GAA

You are currently browsing the archive for the GAA category.

Weeshie Fogarty is a Radio Kerry DJ and Kingdom legend. Recently, despite the obvious links between Rockafella, Jay-Z and Austin Stacks, Weeshie had some difficulty pronouncing Mrs Jigga’s name after he discovered his sound engineer had gone to Dublin for a gig.

DJ Mek, a man who once stood idly by as I was man-handled by erstwhile hero Ian Brown, has offered us a superb mix of Weeshie’s confused on-air inquiries and a Beyonce track here.

UPDATE: Apparently, as usual, I’m late to the party; my old pal Ciaran Murphy and the Off the Ball Lads were the first to bring this to the country’s attention.

unlucky

The news broadcasts are creaking under the weight of cliches like ‘blankets of snow’, ‘big freezes’ while footpaths are engaging in treachery.

As the country has slowed ground to a halt, the sporting world has been the same.

Meanwhile, in today’s Irish Examiner, despite the present icy inertia, about two dozen of our staff writers and columnists have looked ahead to the events that will define the Irish sporting year. I can’t link to the website as it’s a graphic but check it out in the hard copy if you’re in Ireland. There’s some surprising calls.

In the meantime, here’s my effort: Read the rest of this entry »

Harrington makes Major breakthrough
Anywhere else, Pádraig Harrington might have walked off the 18th green knowing his two shots that found the bottom of Barry Burn for double bogey had cost him the British Open.

The label of choker would rattle louder and he would not go on to win the USPGA and the Open again in the space of 13 months.

He wouldn’t be the Harrington we know today.

But at Carnoustie, calamity can — and probably will — strike at any time, and did, during the 2007 final round.

In a nail-bitting Sunday evening finish, Harrington delivered the fitting climax to a day that kept everyone guessing.

He took a two-shot lead to the final hole of a play-off, and still had to sweat out a three-foot bogey putt to beat Sergio Garcia.

He became the first Irishman in 60 years with his name on the famous claret jug and elevated himself to the elite status.

We don’t like cricket, we love it
Sometimes the sporting scriptwriters phone it in. Take a rag-tag bunch of amateur Irish cricket players, cast as the underdogs against the game’s elite at the World Cup in Jamaica.

It’s not Cool Runnings in whites, but Ireland’s breakthough performance in the game.

And in a delicious twist, the Blarney Army enjoyed their most famous win on St Patrick’s Day as the talismanic Trent Johnston hit to clinch victory over Pakistan.

Amazingly, the Irish went on to reach the Super Eights, and the sport in this country has taken long strides since.
Read the rest of this entry »

Zidane loses his head
This was like a pitch for an old Clint Eastwood movie: a maverick cop is about to retire after a working life married to the badge. Here’s the rub: his last day at the office isn’t going to be uneventful.

Zidane — the brightest talent of his generation — already had a World Cup medal on the sideboard, a European Championship win, European Cups, Ballon d’Oors — enough baubles to decorate your Christmas tree essentially. But Zizou will forever now be remembered for his rash reaction to a Marco Matterazzi jibe as the world watched on in shock.

By scoring a seventh-minute penalty he had become only the fourth player in World Cup history to score in two different finals. However, in extra time in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium he headbutted the Italian defender in the chest. The flash of the referee’s red card sent the curtain falling on a glitterring career.

Italy, of course went on to win the penalty shoot-out 5–3. Aptly, he kept the Golden Ball award for best player at the tournament.

War of Attrition strikes gold at Cheltenham
Michael O’Leary heralds his airline’s obsession with arriving on time. His horse War Of Attrition clocked in early after little turbulence — stopping the stopwatch at 6min 31.7sec.

In the past 50 years only two Gold Cup winners have gone faster, Looks Like Trouble (6:30.3) six years previously and Norton’s Coin (6:30.9) in 1990.

In 2004 War Of Attrition left Cheltenham as a courageous loser, beaten a neck by Brave Inca in the Supreme Novice Hurdle. In 2006 however, he went one better than his old rival with victory in the Gold Cup, as Ireland’s dominance at the Cheltenham Festival reached unprecedented heights.

This success was the ninth at the meeting for an Irish-trained horse, and the 10th, Whyso Mayo, came in the next race, setting a new record. It was all very easy for jockey Conor O’Dwyer who settled his horse behind the early pace and moved towards the front of the race with about a mile left to run. The Celtic Tiger purred and Cheltenham’s Irish partied on.
Read the rest of this entry »

donal5

“You say to me that there is more to life than hurling. Well if you want to carry on like a fella who is not an inter-county hurler well then there will be more to life than hurling. Lots more. But there won’t be hurling. That’s the reality of it.” — Manager Brian Cody on the monk-like existence Kilkenny hurlers endure for their All-Irelands.

“Cop that. It’s different this time, boys.” — Kerry footballer Tadhg Kennelly, in his book ghost-written by an Australian journalist, on the high challenge on Cork’s Nicholas Murphy in the first moments of this year’s All-Ireland SFC final in Croke Park.

“On my solemn word, I did not and would never intentionally go out to hurt another footballer.” — Kennelly backtracks after a storm of public disapproval swirled around him after the book’s publication. Read the rest of this entry »

nolan1

THE neglected, rabbit-eared television set flickers high on the wall in the corner of the bar. Though ignored, Galway’s Joe Canning nervelessly taps over another free on a night in Semple Stadium that would ultimately see Cork slip quietly from the All-Ireland hurling championship.

It’s a typical Saturday evening in Dublin, as below the TV, revellers in a heaving Temple Bar hostelry swirl happily through the lounge and glassed smoking area. A trio of musicians feed the tourists a diet of Irish music to complement the half pints of cold Guinness, while colourful hen parties funnel through the swinging double doors.

At the bar, at the centre of what is an unusual cast of characters, uninterested in the televised action, is a Wexford senior GAA star (who has ‘hurled on Canning before’) – but is, at the moment, much more engaged in a very different sport.

Meet Stephen Nolan, a 23-year-old UCD graduate and Model County centre back (main pic, centre). The Faythe Harriers clubman is chief executive of Kama Lifestyles – a company with the stated aim of teaching Ireland’s men how to ‘attract and meet’ their opposite number – women.
Read the rest of this entry »


Fair play to Cork goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack who yesterday confirmed in a newspaper interview that he’s gay.

This is no real shock, it has to be said, to anyone with an interest in hurling but for a guy who is still playing – and a goalkeeper – in the ultra-conservative world of GAA this takes some balls.

docpic

In Boston they say that a baseball season never ends so much as a new one begins. After the curtain fell on another season for Cork’s footballers on Sunday – with so little drama on the sport’s brightest stage – it’s that evergreen attitude we on Leeside must adopt.

When Kilkenny won their fourth All-Ireland SHC on the trot, their supporters – acting in politeness rather than real instinct, I suspect – vaulted the pitch side barriers at Croke Park and invaded the pitch en masse to celebrate as they always have – with their players.

The stadium officials, of course, had attempted beforehand to encourage fans to stay off the surface so they could carry out the ambitious plan of a Champions League-style trophy presentation in the centre of the field. When their hope was brazenly trampled into Bono’s freshly-laid grass in Drumcondra, the big screen (the largest outdoor telly in Europe) screamed the ominous but instantly-classic message in large white letters to the long-suffering stewarding staff: Go to Plan B.

They might have well have flashed it up a few more times during Sunday’s game as both Cork’s team and the red half of the attendance were compelled to change tack quickly, despite an encouraging start. Beforehand the bandwagon creaked under the weight of the Rebel County’s new-found football support, who boasted a cockiness and confidence that sounds as natural as Shandon bells in the Rebel County. Now as it became clear Sam was not in fact returning, the refrain became: ‘ah sure it’s only football’.

It’s what pollsters who gauge feeling in the run-up to elections might call ‘soft opinion’. We were certainly all for the proposal of an All-Ireland title. But if it doesn’t look likely we’ll insulate ourselves in a layer of cruel humour and nonchalant sporting snobbery. But it is only football, after all.

A great Bostonian, one John F Kennedy, of course, fought a dual war (exactly like Cork GAA does) in battling Communism in an overt Cold War as well as a clandestine, back-door diplomatic chess game to ensure the Cuban missile crisis didn’t bring a violent end to the world in the early 1960s. In short, because of Kennedy, we on Leeside can again say ‘there’s always next year’.

But I’m not sure how many have the stomach for another season right now after what was an All-Ireland Sunday knotted in disappointment; we can handle defeat (even to Kerry)– but the manner of the capitulation is a dull ache that will throb for the winter.

In these straightened times, a more frugal approach on the pitch would have seen us reclaim Sam after 19 long summers in exile. Charlie Haughey – the Kingdom’s favourite Charvet-shirted prince – once warned us that we were living beyond our means. He could have said the same to the Cork forwards who offered their neighbours the ultimate bail out with a bankrupt policy of hitting wide after wide throughout the game. Waste not, want not.

Late on the Monday night after a similar defeat in an All-Ireland final in recent years, I saw, as I made my way home, one of the county’s stars (I won’t say if it was hurling or football, so don’t ask) in a darkened city centre doorway, being consoled expertly by a sympathetic female admirer. A police squad car rolled alongside kerbside, the Garda (probably a Kerryman if we’re honest) furtively rolled down the window and leant out into the September night to address the humbled and now-preoccupied hero. “Imagine if ye won the f******* thing?” he said to the startled couple, before freewheeling off down Washington St. Imagine indeed. Read the rest of this entry »

we_win_cheers

The renowned Cork comedian and actor Niall Toibin once joked that those from West Cork were merely Kerry people with shoes.

The gag, which was a popular one in this part of the country at least, I’d imagine, betrays the nature of the hard-wired rivalry that crackles between the two counties – as well as a real distrust in Cork city of our own country cousins, west of Bandon.

But if talismanic Bantry defender Graham Canty can inspire his side to victory and bring the Sam Maguire back to its birthplace in Dunmanway after this weekend, it’ll be a Rebel county, united in celebration, that will lean over the fence to taunt our defeated neighbours in the Kingdom – and choice of footwear, or lack thereof, will never again be on the agenda. Read the rest of this entry »

The same way you know it’s a general election night when Brian Farrell wears a carnation in his lapel, so too the rich sound of the Artane Band heralds a landmark day in Croke Park for many of us.

Despite playing a prominent role in the ritual of the GAA’s red-letter days — providing the soundtrack to the build-up, setting the early tempo in All-Ireland finals with the parade, leading the national anthem — these teenagers ultimately slip away sotto voce from the biggest stage.

On Sunday they’ll lead Kerry and Cork around the pitch before the neighbours row again; so, what’s an All-Ireland final day like for the Artane Band? I filed out for a day to find out.

11.45am: The band members trickle into the stadium, under the Davin Stand, while it’s still Sunday morning to prepare for a long day the Ladies football finals.

They chat casually, more still thumb silent instruments while Head of Musicianship of the Artane School of Music, Tony Doherty starts to get organised. “It’s a big operation, but all the kids know they’re jobs and they’re very disciplined and good at what they do,” he says looking around at the bunch.

12.30pm: As legendary pianist Fats Waller answered when asked to describe what jazz was: “Lady, if you don’t know, I can’t tell you.” So too, the bold, lush sound of these kids – many of who are in jazz groups in the school – is unmistakable. It’s time for the band’s — and my — first appearance on the hallowed turf. Leading out teams for the Mini Game during the interval in the Junior championship decider.

We emerge onto the pitch through the Muhammad Ali Gate — named after the legendary pugilist who emerged from this tunnel to face Al Blue Lewis in 1972. The Drum Major, 16-year-old Mark Donohue — essentially the captain, if Doherty is the manager — leads the musicians and the teams towards Hill 16 in the shadow of the Cusack Stand, provoking wild reaction from the stands.

“It is a good buzz sometimes leading these teams around the pitch but you do get used to it after a while,” says Mark, “I’m not saying it doesn’t feel good after a while — the noise a full Croke Park can make is amazing — but you do get used to it. It’s something else especially when you’re standing there waiting for the parade of the teams on All-Ireland final day — it’s incredible — the noise is deafening. The parade is great ’cause you get a great reaction from the crowd obviously and new parts of the stands wake up when the teams come towards them,” he adds.

It’s certainly woken me up. My ears are bleeding. Read the rest of this entry »


Stephen Nolan is a 23-year-old Wexford hurler, chief executive of ‘Kama Lifestyles’ and a self-proclaimed “world-class pick-up artist”.

The GAA star is teaching young men – for a tidy fee – how to approach and succesfully pick up young ladies, essentially.

Check out Eoin Butler’s account of his two days in the young UCD graduate’s dating boot camp here.

dub2

Great post on An Fear Rua about the relationship between the GAA and the Dublin public here.

The unfortunate reality of HQ’s scornful attitude towards the Dublin bandwagon, which they are instrumental in propagating, is that they achieve only the alienation of those who are aware of and insulted by their incessantly bitter superiority complex. The inherit flaw in their approach is that they offend those within the Dublin GAA community who espouse the very values which our county is conveniently accused of lacking -the clubman, the volunteer, the dedicated supporter.

Robert Kennedy is 31 years dead this week.

Here the Senator – campaigning in New York – meets Cork hurling legend Christy Ring in the famous Gaelic Park.

There was many a home on Cork city’s northside, where I’m from, with a picture of Ring and a Kennedy – more likely Bobby’s brother, of course – above the mantlepiece. A portrait of the Pope may have made up a familiar triumvirate.

RFK, was shot dead on June 4, 1968, just hours after he won a huge step towards the White House with victory in the Democratic primary in California.

He addressed some supporters and media in the early morning of the next day at LA’s Ambassador Hotel.

Leaving the large ballroom, through the busy kitchen, Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, a 24-year-old Palestinian, opened fire and shot the candidate. Kennedy died soon after.

Ring lived just under a decade after this point; he passed in March 1979. Ring’s graveside oration in Cloyne was delivered by a former Rebel and Glen Rovers teammate and the then Taoiseach, Jack Lynch – who had met Bobby’s brother John in Cork City Hall in 1963, incidentally.

Many have guessed, through the years, what Mackey said to Ring in that famous GAA photograph depicting two old enemies captured in conversation on the sideline. I’d like to know what Bobby said to his new friend on the Gaelic Park turf.

The GAA summer was still-born last weekend but this Sunday, as Cork meet Tipp in Thurles in the Munster senior hurling championship, the season will be very much alive and kicking.

Last summer as part of the Irish Examiner’s monday championship supplement, as the recesson began to bite I tried to guage how cheap one could get to Croke Park for a big game.

I planned to hitch from Kerry to the capital. Wearing a Cork jersey.

Ask a New York cabbie, “How do I get to Carnegie Hall?” and they’ll invariably tell you “practice, practice, practice”. With my collar pulled above the nape of my neck to shield myself from a sheet of the wettest Kerry rain, as I shuffled along the road between Killarney and Tralee before 8am on Saturday morning, I realised getting to Croke Park was a journey not dissimilar. But it’s more a case of thumb, thumb, thumb.
Read the rest of this entry »

Ah, I’ve been expecting you, reader! As part of the Irish Examiner’s GAA championship supplement available in all good newsagent’s today, I attempted to predict what will happen this summer using a few different methods.

Tonight in pubs and homes around the country, slugs of pints or milky tae will be punctuated with wild opinion and heated discussion about the season ahead.

Who will come out on top in September? Who will be player of the year? Will we get a ticket off the club if we get there? In an attempt to answer these evergreen questions this straw poll, forged in laboratory conditions, attempts to go back to the future.

We’ve read the omens, asked an expert bookmaker, quizzed a fortune teller (she knew we were calling) and, acting as a control in the experiment, interrogated a recently-castrated, bemused Yorkshire Terrier called Jasper under a hot lamp deep in the bowels of the Irish Examiner building.

1. Forget the small talk, who’s gonna won the hurling this year?
The omens say – That’s easy; back the Deise this year – again. The last time Ireland won a Grand Slam in 1948, Waterford won Liam.
Michelle the fortune teller, Temple Bar – Kilkenny seems to be coming on my tarot cards with a new player who is fashionable and will be loved by many. And Henry Shefflin will look weak for a while but will do the job.
The bookie, Paddy Power: Kilkenny should be made play left handed at this stage. Galway will add a new dimension to Leinster of course and it’ll suit them to have more games but Kilkenny might have another gear to go up and if they do – everyone else look out.
Jasper the Dog: Given a choice of two tennis balls representing Kilkenny and Galway respectively, a sliothar which is Cork and a soft toy which we’ll call Tipp for no reason, Jasper – with all the contemplation of TV pundit – went for Galway. Eventually. Read the rest of this entry »

« Older entries


View My Stats