PATRICK MORRISON: Know what you want


By Patrick Morrison “THIS compass does not point north… It points to the thing you want most in this world.” – Captain Jack Sparrow. This is a quote from Hollywood blockbuster movie ‘Pirates of the Caribbean,’ starring Johnny Depp as the flamboyant and estranged pirate Captain Jack Sparrow. The film follows the serendipitous antihero as […]


PATRICK MORRISON: The fountain of youth


By Patrick Morrison CHILDREN are curious and insightful individuals who explore and learn through the process of trial and error just as nature intended. Their world is loaded with all kinds of imaginary games and toys. All a child wants to do is explore their world through the medium of play. And what child has […]


PATRICK MORRISON: Bringing in the stormbreaker


THE English word ‘storm’ comes from the Proto-Germanic ‘sturmaz’ which means noise or tumult (chaos). Whenever we understand the origins of the word we can fully relate to the significance of its meaning. Being true to its name, storms are of course chaotic in nature while also having the ability to create mayhem and devastation […]


PATRICK MORRISON: Self taught is best taught


HELPING Kilcoo win their 20th Down senior football title at the weekend was something extra special for me. This is because Saturday, October 15 arked the fifth anniversary of my own sole senior championship medal with Armagh Harps back in 2017. This was also my club’s 21st title so the similarities were there. All weekend […]


Elliott’s magical week continues


By Michael McMullan WEDNESDAY was another chapter in a magical week for Dunloy and Antrim goalkeeper Ryan Elliott. After winning his fifth senior medal in the club’s four-in-a-row success, he was one of seven Antrim players named in the Joe McDonagh Team of the year. It was the club’s 16th title since their first in […]


PATRICK MORRISON: Put your feet first


By Patrick Morrison WHENEVER I am coaching, one of the most common questions I am asked is ‘what is the most important aspect of being a goalkeeper?’ My answer is always the same. There is no one aspect that is more significant than any other as mastery of the position needs a competent level of […]


PATRICK MORRISON: Effective communication


By Patrick Morrison WHAT is effective communication? Communication is any form of information that is relayed between two interfacing entities. Whether it be audible, visual, hand signals or even just body language, if it sends a message to be received it is deemed as communication. Goalkeepers are in that precarious position where play develops in […]


Patrick Morrison: First line of attack


By Patrick Morrison STEVEN Pressfield’s 2004 novel, The Virtue of War, follows the life of Alexander the Great and his story is told through the eyes of a Hellenic-Persian scribe who was serving under him during his campaigns into India. In the novel there is a quote from Alexander himself which states: “Always attack. Even […]


PATRICK MORRISON: It’s championship season


IN American sports, they split their competitions into two parts with the first part being called the ‘regular season’ and the second part called the ‘post-season’, more affectionately known as the ‘Playoffs.’ Every team in each sport (Baseball, Basketball or Gridiron) will have realistic and attainable goals for their franchise. The better teams, as well […]


PATRICK MORRISON: The six areas of of goalkeeping


By Patrick Morrison GOALKEEPING is a very specialised position. A goalkeeper must have a good basic skill set just like every other position on the team, but they also need to develop specific goalkeeping traits, skills, and movements to be able to play the position competently. Like any sports person that is truly serious about […]