Messages

[Lecale2]

I read this post on a Tyrone thread. I thought it was a good post that, in a few short lines says what we are about. It also highlights the danger going forward.  I thought this deserved it's own thread. What is the GAA about in the 21st Century?

Lecale2
Full Member
posts: 218
   Re: Tyone Responds To GPA Regonition « Reply #12 on: Today at 09:43:50 PM »

The GAA is not just about county players. It is a choice you make to play for your county; and a privilege. Some are lucky enough to have been given the opinion to make that choice. If you don't want to play for your county - don't do it. There are loads of lads queuing up to.

The GAA is built on people, men and women, working to preserve our heritage and to give young people a healthily alternative to play stations, drink and a life based on selfishness. We give them a healthy option, teach them team play, sportsmanship and give them confidence in who they are and where they have come from.  Focusing on the elite players will destroy something that I believe is unique in modern sport.

The man who plays full forward for the county team is equal in any club to the lad who coaches the u14s, to the committee man, the grounds man, the referee, the lady who makes the sandwiches and the Minor hurler who trains all year but isn't good enough and only plays the last 10 minutes of every match. That's the sort or organisation we are. Long may it continue?

Maybe the time may come where TV dictates that we should split into 2 different associations? One of elite athletes who will appear on Setanta on Saturday nights and another of the rest. The rump. The plain people of Ireland at sport. I know where I will be.  Coaching the u14s on Sunday morning or refereeing a minor match down the country. Not just because I'm not good enough to play at Croke Park, but because that's what I believe it's all about.

[Banner row remains unsettled]

I've heard a 100 theroies about whats going on. No point in repeting them here. Here's thge latest from Hoganstand. I'll see you Down lads Saturday or Sunday.

Banner row remains unsettled
15 February 2007

The disharmony in Clare hurling shows no signs of dissipating with the news that trainer Dave Mahedy has severed his links with the county setup and a meeting between hurling boss Tony Considine and goalkeeper Davy Fitzgerald has seen no agreement reached between the pair.

It is understood that no resolution of the disagreement was reached as a result of the meeting and Fitzgerald has still not returned to training with Clare with Sunday's NHL opener coming up fast.

Neither Considine or Fitzgerald have chosen to discuss their meeting but Considine rejected suggestions that senior players in the panel are annoyed by Fitzgerald's non-inclusion in the panel.

Considine told Clare FM: "I haven't heard anything; maybe you have, but then again, there are a lot of sideshows going on."

Meanwhile, Mahedy has quit as the panel's trainer, claiming that he was "not in a position to continue."

Currently playing intermediate but hoping to break into the senior team within the next couple of year.

Thanks for all the advice lads. I was talking to the lads last night at training and we'll be heading straight to Portaferry. They weren't that keen on Belfast and Newry seems a bit far from the ground what with hangovers and all. One thing lads, The AA route finder site recommends travelling through Belfast to Portaferry. It looks a fair bit longer than the route through Newry and I'd be worried about getting lost in the city with a southern reg. Are the roads in Down very poor or something?

Colonel Cool/Johnnycool - are you guys from Portaferry? Thanks for your help.

How have Down been going pre-season? I know you lost to Laois in the Walsh Cup but have there been any friendlies? Is Paul Braniff still injured? I saw him put in a great performance for ye against Westmeath acouiple of year ago in Limerick.

The story with Davy is all up in the air. His club are putting pressure on the Co Board to resolve the issue but it hasn't been sorted yet. We''ll know more when the team is named on Thursday night but I don't expect Davy to be in it or even on the bench.

Colonel Cool/Johnnycool - are you guys from Portaferry?

[Keating blast for 'nonsensical' refereeing rules]

From the Indo. Can you really ever have common sense refereeing and consistent refereeing? I just don't think our refs are capable of delivering both. In fact I'm not sure it can be done at all.


Keating blast for 'nonsensical' refereeing rules Wednesday February 14th 2007

TOP hurling managers have rounded on over-officious referees and appealed for common sense to prevail in 2007.

The appeals were led by Tipperary hurling manager 'Babs' Keating who expressed concern at Tommy Dunne's sending off for Toomevara against Ballyhale in last Saturday's epic All-Ireland club semi-final in Portlaoise.

Dunne has signalled that it was the end of his hurling career at all levels. Keating said the red card Dunne received was harmless and he has pleaded with GAA president Nickey Brennan to try to restore "common sense" refereeing to the game. He was joined in chorus by Ger Loughnane and Gerald McCarthy who are also concerned about what is now expected of referees.

"I wouldn't like to see Tommy Dunne remembered for that. But it is clear that the rules and the rules that govern referees have to change. The referees that we have today are working with the rules that are given to them and I think it's nonsensical," said Keating.

"We had a football match down in Mayo where the referee gave 15 yellow cards and there was a football game in Cork where another 15 were shown," he added.

"If I make the comparison with soccer, when there's a yellow card it is justified. A player's legs are taken and it's what I call a worthwhile yellow card. This idea of ticking and yellow cards has to be looked at and changed. There needs to be more co-operation between the linesmen and referees, more understanding.

"It's in all of our interests if 2007 goes off without any controversy. Every game I've been involved in this year, with the exception of the Waterford Crystal final, I would question a lot of the decisions. I don't think any of us want that kind of a 2007 ahead of us. I would like to see this ticking gone. If you go back to our day, if someone deserved to be sent off, they were sent off. End of story," he reflected.

"Referees are putting too much pressure on themselves by giving out a yellow card for very little. Then when something more serious happens they have problems," he noted.

'Babs' believes his decision to discipline players by ejecting them from the squad for excessive drinking after the Munster final defeat to Cork drew a line in the sand that will only benefit the county.

"I did say that I was never in a more comfortable Tipperary than I am at the moment. Without appearing to be critical of any of my predecessors, because that would be very wrong, some surgery was required in Tipperary with the attitude of some of the players that I inherited.

"I am particularly delighted that I took that route because it was required. Anyone that wanted success wouldn't put up with guys drinking after a Munster final. I have no problem with drinking, but drinking to the excess that I heard about wouldn't be tolerated not alone in sport but in the workplace.

"The rules that I laid down helped the minors and U21s and I think will help Tipperary in the future if they are adopted and kept in place. Without those rules we all know that lasting success cannot remain," he predicted.

'Babs' predicted that Pa Burke, star of last year's All-Ireland minor title winning attack, can be one of the greatest forwards to play the game but insists he won't be rushing him into action in 2007.

He also claimed it was the first time in many years that Tipperary was free of controversy and conflict.

Colm Keys

I'm heading up for this match at the weekend. We should be in the north by lunch time Saturday. We've no idea where to stay and other than looking at a map I know nothing about county Down. WWW.GAA.IE says the game is in Portaferry. I thought Down played in Newry. Newry is handier but how far away is Potaferry from Newry? Where is the pitch exactly? What's the ground like?

I think the Down team are a pale shadow of the team they were a couple of years ago but we'll see on Sunday.

More importantly - can I have some advice on where to stay? Some where cheap that won't mind us coming in late and and having a few drinks. There's 4 of us. Would it be best to stay near the ground in Portaferry or could we stay somewhere else and travel to the game in the morning?