The Rock calls for change as he announces his retirement

awfulynice · May 16, 2009, 03:03:31 PM

Quote from: johnneycool on May 15, 2009, 09:11:52 AM
Quote from: Bud Wiser on May 14, 2009, 08:04:38 PM
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.

On Diarmuid O'Sullivan...an unbelievably inspirational player he was able to raise the whole teams performances with his clearances and big hits. As a fellow full back he was a player i tried to emulate as i was coming up..Himself and Brian Lohan have been the best full backs in the last 20 years at least. Everyone seems to speak about him as if he was a cynical fouler....it is not the case at all he was brilliant because he hit hard but he hit on the ball.

There are more cynical players around today definately...from my own club in offaly we have some members on the offaly team...they are without doubt the most cynical and dirty players in our club and i do think this needs to be cut out.

But on the promotions side I think the GAA should be doing more to sell hurling overseas actually. There is without doubt a football bias in the GAA and has been for as long as i can remember. The Scotland - Ireland shinty game is unheard of by most people when this could be a really good crowd puller and promotion if it was marketed and ran properly. It would give a chance for some county players to play for their country and i have no doubt that you could fill croke park once or twice a year for these games.

Zulu · May 16, 2009, 03:16:09 PM

QuoteThe Scotland - Ireland shinty game is unheard of by most people when this could be a really good crowd puller and promotion if it was marketed and ran properly. It would give a chance for some county players to play for their country and i have no doubt that you could fill croke park once or twice a year for these games.

That Scotland/Ireland shinty thing is without doubt the single most awful field sport I have ever seen, it's basically two teams playing entirely different sports against each other. It is a waste of time and would be a waste of money promoting it.

orangeman · May 16, 2009, 03:42:44 PM

Quote from: Zulu on May 16, 2009, 03:16:09 PM
QuoteThe Scotland - Ireland shinty game is unheard of by most people when this could be a really good crowd puller and promotion if it was marketed and ran properly. It would give a chance for some county players to play for their country and i have no doubt that you could fill croke park once or twice a year for these games.

That Scotland/Ireland shinty thing is without doubt the single most awful field sport I have ever seen, it's basically two teams playing entirely different sports against each other. It is a waste of time and would be a waste of money promoting it.

Glad to see we're all in agreement here.

theskull1 · May 17, 2009, 03:53:02 PM

I'd love to see them sell in our own country before they would take it overseas awfulynice. Hurling men need continued support to deliver better quality coaching and competition especially in the weak counties over a sustained period of time.

mckieran · May 27, 2009, 12:53:03 PM

QuoteI'd love to see them sell in our own country before they would take it overseas awfulynice. Hurling men need continued support to deliver better quality coaching and competition especially in the weak counties over a sustained period of time.

I think a new thread might be a good idea, asking people ideas on how hurling can become more popular. If you were the guy that had to make hurling more popular, what would you do?

orangeman · November 18, 2009, 01:57:33 PM

BREAKING NEWS :

Diarmuid O'Sullivan has changed his mind about retiring from hurling according to Cork team mate Ronan Curran.

O'Sullivan had said he would be quitting the game after it was made compulsory to wear helmets from 1 January.

But Curran, speaking at the launch of Mycro's range of hurling helmets and gloves, said O'Sullivan had changed his mind and ordered a helmet.

Speaking at Croke Park as a representative of Mycro, Curran said: 'Sully will be wearing a helmet. He only rang me two days ago to put in his order.

'There are another few years left in Sully. He's going to play away in the forwards with Cloyne.'
Curran said that Mycro were working on a design to make the helmet more acceptable to defenders and goalkeepers, who tend to find them most problematic as the helmet gets in the way when fielding high balls.

'We're working on something and hopefully towards the end of the year we'll have something out,' he added.

Bud Wiser · November 18, 2009, 03:31:33 PM

Well on the long running thread about the strikers I said that O'Sullivan was the only one of them I had time for so I am not jumping on the bandwagon here and whether he goes or whether he stays I won't be changing. One of my favourite players and his contribution to the GAA has been huge. In the thread where I paid compliment to the man I refered to an article that was in a paper where he was coaching the full back line of his club during a juvenile game and where on several occasions he went on the field to coach the opposition in how to score against his own team ! . If he does go then another chunk of tradition will go with him in hurling terms but he owes nobody anything as they say.

Reillers · November 18, 2009, 05:39:51 PM

He's playing on the wing for Highfield, looking excellent, but as per last year it's just back with the club. He has no interest in playing in the back for Cork, he'll play up front no bother, but Walsh doesn't want him to play up front, and I suppose with Sully so near the end of his career, and he owes Cork nothing, there's not much to be said. He's a legend of a player, will be interesting to see him playing in a helmet though. Lol.

milltown row · November 18, 2009, 07:23:22 PM

They'll have to make his helmet in the Shipyard!!

some dome

thejuice · November 20, 2009, 10:50:20 AM

Great to hear he's back playing hurling. Great man, great player. Wouldnt like to be up against him, put ya into next week. I thought his decision to depart just because of the helmet rule was a bit premature. No reason why Goalies and defenders cant wear a visor like they do in the NFL.

INDIANA · November 20, 2009, 12:35:15 PM

Not overly surprised- cork have precious few full backs so he probably sees a real opportunity there. Cadogan wasn't really the answer last year and he looks a much better footballer to me. Rock still has probably 2 years left at that level if he avoids injury and I think he has a greater physical prescence there than anybody else Cork have.

johnneycool · November 20, 2009, 01:39:52 PM

Quote from: thejuice on November 20, 2009, 10:50:20 AM
Great to hear he's back playing hurling. Great man, great player. Wouldnt like to be up against him, put ya into next week. I thought his decision to depart just because of the helmet rule was a bit premature. No reason why Goalies and defenders cant wear a visor like they do in the NFL.

in the NFL they're trying to catch a ball a damn sight bigger than a sloithar

Galwaybhoy · November 21, 2009, 07:33:22 PM

Quote from: johnneycool on November 20, 2009, 01:39:52 PM
Quote from: thejuice on November 20, 2009, 10:50:20 AM
Great to hear he's back playing hurling. Great man, great player. Wouldnt like to be up against him, put ya into next week. I thought his decision to depart just because of the helmet rule was a bit premature. No reason why Goalies and defenders cant wear a visor like they do in the NFL.

in the NFL they're trying to catch a ball a damn sight bigger than a sloithar

Even more reason for a visor I would have thought? It would look weird seeing them on a helmet in a hurling match though.

Tony Baloney · November 21, 2009, 08:06:07 PM

I'm sure he'll get a nice wee sponsorship deal out of it anyway.

nrico2006 · June 09, 2010, 01:45:46 PM

I was wondering does anyone have any links to the clip from the All Ireland Final a few years ago when The Rock shouldered 3 or 4 Kilkenny players one after the other. Been trying to find it to no avail.