Recognising 'Class players' .....

Breaking into senior intercounty footaball is a hard thing. In Leinster Laois and Westmeath have had underage success but it has not translated into senior - this is replicated in other provinces where there is a high wasteage rate.

In the Tommy Lyons sound-bite era we had a couple of new heroes (I won't name) - scored a goal or two and were never seen again. I think Gaelic football is the hardest sport for a young lad to come into - and then maintain form - he has to be very special.

I would not judge a newcomer until his third season to be honest. A certain Royal poster here blows up his team when a lad has one good game. Invariably one swallow does not make a Sam, nor even a career.

I recognised Bernard Brogan as a prodigious talent three years ago - and a far better player in conception than his brother - so it has proved. I hugely admire James Kavanagh too - a player that continues to blossom - mainly under the radar. Graham Reilly is another gifted player.

I love seeing exciting young players - they are the future of the game. Donie Shine stands out this year but Dublin have a couple of good lads too (O'Carroll, McAuley) - as do Down (Marty) and Kildare (O'Flaherty).

Then there are injuries. Some class players just never make it back - Brian Mc G springs to mind. Will Shane O'R get there? Hopefully.

All in all its not easy to become an inter county football star - its probably harder than ever. But there are always lads there - and its a savage commitment in terms of physical demand and of course time demands .. those who have it AND deal with the pressures will come through. There are many like Gooch at U12 but few who carry it through. All the more reason to celebrate that guy and other such genuises ....

I here what your saying JC, i think that our young players in the gaa are not afforded the same professional guidance that other sports have which helps the players deal with pressure from fans, the public, the press and expectations however i hope someone in the gaa will take recognition of this.

North Side Gael wrote:I here what your saying JC, i think that our young players in the gaa are not afforded the same professional guidance that other sports have which helps the players deal with pressure from fans, the public, the press and expectations however i hope someone in the gaa will take recognition of this.

I suppose having waited 125 years for an initiative on this we can hold on another millennium. Don't hold your breath...

North Side Gael wrote:I here what your saying JC, i think that our young players in the gaa are not afforded the same professional guidance that other sports have which helps the players deal with pressure from fans, the public, the press and expectations however i hope someone in the gaa will take recognition of this.

Personally think is only a new fad and it is an area that possibly needs to be explored.
But by in large unless a player is up for something serious (Tyrone boyo and a few dogs) or is an elite player (DJ) things by and large are ignored, unless you do something stupid (Jacob, on reflection half the male population of Ireland would of done but also kept quite about).

On the whole I don't think it is an issue, before anyone goes on about ex-gaa players about 70% of the country are ex-gaa players

i really like the look of young jamie Clarke from Crossmaglen and Armagh, i said in a thread (think it was "players to watch out for in u21 championship") earlier in the year that he had a big future. I think that jamie clarke, mcdonnell and a fit ronan clarke will take some stopping. Gareth Swift was our best half forward this year, if we can get a couple more half forward, Kieran Toner fit at midfield then we will be up there with the top sides. I know some people were writing Armagh off after the dublin game but when everything is taken into consideration it is clear we are nowhere near as bad as some people would like to make out., Anyway back to my original point jamie clarke is going to be a top player.

To be honest lads I am not talking about mollycoddling class players at all here. A class player will deal with the pressure and s*** that comes with the territory - that is part of being class! O'Gara was eulogised by the fantasist Curtis in the Sunday Weird last weekend ... ridiculous. Gooch is the template here. There are videos of him at 13 or 14 doing various things around Kerry football. Hw went on to fulfil his promise and is a legend already - at 27! The bro met his late Da a good few nights while 'pinting' in Killarney on holidays a few years back. A gent too and down to earth. You don't lick it off the streets. Class on the field needs to be backed by class off it ... thats the secret.

Ha ha samindreamland back to his best again! Clutching at straws there my friend. Armagh are a million miles from the top sides. Mcdonnell will be gone soon too. Its not looking good for the next 10 years or so im afraid

whiterbananas wrote:Ha ha samindreamland back to his best again! Clutching at straws there my friend. Armagh are a million miles from the top sides. Mcdonnell will be gone soon too. Its not looking good for the next 10 years or so im afraid

Armagh might not be looking to good at the moment but we're still 10 million miles closer than Mayo

That's a matter of opinion GAA fan. Your view is one that i personally would not concur with

whiterbananas wrote:That's a matter of opinion GAA fan. Your view is one that i personally would not concur with

Its that old saying WB, You are only as good as your last game.

The potential in mayo is huge GAA fan. League finalists this year, losing out only to a cork team we had beaten 2 weeks previous to that. We have a serious group of young footballers coming through who are not far away from an all ireland at all. Unfortunately for armagh they seem to be moving in the opposite direction. A bleak future ahead for the orchard

Dont know how I should respond to that so just going to post this...

whiterbananas wrote:The potential in mayo is huge GAA fan. League finalists this year, losing out only to a cork team we had beaten 2 weeks previous to that. We have a serious group of young footballers coming through who are not far away from an all ireland at all. Unfortunately for armagh they seem to be moving in the opposite direction. A bleak future ahead for the orchard

,

clutching at staws? priceless from a clown who is yet to learn that national league football has little if any bearing on championship football. What division are the Connacht champions in again? What division are the mighty Longford in? W/B i look forward to the usual tripe about Mayo next year after finishing second or third in next years national league.

samindreamland,

league form is actually a much better indicator of a team's status as it shows consistency over a number of months. The championship is a knock out competition, similar to the FA Cup, where anyone can beat anyone on the day. Whereas it is exciting, it doesnt guarantee that the best team wins out, as is the nature of knock out competitions. We just have to look at this year's semi final line up, with no kerry, tyrone or mayo, it means the best teams will not compete for the trophy but it does add a novelty element for the likes of dublin and down to have their day in the sun. As for armagh, i admire you re support but you do need to be realistic. The good days are gone for a while

whiterbananas wrote:samindreamland,

league form is actually a much better indicator of a team's status as it shows consistency over a number of months. The championship is a knock out competition, similar to the FA Cup, where anyone can beat anyone on the day. Whereas it is exciting, it doesnt guarantee that the best team wins out, as is the nature of knock out competitions. We just have to look at this year's semi final line up, with no kerry, tyrone or mayo, it means the best teams will not compete for the trophy but it does add a novelty element for the likes of dublin and down to have their day in the sun. As for armagh, i admire you re support but you do need to be realistic. The good days are gone for a while

In my humble opinion,
FA cup have a back door , don't think so.
Are you for real, when is the last time Mayo won anything other than the Nestor Cup (which for a long spell was between two teams, now there's three involved (Sligo) ye can'y even make the final.
Time to grow up WB, the top table is Kerry, Tyrone and Cork
Next Level is Dublin, Armagh, Monaghan, Limerick (run 2 of the big 3 close consistently) Meath possibly Kildare
Next level all of us (teams that can beat each other consistently not 1 in every 10 attempts like against upper 2 level teams) bar last level teams
Last level, Kilkenny, London, New York, Clare, Waterford

Jim

Am i right in saying that you are putting mayo and wexford at the same level then?

whiterbananas wrote:Jim

Am i right in saying that you are putting mayo and wexford at the same level then?

Yea along with Longford, Galway, Antrim, Wicklow, Carlow, Westmeath etc etc.
They are all in a group (20 plus counties) of that none of them will will Sam no matter what you imagine or believe.
Over 50 years since ye won Sam, and we have more titles than ye lot (football) if you want to sprout on about history.
currently Mayo are closer to the Tommy Murphy Cup than Sam Mcguire, those are the cold hard facts.

I love your sense of humour Jim

Before the Longford v Mayo game, the only teams Longford had beaten this year were London and Kilkenny.

Back to Jayos original point, in 2002, Longford won the Leinster minor football championship and got to an All Ireland semi final. Only 1 of those players from that team is now on the senior team - Ciaran Williams. The great hope of that team a certain Michael Hussey who hasn't been seen within an asses roar of the senior team.
Its not so much a case of recognising class but about nurturing what little bit of talent is there so that if and when they do make the breakthrough, their class shines through.

Great post Jayo and one that's not lost on this Tribesman with regards to the success of our minor hulers compared to their senior counterparts.

Sorry to mention hurling on a football thread but Jayo's hit the nail on the head.