Ireland-Hurling: Diarmuid O'Sullivan on Helmets and Pay for Play

Sadly Cork hurling star Diarmuid O'Sullivan is about to retire from the game. Unfortunately for him new Cork hurling manager Denis Walsh had plans which did not include the Cloyne man. The Rock realised that the writing was on the wall and walked. Increasingly he appears to have become disillusioned with the GAA.

From 2010 it will be mandatory for all hurlers to wear a helmet. O'Sullivan strongly disagrees with this rule and announced in a Sunday Independent interview that he plans to retire from the game completely, on the basis that players should have freedom of choice. He is strongly supported in this opinion by Irish Examiner columnist onside johnny.
With all due respect to both, players safety MUST come first. Hurlers must put aside selfishness on this matter. Avoidance of serious injury is of paramount importance . Sportsmen as bread winners have responsibilities to their families. Injuries can put them out of work and result in heavy loss of income. I strongly support the new GAA rule.

The Rock argues in favour of match fees for players. Undoubtedly many players are feeling the brunt of the recession and as amateurs invest huge amounts of time and energy into preparation for intercounty matches. Realistically they are entitled to very generous expenes. A fee is Pay for Play and would herald the end of the GAA as an amateur organisation. Onside johnny in the Irish Examiner strongly supports the concept. He argues that each player should get €10,000 per championship match and slightly less for league matches. He argues for an extra €50K per man for players reaching quarter-finals and so on.
The Rock and journalists such as onside johnny have not teased out fully the implications of such a proposal.
Many games do not generate sufficient income to pay such sums. Yesterdays Leinster Hurling Final between Kilkenny and Dublin would not have provided the wherewithal to pay the €10,000 per player fee. Presumably 10 other panel members on each side would demand the same pay out. Also Croke Park - in common with all major sports stadia on match days- eats up gate receipts. Stadia do not run themselves.

The proposal to pay almost €10,000 to each player for each league match is crazy.
Presumably onside johnny is aware of the poor attendances for Cork's league matches at Pairc UI Chaoimh. This is replicated througout the country. Diarmaid O'Sullivan will now play Rugby for Highfield. Will he now secure a match fee of €10,000 per game?

Thousands of volunteers drive the GAA. They get no financial reward. Many will walk away.
I suspect that people such as Dessie Farrell of the GPA are endeavouring to drive the GAA toward professionalism. Their real agenda is to create a professional elite. If so they are heading for disaster. As the recession bites attendances are dropping and supporters are increasingly unhappy with ticket prices. There is downward pressure on prices.

Quite frankly the GAA would not survive as a professional organization. The GPA needs to thread carefully.

Liam Griffin's powerful and emotional tribute at the funeral of Wexford hurling icon Billy Rackard.

Video requires RealPlayer-Download here

Embedded from RTE.IE

Paul Flynn Waterford Hurling Legend Retires

Waterford's Paul Flynn has retired from intercounty hurling at the age of 34. He was one of the greatest free takers of all time. He was the game's greatest goal scoring free taker since Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard. Along with DJ Carey, Flynn is the only player of the last 25 years to feature in the leading 20 goal scorers in championship hurling history.

The accuracy and power of his shooting whether from placed balls or from play struck terror into opposing defences. The key to his success was his wrist work. His striking was poetry in motion. It was sharp . It was crisp. His anticipation and quick thinking cost hurling defences dearly. Invariably if he decided to go for goal he succeeded. He was always on alert for the goal scoring opportunity.

Sadly he failed to win an All Ireland Senior Hurling medal with Waterford. However he won three Munster Senior Hurling titles, a National league title and an All Star. He also won an All Ireland under-21 medal and a Munster minor medal.


The 2004 wonder goal against Cork in the Munster Final can be viewed on youtube .This is only one of many.View the Paul Flynn profile here at hurlingstats .

Thanks to Paul for his monumental contribution to Waterford hurling. No doubt he will serve Ballygunner and Waterford in a selectorial or coaching capacity in the future. Undoubtedly he will impart his skills to juvenile hurlers in the Deise.
Ni bheidh a leitheid aris ann.

Waterford edges out Tipperary in titanic struggle at Croke Park on a score of 1-20 to 1-18

Today Waterford triumphed over Tipperary to secure a place in the All Ireland Senior Hurling Final against Kilkenny- for the first time since 1963. This was a game brimful of skilful hurling and intense excitement. The result could have gone either way.

Waterford started off like a hurricane and had six points on the scoreboard within nine minutes with John Mullane , Eoin Kelly,Eoin McGrath and Stephen Molumphy notching scores. Waterford moved the ball crisply and used the wings to great effect.
Low ball to the forwards was paying dividends. Ken McGrath was playing a blinder at centre back. Incidentally it was noticeable that when Tipperary switched Seamus Callinan onto Ken McGrath later in the game he troubled the Waterford centre back.
The concession of needless frees by Waterford brought Tipperary back into the game. Six of Tipperary’s scores in the first half came from frees as Eoin Kelly punished Waterford indiscretions. In addition the delivery of low ball to the Waterford forwards had dropped off. The half-time score was Waterford 0-10 Tipperary 0-10. Waterford had played most of the hurling but had little to show for it.

It appeared as if Tipperary had more in the tank. Eight minutes into the second half Tipperary hit the front for the first time with a point by Conor O’Mahony . The game see sawed. Half way through the second half Tipperary led by 0-16 to 0-14. Jack Kennedy replaced Seamus Prendergast and proceeded to have a blinder for Waterford.
In the 56th minute Eoin Kelly scored a goal for Waterford. From the puck out by Brendan Cummins Seamus Callinan scored a goal for Tipperary to keep the Premier county in front. With 8 minutes remaining the sides were level 1-17 to 1-17. With seven minutes remaining Waterford hit the front and ran out lucky if deserving winners on a score of 1-20 to 1-18. Indeed Tipperary missed several clear-cut chances in the last eight minutes.
Liam Sheedy has no need to be downhearted. He has already moulded a fine young team. Nevertheless inexperience in the last 10 minutes cost Tipperary the game.

Notwithstanding the fact that Waterford played with no mean skill and verve today Kilkenny will enter the final as the hottest of favourites. This Kilkenny team is a hurling machine. There is no major weakness in the Cats outfit. In addition the desire to win three in a row will drive the Black and Amber to new heights.

So Waterford enters the final as a rank outsider. Today the Waterford defence was tighter than in previous games. But it still is not tight enough to blunt the Kilkenny attack. There is still some looseness in defence and a tendency to concede needless frees. There is an inclination to ball watch.
Defence is a 70 minutes job and demands total concentration. In the last 10 minutes of today’s game several Tipperary forwards were left loose and could have made better use of scoring opportunities. Man marking must be total against Kilkenny forwards. Clinton Hennessy had an outstanding game in goal. Indeed all defenders played their hearts out.
Aidan Kearney will have benefited from today’s game.
The Waterford half back line blunted the Tipperary attack.
The Kilkenny forward line against Cork consisted of E Brennan, M Comerford, E Larkin, R Power, H Shefflin and A Fogarty. Each and every one of these players is a match winner in his own right. These forwards must be put under relentless pressure and allowed no space. They are not averse to using their physical power through the legitimate use of the shoulder to soften up defences. The Kilkenny attack must be smothered and allowed little room.
This is no easy task. Many would argue that it is well nigh impossible

Jamie Nagle is developing rapidly into a fine centre field player whilst Brick Walsh is returning to form. Nevertheless it will be necessary to deprive the Kilkenny centre field of good clean ball. Indeed Kilkenny centre field players have a tendency to crop up all over the field and will notch scores from any loose ball around the middle of the field or closer in for that matter. So Jamie Nagle and Brick Walsh will have their work cut out to even gain parity here.

The forward line performed well today with Eoin Kelly, Eoin McGrath, John Mullane and Stephen Molumphy playing particularly well. Dan Shanahan did much good off the ball work and was a handful for the Tipperary defence even if he is not yet back to full form.
Seamus Prendergast tried very hard. Jack Kennedy when introduced plucked some great balls out of the sky and had a blinder.
The Waterford forwards as a unit worked hard and harried the defenders clearing the ball.

In the final low ball to the forwards is a sine qua non. Use of the wings and diagonal ball can open up the Kilkenny defence. Bunching will suit Kilkenny backs who are powerful in the tackle. There must be no shooting from impossible positions. Ground hurling would also reap dividends. Goalkeepers dread the ground shot especially one from the vicinity of the square. It is essential that a Waterford player is available to take a pass from the player who is being tackled.
In essence Waterford must play at a far greater level of intensity against Kilkenny mindful of the fact that Kilkenny is a far more experienced team than Tipperary.
Kilkenny are the warmest of favourites with Waterford as rank outsiders.

A Kilkenny hurling supporter's superiority complex

The following is a Kilkenny hurling supporter's view of Waterford hurling. No fear that Lionel Hutz suffers from an inferiority complex. The blaahs (Waterford) are of course usually the subject of much derision on KilkennyCats.com

"I always look at us as being the Brazil of hurling. We keep producing the most skillfull, naturally talented players. We are admired and envied from afar. We can win things with average teams by our own standards because we know how to win. We have more titles than anyone(relax Cork people!!). Whereas the blaahs always remind me a bit of England. They wear white shirts. Their supporters are a bunch of yobs. They last won the big one over 40 years ago(actually longer!!) They seem to think their players are the best around. They lose a lot of semi finals._________________I've argued before every judge in the state...often as a lawyer! Don't worry, Mister Simpson! I saw Matlock in a bar last night. The sound wasn't on, but I think I got the gist of it."

Source:
KilkennyCats.com

Waterford's six goals against Antrim and interview with Davy Fitzgerald

Embedded from RTE.IE

This video from RTE's Sunday Game shows interviews with Davy Fitzgerald, Sambo McNaughton, Eoin Murphy, Eoin McGrath and Dominic McKinley. It also shows Waterford's six goals scored against Antrim in the All Ireland qualifier played at Walsh Park on Saturday last. The interviewer was Marty Morrissey.

America's hurling messiah Dave Olson and the Milwaukee hurling club

Today's Sunday Independent features a fascinating article - written by Sean Ryan -on Dave Olson and the Milwaukee Hurling Club............... " Born in Minnesota 45 years ago, he is of Swedish stock, and was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His only regret is: "I wish I had this game when I was a kid."

Here are some brief excerpts "...................... A convert from baseball -- in which he was good enough to get professional trials -- he has all the ardour of the converted in his desire to spread the good news about the game he loves...........In fact, it was only 12 years ago that Dave was introduced to hurling.......Olson became one of the founders of the Milwaukee Hurling Club -- one of 24 in the beginning -- but he was the one who stuck at it and brought the club forward to such an extent that he was presented with a President's Award by Sean Kelly two years ago for his contribution to hurling. The club has 264 players and only three of them are Irish-born.

".......Dave Olson helped make possible what many thought was impossible, when he brought hurling to Milwaukee, but the game is thriving there, and now his sights are set on extending the game's influence right across the North American continent. If anyone can do it, Olson can."

Read the full article here: America's Hurling Messiah
The web address of the club is : Milwaukee Hurling Club
The web site features What is hurling videos taken from youtube. Hurling is the fastest and most skilful field game in the world and has potential with proper exposure to develop on a world wide scale. Lets hope Dave Olson's mission to spread the game throughout the US succeeds. "The Continental Youth Championships (Hurling) in Chicago last year were contested by 114 teams, again mainly American-born."

Ireland-All Stars Hurling Team

1 Brian Murray (Limerick)2 Michael Kavanagh (Kilkenny)3 Declan Fanning (Tipperary)4 Jackie Tyrell (Kilkenny)5 Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny)6 Ken McGrath (Waterford)7 Tony Browne (Waterford)8 Michael Walsh (Waterford)9 James Fitzpatrick (Kilkenny)10 Dan Shanahan (Waterford)11 Ollie Moran (Limerick)12 Stephen Molumphy (Waterford)13 Andrew O'Shaughnessy (Limerick)14 Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny)15 Eddie Brennan (Kilkenny)

The county breakdown reads: Kilkenny (6), Waterford (5), Limerick (3), Tipperary (1).
The selection is nicely balanced and from a Waterford point of view most satisfying. Hopefully Ken McGrath will recover from a career threatening injury. There are seven first time winners.Brian Murray (Limerick), Declan Fanning (Tipperary), Jackie Tyrrell (Kilkenny), Michael Walsh (Waterford), Ollie Moran (Limerick), Stephen Molumphy (Waterford).

No doubt counties such as Cork Galway and Wexford will feel disappointment. The selectors appear to have opted for the best players irrespective of geographical location. This is a welcome development as in previous years there was the suspicion of tokenism.

Hurling-Limerick hype could be costly

According to Limericktoday Early bird shoppers at Brown Thomas on O'Connell Street could have mistakenly believed that they had walked in on a male fashion show on Saturday morning when they were greeted with the sight of the twenty strapping young men parading through the store.

On closer inspection—after one or two double-takes by the ladies—they realised that the familiar faces were those of the Limerick hurling squad who were trying out their new designer suits for size.Brown Thomas have fitted the entire panel with finely tailored Hugo Boss three-buttoned single breasted navy suits to ensure the team not only look the business on the pitch this weekend but off the pitch also......


Also in Limericktoday The next ten days or so could prove to be very crucial for the long term benefit of Gaelic Games in Limerick.
We are all thrilled and overwhelmed with our senior hurling team booking a place in the All-Ireland final on September 2. The emotions of supporters is at an all time high and that is natural particularly in a county that has been starved of success and it is their right to hope for victory over Kilkenny in what we all hope will be a truly great final.History tells us that we have lost more All-Irelands than we have won in the last 66 years so it is fair to say that when it comes to the pain and disappointment of losing finals we are right up there with the likes of the Mayo footballers......


Will hype derail the Limerick juggernaut? The best dressed team to win an All Ireland Hurling Final? The best dressed team to lose an All Ireland Hurling Final?
Limerick supporters are supremely confident that their team can out muscle Kilkenny. Confidence is at an all time high. Much is made of the fact that the Shannonsiders got the better of Waterford in the physical stakes. However this was a physically drained Decies side.
The Cats are themselves a physically powerful side with greater skill levels than Limerick. Any attempt by Limerick to over engage in the physical will result in disaster.
The Cats- freed from the burden of too much hype- will fancy their chances.