|
Post by glengael on Jun 2, 2020 13:34:22 GMT
If you need a laugh in these difficult times, let me suggest this
|
|
Premier
Fanatical Member
Posts: 1,159
|
Post by Premier on Jun 3, 2020 9:59:31 GMT
After spending much of the past three months cautiously planning a return to activity, the GAA will take the next steps towards emerging from the lockdown on Friday.
It's expected that the Association’s 'Return to Play’ roadmap will be agreed upon by the specially-formed Covid-19 Advisory Group before being ratified by GAA Management.
The Association may yet wait until Monday to make public its template, but it’s understood that their announcement will be in line with the Government’s latest restrictions update which has been pencilled in for 8 June.
The GAA’s plan will incorporate a gradual unrolling of restrictions and will be entirely dependent on Government advice and the ‘R’ (reproduction) rate of infection remaining low.
The roadmap will also give clubs and counties a chance to get used to the practicalities and implications involved, of which there will be many.
While Phase 2 won’t see much movement and will essentially centre around the opening of GAA walking tracks for groups of four people who live nearby, Phase 3 will see a significant progression.
At this stage it’s likely that Covid-19 supervisors or officers will have been appointed by GAA clubs who will prepare to see their pitches open on 29 June.
For the past few weeks, the GAA have seen a clamour in high-profile players and coaches seeking club gates to be open.
Understandably, however, they have been extremely cautious in their approach - and with good reason.
Their roadmap to a return to training and playing activity will place increased demands on club stalwarts and members, especially those who are appointed Covid-19 Supervisors.
At the start of the lockdown, when there were repeated calls for club gates to be opened, president John Horan said he was reluctant to place undue pressure on the volunteer element of the Association.
"We had to examine it and look at it closely," he told The Sunday Game. "And there was a concept in it that people had to gather together in groups of four, but we felt that it couldn't be marshalled by people in our clubs because our clubs are led by a load of good-quality volunteer people and to put the onus on volunteer people to make the decisions to police and organise training within our facilities, we just felt that would be too much on them."
However, in recent weeks, the 'R’ rate has fallen steadily and so too have the number of cases and admissions to ICU units. Other sporting bodies are well progressed in outlining their return to action, and, last weekend, Horan suggested that social distancing of two metres was the principal remaining hurdle they had to overcome.
In the past week alone, however, there have been calls for the distance of two metres to be reduced.
Meanwhile, there has also been huge optimism within the GAA and around the country that activity of some shape can slowly resume with county boards planning revised and compacted Championships which could start at the end of July.
This now looks likely to happen - provided it is safe to do so - but the re-emergence from lockdown will bring with it several demands.
Clubs are already under pressure to cope with loss of gate receipts, sponsorship, lotto and other funds, which, apart from health priorities, is part of the reason that Croke Park has not sanctioned any activity on GAA premises.
In the coming weeks, though, clubs will also have to ensure their facilities display proper signage around best practices and social distancing until contact training is allowed.
Sanitisers will have to be placed around each premises.
Equipment will have to be washed and sterilised after each session.
Players at all levels, from adult to juvenile, will be allowed return to train from this point onwards, but it looks likely that extra coaches and mentors will be needed as squads will be split into small groups.
In addition, there will be a serious amount of administrative work to be undertaken.
Players of underage parents will have to give their consent to their children returning to any activity, while temperature checks will be needed too to monitor all members involved.
Contract tracing will also be a necessity as will the overall policing of activity on GAA facilities.
These practices will require a huge effort from members, coaches and volunteers around the country and, in time, similar demands will be placed on those involved with inter-county teams.
For now, those are the key essentials in ensuring a safe return to training and, in time, competition.
|
|
|
Post by john4 on Jun 3, 2020 19:57:42 GMT
|
|
|
Post by southward on Jun 4, 2020 9:44:03 GMT
Maybe I'm wrong but I can't imagine many willing to pay to watch a club match that's being played behind closed doors. Not sure if I'd even want to watch it for free.
|
|
|
Post by sullyschoice on Jun 4, 2020 14:36:40 GMT
I would sell my children to watch a match live.
|
|
|
Post by southward on Jun 4, 2020 15:20:36 GMT
I would sell my children to watch a match live. A proper match with a crowd and an atmosphere - sure. I can't see though that any games played this year would be much more than kickarounds. Sure nobody will be properly match-fit or sharp and I'd guess that most players have mentally switched off at this stage. Also, playing behind closed doors isn't going to be conducive to any real game-intensity.
|
|
|
Post by veteran on Jun 4, 2020 16:18:17 GMT
Seemingly the Irish Independent recently published a list of the top twenty footballers and top twenty hurlers of the past fifty years based on a ? public vote.
I would greatly appreciate if somebody would reproduce these lists here, particularly the football top twenty.
|
|
|
Post by john4 on Jun 4, 2020 17:54:23 GMT
I would sell my children to watch a match live. A proper match with a crowd and an atmosphere - sure. I can't see though that any games played this year would be much more than kickarounds. Sure nobody will be properly match-fit or sharp and I'd guess that most players have mentally switched off at this stage. Also, playing behind closed doors isn't going to be conducive to any real game-intensity. Every organisation in the country will suffer financially after the recent shut down, particularly voluntary organisations. Kerry Gaa have had the backing of some brilliant sponsors in the past, because of these sponsors I'd hope we'd be in a position to bounce back quicker financially than most other counties, but they don't and can't pay every bill. Money will have to be raised independent of sponsorship to put the best facilities in place to keep our teams competitive at every level. I see the fee that the county board are planning for the roll out of the streaming online of Kerry Gaa County championship matches in this light. It's not so much about getting a quality return on your subscription in terms of the matches played, but see it instead as making a contribution to the overall financial health of our county's coffers for the greater good, while getting something in return.
|
|
|
Post by Whosinmidfield on Jun 4, 2020 18:25:04 GMT
Seemingly the Irish Independent recently published a list of the top twenty footballers and top twenty hurlers of the past fifty years based on a ? public vote. I would greatly appreciate if somebody would reproduce these lists here, particularly the football top twenty. I don't have a subscription to the Irish Independent but managed to find the lists on another forum. They were picked by Martin Breheny. Football: 1. Jack O'Shea 2. Pat Spillane 3. Peter Canavan 4. Stephen Cluxton 5. Mikey Sheehy 6. Matt Connor 7. Brian Mullins 8. Larry Tompkins 9. Colm Cooper 10. John O'Keeffe 11. Michael Murphy 12. Maurice Fitzgerald 13. Sean Cavanagh 14. Colm O'Rourke 15. Seamus Moynihan 16. Padraig Joyce 17. Trevor Giles 18. James McCarthy 19. Brian Fenton 20. Tomas O'Se Hurling: 1. Henry Shefflin 2. DJ Carey 3. Brian Whelahan 4. Eddie Keher 5. Tommy Walsh 6. Brian Corcoran 7. Nicky English 8. Joe Canning 9. Seanie McMahon 10. Ken McGrath 11. Joe Cooney 12. Pat Hartigan 13. JJ Delaney 14. Brian Lohan 15. Noel Skehan 16. Eamonn Cregan 17. Eoin Kelly 18. TJ Reid 19. Tony Doran 20. Ray Cummins
|
|
|
Post by veteran on Jun 4, 2020 19:00:06 GMT
Thanks for that Whoseinmidfield. I was particularly interested because somebody told me Matt Connor was not on the list . Happily he is there. Drawing up a list like this is an invidious task for one individual. Perhaps , it would have more credibility had it been based on a public vote but then that could be open to abuse for various reasons.
All in all it is a reasonable representation. Off the top of my head , I cannot think of a significant omission but perhaps if I get around to giving it more thought I could change my mind.
Kerry have a generous representation but putting on my green and gold hat I would consider Declan and Eoin Liston but that would give Kerry ten which even a rabid Kerry supporter could not justify. Of course if you want to include somebody then you have to demote somebody else. Who would that be? That is the test.
Like the football list , it is difficult to find fault with the hurling list. However, I would make one change. I am surprised at the inclusion of Noel Skehan. Noel has a rake of medals but about half of them were accumulated as a sub. I would once more move Noel to the subs and draft in Gerald McCarthy . Gerald just exuded class, having all the skills and if you decided to test his physical resilience you were likely to get more than you bargained for. A hurling artist . This is a serious omission.
|
|
|
Post by Ballyfireside on Jun 5, 2020 3:59:22 GMT
Great to hear Vets voice again and while oft I have tempted him into naming best teams, now that he has volunteered if to an extent, I find myself challenging this exercise. Ah maybe 'tiz the environment as I'd normally be an agreeable sort of a lad, 'a good egg' as I heard someone say about themselves lately, though they were serious!
Anyway my logic is that we assume there is a best 15 and of course when you look at it like that we all know there isn't, and that's even after disregarding the best to never win anything, just because their team at the time mightn't be great. Still Maurice Fitz bucks that trend and I'd have him even higher up the list.
Nothing against Meath but couldn't see either of them there - what did Vet think of Mickey Kearns, a Sligo ace of old? Would the late Dermot Earley Snr be a great - factor in his leadership and he couldn't be far away, though maybe I was only a garsún when he was driving the Rossies? I wouldn't be so sure about Brian Mullins at all though what he did to Mickey Ned may have soured my taste here.
And only 2 of the 5 eights, i.e. PatS and MickeyS - are they factoring in that these played in a 'golden era', kind of opposite to my earlier notion. Joyce would have been a favourite of mine but not sure I'd have him there.
My own top 5 of that list would be JackO'6, Moynihan, Fitzy, Murphy and Cluxton, not necessarily in that order - my method is then to run this slide rule over other contenders. I suppose Canavan, Tomás, Mikey and Johno are showing so I'd be looking elsewhere for the final 11, i.e. 6 + 5 subs.
Then to make this even easier, why not craft the best combination, a la wan cute hoor by the alias of Mickeen O'thewire - they will have a cure for that cursed virus before there could be agreement on this, even before I could agree with myself! First step, put jersey no's on the above and take it from there!
Life will be boring no more!
|
|
|
Post by Mickmack on Jun 5, 2020 19:04:24 GMT
Seemingly the Irish Independent recently published a list of the top twenty footballers and top twenty hurlers of the past fifty years based on a ? public vote. I would greatly appreciate if somebody would reproduce these lists here, particularly the football top twenty. I don't have a subscription to the Irish Independent but managed to find the lists on another forum. They were picked by Martin Breheny. Football: 1. Jack O'Shea 2. Pat Spillane 3. Peter Canavan 4. Stephen Cluxton 5. Mikey Sheehy 6. Matt Connor 7. Brian Mullins 8. Larry Tompkins 9. Colm Cooper 10. John O'Keeffe 11. Michael Murphy 12. Maurice Fitzgerald 13. Sean Cavanagh 14. Colm O'Rourke 15. Seamus Moynihan 16. Padraig Joyce 17. Trevor Giles 18. James McCarthy 19. Brian Fenton 20. Tomas O'Se Hurling: 1. Henry Shefflin 2. DJ Carey 3. Brian Whelahan 4. Eddie Keher 5. Tommy Walsh 6. Brian Corcoran 7. Nicky English 8. Joe Canning 9. Seanie McMahon 10. Ken McGrath 11. Joe Cooney 12. Pat Hartigan 13. JJ Delaney 14. Brian Lohan 15. Noel Skehan 16. Eamonn Cregan 17. Eoin Kelly 18. TJ Reid 19. Tony Doran 20. Ray Cummins There is a good argument to be made that Michael Murphy is the greatest simply because he often does the work of 3 men consistently while being pulled and dragged. None of the other 19 selected have to carry his team consistently like he does. He is incredible player all things considered.
|
|
fivenarow
Senior Member
If it aint broken, then dont fix it!
Posts: 924
|
Post by fivenarow on Jun 5, 2020 20:08:56 GMT
Seemingly the Irish Independent recently published a list of the top twenty footballers and top twenty hurlers of the past fifty years based on a ? public vote. I would greatly appreciate if somebody would reproduce these lists here, particularly the football top twenty. I don't have a subscription to the Irish Independent but managed to find the lists on another forum. They were picked by Martin Breheny. Football: 1. Jack O'Shea 2. Pat Spillane 3. Peter Canavan 4. Stephen Cluxton 5. Mikey Sheehy 6. Matt Connor 7. Brian Mullins 8. Larry Tompkins 9. Colm Cooper 10. John O'Keeffe 11. Michael Murphy 12. Maurice Fitzgerald 13. Sean Cavanagh 14. Colm O'Rourke 15. Seamus Moynihan 16. Padraig Joyce 17. Trevor Giles 18. James McCarthy 19. Brian Fenton 20. Tomas O'Se Hurling: 1. Henry Shefflin 2. DJ Carey 3. Brian Whelahan 4. Eddie Keher 5. Tommy Walsh 6. Brian Corcoran 7. Nicky English 8. Joe Canning 9. Seanie McMahon 10. Ken McGrath 11. Joe Cooney 12. Pat Hartigan 13. JJ Delaney 14. Brian Lohan 15. Noel Skehan 16. Eamonn Cregan 17. Eoin Kelly 18. TJ Reid 19. Tony Doran 20. Ray Cummins Everyone has their own views but there’s no way Brian Mullins & Colm O Rourke are in the top 20 in my view. Ciaran Kilkenny, john Egan, Declan O Sullivan, Diarmuid Connolly would be better forwards anyway & Dara O Se, ciaran whelan, Anthony Tohill would be better midfielders. I know it doesn’t go by position but there’s definitely 2 better players out there.
|
|
|
Post by sullyschoice on Jun 5, 2020 22:01:31 GMT
Connolly is far too inconsistent and erratic to be I included in my view. Ciaran Kilkenny yes. Mullins is better than Ciaran Whelan
|
|
|
Post by Ballyfireside on Jun 6, 2020 2:51:41 GMT
Connolly is far too inconsistent and erratic to be I included in my view. Ciaran Kilkenny yes. Mullins is better than Ciaran Whelan Fundamental to Connolly's inconsistency is his night's out leading to his days off, as opposed to off-days - but speaking of which his 'torn between two lovers' dancing partner wan Leeroy Keegan was on par, ah floodgates opening, but if Mayo had a Sam he wouldn't be far away, he never was! Mullins vs Whelan interesting - maybe de Dubeens will split that hair for us. Form pointer ó Fear an Tí aka wan Johnny Walash í Béal Átha Longfoirt to a car load of nocturnal Dub strays during Listowel races and in the not so small hours - 'Mullins never out-fielded Seanie Walsh from the standing start.' Whelan gets my votá though I was but a slipeen of a laddo in Brian's day and to be honest I hated the hoor and with no obvious justification. Ah maybe we hit hard too, clean hits! Ciaran also has the advantage in that he played in an era when there was more resources behind teams and which leads back to the elephanto in the room - how would the Kerry Golden era panel fare against the reigning champs?, i.e. on a level playing field - I think people can only answer this for themselves and in doing that I can't split 'em.Over to Vet, Mandad and a few more - and now here's a novel idea for a new thread and dream we will - one where just the acknowledged experts on here can have it out, ah 'twould be respectful, the aforementioned pair for starters, and there's a right gang of us bull5hitters who are disqualified for reasons we don't need to go into, even WE don't need to go into! Hey old pros, go on, indulge us, just the wance, even if only for the times that are in it!
|
|
Premier
Fanatical Member
Posts: 1,159
|
Post by Premier on Jun 6, 2020 7:19:33 GMT
Any idea when the county board are going to release what they are doing with respective championships with the 11 weeks they have been given?
|
|
|
Post by shaggy04 on Jun 6, 2020 8:32:55 GMT
Any idea when the county board are going to release what they are doing with respective championships with the 11 weeks they have been given? Hopefully the club championships will get priority,as opposed to county championship,ensuring every club/player will get games.Id like to see some county league games played aswell if there are gaps in the calendar,county league could always be finished off next year.
|
|
|
Post by Mickmack on Jun 6, 2020 9:39:34 GMT
the fact that the county championship is likely to be a stroll for EK should be a consideration. The club competitions will give great games to more players
|
|
|
Post by southward on Jun 6, 2020 10:15:10 GMT
Connolly is far too inconsistent and erratic to be I included in my view. Ciaran Kilkenny yes. Mullins is better than Ciaran Whelan Yeah, Whelan - I wouldn't have him in the top 20 Dubs, never mind the country.
|
|
Premier
Fanatical Member
Posts: 1,159
|
Post by Premier on Jun 6, 2020 10:59:07 GMT
Any idea when the county board are going to release what they are doing with respective championships with the 11 weeks they have been given? Hopefully the club championships will get priority,as opposed to county championship,ensuring every club/player will get games.Id like to see some county league games played aswell if there are gaps in the calendar,county league could always be finished off next year. I thought I heard Tim Murphy say a few weeks ago that the order in which they want to get competitions done is: county champ, club champ, divisional champ, county league
|
|
|
Post by buck02 on Jun 6, 2020 13:29:41 GMT
the fact that the county championship is likely to be a stroll for EK should be a consideration. The club competitions will give great games to more players The defeat to Dingle in 2018 and the manner of it was a huge motivating factor for EK. They won't have that same hunger this year IMO. Obviously they will be stronger with the addition of another club but don't forget that Brendans took them to the wire in the semi final.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2020 13:32:54 GMT
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2020 14:05:47 GMT
Very important article for all involved with Kerry GAA to read
|
|
ky20
On Probation
Posts: 11
|
Post by ky20 on Jun 6, 2020 17:25:20 GMT
Very important article for all involved with Kerry GAA to read - Kerryguy
Couldn't agree more. Forget prioritizing return to play. Time for Kerry GAA to come out strong on this. The silence is deafening at the moment. COVID will be gone in time...Racism has lingered for too long!
|
|
|
Post by sullyschoice on Jun 6, 2020 17:55:17 GMT
Very important article for all involved with Kerry GAA to read - Kerryguy Couldn't agree more. Forget prioritizing return to play. Time for Kerry GAA to come out strong on this. The silence is deafening at the moment. COVID will be gone in time...Racism has lingered for too long! And how would not prioritising return to play have any effect on anything. Racial abuse should never be tolerated but I fail to see how your proposal would help.
|
|
|
Post by Annascaultilidie on Jun 7, 2020 7:17:24 GMT
Diarmuid Connolly is a very talented individual but way overrated in my opinion.
|
|
|
Post by glengael on Jun 7, 2020 10:52:35 GMT
I think it would be sensible if 2021 National Leagues were what they finished in the autumn/winter and the 2020 championships were cancelled. Beginning a championship in autumn which, even if straight knockout only, will have to run into January/February is a bit daft in my reckoning.
On a more basic level, the amount of money in circulation for discretionary activity such as sport, will be down, even if all health matters continue to improve and more services/businesses open up. Already this week in Kerry we have over 200 jobs gone between Fexco, Jam Bakery and cafes and Brennan Catering.
|
|
mandad
Senior Member
Posts: 448
|
Post by mandad on Jun 7, 2020 12:55:49 GMT
This is a time of absence; a hollow period in which time seems frozen. The “are we nearly there yet” style of journalism of repeatedly asking when, why and how, fully knowing there are no definitive answers, doesn’t help either. Every now and then we receive a fresh reminder of all that’s missing.
I recently discovered this lady sitting next to me on my couch. Apparently she's my wife. She's very nice. (stolen from elsewhere)
Respect for the wisdom of the elderly is as old as human history. Wisdom, the ability to observe and sensibly evaluate problems of real life, is one of the few things that doesn't seem to decline with age -though there are exceptions! But the real connoisseurs of human judgment - scam artists, preferentially target people of my age, no doubt because experience teaches them that they will be most successful at separating seniors from their money.
Over the decades, I have truly subjected myself to several hours of contemplating who was the greatest; memories of events and the accomplishments of others – self delusion. I venture to say that very few of us around here are lucky enough to have seen some of the greats play in the flesh; therefore, their thoughts are built on supposed truths.
I, in my stubbornness, may decide to stick to some traditional view of the game and present my thinking in this light. Such a discourse would be unreasonable but could resonate among like minded believers. That, of itself, is not rational or even irrational, just an impertinence of an old fool.
I was brought up to love sport, and it's been a passionate 70-year affair, moments of individual brilliance and unbridled joy, preserved in my memory as if an ant in amber. But so much of the equipment and rule changes etc. within the GAA in my lifetime makes being completely objective an impossible task. I have concluded that the entire exercise is indeed a fool’s thesis.
Nonetheless, Martin Brehony’s list of great players packs immensity and vastness. He presents his thinking well.
Various rationales will be advanced, usually with a large dose of self-deception and ‘spin-the-bottle’ judgment. Can one assume that if thrown into a game today, that some of the greats of any era would be incapable of honing their skills and adapt effectively to the new environment? I have no doubt that they would and may even be better suited to it.
There is one other issue that grates with me that I am minded to mention here. In most sports in the civilised world there is a level of parity, meaning every opponent you face has no excuse for not being as good as you. Not so now or in the recent past in Gaelic football with the huge gaps in investment depending on your county. This disparity skews the conundrum even further.
Ballythefireside has invited me to offer my selection - I'm taking a pass. Matron – sleeping tablets.
|
|
|
Post by Ballyfireside on Jun 7, 2020 14:26:25 GMT
Much of what you say there Mandad would only be expected of someone of your noble forum status and I'd agree with most if not all of it. In fact not alone do I'd share your views on most things but you have influenced my thinking, hence my enthusiasm for teasing as much as possible out of you - ah maybe I'm being greedy but who could blame me? Couldn't have enough of a good thing.
What about a recollection of the greatest moments you witnessed, not necessarily in any particular order? What was your ultimate moment in Gaelic football Mandad? Now that would be interesting, as us lesser equals hold our breaths!
Mickey Sheehy's '78 goal will probably be on every Kerry list and while it was quick thinking, much memory will be based on Cullen having the image of a city slicker, and which he isn't. There are numerous other angles too, the sharp (or not) referee Aldridge, the Dublin No 4 (whose name escapes me) obligingly handing the ball to Mickey, the sharp (definitely) Mickey for his quick thinking and precision chip, how suddenly it all happened, the reverse in the flow of play and indeed the game.. I could go on!
Michael O'Hehir instantly tagged it 'the greatest freak of all time', predicting it would be ;a talking point for a decade' while Houlihan didn't quell anything with his 'burning cakes' and 'fire station on fire' comparisons - ah jazus 'twould lift the spirit in these hardy times! It may even have put Bomber's 2nd half hat trick in the shade - as a matter of interest was there other hat tricks in AI finals?
An interesting angle of that era would also be a benchmarking of Gaelic football and soccer, given that Kevin Moran played with Man United. IMO Gaelic football would probably have evolved more since then so what about a present day benchmarking? Someone once compared the pulse rates of teams as a fitness benchmark.
|
|
|
Post by Mickmack on Jun 7, 2020 15:16:03 GMT
|
|