picture," he said.

"Look at what we've done and compare it with the rest of the provinces and ask yourself - who are the backwoodsmen?"

Greenan has no idea what his future holds after he steps down as Ulster chairman but did not rule out the possibility of running for GAA President.

He would be a controversial choice but he is adamant his views are widely held. "I speak my mind. It's pity more people don't do the same."

Martin Breheny


© Irish Independent

'RUA' – New GAA children's mascot launched
12 December 2006

New Mayo football Manager John O'Mahony helped launch the new children's GAA mascot. A soft toy with a difference, RUA is a uniquely Irish and official GAA product that is available decked out in county specific colours and is available on www.thegaastore.com.

The soft toy will appeal to all GAA fans and in particular will give children a fun GAA figure that they can use as their county mascot and relate to in the early years of supporting their county!

They can be purchased in the colours of each of the 32 counties and you can view all the different RUA on www.thegaastore.com

As an Official GAA product, royalties from each sale of Rua will help fund the preparation of County teams.

This exciting new product appeared on the Late Late Show Toy Show 2006 and is being produced, marketed and distributed by Sports Merchandising Ireland Ltd., an official supplier of licensed products to the GAA. Expected to be one of the top toy products of this Christmas season, RUA will be available in all major toy stores including Smyth's Toys, World of Wonder and Toymaster as well as www.theGAAstore.com and most independent toy and sports stores country wide.

I suppose its not a bad idea but I dont think ill be buying him for anyone this Christmas

Found this here: http://katzthegingadragonninja.blogspot.com/2006/11/soccer-v-gaa.html
Some are of these are funny... 



25 reasons GAA is better than Soccer

1) The GAA player who played in front of 80,000 at the weekend will be teaching your children, selling you meat or fixing your drains on Monday morning. The soccer player who plays in front of 80,000 will be moaning about playing too many games and will be trying to sell you his personalised brand of leisure wear

2) GAA nicknames are better (The Bull, The Bomber, etc.) . Soccer players just add a Y to their surnames

3) Laois v Offaly is a real derby. What does Utd. Vs City mean to Ronaldo or Sibierski

4) How many soccer players does it take to screw in a light bulb? Answer eleven. One to stick it in and ten to surround and kiss him after he does it

5) Soccer players go to the papers after a game. GAA players go to the pub

6) John Terry would run a mile if he came up against Francie Bellew

7) GAA teams are numbered 1-15. A soccer team reads like the lottery results

8 ) All soccer players wear shin pads. Some hurlers wear helmets

9) Television runs soccer. Schoolteachers run the GAA

10) The GAA is about where you're from. Soccer is about who you like

11) No segregation at GAA games

12) No soccer team has a nickname quite as lovely as the Fighting Cocks of Carlow

13) Bubble perms never made it to Croke Park

14) A scoreless draw in the GAA would be quite a novelty

15) The GAA may not appreciate its women as much as it should but at least we all know who Cora Stanunton is. The most famous woman in English soccer is Posh Spice

16) Under age players get to be part of the biggest days in hurling and football at half-time in the All-Ireland.

17) Micheal O'Murchearaigh.

18)If a GAA player ever jumped at a spectator like Eric Cantona did the rest of his team would join in. So would the rest of the crowd.

19)Vinnie Jones grabbed Gascoignes testicles. Paudie O'Se decked Joe McNally during the National Anthem. McNally learnt his lesson. Gascoigne just got worse.

20) The GAA season always leaves you wanting more. The soccer season leaves soccer people demanding less. "Fewer games please"

21) Old soccer players get testimonials, Old GAA players just slip down to junior.

22) Rural villages = A Church, A Post-office, a Pub and a GAA pitch.

23) Pints after the match with the lad you knocked seven lumps of shite out of in the game.

24)Croke park on a Summer's Day.

25)Roman Abramovich can buy the League. You can't buy Liam or Sam!!

This is the first poll... but its a relevant one I think!