Tag: #Hurling2024

  • Learning from the past to avoid similar hardships

    Learning from the past to avoid similar hardships

    Amongst what is a fairly vast memorabilia collection in Boylan Talks Sport HQ, it’s presumably only natural that some artefacts therein command greater reverence than others. In no particular order, Brendan Reilly’s jersey from the 1990 All Ireland SFC Final, the replica of the Feis Cup presented to the late Tom Yourell by St Peter’s…

  • Manager Quest Part I solved as Greville given Royal reins

    Manager Quest Part I solved as Greville given Royal reins

    Meath’s unflattering position of having neither of the two most important team management positions filled as we hurtle towards October has eased by half with the appointment of Westmeath native Johnny Greville as senior hurling manager on a three year term. Greville’s appointment is subject to ratification at the next Co Board meeting and –…

  • The Davy Fitz roadshow rides again

    The Davy Fitz roadshow rides again

    All too well is the concept of not being a prophet among your own people recognisable here. Whatever working limbs  there are here would gladly be sacrificed to be part of a managemnt team at either club or county level. Even outside of my own in the case of the former. Yet all willing overtures…

  • Sadly the stench of officiating errors may well overpower the aroma of greatness

    Sadly the stench of officiating errors may well overpower the aroma of greatness

    Must it always be so? One step forward and at least three back for the GAA. At last, whether the brainchild of Jarlath Burns or not, the All Ireland Hurling Final being shown on the ‘actual’ BBC. In other words, throughout the UK, not just in the six still notionally under that banner. To those…

  • Thank you Offaly

    Thank you Offaly

    “Is this to be it for Donegal? It would be a victory that would do an awful lot of counties an awful lot of good”. It was and it did. That quote was Ger Canning’s commentary on Declan Bonner’s iconic point which sealed a first serenading of Sam for the men from The Hills. Sensationally…

  • The real Super Sunday delivers but also highlights glaring unfairness

    The real Super Sunday delivers but also highlights glaring unfairness

    “I didn’t interrupt you, boy”. And there it was, Donal Og Cusack’s arrogant ignorance got in the way of meaningful analysis and reasoned debate. Worse still, he was let away with it by  Joanne Cantwell. But then, how she ended up with the most prized job in Irish sports broadcasting ahead of either Jacqui Hurley,…

  • Sideline Cuts – 35

    Sideline Cuts – 35

    At some point in the closing stages of Saturday’s Leinster SHC encounter at Parnell Park, Kilkenny’s Cian Kenny got absolutely pulvarised by a Dublin opponent. Now read on… Social media, it’s a bit the (one of millions) line in Father Ted where the main man is trying to explain something to Dougal and he may…

  • Two more great examples to be ignored

    Two more great examples to be ignored

    On the face of it, objective analysis of a refereeing performance is probably highly difficult to arrive at. Neither of the competing teams could be expected to engage open mindedly. Neither are the whistler’s own kinfolk likely to overly critical. Furthermore, it’s difficult to escape the inclination RTE commentators and pundits are contractually forbidden from…

  • Limerick quell outside noise with deafening crescendo

    Limerick quell outside noise with deafening crescendo

    Aside from the obvious joy of winning, one of the great things about the Meath teams of the 1980s and ’90s was that they never knew when they were beat. Thus, we, as supporters, had that comfort too. Have any counties or their fans currently got that luxury? Well, Dublin, obviously, in football, but, from…

  • From slide rule passes to egg and spoon races

    From slide rule passes to egg and spoon races

    Meath…1-16 Derry…1-10 There’s something earthy, indefatigable, primal almost about rural GAA teams. The smaller the club, the more raucous and enormous their support will be. When all of the above are in sync, the bigger potential banana skin they become for often ‘softer’ ‘townie’ outfits. Ballinlough have tripped up as many as anybody in Meath…