Mickey Harte joins the Irish News

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

There's a difference between defeatism and realism 

Well I'm so glad that Cusack & Co weren't as "realistic" as you, otherwise the meeting in Hayes Hotel in Thurles on the 1st November 1884 might have gone as follows:

Michael Cusack Lads, I've convened this meeting with a view to having established one "Gaelic Athletic Association" to promote our native games of Gaelic Football, Hurling, Camogie and handball with a mission statement of "The Association is a National Organisation which has as its basic aim the strengthening of the National Identity of a 32 County Ireland through the preservation and promotion of Gaelic games and pastimes".
Maurice Davin Jeez, the soccer is very strong.
John Wyse Power Yeah, it's too strong.
John McKay And the rugby is very strong too.
J. K. Bracken Yep, it's too strong too.
Joseph O'Ryan And the hockey too.
Thomas St. George McCarthy Not to mention tiddlywinks.
Frank Moloney It's too big an ask, we have to be realistic.
Michael Cusack Fair enough, anyone for a jar before we head home?

[mountainboii]

There's a difference between defeatism and realism 

Well I'm so glad that Cusack & Co weren't as "realistic" as you, otherwise the meeting in Hayes Hotel in Thurles on the 1st November 1884 might have gone as follows:

Michael Cusack Lads, I've convened this meeting with a view to having established one "Gaelic Athletic Association" to promote our native games of Gaelic Football, Hurling, Camogie and handball with a mission statement of "The Association is a National Organisation which has as its basic aim the strengthening of the National Identity of a 32 County Ireland through the preservation and promotion of Gaelic games and pastimes".
Maurice Davin Jeez, the soccer is very strong.
John Wyse Power Yeah, it's too strong.
John McKay And the rugby is very strong too.
J. K. Bracken Yep, it's too strong too.
Joseph O'Ryan And the hockey too.
Thomas St. George McCarthy Not to mention tiddlywinks.
Frank Moloney It's too big an ask, we have to be realistic.
Michael Cusack Fair enough, anyone for a jar before we head home?

C'mon, you aren't seriously trying to compare the promotion of a national organisation in it's native country to the promotion of it internationally. Its a completely different situation and you well know it.

Without getting into the reasons why international GAA is nothing more than a pie in the sky fairytale, there are far more pressing and realistic(there's that word again) targets such as the hundreds of thousands of kids on this island with next to no heed in GAA or the two thirds of the country with no real hurling presence. This is where money and effort should be focused, not some silly pipe dream, regardless of who is promoting it.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

C'mon, you aren't seriously trying to compare the promotion of a national organisation in it's native country to the promotion of it internationally. Its a completely different situation and you well know it.

In 1884, it was a massive ask, massive, and it's all about the promotion of the games, be that national or international. It's always easier to find reasons not to do something, and I'm glad they didn't take succour in that in 1884.

[Maguire01]

What's the importance of having GAA played all over the world anyway?

[under the bar]

What's the importance of having GAA played all over the world anyway?

Cos if you don't grow, you shrink.

[Maguire01]

What's the importance of having GAA played all over the world anyway?

Cos if you don't grow, you shrink.

Or stay the same.

The GAA is well able to sustain itself on the basis of its activities in Ireland. If anything, the cost of the GAA's current activities outside of Ireland (such as London and New York's involvements in our main compeitions) are probably a serious drain on resources. The cost of London's involvement in Division 4 is hardly being covered by the gate receipts from their games.

[rrhf]

I like todays read - its relevant and its brave.   Like a magician Harte seems to be able to pluck the issues from thin air and the reader finds themselves nodding and saying to themselves, why didnt I think of that?    He deals effectively with the stuff the rest of us dont get into, and you can hear the whack of a sodden wet towel on the arse of the punditry and media bloodhounds out to get Tommy mc Guigan.   I now only buy the irish news on a Friday and Monday. 

[Minder]

I like todays read - its relevant and its brave.   Like a magician Harte seems to be able to pluck the issues from thin air and the reader finds themselves nodding and saying to themselves, why didnt I think of that?    He deals effectively with the stuff the rest of us dont get into, and you can hear the whack of a sodden wet towel on the arse of the punditry and media bloodhounds out to get Tommy mc Guigan.   I now only buy the irish news on a Friday and Monday. 

Absolutely, the abolition of the U-21 championship is totally taboo in our house and is spoken about only in hushed tones.

[Minder]

Teenage starlets get kick from county show

THERE has been much debate in recent years about the necessity for the continuation of the U21 competitions.

Many of those with the most access to the airwaves and print media often espouse that this competition no longer fulfils the purpose for which it was initiated. I would definitely contest such a view.

The simple argument is that since the numbers attending third-level education is ever on the increase, there is no need to accommodate this age group at county level. How wrong is that? To equate playing for your university/college (however successful they might be) to representing your county is naive to say the least.

These people would further argue that the U21s and minors should both be scrapped and replaced by an U19 competition. The suggestion here is further 'validated' by indicating that A-levels and leaving cert exams would not coincide with this innovative, all-embracing alternative underage outlet.

The argument is weak on two fronts. Firstly, we encourage our young people today to lead a

balanced life, hence they ought to be able to integrate study, a social life and sport in appropriate proportions.

Additionally, it has always been the case that U18 teams included many who were still only

17-years-old, and therefore not in the throes of their final school exams. If the competition became an U19 event, then it's fairly reasonable to suspect that it would be made up of players from the 18 and 19 age group (doesn't exactly solve the exam crisis).

As well as that, removing the two competitions for a single U19 series has other inherent flaws. The opportunity to play for your county at senior level – especially on a regular basis – is only in the domain of a privileged few.

The general statistics indicate that, even from a successful minor team, no more than two will be first team regulars by the time they are 28. Occasionally there are exceptions to this, Tyrone '98 being a case in point, yet even in this case only two players actually started both the '98 minor final and the 2008 senior final.

Currently, young players have a chance at 17 and 18 (and a few at 16) to represent their county. Again at 19, 20 and 21, the opportunity is available to those who achieve the required standard. For the large majority of players, this is as good as it gets, and those who don't go beyond these categories really treasure the experience.

Additionally, it is a widely accepted fact that very few minors can make the transition directly to senior level. Indeed, it has often proved detrimental to developing talent. The opportunity to develop at 19, 20 and 21 to county standard among players of their own age group, and with similarly developing physiques, is essential for the majority of these young athletes.

The suggestion, alluded to earlier in this article by opponents of the U21 series, that third-level football is a suitable alternative for this grade of inter-county football, lacks substance in other ways.

In Ulster, for example, there are only three universities/colleges (UUJ, Queen's and St Mary's) competing at the highest level. That's three squads of 30, at most, who can expect to play at this standard. Given that the average student attends for four years and many current (established) county senior players are available to these institutions, that doesn't

exactly cater for huge amounts of emerging talent.

DESPITE the increase in third-level courses, there are still significant numbers who do not attend university, others who decide to leave, and yet more who feel unable or unwilling to challenge for the limited places available at this level.

Alternatively, there are nineinter-county squads in Ulster offering up to 270 players the chance to participate at this level.

All players look back with particular pride at having represented their county at any level.

Even better if they have been fortunate enough to reach an Ulster final and somewhat blessed if they have experienced an All-Ireland final day.

Any suggestion to reduce such opportunities for our young athletes is simply not acceptable.

While this discussion is based in the context of inter-county football, I believe it has equal resonance in the club scene. This is particularly true in clubs with a large youth base, where two adult teams cannot accommodate all who wish to play and many are therefore lost to our games.

Refs under pressure to review decisions

IT'S wonderful to see that inconsistency is alive and well within the discipline domain of the GAA.

With the SSCC (Setanta Selective Control Committee) allied to, and reinforced by, the PMSC (Print Media Selective Committee), it was hardly surprising to find out officially, after more than 24 hours on the media grapevine, that the incident involving Tommy McGuigan (pictured below left) and Sean Marty Lockhart in our game against Derry last weekend was to become the subject of further investigation.

This incident was dealt with by the referee at the time (in fact, David Coldrick (pictured below right) spent 25 seconds dealing directly with Tommy before he issued a black card).

Of course, we are all now aware that the referee may be asked to reconsider his

interpretation of a particular incident if the regulator, Setanta Sports in this case, decide it is one of the highlights.

And we also know that the referee feels under no pressure to change his view if he has no ambition to get more top quality games.

Conversely, however, if you accept that you acted with a degree of incompetence in the first instance, then a high-flying career with the whistle is most likely.

This scenario reminds me of the story about the guy who went to the theatre to see a play and couldn't wait to read what the critics said about it to see if he liked it or not.

Was the referee asked to review any of the rest of his decisions? It seems strange that there have been more than 60 games played in all four divisions of the National Football League since the Ricey incident, and I am not aware of any other reviews.

Statistically, how likely is that?

[muppet]

Statistically how likely is it that Mickey wins the TV/print media/Gaa/referee 'victim of the year award'?

Actually he should go straight to the Victim Hall of Fame.

[Maguire01]

Like a magician Harte seems to be able to pluck the issues from thin air and the reader finds themselves nodding and saying to themselves, why didnt I think of that? 

Have you been reading the same column as the rest of us? He has been rehashing arguments that have been doing the rounds for years.

[Mike Sheehy]

And we also know that the referee feels under no pressure to change his view if he has no ambition to get more top quality games.

Conversely, however, if you accept that you acted with a degree of incompetence in the first instance, then a high-flying career with the whistle is most likely.

Harte has crossed the line here. Surely this is a case of a current team manager trying to influence a referee via the print media ?

[tyronefan]

is it not the truth

[muppet]

is it not the truth

At the very most it is his opinion.

[tyronefan]

Paddy Russell said the very same thing in his book