Having taken a well earned break from Christmas festivities last night, I got to see the majority of this. The State broadcaster now puts on a relatively good show from the days of the Burlington Hotel. Few points from the night:
Pat Spillane is beyond a bollox. I know by drawing attention to it I am playing right into his hands but it has to be said.
Dunphy made another stupid comment when he said that soccer is dead in Western Europe. He cited the fact that the only good players are South American (mentioned Ronaldinho and Messi), despite the fact that only a week ago he was saying that Rooney (Western Europe) was better than Ronaldinho. All that said I can see his point. Football for me isnt half as good as it was ten years ago. I know some fellow posters feel the very same
Who the fuck is Jerry Kiernan? It says a lot for Irish athletics that this is the most credible analyst we have in the area. He voted for Derval OāRourke on the basis that she performed well abroad - on that basis you shouldnāt be next or near the panel seeing that you never did anything. He argued that Irish athletics is in great shape - āwe have Irish people winning national titlesā was his line. Dope.
Ted Walsh is a legend. Completely stole the show last night. Dunphy voted for Shefflin, Spillane gave some bullshit about having to embrace his feminine side and voted for OāRourke, then Walsh went for Shefflin. Ted then accused āthis lad beside meā (Spillane) of āass-lickingā. He continued that āme and Eamonn are trying to be serious hereā. In one line he showed up Spillane for what he is. I remember him on the Late Late one night. He was there when Plank was ringing the competition winner to ask the question. A bloke answered the phone. Plank asked to speak to Mary. He asked him to hold on a second. Plank asked if he was her husband but yer man had gone to get Mary and didnt hear him. Then you hear Ted piping up in this real country accent āMaybe its not the husband at all!!!ā. Shit myself laughing.
Shefflin won by four votes (Dunphy, Walsh, Farrell, Hook) to two over OāRourke (Spillane, Kiernan). Where do people stand on a GAA player winning? There is no doubting his genius but can we say that he performed better than OāRourke or Dunne (canāt believe that he didnt get a look in) by not winning internationally. Its a tricky oneā¦
Iām off into Fraserās now so will reply in greater depth later but I agree with nearly every word of that. Ted Walsh is possibly the best pundit on tv on any station for any sport.
Was this a public vote or did Shefflin get it based on the panelās votes?
Agreed on Spillane alright. Iām a fan of Ted Walsh and Cyril Farrell.
Your last question is interesting but Iām too sick and hungover to answer it in detail now (that post about the Celtic game took me ages to do) but Iād kind of sit on the fence. I always look for international achievement when analysing sporting achievement. I have slated the likes of Robbie Fowler on this basis but hurling is somewhat unique given there is no real international outlet (what about the auld shinty?!) and Shefflin is a definite master of his craft.
Whether he deserves the award more than OāRourke or Dunne is a tough call but on balance Iād say yes as he was supreme this year in an undefeated team that won every honour. He also won the county title with his club as well as the leinster club title. An unbelievable performance. OāRourke came second in the European Championships and Liam Dunneās Oulart-The Ballagh lost the county final so Dunne would be a little bit further behind Shefflin.
I thought we were referring to Richard āDerekā Dunne in the first comment.
Anyway I donāt see why Shefflin shouldnāt get the award or why GAA players couldnāt realistically be compared to other athletes. There are probably as many hurlers in Ireland as there are female sprint hurdlers in the world.
While I have a lot of time for OāRourke and her achievements hurdling has always struck me as one of those sports people who are fast, but not fast enough, get involved with. A bit like long distance walking is for people with loads of stamina but no speed.
Dunphyās interest in Kilkenny is purely fake an effort at acceptance.