Heffo was a pussy.
Donegal have led way in physicality, says Mayo manager
All-Ireland champions ‘really ratcheted that up last year’, says James Horan
Call it mind games, call it player welfare concern, either way next Sunday’s rerun of last year’s All-Ireland final between Donegal and Mayo was yesterday taken to a higher plain of tension and rivalry by James Horan.
The Mayo manager added his tuppence worth following opposite number Jim McGuinness’ assertion that Donegal players are being unfairly targeted by opponents.
“Donegal have been the leaders in (physicality),” said Horan. “There’s no doubt about that. They’ve brought physicality in GAA to a new level, and fair play to them.
Seán Cavanagh: “It doesn’t get any better than standing at Croke Park on a hot summer’s day.” Photograph: Inpho
Seán Cavanagh knows that Monaghan are a different prospect now for Tyrone
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“They brought a new dimension to football last year, I think, in many ways, and particularly in the area of physicality.”
In the wake of Donegal’s victory over Laois on Saturday, McGuinness noted Mark McHugh’s concussion, following a hit by Monaghan’s Stephen Gollogly in the Ulster final, was the fourth in three championship games suffered by one of his players.
McHugh also suffered a burst eardrum and a 5cm tear to his leg in the collision.
“Four concussions in three games? I would imagine the Munster or Leinster rugby fellas wouldn’t have that level,” McGuinness said.
Horan added: “Look, Donegal and their backroom team, they’re competitive. They’re All-Ireland champions. Anything that’ll give them an advantage, they’ll try.
‘A different level’
“Last year they mastered many new skills and brought football to a different level on many fronts . . . particularly in the area around physicality.
“They really ratcheted that up last year and put a lot of teams to the sword based on their strength and their power and their tackling.
“I don’t know if any of ye have been at the end of a Michael Murphy tackle recently but there’s serious, serious physicality in that team. So they’ve been the leaders on that front.”
Horan talked about the work done by Mayo since the concession of two early goals against Donegal in last year’s All-Ireland final, particularly the avoidance of frees in the tackle area.
He also praised the work of referees’ chairman Pat McEnaney.
“This year since Donie Buckley’s been involved, we’ve looked at the whole area of skills, and to us, tackling is a skill area – there’s no doubt about it. So we’ve put a huge amount of time, effort and focus into getting all our basic skills right, including the tackle, and hopefully ye’ll see that on Sunday.
“Left hand, both hands, both feet, pick-ups, turning both ways, the fundamentals, we’ve put a lot of work into, and the tackle . . . we’ve looked at what the tackle is, and we’ve tried to perfect that as well as we can understand it.
“We’ve put huge work in there, so we’re comfortable we tackle to the letter of the law.
“Look, we’ve just got to trust the refs that are there, that there’s consistency. I saw Pat McEneaney on Saturday up in Croke Park – I know he’s doing a lot of good work to try and bring some consistency there. Look, we’ll go out and play it that way.”
For the record, Cavan’s Joe McQuillan will referee both counties’ return to Croke Park.
McQuillan was recently subjected to jostling and face to face abuse from Kildare supporters following Tyrone’s qualifier victory in Newbridge, when his Garda escort was unable to shield him from departing supporters in front of the main stand.
Seán Cavanagh: “It doesn’t get any better than standing at Croke Park on a hot summer’s day.” Photograph: Inpho
Seán Cavanagh knows that Monaghan are a different prospect now for Tyrone
The Irish Times takes no responsibility for the content or availability of other websites.
McQuillan was unharmed but GAA director general Paraic Duffy took full responsibility for the officials failed exit strategy at St Conleth’s Park.
Horan also stated Mayo have arrive at this season’s All-Ireland quarter-final juncture a stronger squad than 2012.
“I think we’ve a better understanding of our game, and what’s needed to play at the top level. We’ve a lot more experience under our belt.”
Obvious bonus
The obvious bonus is the fitness of Mayo forwards Andy Moran, Alan Dillon and Cillian O’Connor.
In contrast, Donegal are without McHugh, while footballer of the year Karl Lacey was not deemed fit enough to start against Laois.
Off the ball collisions during Saturday’s 0-14 to 0-8 victory in Carrick-on-Shannon also enraged McGuinness.
“There were a lot of incidents out there where players were trying to get up the field, and were stopped,” he said. “All I can do is give you the facts, and relay to you that there is a fear and anxiety as a manager.
“You don’t want a situation where there’s going to be a very serious injury. It’s going to happen, and I hope that everyone that is involved with the consequences can live with that. Because I know I won’t be able to.”
McGuinness specifically mentioned neck and spinal injuries as a potential consequence.
Meanwhile, Dublin county board chairman Andy Kettle is confident a new sponsor, for all their teams, including camogie and women’sfootball, will be announced in the coming weeks.
“We would hope to have it sorted before the All-Ireland finals,” said Kettle. “The success of both senior teams at the moment is certainly not hindering the process.
“We’ve revamped it a little bit in terms of when Vodafone came in four years ago, they took Dublin footballers; the hurlers have become a definite bonus and what we have negotiated is we have spoken to the Dublin ladies and Dublin camogie, so the whole family will be available to a potential sponsor on this occasion, rather than having the sponsorship diluted by different brands on different jerseys. That’s a first.”
[quote=“count of monte cristo, post: 809056, member: 348”]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSzMjjrTMHI
doesnt seem Gollogoly knew where the ball was[/quote]
McHugh was in possession of the ball when he was hit. It was pretty much shoulder to shoulder. It was a foul because Gollogly’s two feet were off the ground, but that’s about it.
i htink the term shoulder to shoulder needs to clairfied in the GAA.
Does it mean if a guy is running at you that you can hit him straight on if your shoulder hits his shoulder of is it a side on hit only allowed.
the hit above seem more like a chest to chest collison, well nearly, some job to concuss, perforate his eardrum and tear his quad though.
Provided that he has at least one foot on the
ground, a player may make a shoulder to
shoulder charge on an opponent-
(a) who is in possession of the ball, or
(b) who is playing the ball, or
© when both players are moving in the
direction of the ball to play it.
When he is within the small rectangle, the
goalkeeper may not be charged but he may be
challenged for possession of the ball, and his
puck, kick or pass may be blocked. Incidental
contact with the goalkeeper while playing the
ball is permitted.
[quote=“TreatyStones, post: 809090, member: 1786”]Provided that he has at least one foot on the
ground, a player may make a shoulder to
shoulder charge on an opponent-
(a) who is in possession of the ball, or
(b) who is playing the ball, or
© when both players are moving in the
direction of the ball to play it.
When he is within the small rectangle, the
goalkeeper may not be charged but he may be
challenged for possession of the ball, and his
puck, kick or pass may be blocked. Incidental
contact with the goalkeeper while playing the
ball is permitted.[/quote]
I know the wording of the rule TreatyStones but like all GAA rules the interpretation is the issue.
if one guy is running toward you playing the ball and you are bearing down on him to play the ball, and plant him almost like a joust is that acceptable? Most referess would not allow it even thoug it seem to fall within the remit of the rules…
[quote=“count of monte cristo, post: 809099, member: 348”]I know the wording of the rule TreatyStones but like all GAA rules the interpretation is the issue.
if one guy is running toward you playing the ball and you are bearing down on him to play the ball, and plant him almost like a joust is that acceptable? Most referess would not allow it even thoug it seem to fall within the remit of the rules…[/quote]
It’d be like if a sliothar was in front of someone’s head and you pulled on it and the follow through caught the player in the head.
Well yeah, but in terms of strength and conditioning Jimmy and Rory Gallagher have taken it to a whole new level. Beggy and those boys in the eighties wouldn’t be a patch on Murphy and McFadden or Gallagher. Men mountains and they can move and when they hit you can be sure you’ll feel it
No but McGeeney and Co would in fairness.
[quote=“count of monte cristo, post: 809099, member: 348”]I know the wording of the rule TreatyStones but like all GAA rules the interpretation is the issue.
if one guy is running toward you playing the ball and you are bearing down on him to play the ball, and plant him almost like a joust is that acceptable? Most referess would not allow it even thoug it seem to fall within the remit of the rules…[/quote]
I always thought shoulder to shoulder was shouldering the guy from the side trying to put him off his run and not front on always that was a shoulder charge. Usually if a guy is running at you you hold your ground forcing the player to either go around you where you can try hold them up with the auld one handed tackle trying to dislodge the ball or charge into you and hopefully if the ref is anyway competent will give you the free. 
I never realised Laois were are a hard hitting team, always thought they were a bit lightweight for and depended on their speed to get around these bigger teams.
That’s enough so.
but this is what im saying, it’s not clear in the rule, the rule used to be side to side but they then changed it to read shoulder to shoulder.
take the hit on McHugh for example, was that a side on shoulder? doesnt look like it to me, was Gollogly playing the ball, doesnt really seem like it as he hits McHugh at full pace and the ball was being moved off in the other direction.
In my opinion he could have easily made a play for the ball, but in saying that if i had the chance for a big hit like i would have probably gone for it ( and probably missed)
[quote=“count of monte cristo, post: 809790, member: 348”]
In my opinion he could have easily made a play for the ball, but in saying that if i had the chance for a big hit like i would have probably gone for it ( and probably missed)[/quote]
There are not many players out there that would have made a play for the ball, most players would go for the big hit.
Big Hit > a point
Jim has done himself no favours on this, let’s hope Mayo kick seven colour of s""" and a good score as well, I’m sick of looking at this Neanderthal Donegal football and their greasy haired Manager
By the way…does Colm O’Rourke wear a Toupee/rug/wig…
Fuck him
Jimmy is losing the plot, he has been accusing Mayo and Monaghan of conspiring to beat his side and accused James Horan of using the media to play mind games by sending out reports with subliminal messages in them 