Life And Sport From An Armchair View
How do you follow greatness? The common answer to this question is that whoever draws what can be a poisoned chalice is on a hiding to nothing. Think about it. David Moyes after Sir Alex Ferguson, Eamonn Barry taking over from Sean Boylan. Or whoever strove to be National Hunt Champion Jockey in the UK... Continue Reading →
Whoever pulls the levers in the control tower above generally has to close one door in order to open another. Now read on... Thus, one of the greatest talent academies in the county for Gaelic football must acquire a new director of operations after it was tonight confirmed the head of talent procurement will give... Continue Reading →
I only saw Brian Mullins playing once. It will probably come as a surprise to many that the once blonde colossus was seen at all. It just happened to be my second year going to matches and, as far as can be recalled, it was Brian's final match. Tiernach and Robbie Gilbert have been family... Continue Reading →
The inner sanctum of the GAA at any given time and its surviving elders are about as receptive to change as one would be to a fart in a space suit. To that end, it's actually quite astounding that initiatives like the Back Door, the introduction of red and yellow cards and the belated adoption... Continue Reading →
Italia '90 - even now, mention of the words together conjures so many memories. Pat Bonner's grimace before that booming kickout against the Dutch, Genoa, Penalties, Bonner again, David O'Leary, the pub scene from The Snapper. Now read on... Another recollection from that glorious summer prompted what you are about to intake. A proclamation by... Continue Reading →
Ballygunner recently won the Waterford Senior Hurling Championship for the ninth year in succession. Imagine that. Now contemplate being part of it all. As player, mentor, administrator or 'just' an ordinary fan. Think about the journey. The matches. The stories arising from same. For many, winning one county title could be the sum of lifetime's... Continue Reading →
1996 was some year for me. My first full summer with a powered wheelchair, Meath winning the All Ireland and da getting our first van which meant the power chair could be brought everywhere. That hadn't always been the case. Of greater significance than any of the above, however, was the construction of the flat... Continue Reading →
One would almost feel guilty writing anything about actual sport at the moment considering the unspeakable tragedy and grief which has befallen Clonoulty/Rossmore, Tipperary and the GAA community at large following the passing of 24-year-old Dillon Quirke during a Tipperary SHC encounter at Semple Stadium on Friday evening. Dillon Quirke 1998-2022 Only weeks ago, the... Continue Reading →
Shortly after Westmeath were crowned the inaugural winners of the Tailteann Cup, it became known to this writer that their current Captain, Kevin Maguire, had actually played some of his underage football with St Peter's, Dunboyne, as the family lived in the area and both his parents worked in a large place of business in... Continue Reading →
Meath 3-10 Kerry... 1-07 1949, 1954, 1967, 1987, 1988, 1996, 1999, 2021, 2022. Even looking at it written in front of you is to be struck by awe. Before anyone says anything, the majestic achievements of Eamonn Murray's charges over the past two seasons merit equal if not greater commendation than the seven All Ireland... Continue Reading →