I’M going to try the impossible this week – and something a bit different to my usual coaching column – and pick my All-Star team for 2024. This comes with a health warning. I have two mates nominated and as an Armagh fan I am biased. Anyone that disagrees with me and thinks it’s a […]
DECLAN McCOY: Sam Maguire return and a passing of the torch
IT may be a few weeks on, but there can only be one topic for this month’s article, and that’s Armagh’s fantastic All-Ireland success. I am going to describe my experience as a supporter over the past few years following the team to try and give you a flavour of how it was. Being occupied […]
DECLAN McCOY: Rip it and run
By Declan McCoy THERE’S only one place to start this week’s article and that is to say a massive well done to Armagh on reaching the All-Ireland final. Whilst we haven’t yet got over the line, we sometimes take for granted the brilliant days out Geezer and the players have given us over the last […]
DECLAN McCOY: The Jurassic Park principle
WHILE it’s great to have a fellow Armagh man as the new president of the GAA, I have to say I don’t envy his task in addressing the state of the game. A lot of games are turning into basketball and the entertainment value has dropped. This, in conjunction with the complete lack of jeopardy […]
DECLAN McCOY: Careful, we don’t want a football match breaking out
AFTER a riveting weekend of football, it’s fair to say the Ulster Championship is alive and well. Whilst I may bemoan the lack of jeopardy and level of shadow boxing in the current format, I thoroughly enjoyed the games. Cavan just came up short in a spirited performance and Jim McGuinness has rejuvenated Donegal again. […]
DECLAN McCOY: Breaking down the low block
WE are currently slap-bang in the middle of the GAA jargon evolution. Terms like ‘move the ball quickly,’ ‘keep your width’ and ‘get men behind the ball’ have been replaced by ‘transitions,’ ‘tips’ and ‘low block.’ I have even found myself using such terminology and I die a little inside each time I do. The […]
DECLAN McCOY: The imitation game
GAELIC football is gradually moving towards a reset in the fundamental make up of teams. We have two points to consider in this regard. Firstly, the standard programme lays out the 15 players in the traditional structure. They consist of a ‘keeper, six defenders, two midfielders and six forwards. I can’t for the life of […]
DECLAN McCOY: Circle of ‘don’t get beat’ is now complete
THE club championships are beginning to reach the business end in most counties. As with the new county format, a lot of counties have opted for group stage systems and as a result the blood and thunder has been diluted. It will no doubt return when competitions reach the knock-out phases, but the early stages […]
DECLAN McCOY: The changing club landscape
By Declan McCoy ALL around the country excitement is building as we are heading into club championship season. One thing is for sure, the landscape has changed dramatically. Traditionally the sun would be splitting the trees, lads would be scalped with a championship hair cut and the long running injuries would magically clear up for […]
DECLAN MCCOY: THE SLOW ATTACK
HAVING watched the unbelievably exciting hurling finals on Sunday, it’s hard not to be envious of the speed and incisive transitions in those games. This is in stark contrast to the football that is currently on show. As we enter the summer months, we are beginning to see that Gaelic football is becoming more defensive […]