Mickey Harte joins the Irish News

[Mike Sheehy]

Leave the rising star of journalism that is Mickey Harte

Rising star ? he writes waffle for the Irish News which is just a Nordie propaganda rag !

[longrunsthefox]

In this decade (which is what we are talking about) Tyrone have won 3 All Irelands, 3 Ulsters and 2 National leagues to Kerrys 4 All Irelands, 6 Munsters and 2 National Leagues.  I think its fair to say Kerry have the upper hand  on this one.  Not hard to work out if you're half intelligent, but then again.....

Three-Nil 

[Minder]

Time to take positive from negative rules experiment Mickey Harte
By Mickey Harte
10/04/09

AS the Annual Congress of the GAA draws ever closer, the debate around the experimental rules intensifies.

I had an open mind when they were introduced and was prepared to be persuaded, or otherwise, when they were tested in the field.

Having experienced this new departure for nine of our games (three in the McKenna Cup and six in the Allianz League) and watched numerous other games on television, my conclusion is that the existing rules applied consistently are more than adequate.

Indeed, before we enter any kind of detailed debate as to the value, or otherwise, in terms of the finer detail of the proposals, we ought to keep a degree of perspective on the situation.

It's now a well accepted fact that you get more of what you look for.

If you like a new model of a motorcar and harbour notions of buying one, isn't it amazing just how many of them you see on your daily journey to work?

Has the number of such vehicles currently on the road increased dramatically?

Absolutely not. However, since your mind is drawn towards them, they seem more prolific.

Therein lies the fundamental difficulty with the introduction of these experimental rules.

The chief selling point by those who espoused their necessity was heavily weighted on a premise of the acute need to remove

cynicism and thuggery from our games.

While such honourable intentions would meet with universal approval, this approach created an environment where the focus was on what we didn't want rather than what we desired.

Unfortunately, the number and colour of cards produced in the game became more of the focus rather than the quality of individual or team skills on display.

Referees came under increasing pressure to 'clean up the game' and the whole focus of their

attention became one of catching people transgressing in specific ways, perhaps dividing their attention disproportionately from their core task, that of officiating in a balanced and fair way.

The view I am expressing here is further endorsed by the fact that, when the referees were brought together to analyse footage in

relation to the new rules, the examples were, of necessity, all to do with fouls of an apparent or actual aggressive nature.

Though I am not well enough informed to categorically state, I fancy there wasn't any time given over at these collective review sessions for referees to study any other aspect of quality performance.

Furthermore, I would have to conclude, based on live and recorded experience, that these review sessions did not serve the desired purpose  that of achieving greater consistency.

There have been countless examples of different interpretations of the same rules and, while it is fair to assume in the initial stages of implementation there will be teething problems, the facts are that far from attaining greater consistency, even greater confusion reigns.

When one considers that we now have been exposed to anything from eight to 10 games under the proposed changes, and despite the best efforts of the administrators to instil a consistent interpretation, the evidence suggests otherwise.

The 'head high tackle' (foul) is undoubtedly the most problematic of all as this was included to deal with the so-called 'clothesline' foul and has been regularly confused with innocent and clumsy fouls. In fact, I don't believe I have seen a dangerous foul of that nature in any of the games we have played and yet several players have been sent off for so-called 'head high tackles' (fouls).

On reflection, then, perhaps the real lessons to be taken from the experimental rules is that we don't need to change rules at all.

That in itself will have made the exercise worthwhile. There is no doubt there is now a greater awareness of what constitutes quality tackling and what doesn't quite qualify for that title.

Now is the time for a change of focus. Replace the negative language of cynicism, thuggery and foul play with attention to the creative skills of controlled passing, quality tackling vision, fielding, energy and honest commitment. Doesn't the game look better already?

And haven't there already been rules there to deal with the unsavoury (in real terms minimal) aspect of our games?

Decision is missed chance

AS is by now well documented, to say I am disappointed at the removal of our first round Ulster Championship game from Healy Park to Clones, is somewhat of an understatement.

We (that is the management and players) would have been more than happy to play the game at Healy Park if Croke Park was not available on that date.

From the moment the draw partnered ourselves and Armagh in the first round, it was clear to everyone that the demand for entry to the game would exceed the capacity in Omagh.

It would have been equally evident that this game had a crowd-pulling potential that would exceed any of our or provincial grounds as well.

The equation seems fairly straightforward. Bill this as a game for Headquarters. I have

always been of the belief that we should be about the business of promoting our games to the highest profile at every opportunity. Indeed our province has been a market leader in this capacity. All the more surprising, and disappointing, therefore that this opportunity has been spurned. Again this is no reflection on St Tiernach's Park as we very much enjoy playing there too, as indeed we do at our other provincial ground, Casement Park.

However, what a boost it could have been for Gaelic Games in the province if for the first time in our history we had a first round game that could generate enough interest to necessitate hosting it in Croke Park.

The positive impact of such an event on the GAA in both counties, the province of Ulster and the Championship in general would have been immense.

Additionally, as I have already aired through this publication and other media outlets, the

opportunity to play at, or be part of an occasion in Croke Park, should always be seized.

For those who are familiar with the surroundings, it's another chance to savour something great, and for those new to the scene, an invaluable insight to what might be. It is also a glorious opportunity for families to embrace the experience together in comfort and something that would not be possible if their team was lucky enough to be there later in the summer.



IT has been brought to my attention that selective sentencing is acceptable with both the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) and the Central Hearings Committee (CHC). But, despite all the recent utterances of a fair system applying, Tommy McGuigan's incident being the only one meriting review since February 14, determines that is simply not the case.

I have alluded to the phenomenon which we have come to know as 'trial by television' and this is definitely a subject for a much more

in-depth consideration.

More about this next week.

[The GAA]

Jesus. almost an entire article that i am impressed with.

[SidelineKick]

I have alluded to the phenomenon which we have come to know as 'trial by television' and this is definitely a subject for a much more

in-depth consideration.

More about this next week.

Great 

I have to say I completely disagree with mickey Harte, the 1st round of an Ulster Championship tie would not attract a crowd that will well exceed the capacity of Clones.  Look at the replay of the Ulster Final that was played there, it was embarrassing. I see his point with regards to giving players the opportunity to play at Croker, which would be a great experience.  But to play in front of a reduced crowd at HQ may be the equivilent to getting a trip to Australia only to find out you have to go by boat.

Keep it in Clones, a packed house, mighty atmosphere and (hopefully) a cracking game.

EDIT: So as I don't appear to be MH-basing, I did like what he had to say in the first part of the article.  He does talk some sense at times.

[Hardy]

Mickey talks complete sense there in his piece about the rules. Spot on, I'd say, and a bit surprising because I'd have had the prejudice that the new rules would have suited Tyrone more than most.

[Maguire01]

Tyrone and Armagh have had plenty of opportunities to play at Croke Park. I know that not the only case for CP, but it's a poor argument in itself.

[Tyrone Dreamer]

I have alluded to the phenomenon which we have come to know as 'trial by television' and this is definitely a subject for a much more

in-depth consideration.

More about this next week.

Great 

I have to say I completely disagree with mickey Harte, the 1st round of an Ulster Championship tie would not attract a crowd that will well exceed the capacity of Clones.  Look at the replay of the Ulster Final that was played there, it was embarrassing. I see his point with regards to giving players the opportunity to play at Croker, which would be a great experience.  But to play in front of a reduced crowd at HQ may be the equivilent to getting a trip to Australia only to find out you have to go by boat.

Keep it in Clones, a packed house, mighty atmosphere and (hopefully) a cracking game.

EDIT: So as I don't appear to be MH-basing, I did like what he had to say in the first part of the article.  He does talk some sense at times.

That replay should never have been held at Croke Park on a Saturday evening. Saturdays are not a great day for people never mind bringing Tyrone and Armagh to Dublin just a week or 2 after they had met there. There was still 30,000 there that day though which wasnt bad. There was over 60,000 at the other 2 meetings between Tyrone and Armagh on Sundays that year. This time round you have the clash of the Ulster and All Ireland Champions which if promoted right would have attracted a large crowd to Croke Park.

[SidelineKick]

Valid enough TD, but do you honestly think the same crowd could be attracted for a first round tie?  The others were an Ulster Final which they thought was going to be the day their team would be crowned Ulster Champions (although it ended a draw) and the other was an AI Semi, which speaks for itself.

[Katchit]

Agree with MH re new rules but he is talking complete bollocks in regards to Tyrone v Armagh in Crokers.

If it is a home game Tyrone should have the choice of playing it at Healy park or a provincal ground like Clones but the decision shouldn't be forced upon them by the Ulster Council. Croke Park realistically would lucky to be over half full for this tie.

[ONeill]

Time to take positive from negative rules experiment Mickey Harte
By Mickey Harte
10/04/09

It's now a well accepted fact that you get more of what you look for.

If you like a new model of a motorcar and harbour notions of buying one, isn't it amazing just how many of them you see on your daily journey to work?

Has the number of such vehicles currently on the road increased dramatically?

Absolutely not. However, since your mind is drawn towards them, they seem more prolific.

Mickey talks some bollocks. Before I ventured out today I said to myself wouldn't it be great to see more women walking about the streets with their baps out. Went out for a drive and the devil a bit of it.

[armaghniac]

Before I ventured out today I said to myself wouldn't it be great to see more women walking about the streets with their baps out.

On a Good Friday, O'Neill!

Clones seems a reasonable venue for this game, a full house at the home of Ulster GAA.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

Perhaps MH's vision of global Gaelic Games isn't that far fetched at all, from today's Irish News...

French side puts some Gallic in Gaelic football
By Claire Simpson

IT was more a case of Gallic than Gaelic football when an all-French side lined out for a tournament in Co Derry.

The club from Liffre, in the Brittany region of north-west France, claim they are the first team with no native English speakers or Irish links to play a football match in Ireland. Nine players have travelled to see the GAA in its native habitat and to take part in seven-a-side matches in Newbridge. Danny Stewart from Ballycastle, who helped organise the trip, said although they did not win the mini-tournament against Newbridge GAC and Errigal Ciaran of Co Tyrone, some of their opponents were shocked by the skill of the French players.

"They don't have any Gaelic pitches so they have to play on rugby pitches in France," he said. "They have to customise the goalposts and because the pitches are smaller it's only 13-a-side." Mr Stewart said Brittany's Celtic culture and the growing availability of Gaelic games on French television has helped popularise the sport.

Brittany now boasts six clubs and up to 80 school teams, who played their first tournament in April. "It has just mushroomed," Mr Stewart said. "What I would like to see is a Brittany county team coming over and winning the All-Ireland."

[SidelineKick]

Think thats great! Fair play to them! Maybe more chance of Brittany winning the AI than Derry in the coming years 

[Maguire01]

How did that all originate? A teacher from here working over there or something?