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Post by Mickmack on Apr 18, 2015 11:51:09 GMT
I finished Griffins book and to be honest you would have to ask yourself are intercounty players mad. He was totally obsessed with his hurling career. It defined him as a person. He over analysed everything before and after. His self worth depended on how he played. Its troubling to read that an amateur sport could effect someone so much. At the end his mind is at peace and he can let it go.
For anyone who overthinks things, be it work, sport or anything I would recommend this book.
His final years with Clare are disastrous. They lose every game and the management are out of their depth. Poor communication with players, poor training techniques and poor man management.
Clare have a golden generation now since 2013 and I hope Davy knows what he is doing.
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Post by Mickmack on Apr 18, 2015 11:58:17 GMT
rashers.
I would have put Clares form in 2014 in the same category as Dublin footballers. Dublin went further due to the poor Leinster Championship.
Both need to deliver in 2015.
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on Apr 18, 2015 13:05:27 GMT
rashers. I would have put Clares form in 2014 in the same category as Dublin footballers. Dublin went further due to the poor Leinster Championship. Both need to deliver in 2015. Mick, if you can't see the multiple significant differences, not least stage of development, pathways and foundations between Clare hurlers and our footballers then I despair. I've described in detail all the main issues as I see them for Clare above and that alone would show many differences with the Dublin footballers' situation, taken as read but argue away, I'm not going to post a lot of stuff that to me is almost obvious unless I believe it isn't obvious to you and how/why. I'd also really ,like to read your views on Clare in response to what I posted. As regards comparisons, three teams come to mind, Kerry footballers 1975, Dublin football 1983, and Tyrone football 2003. I'm sure there's good examples in hurling but I don't know or recall those teams so well. To me there are clear differences between the examples I've selected and Clare's situation. Kerry in 1975 like Dublin in 1983 had several experienced players who had won All-Is previously still playing very significant roles. Whilst neither team won the following two All-Is, both performed to a consistently high level, reaching the All-I finals (or in Kerry's case in 1977 reaching the semi-final against their main rivals, then at their peak, and losing narrowly). Kerry also did very well in the Nat league in at least one of those years, probably both. Dublin footballers lost those two All-Is to the greatest team of all time. Clare hurlers have so far not even got themselves into a position to do that. But in the manner in which that Dublin team slipped away (albeit one of its best and most important players injured in 1986 and never as good as his earlier days thereafter) there are potential strong similarities to what could happen to Clare (and what for example seems to have happened to the 2010 Tipperary All-I hurling winners). Only if anything, possibly worse for Clare, as there is no sign that they can rediscover anything like the level they had in late summer 2013, so far. Tyrone of 2003 are the closest example to Clare currently that I can think of. Even then they had national league and ulster success in either the year they got their All-I breakthrough and/or the following year. They also had a couple of players that very narrowly lost the 1995 All-I, so some bit more experience at the highest level than Clare have/had. After losing in the semi-final of 2004 Tyrone of course came back and won a great All-I in 2005. I cannot see Clare doing the same but in fairness I think Tyrone looked unlikely in the earlier stages of 2005 too. Tyrone at times in 2005 and certainly earlier in the summer of 2008 looked way off the pace, so who knows. Tyrone came through several massive battles from early in summer 2005 and that ultimately helped them I feel.
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Post by Mickmack on Apr 18, 2015 15:02:58 GMT
History shows that lots of teams don't really raise a gallop when put to the test as defending champions. The footballers of Cork, Donegal and Dublin and the Tipp hurlers are examples. Tyrone footballers are another example. The Clare hurlers couldn't either in 2014.
Its still all to play for IF Clare are all pulling together. That's a big IF though.
In 2013, it wasn't till their U21s destroyed Tipp in the Munster Final that Clare became a force to be taken seriously. Even at that Wexford took them to extra time in the qualifiers.
If 2015 passes them by then, they may end up being one hit wonders.
Davy doesn't strike me as someone to bring them to what they are capable of.
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G_S_J
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Post by G_S_J on Apr 19, 2015 17:27:01 GMT
Barry John Keane on crutches in Churchill today.
He needed a bit of attention yesterday with about ten minutes to go. He hit the deck, got a bit of the magic spray, and played on for the remainder.
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Post by gamechanger10 on Apr 19, 2015 23:35:12 GMT
I am assuming that the crutches are a recommend treatment as if he played through the pain suffered resulting from the injury it must be in the "strain" end of the scale. Serious points scored be Lyne and O Donoghue,, I know it's club but you need to have a serious gift to slot these ones over ,, Sublime !!7
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Post by kerrygold on Apr 20, 2015 7:55:36 GMT
Let's have more league games and less costly, futile training Eugene McGee
Some counties begin their championship campaigns in early May but most have a further four to seven weeks to fill in before they set out in their pursuit of glory. As I've said many times before, it is a costly business running an inter-county team nowadays, and that cost is becoming an increasing problem, particularly among the smaller counties. There is a ridiculous amount of training going on - you're at nothing now as a county manager if you can't effortlessly rack up 100 sessions. And every training session means a manager and invariably his burgeoning backroom team having to be paid expenses, while the players also must get their out-of-pocket money in the form of mileage. And now there is always a medical person, a strength and conditioning expert and a physio required to look after all the modern injuries which seem to involve at least half a dozen players in every squad sidelined at any one time. Afford
It's all well and good for nine or 10 big counties who can afford all this largesse, but there's a lot of others who are either going further into debt or being forced to cut corners. It is time the GAA had a look at its structures and tried to make sense of what is happening. County boards depend on their own championships, inter-county league game receipts and Croke Park handouts to keep their shows on the road. Most have a sponsor but very few are getting big money through this system anymore. It's a tough environment for county executives, balancing the desire to be successful with the need to watch the bottom line. These 100-plus training sessions are carried out for what? The less successful teams might only have nine serious games in the season - seven in the league and two in the championship. These counties end up training ten times more than they play, which is a costly and also a pretty futile exercise. I've long felt that the GAA should get rid of all those meaningless pre-season cups - O'Byrne, McKenna, McGrath and the FBD Leagues - and introduce a proper home and away league format. The current system allows some teams three home games and four away, whereas a system where a team played every other county in their division at home and away would be fairer, and it would also give every county seven home games, meaning they would bring in nearly twice as much money in gate receipts from the league. Having a league season running right through the spring - where say Dublin play Kerry this week in Croke Park and the following week in Killarney -would open up a better vista for both players and followers. Every proper league in every sport works on the fair system of home and away. Such games coming back to back are a great way to market fixtures and promote the GAA. Often there is a feature of one game that could last a full week and be resolved the following weekend, generating plenty of publicity. Critics will say that there aren't enough weekends for the above to happen. As things are presently constituted, that is true. But it is time to tweak the season to suit players and fans. I have no doubt that if players got to a level of fitness, 14 league games would cut out the need for many of those training nights. There is nothing like meaningful game time - unlike the challenges I've seen recently, where 15 players have come off the bench for one team. I am a firm believer that there are far fewer injuries from playing than from over-training. And by having the league running right up to championship time in mid to late May, it obviates the need for this costly running around the country looking for challenges to keep tuned up as well. Indo Sport
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Post by kerrygold on Apr 20, 2015 7:57:37 GMT
That makes a lot of sense and remove the college teams from the intercounty fixtures list.
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Post by glengael on Apr 20, 2015 8:56:37 GMT
Cork for the League Double!
We may as well all go home.
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fitz
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Post by fitz on Apr 20, 2015 9:42:09 GMT
That makes a lot of sense and remove the college teams from the intercounty fixtures list. Totally agree, I wouldn't have the same fixture back to back though. Best let teams cool off from each other, especially if a game was hot headed and controversial. The bridging of the gap to Championship is ideal, fellas would definitely be taking the league very seriously with a large log of form to influence selections rather than who's going well in training. I think two meetings against a team would give a much clearer picture of what could be expected coming down the line if meeting again in Championship as all of the big guns would be on and playing to form. Probably take 50 years to get through Congress:(
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Post by Annascaultilidie on Apr 20, 2015 10:09:07 GMT
I like it because it doesn't remove the primacy of Championship.
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Post by kerrygold on Apr 20, 2015 12:43:11 GMT
The long window between the league and commencement of the championship is nuts. January is a waste of a month on the fixtures schedule. The cost of maintaining teams in these long windows is too costly for county boards, a total waste of funds.
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Post by kerrygold on Apr 22, 2015 7:50:40 GMT
GPA eyes reduced demand on young stars
Wednesday, April 22, 2015 By Colm O’Connor
GPA chiefs will recommend major changes to fixtures and competitions between January and March in a bid to tackle the demands placed on young players.
The recommendations follow a research project, the largest of its kind undertaken, which focused on the burden faced by those juggling inter-county and third-level commitments.
It is understood that date changes are being proposed to the competition structures during the first three months of the year while there is also support for the U21 competitions to be re-graded to U20.
The full details will be released at the GPA Student Report Launch in Dublin later today.
The research centred on players playing with multiple teams and the demands being placed on them in terms of both their sporting and academic lives.
The report is on the back of a series of student summits earlier this year with GPA officials met with players nationwide to gauge their thoughts. The research also included feedback from academic staff, county and college managers along with the players.
The work is part of the GPA’s continued link-up with third level institutions, with the association currently distributing 430 undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships to student players while also announcing a new Masters Scholarship link up with Waterford IT last week.
Meanwhile a club v county clash has threatened to disrupt Tyrone’s preparations for the All-Ireland U21 Football Championship final on Saturday week.
A full round of domestic league fixtures has been scheduled for this weekend, and the U21 management fear their players are being placed at serious risk of injury ahead of the biggest occasion of their careers.
Manager Fergal Logan is still hoping that compromise can be reached and that a resolution to the issue may be found over the coming days.
But he is fearful that he could lose key players if they turn out for their clubs just seven days before the clash with Tipperary at Páirc Tailteann, where the Red Hands will be seeking a first All-Ireland U21 title since 2001.
“I hope that there’s a level of understanding and a level of common sense applied across the board in Tyrone from top to bottom, be it with clubs, be it with county board, be it wherever,” he said.
“This is a great opportunity for everybody involved, and I would hate it to be put at risk by playing competitive league fixtures within seven days of the final.”
Logan also argued that club league games do not carry the same sudden death implications as a championship final, and that clubs have many subsequent opportunities to redress any setbacks in subsequent games, including end-of-season play-offs.
“I understand all their positions, but there’s a top four, there’s a bottom two, there’s play-offs, there’s a lot of default positions at the end of the year. There’s no default position for us.
“We have tried to facilitate it to date, but there’s only a throw of the dice with this one for us.”
Elsewhere, GAA chiefs have confirmed the camogie league final between Cork and Galway will be a curtain raiser to the Allianz Hurling League decider between Cork and Waterford
The games are fixed for Semple Stadium, Thurles on Sunday, May 3. The camogie throws in at 1.30pm with the hurling underway at 3.30pm. Both games will be broadcast live on TG4.
KEYWORDS: GPA, football, hurling, burnout
© Irish Examiner Ltd. All rights reserved
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keane
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Post by keane on Apr 22, 2015 9:54:54 GMT
Barry John Keane on crutches in Churchill today. He needed a bit of attention yesterday with about ten minutes to go. He hit the deck, got a bit of the magic spray, and played on for the remainder. Just a bit of a twisted ankle I think. Donnchadh is training away after a groin injury as well I believe.
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Post by kerrygold on Apr 22, 2015 17:01:08 GMT
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Post by Annascaultilidie on Apr 22, 2015 17:51:06 GMT
"No more games on consecutive days in the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cups. Instead, semi-finals would be played on a Wednesday night, with the final the following Saturday" I always thought the games on consecutive days was dinosaur stuff --- any fitness professional in the country would tell you about the importance of rest.
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Post by stevieq on Apr 22, 2015 21:10:39 GMT
I hope I'm not being presumptios but the wife is on about booking a holiday in August. At this stage I would hope that we willl make a semi final. I've watched too many semi finals in Irish pubs. Munster v Ulster on 23 August Leinster v Connaught on 30 August No matter who wins the Munster final - Is it safe to say that it's a mathematical impossibility that Kerrry and Cork can meet in the AI final and that if Kerry are still around at the end of August that they will have to be playing on Sunday 23rd. Any ideas. Can anyone shed some light on the above please.
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Post by donegalman on Apr 23, 2015 9:13:04 GMT
Re stevieq, the fixtures above cycle every 3 years, ie Munster v ulster. The fixtures are not subject to change as the Croke park diary is choked in the summer time.
It could well b a case of munster winner v back door, ulster winner v back door or 2 back door teams depending on the winners of the quarter finals.
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Jigz84
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Post by Jigz84 on Apr 23, 2015 15:03:35 GMT
I hope I'm not being presumptios but the wife is on about booking a holiday in August. At this stage I would hope that we willl make a semi final. I've watched too many semi finals in Irish pubs. Munster v Ulster on 23 August Leinster v Connaught on 30 August No matter who wins the Munster final - Is it safe to say that it's a mathematical impossibility that Kerrry and Cork can meet in the AI final and that if Kerry are still around at the end of August that they will have to be playing on Sunday 23rd. Any ideas. Can anyone shed some light on the above please. Correct. Provincial Finalists can no longer meet in the All-Ireland Final, only the Semi, which would be Aug 23rd this year.
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keane
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Post by keane on Apr 23, 2015 15:47:21 GMT
"No more games on consecutive days in the Sigerson and Fitzgibbon Cups. Instead, semi-finals would be played on a Wednesday night, with the final the following Saturday" I always thought the games on consecutive days was dinosaur stuff --- any fitness professional in the country would tell you about the importance of rest. Plus the final is usually a way worse game because the two teams are wrecked.
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Post by Mickmack on Apr 23, 2015 17:41:32 GMT
How are Alan Brogan and Cluxton unique in relation to the current Dublin panel?
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Post by Mickmack on Apr 23, 2015 18:06:31 GMT
Cork manager Brian Cuthbert has been dealt a boost ahead of the championship with the news that 2010 All-Ireland winner Alan O'Connor is to return to the football squad.
The towering midfielder was a key member of Conor Counihan's side that claimed Sam Maguire five years ago and Cork management said that the St. Colum's clubman will rejoin the panel after Sunday's National league Final against Dublin.
O'Connor surprisingly announced his retirement in November 2013 at the age of 28, following the likes of Noel O'Leary, Paudie Kissane, Graham Canty, Alan Quirke and Pearse O'Neill to quit the inter-county scene before Cuthbert took over the reins in the Rebels hotseat.
His return will be seen as a huge fillip in an area of the pitch that has caused Cork trouble over the past two seasons.
O'Connor originally made his senior debut in 2008 and went on to win three Munster and an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title in 2010.
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Post by Mickmack on Apr 23, 2015 18:07:52 GMT
Alan O'Connor return could be very significant. It as hard to take Cork seriously with Gould and Cadogan at midfield.
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Post by stevieq on Apr 23, 2015 18:08:38 GMT
Can anyone shed some light on the above please. Correct. Provincial Finalists can no longer meet in the All-Ireland Final, only the Semi, which would be Aug 23rd this year. Thanks a lot.
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on Apr 23, 2015 18:54:33 GMT
Fierce contrary that Cork crowd! Loads of lads left after CC left, lots of dissatisfaction with Cuthbert since he came in, and now since things started getting better again most of the lads who left are back. The hormones must be at yis something terrible Delorean wha?
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on Apr 23, 2015 18:56:42 GMT
How are Alan Brogan and Cluxton unique in relation to the current Dublin panel? Only two players with 5 All-Stars? The oldest two players? Longest in the squad?
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peanuts
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Post by peanuts on Apr 23, 2015 21:20:33 GMT
How are Alan Brogan and Cluxton unique in relation to the current Dublin panel? Only two players with 5 All-Stars? The oldest two players? Longest in the squad? Have played a championship game outside Croke Park?
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Post by Mickmack on Apr 23, 2015 21:23:10 GMT
Only two players with 5 All-Stars? The oldest two players? Longest in the squad? Have played a championship game outside Croke Park? Correct
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Post by kerrygold on Apr 23, 2015 21:33:01 GMT
How are Alan Brogan and Cluxton unique in relation to the current Dublin panel? Only two players with 5 All-Stars? The oldest two players? Longest in the squad? Al Brogan has five All-Stars? If so, what years?
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on Apr 23, 2015 22:15:32 GMT
Only two players with 5 All-Stars? The oldest two players? Longest in the squad? Have played a championship game outside Croke Park? Ha! Shows that we haven't been in the qualifiers except one year in the last 10. What a great record!
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