Christy Cooney - Wanker

Next Sunday, Clare play Kilkenny in the minor hurling final and afterwards the successful captain will receive the Cup from the Archbishop of Cashel and Emly Dermot Clifford, as is customary, and then proceed directly to the lap of honour with his team-mates.

In a further break from tradition, the archbishop will not make a presentation speech, which has been a feature of finals over the years.

Clifford became the first Kerryman to hold the office of Patron of the GAA 21 years ago. A recommendation to the GAA’s National Awards and Presentation Committee, chaired by Jarlath Burns, to end the practice of speech-making at the minor finals received full approval.

“It came up for discussion at our committee when we were talking about pitch invasions and our committee felt the minor captain’s speech should be discontinued,” confirmed committee member John Arnold. “About eight of us were present and it was unanimous. I would say it was about looking at ways of streamlining the whole day and the whole presentation end of it.”

Arnold also said the move would relieve the burden of public oration from players of 17 and 18 years of age. “I think there were some cases in recent years where minor captains got stuck for words. It is even being argued now that the same should apply to the senior finals.”

GAA presidential candidate Liam O’Neill questioned the value of All-Ireland speeches recently and received a mixed reaction.

“I was asked about the Louth and Meath game and pitch invasions and I was trying to make a point,” he said on Friday, “that if we are serious we have to meet the public halfway. We won’t keep you hanging around and this was one way of maybe tackling that. I was trying to say that nobody remembers the [GAA] president’s speech, and only a couple of the captains’ speeches of the last 30 years. So what does that say about speeches? A stadium announcer could say what the president has to say on the day.”

There was controversy in 1995 when the GAA prevented the Westmeath minor footballers from doing a lap of honour after winning the Leinster title for the first time in 32 years. The privilege was restored after the outcry.

DERMOT CROWE

Sunday Independent

Bandage · August 30, 2010, 4:30pm

That Dermot Clifford chap has spoken an incredible amount of shite over the years and has generally delayed the victorious team’s receipt of the trophy. He tended to go off on a rambling sermon, which had absolutely nothing to do with why he was there in the first place. A doddery old simpleton and I’m glad he’s being sidelined.

The_Puke · August 30, 2010, 5:32pm

Fair play to Christy Cooney, looked as though the new fence on the hill went down a treat yesterday

Mullach_Ide · August 30, 2010, 6:57pm

What happens when it’s raining, are there windscreen wipers on the perspex…

myboyblue · August 30, 2010, 7:00pm

The Dubs usually just stay in the pub.

Sidney · August 31, 2010, 9:18pm

Pathetic from the GAA. :rolleyes:

http://www.sportsfile.com/winshare/watermarked-b/Library/SF628/455604.jpg

http://www.sportsfile.com/winshare/watermarked-b/Library/SF628/455606.jpg

http://www.sportsfile.com/winshare/watermarked-b/Library/SF628/455607.jpg

anon95599269 · August 31, 2010, 9:25pm

in fairness to the gga , its time to stop tards holding up humourless banners per se- every single kildare banner made a pun on the fact they were playing down. from your puns on here Id guess you would appreciate that but these half wits & their banners are one step removed from half wits who get their faces painted-gga patrons are odd

myboyblue · August 31, 2010, 9:26pm

Hooligans. Ban them from all GAA matches.

Watch_The_Break · August 31, 2010, 9:47pm

That is truly pathetic shit from Croke Park. McKenna and cronies are a wretched bunch if this is what they’re stooping to.

anon95599269 · August 31, 2010, 9:51pm

big deal, some fuckwits with a shitty banner get told to take it down- so fuckin what- its a shitty humourless banner- get off your soap box

Watch_The_Break · August 31, 2010, 9:52pm

Fuck you, you humourless cunt.

Watch_The_Break · August 31, 2010, 9:55pm

Who would have given that order? Surely it came from the stadium director.

Sidney · August 31, 2010, 9:56pm

Some exceptionally weak responses from the Corncrake and the Blueboy here, highlighting the bankruptcy of their right-wing anti free speech views.