Search Results for 'Gerald McCarthy'

I said last week that a shock could be on the cards in Semple Stadium last Sunday. Okay it didn't pan out that way in the end, but at various stages of both quarter-finals it sure looked like happening. Cork and Waterford move onto the semi-final stages after cracking encounters with the former out to upset Kilkenny's 3 in a row dream on August 10. Over the last decade these two sides have stopped each other from completing this marvellous feat, it's a bit like the song Lanigan's Ball “one stepped in....", they will once again as in '04 relish the opportunity to repeat the trick and set up an All-Ireland appearance. Cork judging by their prematch get-together, obviously feel the world is against them. It's the first time I've seen everyone step outside the confines of the playing area for the National Anthem. They are well within their rights to do so but you're only bringing notice to yourself. Both the Clare and Wexford players were probably kicking themselves last Monday morning for letting a good chance slip by. You would have to acknowledge Cork's persistence to stick at it when all looked lost at half time. They once again proved that they have the bottle and they know how to both wear down a side and finish off a job - this is a trait that both Clare and Wexford lack.

The great organisation that is the GAA has traditionally had a wonderful way of resolving disputes within the confines of its ranks, more often than not away from the glaring eyes of the media. However in these past few weeks and days we have witnessed some quite bizarre happenings within the GAA world that will surely have rocked the traditionalists of our game back on their heels.

Standing in Paric Lactain in Freshford last January watching a young, fit Antrim side lower Kilkenny's colours in the Walsh Cup didn't leave anyone too upset, most people acknowledged that our warriors had just returned from what is now their annual team holiday and that it would take a few training sessions to shake off the cobwebs. Being honest, Kilkenny fans knew that this bunch of Kilkenny players would bust a gut later in the year to land the 3-in-a-row but I don't think anyone could have envisaged exactly what lay ahead for Kilkenny hurling.

Have you ever wondered about the effect a manager can have on a group of footballers? Let me highlight just one example of how a single individual has transformed the fortunes and the mood of a club in the space of a week. We are witnessing an astonishing turnaround in the fortunes of Spurs in a matter of days, since the arrival of new manager, Harry Redknapp. I take a casual interest in the fortunes of this particular team as my wife Audrey is a lifelong supporter of the Spurs. In the last few months we witnessed one of the biggest clubs in England with big star players struggling in the relegation zone of the Premier League and facing relegation if the fortunes of the club didn’t improve immediately. Harry arrives on the scene and within days these underperforming stars are like men inspired. They grabbed their second thrilling comeback in five days last weekend, this time against table toppers Liverpool. I am perplexed and slightly intrigued as to how Harry has got them into a team of believers, with the mood of the club changed considerably in the space of a few days. People within the club have suggested that the fun has returned to the training ground and now everyone feels part of the team. Another suggested that they are now treated with respect. Harry apparently told them they were good players! This would suggest that previous management didn’t tell them that! Under previous manager Ramos a number of first team regulars were banished to the reserves without explanation, in the process undermining the morale and camaraderie within the whole group. There is a lesson here for all managers. If you lose the dressing room, in other words the very people you are expected to inspire and develop into a winning team, they will lose confidence in your ability to lead them. This should be the signal for you to walk.

The national hurling league swung into action last Sunday without All-Ireland champions Kilkenny, heavy snow that fell early on Sunday morning put a stop to their involvement. I'm sure everyone connected to the set-up would have been disappointed not to make it to Pearse Stadium in Galway but player safety has to be paramount in those situations. The snow and icy conditions seemed to have caught everyone off guard. I'm sure if they had anticipated this scenario they might have elected to make the trip on Saturday afternoon.

The beauty of the National Football League is that you can dust yourself down after a particularly bad performance and within a week or two you are presented with another opportunity to redeem yourself. I know the Mayo lads were hurting after their defeat against Derry in Ballina two weeks ago, so there shouldn’t be too much energy expended in getting their heads right for this one. I was speaking to a few of the players after the Derry game and they were understandably annoyed that they didn’t get off to a winning start.