David Clifford is a phenomenon. The best ever to play Gaelic football? That’s a subjective issue but he’s certainly in the vanguard thereof. Though only via video in my case, comparable in style and class to Matt Connor and – perhaps more aptly in this case – Maurice Fitzgerald. But, as I always say in these situations, far better is it to just enjoy these special talents doing their thing and not risk devaluation thereof by comparison.
Mesmeric though the Fossa colossus undoubtedly is, there is surely no need to script another Testament to the Bible based on his musings. In recent times, a multiplicity of outlets have been transcribing David’s dictum and manuscripting Paul Mannion’s manifestations extolling the virtues of the split season as if it were akin to the re-invention of the wheel.
So in one way it should’ve been no shock to see all the sheep dutifully go out the gap in unison last week to roundly reject proposals to move the All Ireland SFC Final back the sum total of one miserly week. Jesus wept.
Just when you think the GAA can’t frustrate you anymore, they go and outdo themselves. The case of the Kerry SHC Final obviously comes to mind first as it was the first county final completed this year. For Crotta, who collected the loot, there will of course be a provincial campaign at whatever level it may be to look forward too.
For the vanquished and teams like them up and down the country and – most pointedly – for those who don’t make the knockout stages of their club championships, it could be next February or March before they play a match again.
Not only is that insane, it’s extremely counterproductive for the GAA because not only does it open the door to mass evacuation of club players on aircraft, but it also concedes ground to a growing number of rival sports.
Already this year we’ve seen Cork hurling prospect Ben O’Connor (another one) lost to Rugby, Dublin’s Jennifer Dunne and Meath’s Orlagh Lally jet off to AFLW, Tyrone All Ireland winner Conor McKenna gone back Down Under and his erstwhile team mate Niall Morgan being praised to the hilt for his performances with Dungannon Swifts in the Irish League.
Also, within the past week came the news that the first Irish player since Niall O’Donoghue in 1985 was to take the field in American Football. No, I don’t expect an avalanche of players to follow Wicklow’s Daniel Whelan onto the gridiron, but it just goes to show the variety of sports that are now available to be viewed by and appeal to perspective recruits.
All this at a time which should be a hive of GAA activity. Which unfortunately it isn’t unless you happen to be blessed to be from one of the truly great clubs like Kilmacud Crokes or Ballygunner or Corofin or Crossmaglen or Ballyhale Shamrocks.
Anyway, Daniel Whelan’s achievement in making it all the way to the Greenbay Packers would be astounding enough in itself, but, now factor in that he would be lining out with a team who have just begun life without their erstwhile celebrated quarter back, Aaron Rodgers.
To provide a degree of context for those not au fait with the American Football, losing a player of the calibre of Rodgers would be akin to Dublin being without the services of Brian Fenton or Limerick devoid of Declan Hannon or the Ireland rugby team being sans Sexton. Though the latter is something that may have to be adjusted to sooner rather than later.
Be the latter point as it may, by way of very loose comparison, even though the Packers would no doubt have been hugely disappointed to see their hitherto talisman leaving the club, nobody could have foreseen or would’ve wished upon the iconic quarter back the fate which befell him only minutes into his competitive debut with the New York Jets.
Of all the injuries a sports person can become afflicted by, few if any are as catastrophic as a rupture to the Achillies Tendon. Off the top of my head, at least a handful could be named as having their careers ended by the ailment in question and, given the age of the afflicted star in this case, sadly that would appear the most likely outcome here too.
If that unfortunately turn out to be the case, that will mean both Rodgers and Tom Brady – arguably two of the greatest ever to suit up in the hard-hitting spectacle, gone within months of each other. Which of course opens the door for somebody else to step up to the mantle. Seeing exactly who does will keep some of us occupied over the winter. Due to the GAA’s idiocy, we have more
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