All our schools are in full flow now and school training for most age groups has started across the province. I have mentioned the importance of school football before and how schools work in tandem with the clubs. As the club season comes to an end, the school season just starts and it is so […]
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 […]
PATRICK MORRISON: Championship ready
By Patrick Morrison IT is that time of year when the club championships all over the country will be in full swing. Some counties may even have had the first round or two started. Here in Armagh, they are due to commence their group stages in the coming weeks. Those teams still in their respective […]
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 […]
GARETH FOX Work-rate: Lost in translation
By Gareth Fox LISTEN in on any pre-match talk and you’ll hear the words “work rate.” The single most demanded or expected attribute of any player about to go out and perform. Yet in today’s world of GPS and distance covered, perhaps a faux amis. The recent introduction of stats has been extremely interesting in […]
Child’s play: A survey on underage coaching
With all the take of rule changes and the state of Gaelic Football, Michael McMullan polled underage players on the key elements of their coaching. FOR much of the season, the dominant narrative surrounding the state of Gaelic football has been how styles of play have led to overcautious play. Then we had last two […]
PATRICK MORRISON: Make sure you deliver
By Patrick Morrison SUNDAY, June 1 1997, the Chicago Bulls are hosting the Utah Jazz in Game One of the NBA Finals. The Jazz are appearing in their first ever NBA finals whereas the Bulls are going for their fifth title in seven years. Game one is a pivotal game especially for the team that […]
DECLAN McCOY: The extreme weather conundrum
I’D like to start this week by thanking my cousin, Armagh’s Aoife McCoy, for a great day at her wedding. A sprained ankle on the dance floor was my punishment for trying to act the young fella. Luckily we got a dry day for it, which has not been the case recently. Every manager and […]
PATRICK MORRISON: Don’t go mad, go mental
By Patrick Morrison THERE has been no doubt that over the years that the goalkeeper position has been one that has always required a specialised set of skills. Compared to the rest of the team, some of the traits required to play in goal are totally alien to any other position. Playing as a goalkeeper […]
STEVEN POACHER: The second half: it’s a new game
HOW many games can you recall where a team has struggled in the first half and after a half-time interval have come out a completely different side and you wonder to yourself, what went on in that changing room? We have all heard of famous inspirational half times in the past where medals and heads have […]