The Rock calls for change as he announces his retirement

[longrunsthefox]

The Rock was certainly a larger than life figure and when he cried after  losing against Kilkenny last year showed hi sundoubted passion. Other great memory of men bouncing off him but sadly tainted by the day he hid the sliotar down his nics against Limerick and rolled on the ground like a soccer primadonna when an opponentt tried to take it off him.   

[neilthemac]

i think a fella/girl on the pitch running competitions before throw in and at half time would be great.

something for kids, something funny for adults.

giving away jerseys, tee-shirts, footballs, helmets, hurleys, slotars etc. they have those cannons that 'shoot' t-shirts etc into the crowd. that'd be some craic

introducing the teams properly etc, getting good atmosphere with some sort of decent music.

[the sledger]

aye hes a big lad alrite, use to work with him, tough oul nut

fair plays te him

[Archie Mitchell]

Anyone got a video of the point he scored from just outisde his own 21 yard line?

IIRC the ball came into the square, him and full forward went for it, caught it, burst out with it and just whacked the ball as hard as he could and sailed straight over the bar. Savage point

[orangeman]

The Rock was certainly a larger than life figure and when he cried after  losing against Kilkenny last year showed hi sundoubted passion. Other great memory of men bouncing off him but sadly tainted by the day he hid the sliotar down his nics against Limerick and rolled on the ground like a soccer primadonna when an opponentt tried to take it off him.   

There was some fun and games that day. He took some battering as he made his way up for the penalty.

[deiseach]

i think a fella/girl on the pitch running competitions before throw in and at half time would be great.

something for kids, something funny for adults.

giving away jerseys, tee-shirts, footballs, helmets, hurleys, slotars etc. they have those cannons that 'shoot' t-shirts etc into the crowd. that'd be some craic

introducing the teams properly etc, getting good atmosphere with some sort of decent music.

Having witnessed the cheerleaders at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton and the guy dressed as a ram at Pride Park in Derby, I'm not sure this is a winner. People see it in America and think that it's just what we need, but they forget that a) they lavish ridiculous amount of time, energy and money on these things, and b) Americans have no sense of irony.

[INDIANA]

Fine player- best of luck to him in his retirement.

[orangeman]

GAA President Christy Cooney has dismissed comments by Cork's Diarmuid O'Sullivan, who called on the Association to market itself better.

Retiring O'Sullivan made the comments in yesterday's Examiner, prompting a response today from Cooney.

Cooney said: 'We continue to look at how we present our games and we will do that on a continuous basis. It's important we would do that and of course we can learn from other sports.

'That's only natural. We'd be foolish to say otherwise and we'd always observe what's going on in other sports - whatever sport it is. And, if it's something we can use, we will use it. I believe that the presentation of our games generally is very good and if we can add something to it we will.

'We'll always have to compete with other sports, whether it is rugby or soccer or basketball or golf. It's our job to put our best foot forward to make sure we get our fair share of the marketplace and we'll do that and continue to do that. That will always be a challenge.'

He went on: 'If anyone would question that we need to re-brand Cork and Tipperary in the first round of the Munster hurling, they are in cuckoo-land because the brand is very strong.

'If Cork beat Waterford in the senior football championship I'm sure that people won't have any difficulty travelling to Killarney for a wonderful weekend and a nice game of football. Munster Council have put in place some very good ticketing initiatives to attract people.'

[The GAA]

Astonishing complacency on Cooney's behalf and typical of the GAA's attitude in general to promoting our games.

Sad to see o'sullivan go though i thnk the signs of wear and tear were there the past 2 years. As wll as being a savage hurler, he was a fantastic ambassador for the game. i doubt if too many high profile men have done the sterling coaching work he has in unfashionable counties. good luck to him.

[Rossfan]

He went on: 'If anyone would question that we need to re-brand Cork and Tipperary in the first round of the Munster hurling, they are in cuckoo-land because the brand is very strong.

'If Cork beat Waterford in the senior football championship I'm sure that people won't have any difficulty travelling to Killarney for a wonderful weekend and a nice game of football.

But what about the NFL, the U21 Championships, Club competitions etc. most of these are only attended by the usual diehards and/or GAA insiders.
The number of times I've been at an away NFL game and being asked by one of the natives of the town where the game was " is there a game on? Who's playing?"
As for the Cork/Kerry "brand"( God help us) .. werent there only 22,000 at it last year?

[orangeman]

He went on: 'If anyone would question that we need to re-brand Cork and Tipperary in the first round of the Munster hurling, they are in cuckoo-land because the brand is very strong.

'If Cork beat Waterford in the senior football championship I'm sure that people won't have any difficulty travelling to Killarney for a wonderful weekend and a nice game of football.

But what about the NFL, the U21 Championships, Club competitions etc. most of these are only attended by the usual diehards and/or GAA insiders.
The number of times I've been at an away NFL game and being asked by one of the natives of the town where the game was " is there a game on? Who's playing?"
As for the Cork/Kerry "brand"( God help us) .. werent there only 22,000 at it last year?

And if memory serves me right there was a buy one get one free offer. BOGOF !

[Bud Wiser]

The one thing that stands out for me about Diarmuid is a report in a paper last year when he was doing umpire at a juvenile championsip game between his own club and I forget who the other club was. The report went on to say how he took time when the ball was at the other end of the field to actually coach the opposing teams forwards how to win ball and score against his own club.  Not just a rock in Cork Gaa circles but a rock for hurling in general and while he will be remembered for his exploits on field I sincerely hope he will be remembered for his contributions off it as well. 

[johnneycool]

The one thing that stands out for me about Diarmuid is a report in a paper last year when he was doing umpire at a juvenile championsip game between his own club and I forget who the other club was. The report went on to say how he took time when the ball was at the other end of the field to actually coach the opposing teams forwards how to win ball and score against his own club.  Not just a rock in Cork Gaa circles but a rock for hurling in general and while he will be remembered for his exploits on field I sincerely hope he will be remembered for his contributions off it as well. 

i always think that someones on field persona should not be confused with how they are off-field. The rock was in one of those positions where a bit of cynical play may be for the greater good of the team irrespective of how it looks to the watching opposition and media, ditto Noel Hickey etc, etc. It's easier to be a nicer guy 100 yards or so from your own posts.

[theskull1]

I totally disagree JC and would use yourself as an example to prove my point 

[johnneycool]

I totally disagree JC and would use yourself as an example to prove my point 

I don't know how to take that one skull?? 

As a Dunlodian you'll only be too well aware of how big Dominic McMullan or some other hallions who've worn the jersey would have been perceived for some of his on-field antics but a totally different charachter off the field, that's all I'm saying.


It's normally the wee timid f**ker on the park who goes home to beat the wife.