Tuesday 4 December 2012

Sadness and Pride

It was with a certain amount of sadness that I became aware that those two great exponents of Gaelic Football, Padraig Joyce of Galway and Brian McGuigan of Tyrone, had decided to leave the county scene. They were two brilliant players and exemplary sportsmen. When we witness the behaviour of many of the grossly overpaid participants at the highest level in the major cross-channel game we should appreciate all the more the positive example that Padraig and Brian have been to the youth of the country. I feel proud to have been around during their playing days.

I would like to comment on Dr.Crokes (Kerry) 0-19 to 0-12 victory over Castlehaven (Cork) in the Munster senior football club final played at Pairc Ui Caoimh on Sunday last. Crokes played football as it should be played. They did not engage in "circular"passing. They were capable of giving foot passes of 40 or 50 yards into a colleague's arms: reminiscent of MickO'Connell, Tom Long and Seamus Murphy at their best. Their hand passing was always going forward with players getting into space to take the pass. While I would love to see St.Brigids (Roscommon) winning the All-Ireland club championship, the presence of Dr.Crokes is a tonic for the game. If every club and county team in the country tried to emulate their style of play the G.A.A.need have no worries about the game.

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