The story of the emperor’s new clothes feels like one that’s applicable to Gaelic football right now.
Rather than agreeing with the masses that what is playing out before them is a poor match, there is a school of thought that seeks to delve deeper and hail an “intriguing and absorbing tactical battle."
That was a view put forward in some quarters, as Armagh and Galway retired at 0-6 each at half-time in last Sunday’s All-Ireland. The quiet majority may have had another description.
The sad thing is that it was not the case that this was a poor game after a good year, with players being crippled by nerves. The truth is that this is what Gaelic football is right now – move the ball side to side, try to find an opening and then, maybe, go for a score.
It should be pointed out that more scores does not always equal better quality, but let’s just say that there did not seem to be as many articles about the British social media reaction to the football final as there were for the hurling.
One thing about these kinds of matches is that there’s rarely a runaway winner, meaning that the outcome remains in the balance and you do generally get an exciting ending.
Galway had two chances to find the equaliser they needed, but, in keeping with the general tone of the game, the execution let them down.
The truth is that this is what Gaelic football is right now – move the ball side to side, try to find an opening and then, maybe, go for a score
When Jarlath Burns was elected president of the GAA earlier this year, he hardly expected to be presenting the Sam Maguire Cup to his countyman Aidan Forker, or posing with his son Jarly Óg, who had the ball at the final whistle, but the fairytale came true for him.
His speech, underlining the inclusivity of All-Ireland final day, showed the passion that he has brought to the job.
One could not but feel for Paul Conroy, who scored three fine points from midfield for Galway. In 2007, the St James’ man captained Galway to an All-Ireland minor title, but, unfortunately for him and the county, a senior title has not followed.
Conroy had just turned 29 when he broke both legs in a win over Kerry in 2018. The road back was a tough one, but there were few doubts that he had the physical and mental resilience to return, just as influential as ever.
However, like Cork hurler Patrick Horgan the previous week, Conroy has ended up losing a second All-Ireland final in the space of a few years and continues to contend for that most unwanted title – the best player never to win one.
Like Cork, the worst thing for Galway will be the feeling that they could have won despite not performing to near their best. It makes for a long winter, reliving everything that might have gone differently, but it can also be used as fuel to go again.
Kieran McGeeney was one of the best players to win an All-Ireland, but a managerial career without silverware left him open to be accused of not getting the job done.
Perseverance was always one of his key attributes on the field and it’s the same on the sideline. Now he sits as one of just six men – along with Kevin Heffernan, Billy Morgan, Tony Hanahoe, Páidí Ó Sé and Brian Dooher – to have won a football All-Ireland as captain and manager.
Armagh’s win also served to tick the last box in an incredible grand slam. The All-Ireland senior club title was won by Glen of Derry, with the intermediate and junior going to St Patrick’s, Cullyhanna (Armagh) and Arva (Cavan) respectively.
The Hogan Cup, the All-Ireland second-level title, was won by Tyrone’s Omagh CBS, with Ulster University claiming the third-level Sigerson Cup.
In the Allianz Football League, Derry won division one with Donegal claiming division two and now Sam Maguire has gone north, too. Ulster says yes.
Flashback to March when Nicola Ward of Galway was in action against Niamh Carmody of Kerry during the Lidl LGFA National League Division 1 Round 7 match. \ Brendan Moran \ Sportsfile
This Sunday, ladies’ football takes centre-stage with the Lidl All-Ireland senior, intermediate and junior championship finals taking place.
We have at times been critical of the running of camogie and ladies’ football – especially in the way dual players have been treated – and the slow march towards a single body governing Gaelic games has not reflected brilliantly on the GAA itself.
However, one area where the LGFA deserves a pat on the back, is the continued approach of having the All-Ireland final as a festival of football.
Since Covid, the men’s All-Ireland finals have been stand-alone games, preceded only by the welcoming of the jubilee teams from 25 years earlier.
The lack of a minor match beforehand might have a positive side effect in the freeing up of more tickets for the counties involved, but it’s hard to say that more has been gained than lost.
Aside from giving teenagers the chance to play in Croke Park, having a curtain-raiser served to bring people into the ground earlier and allowed an atmosphere to build up naturally, especially if the opening game was an entertaining one.
While there isn’t a minor final before the ladies’ decider, the junior and intermediate finals are on the under-card.
Fermanagh meet Louth at 11.45am on Sunday in the junior clash, Leitrim go up against Tyrone in the intermediate at 1.45pm and then Galway meet Kerry in the senior game at 4.15pm.
There may not be many who are present for all three – it’s a long day, after all – but that’s six teams gracing the turf, accompanied by six sets of fans. Winning a lower grade can provide impetus to challenge at the next level, as Meath showed when they followed intermediate glory with a pair of senior wins.
That is obviously not going to be the case for everyone but, while there are counties for whom the ultimate glory of the Brendan Martin Cup may never be a realistic possibility, the fact that every county has the opportunity to play an All-Ireland final at Croke Park is a commendable state of affairs.
For those of us who are compelled to spend time on Twitter/X so as not to miss any breaking news, the mute button has been a saving grace.
Accounts not worth engaging with can be silenced without the dramatic public use of the block button and there is even the option to mute certain words and phrases.
Such an option has yet to extend to real life, but, if and when that day comes, ‘Saipan’ will be the word that I will be entering into the super-computer.
Unfortunately, until then I will have to hear the back and forth, as an event that is now 22 years old continues to be re-litigated. And, with a new movie on the topic having been announced, the talk won’t go away for a while.
Cork actor Éanna Hardwicke will play Roy Keane and has a good likeness, while the casting of Steve Coogan as Mick McCarthy at least suggests that there will be some comedic element.
It’s the only way to go with it, really – the first time was tragedy, so this can be the farce.
The story of the emperor’s new clothes feels like one that’s applicable to Gaelic football right now.
Rather than agreeing with the masses that what is playing out before them is a poor match, there is a school of thought that seeks to delve deeper and hail an “intriguing and absorbing tactical battle."
That was a view put forward in some quarters, as Armagh and Galway retired at 0-6 each at half-time in last Sunday’s All-Ireland. The quiet majority may have had another description.
The sad thing is that it was not the case that this was a poor game after a good year, with players being crippled by nerves. The truth is that this is what Gaelic football is right now – move the ball side to side, try to find an opening and then, maybe, go for a score.
It should be pointed out that more scores does not always equal better quality, but let’s just say that there did not seem to be as many articles about the British social media reaction to the football final as there were for the hurling.
One thing about these kinds of matches is that there’s rarely a runaway winner, meaning that the outcome remains in the balance and you do generally get an exciting ending.
Galway had two chances to find the equaliser they needed, but, in keeping with the general tone of the game, the execution let them down.
The truth is that this is what Gaelic football is right now – move the ball side to side, try to find an opening and then, maybe, go for a score
When Jarlath Burns was elected president of the GAA earlier this year, he hardly expected to be presenting the Sam Maguire Cup to his countyman Aidan Forker, or posing with his son Jarly Óg, who had the ball at the final whistle, but the fairytale came true for him.
His speech, underlining the inclusivity of All-Ireland final day, showed the passion that he has brought to the job.
One could not but feel for Paul Conroy, who scored three fine points from midfield for Galway. In 2007, the St James’ man captained Galway to an All-Ireland minor title, but, unfortunately for him and the county, a senior title has not followed.
Conroy had just turned 29 when he broke both legs in a win over Kerry in 2018. The road back was a tough one, but there were few doubts that he had the physical and mental resilience to return, just as influential as ever.
However, like Cork hurler Patrick Horgan the previous week, Conroy has ended up losing a second All-Ireland final in the space of a few years and continues to contend for that most unwanted title – the best player never to win one.
Like Cork, the worst thing for Galway will be the feeling that they could have won despite not performing to near their best. It makes for a long winter, reliving everything that might have gone differently, but it can also be used as fuel to go again.
Kieran McGeeney was one of the best players to win an All-Ireland, but a managerial career without silverware left him open to be accused of not getting the job done.
Perseverance was always one of his key attributes on the field and it’s the same on the sideline. Now he sits as one of just six men – along with Kevin Heffernan, Billy Morgan, Tony Hanahoe, Páidí Ó Sé and Brian Dooher – to have won a football All-Ireland as captain and manager.
Armagh’s win also served to tick the last box in an incredible grand slam. The All-Ireland senior club title was won by Glen of Derry, with the intermediate and junior going to St Patrick’s, Cullyhanna (Armagh) and Arva (Cavan) respectively.
The Hogan Cup, the All-Ireland second-level title, was won by Tyrone’s Omagh CBS, with Ulster University claiming the third-level Sigerson Cup.
In the Allianz Football League, Derry won division one with Donegal claiming division two and now Sam Maguire has gone north, too. Ulster says yes.
Flashback to March when Nicola Ward of Galway was in action against Niamh Carmody of Kerry during the Lidl LGFA National League Division 1 Round 7 match. \ Brendan Moran \ Sportsfile
This Sunday, ladies’ football takes centre-stage with the Lidl All-Ireland senior, intermediate and junior championship finals taking place.
We have at times been critical of the running of camogie and ladies’ football – especially in the way dual players have been treated – and the slow march towards a single body governing Gaelic games has not reflected brilliantly on the GAA itself.
However, one area where the LGFA deserves a pat on the back, is the continued approach of having the All-Ireland final as a festival of football.
Since Covid, the men’s All-Ireland finals have been stand-alone games, preceded only by the welcoming of the jubilee teams from 25 years earlier.
The lack of a minor match beforehand might have a positive side effect in the freeing up of more tickets for the counties involved, but it’s hard to say that more has been gained than lost.
Aside from giving teenagers the chance to play in Croke Park, having a curtain-raiser served to bring people into the ground earlier and allowed an atmosphere to build up naturally, especially if the opening game was an entertaining one.
While there isn’t a minor final before the ladies’ decider, the junior and intermediate finals are on the under-card.
Fermanagh meet Louth at 11.45am on Sunday in the junior clash, Leitrim go up against Tyrone in the intermediate at 1.45pm and then Galway meet Kerry in the senior game at 4.15pm.
There may not be many who are present for all three – it’s a long day, after all – but that’s six teams gracing the turf, accompanied by six sets of fans. Winning a lower grade can provide impetus to challenge at the next level, as Meath showed when they followed intermediate glory with a pair of senior wins.
That is obviously not going to be the case for everyone but, while there are counties for whom the ultimate glory of the Brendan Martin Cup may never be a realistic possibility, the fact that every county has the opportunity to play an All-Ireland final at Croke Park is a commendable state of affairs.
For those of us who are compelled to spend time on Twitter/X so as not to miss any breaking news, the mute button has been a saving grace.
Accounts not worth engaging with can be silenced without the dramatic public use of the block button and there is even the option to mute certain words and phrases.
Such an option has yet to extend to real life, but, if and when that day comes, ‘Saipan’ will be the word that I will be entering into the super-computer.
Unfortunately, until then I will have to hear the back and forth, as an event that is now 22 years old continues to be re-litigated. And, with a new movie on the topic having been announced, the talk won’t go away for a while.
Cork actor Éanna Hardwicke will play Roy Keane and has a good likeness, while the casting of Steve Coogan as Mick McCarthy at least suggests that there will be some comedic element.
It’s the only way to go with it, really – the first time was tragedy, so this can be the farce.
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