Louise Glass talks to the greatest handball player of all time…
 

THE current Irish Nationals and US Open champion is ‘flattered’ to think that he is considered one of the ‘greatest’ exponents of the game he loves.

“But that is not where my focus lies,” explains the 30-year-old.

“All I concentrate on is tomorrow and the next training session, the next rep, the next serve, the next kick pass or whatever it is I am focusing on at any given moment.  I want to push myself as hard as I can for the duration of my career.”

That said, the Kingscourt club player, has ambitions to leave a lasting legacy.

“One of my goals from the start of my career has been to raise the standard of handball so high that it skips a generation.  I want to break some records, amass as many titles as I can and play at a level that the next generation of great players cannot match.  I feel that is a realistic goal but it remains to be seen if I can achieve it,” he said.
“Any talk of greatness is something for other people to reflect on, years from now when I am finished playing sport.  It is not something that is all that important to me. What’s important right now is staying focused and honest in my approach to the next training session.”
On his way to collecting his latest singles title, Paul created history equalling Pat Kirby’s long-standing record of six consecutive All-Ireland senior singles titles.
The victory also enabled him to equal Kilkenny legend Michael Walsh’s record of seven in total.
Less than 24 hours later, he made an appearance for the Cavan senior footballers in their league victory over neighbours Fermanagh.

Paul’s recent victory in the Irish singles was not unexpected but it came just six months after surgery to repair a torn quad muscle.

He sustained the injury training for the World Championships but somehow managed to battle his way through the early rounds, eventually defeating Texan star Alan Garner in the final.
And to think, he almost gave it all up in 1997 before he won his first major singles in Winnipeg?
“I’m definitely glad I didn’t give up all those years ago,” said the world number one. “It has been a rollercoaster ride since, with all the ups and downs but that’s what sport is all about. It’s the lows that make the elation so great after a big win.
“When I’m coaching kids that’s the one message I try to communicate to them – to never ever give up.
“I’d try to encourage them to take it up for fun initially.  Even if it doesn’t become their main sport, it’s a great way to complement their other hobbies whether it’s Gaelic football, camogie or hurling and they can play handball in the off-season.”
Handball’s popularity has increased in recent years, and Paul thinks it is down to the sport’s re-branding, and incorporation into Gaelic Games.
“Handball was mostly ignored by the GAA for long periods in the past, but in the last two years has become ‘GAA Handball’,” said Paul.
“The Irish Handball Council is working much more closely with the top brass of the GAA so I think the sport has benefited hugely from this recent re-association.
“I think this is the main reason why popularity of the sport is on the up, so the new leadership of handball and the GAA deserve great credit for that.”

Now back to full fitness, Brady is once again on the training treadmill, looking ahead to another busy summer.
“I am currently based in Castleknock, Dublin and do most of my training in DCU. During the season I usually travel to Belfast once a week to train also,” he said.
“I travel home to Cavan at weekends and once during the week for football.

“Away from sport I’m currently studying a Post Grad in Primary School Teaching which I hope to have completed by the end of the year.
“As long as I can stay healthy and I feel my performances are up to standard, I hope to continue to juggle both codes.
“What I foresee happening is, I’ll probably have to retire from inter county football in another year or two but I plan to continue playing handball after that untill my body gives up.

“I don’t know when that will happen but right now I’m really enjoying sport so I think I’ll know when the time is right to retire.  Obviously that could all change tomorrow if I got a bad injury so I just take each day and each training session as it comes.
“I’m just grateful to be healthy enough to play both codes at the highest level.”
 
FIVE MINUTES WITH PAUL BRADY
Date of Birth: 20/9/79
Where were you born: Cavan
Where do you live down: Castleknock, Dublin
Right or Left Handed: Right
Favorite Food: Chicken
Favorite Drink: Lucozade Sport
Favorite sportsperson: Lionel Messi
What are you currently listening to on your iPod/CD player: Kings Of 
Leon
Favourite Movie: The Sixth Sense
If you owned a racehorse, what would you call it: Gunning For Glory
Who would you like to portray you in a biopic: Tom Hanks
Scared of: Failure
Most memorable occasion (on & off the court): On the court-World Final 
2009.  Off the court – Trip to Oz 2005
Best way to relax: A long walk alone
How do you prepare before a game: I repeat my goals for the match continuously and try to stay as relaxed as possible

It may have passed under the radar, but GAA players of all codes and at all levels should pay great attention to the new GAA injury scheme (insurance policies) announced for 2010.  Major changes have taken place to these policies, changes which aren’t exactly favourable to the paying, playing member.  For the same annual subscription as last year, the claimable benefits for a player following injury have been greatly reduced both in monetary amount and in the scope of conditions/injuries that warrant pay out.

For example, if we take the modern day epidemic of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, an initial appointment with a consultant is needed at approximately €150.   An injury that is experienced in almost every club, maybe to more than one player every year, the necessary surgery for this injury costs over €5000.  An MRI scan will be needed to confirm diagnosis of the injury costing approximately €300 on average.  A minimum of 20 post operative physiotherapy sessions are also needed, with an approximate average of €40 per session, comes to €800.  Therefore the total cost of medical expenses for an ACL injury comes to almost €6350.  The GAA insurance will only pay out a maximum of €4500, minus €100 excess, therefore a total of €4400 (why is the €100 excess needed?)

In the North of Ireland, the average cost of an MRI scan for such an injury is £400 (€452), so the €300 reclaimable is someway short of this.

Cover is not provided for the unfortunate player who does not require surgery for an injury but may require long term treatment e.g. someone with a lumbar spine disc problem or severe ankle sprain.  Some of these conditions can require physiotherapy for 6 months or more.

In an attempt to provide a disclaimer for anyone who wishes to play Gaelic games, the GAA state ‘risk is an inherent factor in sport, as in life.  When members voluntarily take part in club activities they accept the risks that such participation may bring’ 

And rightly so, but if a player wishes to insure him/herself fully against these risks it would make sense to seek insurance from a different provider e.g. VHI/BUPA where all the possible eventualities are covered.  Perhaps the GAA would prefer if players would seek their own individual insurance cover with other providers.  In a further twist, if a player has other medical insurance cover, the GAA insurance will not pay out!

Therefore the choices players have to make, is should they pay the smaller GAA insurance premium but be inadequately covered against the risks of the sport, or should they seek to pay a higher premium with another company but be fully insured against all possible scenarios?

Maybe it’s a topic the new fully affiliated GPA can get their teeth into if their agenda is not ‘pay for play’ but instead player welfare.  Or will we in the future see elitism in a different disguise, whereby separate GAA insurance policies are drawn up for the county players?

Limerick's Maurice O'Brien races clear of Wexford's Barry Lambert, left, and Diarmuid Lyng. Limerick v Wexford, All-Ireland U-21 Hurling Final, Semple Stadium, Thurles.

By Martin Crummy

VISIONS of little or no Limerick support in either Semple Stadium or Pairc Ui Chaoimh on 20 June are becoming more and more realistic by the day.

The Limerick hurlers are on a hiding to nothing in the 2010 Hurling Championships and the repercussions will be felt not just this season, but in seasons to come. 

Already the grass level support in the game is fading. Young players are not really bothered about going to see Justin McCarthy’s charges in senior action.  They are still playing their own games, but have no appetite to see their county team put to the sword.

For the few Limerick supporters in Parnell Park for their counties final league game, it was a harrowing trip.

Many left in the middle of the second half when Dublin were scoring goals instead of points. Those who stayed, feared the worst for their June Championship encounter against the winners of Cork or Tipperary. 

That’s where the fear comes from, that after another beating and the expected beating that either Cork or Tipp will dish out – why would the Limerick supporters travel?

None of this means that Justin McCarthy will stand down anytime soon – he has the backing of the county board and executive.  

He will stay until his contract runs out at the end of the season.  He is sticking by his guns – rightly or wrongly. 

Without a return of a chunk of the departed 2009 panel, Limerick are unfortunately facing their biggest wipe-out in the 126-year history of the Championship.

When you factor in the success of the Limerick footballers winning a title in Croke Park, there appears to be a definite swing in the county.

Micky Ned O’Sullivan is leading the football revolution, with their first national football title in 114 years secured against Waterford in the Division Four final.

It meant a lot to the team, to the 11 man strong management team and most importantly the under-fire county board. 

The contrast between the hurlers, hammered by Dublin and the footballers winning in Croke Park could not be more stark.

One man that can show some sort of understanding to the situation – despite being outside the county is Dublin hurler – Maurice O’Brien. 

Only three years ago O’Brien lined-out with Limerick in a 0-22 to 1-15 defeat of Dublin, but this time around featured prominently for his adopted county in walloping the visitors. 

O’Brien switched from Garryspillane to Faughs in Dublin’s Templeogue in January of last year, after living in the city for a couple of years.  He has been a regular in Anthony Daly’s team since his move. 

O’Brien togged out for the Dubs in their league loss to Limerick last year.  He was there again for the narrow All-Ireland Senior Championship defeat to the Treaty County, but things have changed hugely since last summer. 

“It’s very sad to see this sort of a result for Limerick,” he said. 

“Overall it is most disappointing for the county.  I would have hurled with a lot of those players now out of the fray and I feel for them in that their careers appear to have been ended far too soon. 

“From my perspective, my role is now with Dublin and I’m very pleased to have been part of the two wins this league (the other against Tipperary). 

“On the day we had our own job to do. We needed to win, or at least draw, to keep our Division One status and that was our goal. Many times during the league we came within two or three points of winning but weren’t able to deliver the killer punch. 

“Staying in Division One and this big win will give us every confidence ahead of the Leinster Championship.” 

O’Brien speaks from the heart when talking about his native county – but even he can’t hide the deep trouble the hurlers are in. 

The footballers however are in a totally different position and their stock continues to rise.

Certainly O’Sullivan is keen to make the county about one thing this summer – football.

“This is great recognition for everyone in the county – from grass roots level up.  It is good for the County Board as well – who have got a lot of stick,” said the football manager. 

“Every opportunity – they have given us all the support, there is no difference between hurling and football. It is not a football county – hopefully we will make it a football county.”

And maybe O’Sullivan could get his wish this summer.  The supporters could soon switch their allegiances to a more successful football outfit, if and when the hurlers fall hard on the summer turf.

 President of the Camogie Association Joan O’Flynn was joined by Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport Mary Hanafin, Mr Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala; and captains of the 28 participating counties as well as a number of managers for this year’s championship launch at Croke Park.

 Speaking at the launch President of the Camogie Association Joan O’Flynn:

 “I am excited that we will now have six high quality teams bringing the best of Camogie skill, rivalry and competitiveness to GAA Headquarters. All Ireland Finals Day is the Camogie Showdown of the Year -  and we want people from all over the country to come to enjoy a wonderful sporting spectacle as well as a great family day out.

 Adding the Gala All- Ireland Intermediate final to the bill widens the opportunity for more Camogie players to reach Croke Park.”

 Special tribute was paid to Championship sponsors Gala who are now entering their fifth year with the Association.

 Speaking at the launch, Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala, said: “Our partnership with the Camogie Association has gone from strength to strength over the past five years. The addition of the Gala Performance Award last year was immensely successful, and recognised the commitment of the Senior Camogie players who are always on form, delivering outstanding performances.

“The Gala Performance Award is a further progression in our sponsorship of the Gala All-Ireland Camogie Championship. This mirrors the ethos of the Gala Group which is growing year-on-year.”

 The 2010 Gala All-Ireland Camogie Championships commence on June 12^th with current senior All-Ireland champions Cork beginning the defence of their crown against rivals Tipperary. This year all teams in each grade will compete on a round robin basis before proceeding to the knock-out stages.

 Camogie fans can continue to enjoy coverage of this year’s finals on RTÉ; highlights of championship action on RTÉ ‘The Sunday Game’ as well as live web coverage of selected matches.

Paddy Cunningham, Antrim, in action against Killian Young, Kerry.

Last year was a great time for us Antrim fans; a win against Donegal in Ballybofey, beating Cavan in Clones for a shot at Tyrone in the Ulster Final. Most of us hadn’t seen success like it-and it was great! Although beaten by Tyrone we were still happy at the limited success and hopeful that Baker and his team would bring us further this year.

Ok, we got Tyrone in the first round of this year’s championship-but it was in Casement. We had seen our lads stroll through division 3, and what about St.Gall’s winning the all-Ireland on St.Patrick’s day. This was a new era for Antrim Gaels and we were going to enjoy every minute of it. Roll on the 23^rd May!

Every year we scan the papers for positive articles from the ‘experts’ and we are usually referred to as ‘also ran’s’ but it never deterred us from travelling to other venues throughout Ulster. In fact part of the craic was going away and making a day of it. Although beaten on most of the occasions on the road we were still wearing our geansaí with pride.

This year was going to be different. The media took a greater interest in the build up, with more interviews with the players and staff. We devoured it all and this led to even more optimism that we could beat the mighty Tyrone with their all stars. We hoped the rumours of a rift in their camp were true and that Cavanagh and O’Neill may not be playing.

There may not have been the same amount of flags flying as there was prior to the Ulster final but this didn’t mean the support wasn’t there. Apprehension was in the air coupled with quiet optimism and so as the big day got closer all the talk was about team selection.

I was in Coalisland on the Wednesday (wearing my Antrim geansaí!) and as soon as I was spotted I started getting a ribbing about Tyrone going to turn us over.  Of course I had to tell them about our great forward line and how they were going to give their backs a headache! They countered this with the names of all-Ireland winners and all those household names we have to come admire-but not necessarily like! On my way home to Belfast I was starting to have doubts about Sunday.

On Sunday morning I was up texting to see who had the tickets but most of us were out of luck and so decided to meet at our usual spot on the hill facing the stand. The weather forecast was for a sunny day so the geansaí and shorts were ironed, a good (and not too healthy!) breakfast was eaten-then down the road to Casement.

The atmosphere and banter was great between the fans outside the clubs and pubs and this led to a carnival atmosphere.

So after a few pints it was inside to watch the second half of the minor match. The crowd was getting bigger and louder but unfortunately for our lads it didn’t help as they were beaten by a very good Tyrone team.

The senior teams ran on to the pitch to great cheers from the thousands packed into the ground. The parade, the anthem then the throw-in and it was game on. Tyrone got off to a great start and they kept the pressure on for the rest of the first half. We were really concerned this could be a rout and we all had different opinions as to who should come on as substitute.

Antrim came out in second half a different team and turned a nine point lead into just three. It was then we really believed the lads would go on to win, but Tyrone showed all their experience and ended up winning by four points.

We headed into the club where we met some of the players who were obviously downbeat but as we told them there are the qualifiers and anything can happen. So roll on the next match when we go through it all again-but hopefully with a different result!

By Paul Kelly

THE National League can be something of a phoney war as managers jostle for position and keep their powder dry but sometimes, spin can’t hide the facts.

Armagh’s Championship credentials are still to be tested but if the league campaign proved only one thing, it was that the fire still burns brightly in Stevie McDonnell.

Injury free and fit, captain McDonnell had a wonderful league campaign culminating in a brilliant individual display in the Division Two final against Down.

He picked up six points, led the line in the absence of Ronan Clarke, and played a captain’s role with superb scores at the beginning and end of the first half.

“I worked hard in the winter months and made the decision that if I was going to go back and pull on the Armagh jersey again I wasn’t going to leave any stone unturned,” added the 30-year-old.

“Certainly it has gone great for me so far but you are only as good as your last game.

“Our next game is the Championship and I’m sure the Derry management will have ideas about how to stop me. I know going up to Celtic Park that I am going to be well marshalled.

“It’s all about the Championship from now on in and if I don’t carry my form into the Championship then basically it’s been a waste of time.”

In recent years, McDonnell’s appetite for inter-county football was questioned.

As the 2002 All-Ireland winning side was gradually dismantled his form dipped and rumours grew that he was going to follow Oisin, Paul and Tony into retirement.

28 March 2010; Steven McDonnell, Armagh, in action against Paddy Codd, Tipperary

Had he opted to call it a day, the Killeavy man would have bowed out as one of Armagh’s finest. In 11 consecutive years playing senior football, McDonnell has collected one All-Ireland, six Ulster titles, three All-Stars and competed in the International Rules.

However, as he considered his options, the sending off against Monaghan in last year’s SFC qualifier kept coming back to him.

“I didn’t want to end my county career on a bad note,” he added.

“When Paddy O’Rourke got the job and revealed his backroom team that made things a lot easier.”

Mike McGurn’s appointment as conditioning coach was the final push McDonnell required to sign up again. With McGurn’s help the zip has returned to his game.

He’s finally free of the niggling injuries that dented his confidence and he’s happy with his own progress and that of Armagh’s.

“It’s an honour to captain Armagh and it’s an honour to go to training with a group of lads who run themselves into the ground,” he added.

“My job is made a lot easier with the panel of players that we have. The group are willing to give everything that they have and empty the tank on every training session.

“We have had a couple of poor seasons there but there is a huge will to win within the camp and it is not just coming from me and the more experienced players, it’s coming from the younger lads who want to prove a point.

11 April 2010; Steven McDonnell, Armagh, gets to a high ball before Paul Durcan, Donegal, to score the first goall.

“They all know that every time they pull on that jersey that they are good enough to go out and match whoever the opposition is.”

You only have to look at his recent performances to see that McDonnell is content with life in an Armagh shirt at the moment.

He’s taken to the captaincy role with relative ease and is looking forward to the summer with a real sense of anticipation.

“My desire is even stronger than it was before, particularly as I haven’t got that many years left at this level,” he said.

“If I didn’t feel we were good enough to be up there challenging for titles, I don’t think I would be here.

“You play county football to get success and I am no different from anybody else, you enjoy it more when you feel like you have a chance of winning medals.”

And he added, “It’s amazing the feelings you get as the opening Championship game gets closer.

“I’ve been working since the start of October to get my fitness right for the Championship and I can’t wait to get started.”

17 May 2009; Dan Gordon and Kevin Duffin, left, Down, in action against Daryl Keenan, Fermanagh. Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship, First Round, Fermanagh v Down, Brewster Park, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh

FACT FILE

Name: Daryl Keenan
Age:  20Weight:  11st 5lbs
College:  UUJ
Club: Tempo
County: Fermanagh
Position:  Forward
Honours: SFL Div 2, 2 Minor Championships, 2 Minor Leagues, Colleges All Star 2008.

Q1: You are involved in so many teams between club, county and college.  How do you manage to sort out your schedule and keep it all going? Well I decided to give college commitments a back seat this year, and devote all my time to Fermanagh and the club.  I train every night of the week for either Fermanagh or Tempo, and I don’t mind that, it keeps me out of trouble!  It’s easy to sort out my schedule, I always make time and as a student I can have quite a lot of time on my hands!

Q2: Getting into an inter-county side at such an early age, when did you make your mark with Tempo?

Well I made my debut with Tempo at the age of 16, and that year we got relegated from Div 1, so it wasn’t an easy introduction to senior football.  We luckily managed to get promoted straight away and have thankfully remained in Div 1 ever since.  I was fortunate enough to join a senior team that had quality players such as Damien Kelly, Ryan Keenan, Declan Campbell and Conor Foy, and these players can only inspire you to better things.

Q3: You have played at this level for a few years, have you noticed much change in that time?

There are always changes at inter county level but with regards to training it is just like a professional set up, you have to train as many nights a week as possible, every other team is doing it so you have to do it.

Q4: Playing football with Jordanstown, Tempo and Fermanagh together with various other commitments, where do the studies fit in? Well to be honest the studies have to take a back seat (at times), although come exam time, I do knuckle down to some hard work, keeping well on top of coursework helps too.  Most of my time is spent in class during the day then I head down home in the evenings for training and back up again.  I especially enjoy training with my club, playing with people I’ve grown up with.  It’s all about juggling which can be hard going sometimes but the extra effort is worth it if you want to succeed.

Q5: What’s it like playing on the county team with your brother, surely a proud household?

Well it’s always nice to play with your brother, but at the same time we are team mates just wearing the same jersey and trying to do our best to win with Fermanagh.  Fermanagh is a tight knit team with everyone getting on really well together – there is a strong bond.

Q6: Fermanagh have had a poor league campaign this year, with manager Malachy O’Rourke calling the drop to Div 4 a ‘Nightmare’ what has gone wrong in the camp this year?

Obviously it was disappointing to get relegated from Div 3, but all the players and management are putting in a massive effort to get it right.  We have been training really hard but we haven’t translated that into the national league games.  It is hard to put your finger on what went wrong during the national league, but we have to accept that we just weren’t good enough in each game, we must eradicate the mistakes we made in those games to go forward and improve.

Q7: The Ulster Championship sees you take on Cavan in Breffni Park on 12 June in the Quarter Final.  How do you see the county doing this year?

We are looking no further than the Cavan game.  We are going to face a tough task heading to Breffni Park, as Cavan have had a good national league campaign behind them, and will be favourites to advance.  Fermanagh’s record in Breffni Park has been very poor, so it’s a massive challenge for the management and players to go up there and get a result.  All we will be concentrating on will be getting our own performance right, something that we have done in the national league and if we do that, then we will see what happens in the summer.

 

8 June 2008; Down's Benny Coulter celebrates after scoring his side's first goal. GAA Football Ulster Senior Championship Quarter-Final, Tyrone v Down, Healy Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone

By, Seán Ó Sirideán.FACTFILE:

Name: Benny Coulter
Age: 28
Ht: 6 ft
Weight:  13 stone
Club: Mayobridge
County: Down
 Position: Forward
Honours: 8 Down Championships, 5 Down leagues, all underage league and Championships from 12 through to Minor’s, 1 Ulster and all-Ireland Minor Championship with Down (1999), 1 Down, Ulster and all Ireland vocational schools, 3 railway cups and represented Ireland 10 times.
 

Who were your role models as a kid?

Mickey Linden, Tom O’ Hare

Down is synonymous for its football. Have you played all your life?

Yes, I started when I was six and I’m still playing so that’s 22 years and counting.

You have almost been an automatic selection for the Compromise Rules series being selected in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008; surely a great honour to be selected so regularly by such great managers but to represent your country must be amazing?

 Yes it is easily the best honour of my career along with the eight club Championships I won with Mayobridge. To get to play along with the best footballers on the island of Ireland is simply brilliant and the trip to Australia was fantastic, after all the football was over.

You made your senior debut in 1999 after winning Ulster and All Ireland minor championship medals, for such a young age how did you cope with the pressures of senior football and the step up required?

 I coped ok as there was about four or five of that minor team on that senior panel. It was good to have them there and off course Mickey Linden was still there so he helped me settle in ok and I haven’t looked back since.

You look sharp so far this year, have you been doing extra training over the winter months to keep in shape?

 Yes. I know now that I only have a couple of years left so I really am focused at doing all I can to try and keep at the top for as long as I can. Yes it’s getting harder every year but I hope I can play until I’m 30 at inter-county level at the very least.

Was the league final defeat to Armagh in HQ hard to take, especially after beating them in Newry a few weeks beforehand?

 To be honest it was pretty easy to move on as the older you get the more you know that the Championship is the one that counts, maybe years ago if it had of happened it would have taken me weeks to get over but at this stage of my carer I can move on and focus on what really matters.

 You face Donegal on the 30th of May in Ballybofey, how is preparations going for this match and what are your expectations this year with Down?

 Preparations are going well at the minute. We are training very hard over the next two weeks.  We aim to go out and give it all, every game we play in.

8 June 2008; Down's Benny Coulter celebrates after scoring his side's first goal. GAA Football Ulster Senior Championship Quarter-Final, Tyrone v Down, Healy Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone

James McCartan played for many years with distinction up front for Down, does James’s experience rub off on you?

 

 

 

 

 Yes James is great and he has a very good knowledge of the game, especially up front as he had plenty of years experience scoring points for county and club. As far as James goes as a manager, you just have to look at his record as he has done well wherever he has gone to manage.

 Who was the person who most influenced you as a footballer in your career to date?

 I would say family first and foremost.  I would also acknowledge the Mayobridge underage management teams who have mentored and nurtured me through the years coming up from under 10 through to the Minor’s. Also when Paddy O’ Rourke took over the management of Down he not only changed me as a footballer but he also changed me as a person for the better

 Who has been your most difficult opponent to date and why?

Far too many to mention them all although Armagh’s Andy Mallon and I always have great battles.

 
Given the opportunity, what is the one thing you would change in the GAA?

 I would open up Croke Park to everybody.  All county’s and clubs all over the island, not just the Dubs!

 Finally Benny, a big year ahead of you on and off the field, do you have any other interests outside of the GAA?

 Well other than Liverpool football club whom I follow and support I have a young child who I try to spend every spare minute with. Every minute I spend with him is just an amazing time in itself.

Paddy Cunningham

By Francis McNally

SHARPSHOOTER Paddy Cunningham is the epitome of Liam Bradley’s new look Antrim – dedicated, focused, ambitious.

However, while Antrim fans are hoping for another summer of success, the Saffrons captain has his mind fixed firmly on the Championship opener against Tyrone.

Q How is the mood in the Antrim camp at the minute?

It’s been good, positive, we are focused now on training. Obviously we have had a few setbacks with the league final defeat, but the main thing was getting promoted.

It was disappointing to lose a league final, but we have have already moved on.

The training level and intensity has increased and we are focused on the next three weeks and the Championship which is what it’s all about. People are now fighting for their places and training really hard.

Q Antrim have exceeded expectations over this last 18 months, is the belief and mentality there to beat Tyrone? 

Yes, there would be no point to the hard training we’ve been putting ourselves through if we thought we couldn’t beat them.

We got to an Ulster final last year and ran Kerry very close. Tyrone are a quality side with a team of stars and individuals that will need to be tightly marked. 

We drove them very close last year in a game in which we started slowly. We are under no illusions that this will be a tough game, we gave them too much respect last year.  

This year hopefully we can get ourselves right and hit form on the day, so we’ll wait and see.

Q Championship Sunday-will playing at Casement be a big advantage for you? 

Of course it will. Having that home support makes a huge difference.

Having played there so often we all know the ground so well. We’re all used to playing there now. We will still be up against it, Tyrone have some fantastic players.

Q You’ve been in the panel a few years now, has much has changed in recent times?

Things have become far more professional.  Years ago we didn’t take it seriously enough. We didn’t understand how important training on our own time was and we paid the price for that. Now we have our own training programmes and train in our own time and that makes a big difference, we take it a lot more seriously now. High standards are expected. Training away from the County team and working on our own shows the commitment we now have, hopefully that commitment will be rewarded.

Q Antrim’s fitness, tactics and discipline have all improved dramatically- how will Antrim take it to the next level in the Championship?

We have three weeks of hard work left and we will work harder than ever, we face a major obstacle in Tyrone and we are not thinking past that.

Our management team have worked hard and are credited for bringing a new professionalism to the team. The whole backroom team is an excellent set up now and the players have a different mindset and the self belief.

Q Will having the St Galls players back make a big difference?

Without a shadow of a doubt. There are nine players in the Antrim squad and three or four will be in the starting line up.  It can only be helpful in team selection and there is obviously more competition for places. These guys have played on the big days, and more important they have brought success and are used to success and this is something they can bring to the team, a winning mentality.

Q Will Michael McCann be playing up front with you?

He has played midfield all season so I can’t see that changing. Competition for places on the forward line is intense – it’s really up to Liam Bradley

Q Will you beat Tyrone?

Hopefully!

The funny season.

"Im tellin ya Liam, he's gettin an extension to the house, a car, and they are throwing in a few barrels of diesel too"

No county matches, no championship, no training; just club games and brawl investigations.

In October, November and December the GAA goes through a period of introspection so thank god for the managerial merry-go-round, at least we’re guaranteed a laugh.

Up and down the country there has been resignations, recriminations and finger-pointing all played out in the full glare of the media.

And with players flexing their muscles and clubs all wanting a say, I’m amazed that anybody would put themselves forward as a county manager.

They put themselves through ‘sham’ processes, are interviewed by panels of 25 and then when they get the job, the public really stick the boot in.

We love to gossip in Ireland. We love to know what our neighbour is doing and we love it even better if there is a wee bit of scandal in the air.

In the last two months I have been given chapter and verse on the alleged deals agreed by a number of county managers.

As the weeks have gone by the amounts have risen and the perks have grown beyond all recognition, and to be perfectly honest I’ve had enough of it.

Now I want to be clear about this. I am not on first name terms with any senior county manager, I have not been party to any processes involved in appointments and I do not know what contracts have been agreed between managers and various county boards.

To be honest I don’t really care if a county manager is getting paid or not – what really frustrates me is that the whole process is done behind closed doors and the result is that rumours and innuendo fill the gaps which reflects badly on the Association and leaves the reputations of the people involved in tatters.

I want the GAA to set out rules and regulations about how these appointments should be conducted and more importantly I would suggest that county boards are open and transparent about who has been approached, interviewed and appointed.

However, I would go even further than that by insisting that managers become paid employees of county boards.

As a paid employee, they would be expected to take on development, coaching and public relations duties as directed by the county board.

The salary level could be set by Croke Park and standard across the country. A manager in Wicklow could earn just as much as a manager in Armagh but no-one could earn more than the stipulated amount.

I understand that the whole ‘payment’ issue may be a step too far for GAA die-hards who want to stay true to the amateur/volunteer ethos but county boards and provincial councils already employ numerous development officers and coaching staff.

They are out there in the community, spreading the GAA gospel, raising standards and increasing interest in the games.

Surely it makes sense that a county board and the wider GAA family gets to make the best use of the skills and profile that a manager enjoys but in an open, transparent and accountable way.

Many committed county managers already give up time to visit schools, speak at events and help out at coaching clinics. Think of the people they could inspire and influence if they were doing that every day.

I don’t believe that by taking these steps the amateur ethos of our games would be eroded, in fact, it may actually have a positive impact.