Search Results for 'enormous energy'

Stephen Carolan, a work colleague in Mayo County Council, called me a few weeks ago to arrange a chat with me to discuss the topic ‘Mayo GAA as a stimulator of economic activity’. I am struggling a little to come up with some ideas yet I would welcome the chance to sit and discuss the issue due to the importance of the topic. I think the best way to come up with some initiatives is to pull those interested in making a contribution into a room for an hour or two to discuss. It is amazing to think what might come out of such a discussion like that when like minded individuals get around a table. It is a crucial issue in the current situation we find ourselves in as there is a real danger that we will lose some of our finest players to emigration.

Apparently since betting was allowed on minor inter- county championship matches no county attracted as much money as Tyrone minors last Sunday. They were 4/11 favourites to beat Mayo and the money flowed on to them. They arrived in HQ with a formidable reputation (as most northern teams do these days) and the word circulating about the place before the match was we would be doing extremely well to be in contention. But this Mayo team obviously did not give two hoots for the reputation of their opponents and they tore into them from the get go. They got the perfect start with three quick points, but that good start was nullified in a flash with a brilliantly taken Tyrone goal.

Fine Gael European Election candidate for Ireland East Senator John Paul Phelan gave a rousing speech at the launch of his campaign for a seat in Europe on Monday night.

Last Sunday’s hurling final was the greatest I have ever seen. I particularly enjoyed the senior match, but the minor game provided a wonderful array of all of the great skills of the ancient game too. If the minor encounter was a tasty starter, the senior game between Tipperary and Kilkenny was an awesome encounter. There was huge physicality and manliness about the match from the minute the ball was thrown in right to the very end. It was gripping stuff and at no stage during the match could I have predicted the outcome. I was half hoping that Tipperary would win it for a number of reasons. I normally shout for the underdog but I also have a brother- in- law from Tipp and he was really excited in the lead up to this match. I felt for him when I spoke to him after the game as he was planning a few days off to celebrate a massive homecoming in Thurles! However in the grander scale of things I think it was appropriate that the Cats prevailed to create their own bit of history and win their fourth All- Ireland in a row. Winning so many titles doesn’t happen by chance and anyone involved in management at any level will be intrigued as to how Brian Cody keeps his players focused, fresh and driven. There are so many distractions for young people these days that it is a task in itself to keep players interested in their chosen sport. That is why I took special interest in the comments of Cody in a post-match interview earlier this week when he gave an insight as to why this current Kilkenny side are arguably the greatest hurling team of all times. He suggested that there is no chance of this great Kilkenny team getting complacent or big-headed, despite their phenomenal run.

The senior hurling quarter final between Graigue Ballycallan and Ballyhale Shamrocks this weekend was an outstanding exhibition of hurling.