Tag: #GAA2026
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Working away in the shade
What is probably close to thirty years ago now, a word manufacturing machine being propelled by yours truly produced a piece headlined exactly as above. Back then, it mostly centred on how the All Ireland successes carved out by Down (twice), Derry and Donegal could be – and as it happened, was – ground breaking…
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A team with spirit will always give themselves a chance
MEATH…0-16 DOWN…1-15 It would probably be fairly widely accepted that there are a cohort of teams around the same level as Meath in the overall hurling picture. Whilst there’s always a bit of angst about naming names and categorising entities, it would, you suspect, be a common view that the stickmen of the Royal County…
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Holders will take some dislodging on first evidence
DCU/D. E. 3-13 UUJ… 0-08 Do not adjust your sets. This is neither drill nor wind up. You might recall that this time last year this corner had something of a conversion moment in relation to Third Level GAA competitions. At my own expense, it will be admitted that it’s more the timing of the…
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Experience trumps ingenuity but still positives to take
MEATH… 0-15 OFFALY… 2-13 First off, nobody likes losing any game, and the Meath camp would have loved the opportunity to get more top level mileage into the legs of their younger recruits. But, chances are, in the overall context of the season the Royal entourage will probably lose far less sleep about tonight’s outcome…
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Treat people like fools and you’ll look like one yourself
Exhibit A: Clones, July 1993, what was to become known as the mudbath Ulster (SFC) Final. How St Tiarnach’s Park was ever passed as playable I’ll never know. It can only be assumed whoever arrived at the decision came from a land of draught. Exhibit B: Dunboyne, May, 2002. A hotly anticipated local derby between…
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New names, same old bravery, heart and skill
MEATH… 2-11 WICKLOW… 1-12 Meath won’t have shortened in the betting for the All Ireland, or the Leinster Championship or even promotion out of Div. 2 of the National Football League. But, taken for what it was, John McCarthy – head of Meath’s Development Squads – would have to have been delighted with the progress…
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Auditions begin for season two of Robbie’s Royals
Conor Gray, Daithi McGowan and Diarmuid Moriarity provide a smidgeon of experience as Robbie Brennan unveils a largely experimental side for his team’s season opener against Wicklow in the resuscitated Dioralyte O’Byrne in Aughrim’s Echelon Park. Throw in among the Wicklow hills is at 1.30pm and the match will be shown live on Clubber TV.…
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A studious performance in patches but lessons to be learned
ST PATRICK’S CS NAVAN… 1-16 COLAISTE EOIN… 4-03 First off, the best bits: inclinations that Clann Na nGael’s Cormac Smith is one of the brightest emerging talents in the county apparently are gloriously true. Secondly, the blistering attacking potential which was so apparent against St Joseph’s of Rochfordbridge was once again there in all its…
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Meath’s NFL and NHL fixtures confirmed in full
To look at Meath’s finalised fixture last in both football and hurling ahead of the commencement of the 2026 National Leagues is to endorse long held suspicions that upper echelons of the GAA couldn’t give a toss about fans. Aside from their hard earned readies, that is. The following may not go down well in…
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The CCCC and The Hooter
It was this morning announced that CCCC of the GAA – formerly the Games Administration Committee – have decided that henceforth once the Hooter sounds in a Gaelic Football match play stops immediately. Bullshit. Had that system been in place during this season’s championship, Ciaran Moore’s magnificent winner for Donegal against Mayo would never have…