PATRICK MORRISON: Goalkeeping conditioning


By Patrick Morrison Whenever I am coaching different teams and/or individual goalkeepers during pre-season I complete their goalkeeping conditioning. They regularly ask me ‘What is goalkeeping conditioning?’ After praising them for being brave enough to ask the question I then answer it for them as best I could. By now, the GAA fraternity have become […]


SHANE RICE: Mastering the art of Gaelic football preparation


GAELIC football, a sport rich in tradition and passion, demands more than just physical prowess on game day. Victory is not solely achieved through training and skills development; it’s the culmination of meticulous game day preparation that sets the stage for success. I will delve into the essential pre-game routines, strategies, and mental preparation that […]


JOE BROLLY: Won’t somebody please think of the audience?


AFTER 29 minutes of the Mayo Senior Football final on Sunday, co-commentator John Maughan said, “All I can do is apologise to the viewers for this really terrible spectacle. I’m not sure it’s going to get any better.” At half time, hundreds of people upped and left, leaving empty rows of seats in the middle of […]


STEVEN POACHER: A good coach is always learning


By Steven Poacher In just over two weeks, hundreds of coaches from all over Ireland will descend upon our school, St Joseph’s Boys High School, Newry, to attend our now annual Coach Education event. The event that has been in existence for over 14 years now is unique and different to most days, first and […]


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 of play developing in […]


STEVEN POACHER: The best time of year to learn


COACH Education is a subject very close to my heart, it’s a huge passion of mine, as a coach I never want to stop learning, in fact I have a small black note book I carry everywhere with me, quite a bit of my week seems to be spent in a car, so therefore 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 […]


JOHN McMAHON: Be clever in your off-season


By John McMahon THE business end of the Gaelic club season is reaching the pinnacle with county finals fast approaching. For those clubs that have exited the championship and their seasons have now ended, what should their focus be? The off-season brings a welcome rest from the demands of a long competitive season in GAA. […]


PATRICK MORRISON: 11 goalkeeping principles – Part 1


By Patrick Morrison THIS week’s article will come in a two-part form. This is because I have repurposed my Eleven Goalkeeping Principles and as such will need two articles to fit them in. Below is Part One of these principles, Part Two to follow up next week. Enjoy! All goalkeepers are different and no two […]