Kane backs Hughes for All-Star


By Michael McMullan KILCOO goalkeeper Niall Kane has backed Armagh number one Blaine Hughes to pick up an All-Star after his performances on the Orchard County’s march to Sam Maguire. Speaking on the Gaelic Lives podcast this week, Kane hailed Hughes’ consistency. Alongside Gaelic Life columnist Patrick Morrison, he discussed how the Armagh ’keeper played […]


PATRICK MORRISON: The importance of a goalkeeper being Mr Confident


By Patrick Morrison AS a goalkeeper, it is important that you are mentally the strongest person on the pitch. It can sometimes feel like a very lonely and daunting place at times, such is the nature of the game of goalkeeping. The majority of decisions and actions that a goalkeeper executes during a game usually […]


PATRICK MORRISON: Effective communication a key for goalkeepers


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 of play developing in front of them […]


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 play-off push


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: Why do we dream?


By Patrick Morrison THE above quote is a snippet taken from Armagh’s All-Ireland winning captain, former teammate and friend, Aidan Forker. Knowing this man personally I can attest to the faith, hard work, belief and sheer determination indeed he has given to both himself and Armagh over the past fourteen plus years. A man who’s […]


PATRICK MORRISON: The fuse is lit


By Patrick Morrison PRIDE, excitement, envy, regret, expectancy, anticipation, fearful, confidence, rumination, connection, nostalgic, positive, motivated, gratitude, satisfaction, joy, sadness, hurt, sense of achievement, pain and luck. For the past few weeks I have been in Craigavon Hospital undergoing routine tests for my Crohn’s Disease. I was asked by a fellow patient about how I […]


PATRICK MORRISON: Soul searching


A GOALKEEPER, like any other player in Gaelic sports, has three main areas that contribute to their on-field performance. These three areas are all interlinked and have a constant bearing on how the other areas function at all times. It is also important to understand that these three areas are all influenced by their environment […]


PATRICK MORRISON: Be coachable


“The best skill that I ever had was that I was coachable. I was like a sponge, and aggressive to learn. Being ‘coachable’ means being humble and vulnerable enough to know you’re not perfect. It means being open to honest and constructive feedback, even if it is tough to take. Being ‘uncoachable’ includes behaviours such […]


PATRICK MORRISON: Stop shot stopping


By Patrick Morrison WHENEVER I am coaching goalkeepers around the country, there are eight main goalkeeping areas that I will coach them in. These are, in my opinion, the main areas involved within the goalkeeping position and incorporate every possibility that a goalkeeper may face during competitive games. My six goalkeeping areas are technical, activation, […]