Ballymaguigan deserve credit

LAST weekend’s Derry intermediate football final was hosted by Ballymaguigan, to mark the 50th anniversary of the competition they purchased the original cup for. The club presented a specially commissioned new version of the Sheridan, Bateson, Lee Cup to Derry GAA, who gave the original cup back to the club. We often hear about how clubs are the heartbeat of the community. Ballymaguigan were a shining light for clubs across the land. Much had been made on social media of the game being taken away from Owenbeg and Celtic Park. And to an extent, the smaller pitch was never going to make for a high-scoring contest. But, it was in immaculate condition. The club had an army of volunteers, from ensuring every car was parked to maximise their space to selling you a half-time draw, it was all done to perfection.

​​​​​​MICHAEL MCMULLAN

**********************

The Hazard of predicting matches

AS GAA reporters, we’re supposed to know what we’re on about. That’s the theory anyway. But the last few weeks has shown why predicting the outcome of big club championship games is a fool’s errand. Did I expect Coalisland to reach the Tyrone final? In all honesty, no. Nor did I predict St Eunan’s would win out in Donegal. Fancied Cargin to retain their title in Antrim and look how that panned out. It shows why the club game is so good – there’s generally always room for an upset or two. There’s a few exceptions – Kilcoo and Scotsown lord it over the rest in Down and Monaghan, but on the whole it’s more exciting than the intercounty game, and I think that’ll remain the case no matter what happens to the championship format down the line.

NIALL GARTLAND

******************

Attack is the best form of defence

FROM the giddy excitement of Maghera’s championship celebrations, Glen’s Jack Doherty’s Twitter account (@JackDoherty11) produced 18 seconds of goodness. In a dancing Kerry brogue, a mock audio recording commented how the Watties were playing with 14 forwards. “The ‘keeper is a forward…the only defender on the team is Carville,” it joked. For the rest of Derry, Sunday was a scary reality that Glen have created a monster that has no signs of going away. And, as with any winning team, the chasing pack scavenge and arena for a blueprint to follow. If anyone is going to wrestle the John McLaughlin Cup, they will need to have an engine to last the distance against a powerful counter-attacking force. Here are the scoring stats from Glen’s half back line across their seven games. Tiarnan Flanagan (0-2), Ciaran McFaul (0-10) and Ethan Doherty (1-8) …you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy.

MICHAEL MCMULLAN

****************

Who gets the credit?

I INTERVIEWED Gareth McKinless for our most recent episode of Take Your Points and he said that Rory Gallagher’s ambition is remarkable. He said that he’s never met a man so singularly focused on a goal, and he’s seen Conleith Gilligan compete for a ball. I’ve often felt that Rory Gallahger’s drive comes from having had his success as part of a management team with Jim McGuinness. Now he wants to win stuff as the main man in the team. But that said, no county management team is run by one person. They are huge groups of men who manage every different aspect of preparing a squad. I suppose the great achievement for a manager is not only leading the team of players but also the management.

RONAN SCOTT

***************

Rural v Town teams

ST EUNAN’S, Glen Maghera are two clubs from two big towns that won their Senior Championships last week. Enniskillen Gaels are in a county final against Derrygonnelly next week. Clann Eireann the Lurgan side, compete for the Armagh title this weekend. The progress of town teams is interesting because I think it highlights how the GAA is developing in bigger populated areas. The likes of Kilcoo and Scotstown are dominant clubs from relatively rural areas whose strength is built on unity between their players based on having one sole ambition. Town clubs tend to have players who have many other priorities other than the GAA clubs. But if clubs like Glen are succeeding it shows GAA is becoming the main focus in towns.

RONAN SCOTT

********************

Tyrone’s training regime

I WAS listening to a recent podcast with Conor McKenna and he said that Tyrone won an All-Ireland despite training collectively only a couple of times a week. I don’t know if Tyrone necessarily trained less than other counties, but it is good to hear players say that it’s important to maintain a balance between the GAA and other, arguably more important commitments. Obviously the Tyrone players are an incredibly fit bunch (so to speak…), and perhaps the difference between themselves and the chasing pack, is that they timed their run to perfection this year. Maybe it’s something they’ve had over their Ulster rivals for a while now, actually – Monaghan and Donegal have won multiple All-Irelands but Tyrone are usually the last team standing from the province.

NIALL GARTLAND

17 July 2021; A steward awaits the arrival of the Wexford team bus before the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 1 match between Clare and Wexford at Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Piaras Ó MídheachSportsfile