The GAA highlights on TG4 on a Monday night are a lovely little gem of a programme. Missed the Cuala v Kilmacud Crokes game yesterday so was delighted to catch up on it while watching there. A few things came to mind.
⢠Is Robbie Brennan still over Crokes? Maybe Meath havenât appointed a genius after all when you consider that he didnât win the Dublin SFC this season with such a stellar list. Sure even the much maligned Andy McEntee won an All-Ireland club with Ballyboden. Same number as Brennan has won with the UN.
â˘That little Doran lad at 12 for Cuala was a great bit of stuff.
â˘Thought I scanned Ger Gilroy in Cuala red but it turned out it was a much less dishevelled and slimmer man. Iâd forgotten about the colour they used to bring to hurling encounters.
⢠The 3 McGrath brothers were incredible for Loughmore-Castleiney. It must be incredible fun playing for that club over the last 11-12 years. Maybe a touch of the Ballygunner about 2 or 3 families (McGrathâs and Connollyâs) dominating but itâs a necessity in LC unlike the Waterford overlords. John and the cousin Liam were obviously noted as footballers from the 2011 minor final (and Liam playing senior for Tipp) but Noel stood out as the best of the bunch there. A majestic point early in the second-half to put them 10-4 up. Was that Michael Quinlivan that I scanned appealing for a foot block near the end? Didnât realise he was available for Clonmel.
â˘Bill Cooper with a crucial goal in âThe little finalâ. Wasnât there a time where he was one of the most rated players on TFK? Christ Sarsfields died a death in the last 15 minutes.
â˘Glen managed to keep Blarney at arms length. I think a few on here had high hopes for that Blarney group at one stage a few years ago. Same as Douglas.
⢠Itâs an awful pity theyâre shoehorning womenâs AFL highlights into a GAA show. The viewer wants to see the Offaly senior hurling final or St Martinâs v Naomh Ăanna in the Wexford semi-final. Fucking hell itâs actually ridiculous on one of the busiest club weekends of the year. It takes from an otherwise great show.
I always look at the goalie for a reaction to see if its a score or not. You can usually tell 95% of the time by their body language as the ball is in mid air.
Heâs a point about segregation though. Sometimes it happens more by accident than design but it always leads to a better atmosphere if you can concentrate your supporters together rather than spreading them out all over the place.
Apparently if Saturdayâs Wicklow senior football final between Tinahealy and Baltinglass finishes in a draw then theyâre all set to play the replay 48 hours later on the Bank Holiday Monday. Absolute madness when you consider that they had a weekend with no action the week before last. The âstormâ on Sunday obviously a factor too. Youâd imagine whoever comes through will be on a hiding to nothing in Leinster against Portarlington the following weekend.
