James Masters, Cork. GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Quarter-Final, Cork v Kildare, Croke Park, Dublin.

One to Watch-James Masters (Cork Footballer)

Position: Full-Forward

Age: 27

Club: Nemo Rangers

Occupation: Garda Síochána

Club Honours- 4 Cork Titles

3 Munster Titles

County Honours- 1 Minor Munster

1 Minor All-Ireland

1 Munster Under-21

2 Senior Munster

1 Senior National League Divison 2

James Masters is a talented forward who showed his natural ability at a young age when he played both hurling and football at Coláiste Chríost Rí. Indeed he was the star player in 2001 scoring nine points to see his side beat St Colman’s College to win the County College’s Title.

Although Masters joined the Senior Nemo side in 2000 he had to wait to make an impact due to the fact that Joe Kavanagh and Colin Corkery both played in his favoured position. Masters featured as a substitute in 2002 when Nemo beat Monaleen of Limerick 4-15 to 0-6 in the Munster Club Championship. He missed out on a place in the All-Ireland winning side of 2003. By 2005 Masters had established himself in Nemo’s Full-Forward line winning his first County Senior Championship medal and he also picked up his second Munster Club medal. The club made it four County Championship in a row in 2008, with Masters collecting his third Munster medal in 2007.

Masters first made an impact in the County’s Minor team in 2000 when he captained them to both a Munster and All-Ireland title. Cork overcame arch-rivals Kerry in the Munster final 1-13 to 0-14. Masters had the honour of lifting the Tommy Markin Cup when his side defeating Mayo 2-12 to 0-13.

Masters also collected a Munster title with Cork Under-21s in 2001when they defeated Limerick 1-12 to 0-8.

He made his Senior debut in 2005 and lined out in his first Munster Final losing to Kerry 1-11 to 0-11. In 2006 Cork took on Kerry once again in the Munster Final and drew 0-10 to 0-10, the replay saw a freasher Cork side defeat Kerry 1-12 to 0-9 and Masters was the hero scoring 1-7. Cork lost their title to Kerry in 2007 losing by two points but inflicted revenge the following year coming back from eight points down to win by five. Kerry seemed to be cruising to victory at half-time when they held an eight point lead but Cork held them to only three scores in the second-half to seal victory.

Masters has also represented his province in 2005 reaching the semi-final stage only to be defeated by Ulster.

Ross O’Carroll-Dublin Hurler

Club: Kilmacud Crokes

Position: Centre Half-Forward

A talented hurler Ross should prove a great attribution to the Dublin side. He helped to guide Dublin to the Leinster Minor Hurling Championship title in 2005 scoring a point in the final. He was a key figure in the Under-21 side that defeated Offaly in 2007 to win the Under-21 Leinster Hurling Championship for the first time since 1972.

He made his Senior debut in 2007 against Wexford scoring 1-01.

A dual player Ross was part of the Kilmacud side that won the Senior All-Ireland Club Championship in 2008. His younger brother Rory is also a gifted dual-star.

Senior Debut: Dublin vs Wexford 2007

Accolades: 1 Leinster Minor (Hurling)

1 Leinster Under-21 (Hurling)

1 Dublin Minor (Football)

1 Dublin Senior (Football)

1 Leinster Senior (Football)

1 All-Ireland Senior Club (Football)

Tommy Walsh-Kerry Footballer

Age:21

Height: 6ft 4”

Weight: 16.5 stone

Occupation: Student

Club: Kerins O’Rahilly’s

Position: Midfield/Full-Forward

Tommy Walsh is the son of former Kerry star Sean Walsh. Tommy is a gifted and talented footballer who can play either midfield or full-forward. It has been in the full-forward position that Kerry have deployed the ‘big-man’ whose strength under the high ball, accuracy and speed makes him every defenders worst nightmare.

He was a major player for the Kerry side who reached the All-Ireland Minor Final in 2006. He was named the All-Stars Young Player of the Year in 2008.

1^st League Appearance: Kerry vs Limerick 2007

1^st Championship Appearance: Kerry vs Clare 2008

Accolades: 1 Senior All-Ireland

1 Under-21 All-Ireland

1 Munster Minor

Blood, sweat and tears

Marty McGrath on his search for that elusive Ulster title

FERMANAGH badly needed a decent run in the Ulster Championship.

After the highs of last year and the Ulster final against Armagh there was always a strong possibility that the team might suffer a bit of a slump.

The problem was that the early season slump became a slide and then it became a crisis which saw them relegated from Division Two.

The omens weren’t good heading into the preliminary round game against Down but the team pulled together to dig out a crucial victory.

“We were disappointed to lose the final last year, naturally enough,” said captain Martin McGrath.

“We were even more disappointing by the manner in which we lost the final.

“So we needed to get off to a good start to make sure that last year wasn’t a flash in the pan.

“It was disappointing to get relegated. It was not what we wanted but there was no panic. We lost the last few games narrowly and we also were carrying a few injuries.

“We’ve focused on the Championship and hopefully we’ll be fresh and ready to do well.”

Unfortunately, the Erne bandwagon never managed to pick up any momentum and hit the rocks against Cavan.

It leaves the 27-year-old McGrath still looking for that Ulster title and who knows how many more chances remain?

Marty, as everyone in Fermanagh will tell you, is a former All-Star and Ulster Player of the Year (2004). A rep for the Quinn Group, he has played both midfield (his favoured position) and centre-back for his county.

He has represented Ireland in the International Rules series and this year he has the added responsibility of being Fermanagh’s captain.

The St Joseph’s Ederney clubman has been a regular county player for almost a decade and he still savours every chance he gets to play football although he doesn’t get to play for his club side as often as he would like.

In many ways it’s not surprising that he still enjoys the opportunity to compete. Over the years McGrath has had to deal with a heart problem and a cancer scare.

He’s suffered more than his fair share of injuries and it’s helped him appreciate the basic act of getting out onto the field to play.

“Sometimes it can be a bit demoralising to be held back by injury but you just have to keep going,” he added.

“I suppose when you get knocks playing county football it’s the club scene that suffers. Sometimes trying to do both just puts too much wear and tear on the body.

“I enjoy any chance I get to play and I still look forward to it.

“I’m 27 years of age now and I don’t know how much longer I’ll be playing for so you have to take every opportunity you can get.

“I’m playing for nine years or so now without a county medal to show for it. There’s been a lot of final defeats. I’d love to get a medal and that’s why I enjoy getting out there to play.”

McGrath played midfield against Down in he preliminary round, picking up a point as Fermanagh progressed but like the game itself, he came in for some criticism after the final whistle with Down boss Ross Carr accusing him of diving following a push from Aidan Carr.

The Fermanagh star brushed aside the incident which saw Carr red carded and insisted that he wasn’t too concerned by the adverse publicity.

“It’s part and parcel of modern game and sometimes you use it as a motivation,” he said.

“Fermanagh has come in for a bit of criticism (after beating Down) I suppose we can use that to motivate us, we can disprove those accusations.”

With the Ulster Championship as a whole, also coming in for some heavy criticism, particularly after the Derry/Monaghan game the midfielder offered some insights into the ‘win at all costs mentality’

“Players are training all year. They are out in the long dark nights and at the end of the day you want to win your games,” he said.

“You also want to be involved in games that are good and exciting. If it’s a high scoring game and you come out on the right end it’s great to be involved but if it’s a high scoring game and you’re beaten it’s disappointing.

“If it’s one of the best games ever and you lose you’re left thinking that it is of no value to you.

“Now, looking at it from the punters point of view, they want to see good games and they are there to support you and be entertained but generally come championship time, it’s winning that counts.”

On the same theme, McGrath disputed some claims that the experimental rules, ditched after the national league trials, would somehow have contributed to a better spectacle in Ulster.

“In general I wasn’t a fan of the experimental rules,” he said.

“I think that the small teams were at a disadvantage because if they lost a player or two they didn’t have the depth in their squads to replace them whereas the ‘bigger’ teams had a larger pool to choose from.

“People kept referring to the Dublin/Tyrone game and how great a game it was but there wasn’t much tackling and it wasn’t at championship level

“I don’t know if the rules would have worked because the intensity is so much less in the league than it is come championship time.

“The rules that are there at the minute are adequate if they are used consistently.

“I always thought the experimental rules put far more pressure on the referee which wasn’t fair because it was a hard enough job in the first place.

“A referee generally is looking to get through a game without being seen but with the experimental rules the whole talk was all about referees.”

CHARLIE Vernon has been described as Armagh’s natural successor to Paul McGrane. A hardworking midfielder, he strives to get forward and play a central attacking role at every available opportunity.

Charlie’s life is Gaelic football and in particular Armagh inter-county football.

The quiet, shy and unassuming figure off the field is quite the contrast to his on-field reputation as a hardworking and uncompromising midfielder who loves the chance to play for his beloved Orchard County.

Charlie believes he got his passion for sport and Gaelic games from his parents, both school teachers.

“Sport in general was very big in our house, my parents are both PE teachers so that made a big impact on me. John Morrison took me for Under 8’s in Armagh Harps so my first GAA memory is standing in Mitre boots chasing after a football,” he said.

While Vernon has excelled in the Gaelic football world he has also received attention from the world of Australian Rules football attracted by his ample ability and athleticism.

“Ricky Nixon (Australian sports agent) contacted me a few months ago about attending a trial down in Dublin.  At 22 years of age you would nearly be too old to start a transitional period such as learning the new rules of the game and getting comfortable with the code,” added Charlie.

“I attended the trials purely out of curiosity and to see what kind of deal they had to offer.”

While Charlie is only concerned about Armagh at the moment he did express his desire to play football on a full time basis.

“I suppose it is a lifetime ambition of mine to be a professional sportsman.  To do what I love on a full time basis would be a real dream come true.  So if things go ok for me when I return to the Armagh team I might be attending trials over in Australia.  As it stands I am keeping my options open,” he said.

Charlie missed Armagh’s Ulster Championship defeat at the hands of Tyrone courtesy of a shocking jaw injury suffered during a challenge match against Dublin in early May.

“I initially thought I had lost a tooth as I could feel the void in my gum.  When I got in to the changing room it was only then that I realised that my jaw was broken,” he said.

“The first thought that came to my mind was that I was going to miss the first round of the Ulster Championship against Tyrone and that made me very angry.”

In light of the injury, it would be understandable if Charlie agreed with Mickey Harte’s analysis that challenge matches are unnecessary and dangerous.

However, he feels that the best preparation for any game is always playing.

“I would say that in the run up to Championship football a team needs to prepare themselves for the challenges that will be enviably be thrown at them at this level,” he said.

“There really is no point in wrapping yourself up in cotton wool.  In terms of ‘In House’ games they can be even more furious than real challenge games as a lot of the boys are competing against each other for places.

“At the end of the day you can get injured stepping off a bus or walking down the street so in my opinion challenge matches are there to help us prepare.”

Obviously Charlie was devastated to miss the game against Tyrone but he believes that Armagh have enough strength and depth to cope with his absence.

“In Armagh we believe it is a team game and we are prepared for scenarios like this whereby players can slip in to different positions,” he said.

“Injuries can come at unfortunate times and that is why we have such a strong panel so I have no doubt we can cover all bases no matter who is out injured.”

The midfielder also publicly backed manager Peter McDonnell who has endured a tough time since his appointment.

“I have had experiences with Peter McDonnell through club and county football and he is the best man for the job,” he said.

“He took on a job that perhaps a lot of other managers would have shied away from due to the massive success that Joe Kernan had with the county.  Peter took on a ‘poisoned chalice’ so to speak and he has massive respect amongst all the players involved with the county.”

Armagh have been written off in recent times with some pundits calling them a ‘spent force’ particularly after the defeat by Tyrone, but Charlie feels the Orchard boys could have the last laugh.

“People were writing off Armagh when we were getting to back to back All-Ireland finals and we were written off in 2002 when we lifted the Sam Maguire so in that respect we are comfortable with the title,” he said.

“If truth be told every county panel is in transition but if you look at the age profile of the Armagh panel the average age is around 23-25 years of age with a lot of players under that age which is only a positive thing and very encouraging.”

That said the county have lost a number of hugely influential players like Paul McGrane, Oisín McConville and Paddy McKeever to retirement.

“Players of that calibre would be a big loss to any team in the country.  They were quality players but also quality people off the field,” he said.

“They gave great encouragement to the younger lads on the team and personally I am very grateful to them for the lessons they have given me.  At the end of the day it’s the boys in the panel now who have to stand in the retired players’ boots and do the best that they can.”

He is still suffering some discomfort with the metal pins in his jaw but Charlie is looking forward to pulling on an Armagh jersey again.

“We want to win medals and silverware.  While I will be on the sidelines hopefully for just one match I will be kicking and catching every ball with the lads on the pitch,” he said.

18 February 2009; Wicklow manager Mick O'Dwyer

Player Honours:
4 All-Ireland Senior Medals

8 National Football League Championships

12 Munster Senior Football Championships

1 Railway Cup

3 Kerry Football Championships (as player-coach of Waterville)

Manager Roll of Honour:

8 All-Ireland Football Titles

3 All-Ireland Under-21 Titles

6 Railway Cup Titles

2 Leinster Senior Tiles with Kildare and Laois

1 Leinster Under-21 Championship Title with Kildare

3 Kerry Senior Football Championship Titles with Waterville as player-coach

Mick first played for Kerry at Minor level in 1954 and made his Senior debut versus Carlow in 1956 in the League. His Championship debut came in 1957 against Waterford.

In 1966 Mick broke both his legs and retired from the game for two years, he came back in 1968 and lost out to Down in the All-Ireland Final. He was the top scorer in the game between 1969 and 1971.He retired in 1974 having won every major in the game, his final game being a challenge match against Silgo.

He was appointed Kerry manager in 1975 and spent 12 years in charge of the Kingdom. During his 12 years they played in 10 All-Ireland Finals winning eight. Five of his players won eight All-Ireland Medals and 71 players won All-Stars. He retired as manager in 1986.

He became Kildare manager in 1991 and stayed until 1994, in 1997 he returned for a second spell and it was during this time as Kildare manager he helped to lead them to a Leinster title and an All-Ireland Final, they lost out to Galway. In 2002 he retired as Kildare manager. The following year O’Dwyer became Laois manager in 2002 and he lead them to a Leinster title in 2003. 2006 was his last season in charge of Laois.

He became Wicklow manager winning the O’Byrne Cup in his debut as manager as they defeated Carlow. In 2009 they defeated Fermanagh 0-17 vs 1-11, O’Dwyer now beat every other county as manager.

John Reynolds, Offaly, in action against Dermot Earley, Kildare.

Posted in Edition 6 of Gaelic Star: September 2009

Honours:

2 Leinster Titles

1998 All-Star

1 Railway Cup Medal

8 International Rules Caps

3 Kildare Senior Football Titles

Earley made his debut for Kildare in 1997 in the three game series against Meath. He was in inspirational form helping Kildare to the Leinster Senior Football Championship over Offaly in Portlaoise.

He was in great form for the Lillywhites helping them to the All-Ireland Quarter-Final and despite causing Tyrone problems he could not spur them to victory as Kildare suffered a two point defeat (0-16 vs 1-11).

Age: 32 (22^nd May 1977)

Height: 6-2

Place of Birth: Rotuma, Fiji

Club: Na Piarsaigh

Position: Left Half-Back (Hurling and Gaelic)

Profession: Bank Official

Represented Club: 2005-Present

Represented Cork Hurlers: 1996-Present

Represented Cork Footballers: 1999-2001

Honours:

1 Croke Cup Medal

1 Dr Harty Cup Medal

3 Minor County Medals

1 Minor All-Ireland Hurling Medal

2 Munster Minor Medals

1 Under-21 Munster Medal

2 Under-21 All-Ireland Medals

1 Senior County Medal

3 Senior All-Ireland Medals

15 Munster Medals

3 All-Stars

1 Munster Football Medal

1 Railway Cup Medal (Munster Footballers)

1 Railway Cup Medal (Munster Hurlers)

Selected for Irish International Rules Team 2004 and 2005

Selected for Irish Hurling/Shinty International Rules Team 2008

Texaco Player of the Year in 2004

Sean Og O hAilpin was born in Rotuma, Fiji and his family moved to Sydney in Australia when he was three years-old. It was in Sydney that O hAilpin began to gain an interest in sport particularly Rugby League. The family moved to Ireland in 1988 and settled in Blarney, Cork.

He was educated at the Gaelcholaiste section of the famous North Monastery Secondary School, becoming fluent in Irish. It was here at North Mon that O hAilpin was introduced to Gaelic Games quickly becoming a key player in the schools Senior Hurling team. He picked up a Dr Harty Cup winners medal and in 1994 won an All-Ireland Colleges Medal as his side defeated St Marys of Galway 1-10 to 1-06.

After school O hAilpin went to Dublin City University gaining a BSC in Finance Computing and Enterpreneurship, he then went to work for Ulster Bank.

O hAilpin first represented Cork at Minor level in 1994 and won a Munster title, the same year Cork made it into the final only to be beaten by Galway 2-10 vs 1-11. The next year saw Cork defend their Munster crown and at the second time of asking they brought home the All-Ireland title, defeating Kilkenny in the final. O hAilpin then moved up to Under-21 level winning a Munster title in his first season, once again Galway beat them in the All-Ireland final. In 1997 Cork got the better of Galway in the All-Ireland Under-21 final defeating them 3-11 to 0-13. This win was Corks 100^th All-Ireland title at all levels.

He made his Senior debut in 1996 in the Munster championship coming on as a sub for Mark Mullins against Limerick. Since then O hAlipin has only missed one championship game for Cork, he was suspended.

In 1999 he was called up to the Cork Football playing in and winning a Munster football medal as they beat Kerry 2-10 to 2-04 in the final. He also lined out in the All-Ireland final losing to Meath 1-11 to 1-08.

In 2000 the hurlers regained their Munster title but lost out to Offaly in the All-Ireland Semi-Final. In 2001 O hAilpin suffered a severed knee-cap in a car crash. He fought his way back to full fitness and helped Cork to a Munster title in 2003; it was O hAilpins third Senior Munster Medal. The following year Cork denied Kilkenny three All-Irelands in a row and stopped them moving ahead in the All-Ireland roll of honour. O hAilpin picked up his second All-Star.

O hAilpin captained Cork to the Liam McCarthy Cup in 2005, as they defeated Galway 1-21 to 1-16. The following year Cork reached their third All-Ireland final, this time Kilkenny denied them a three in a row. 2007 was a bad season for Cork as they were beat by Waterford in the Munster Semi-Final. In 2008 they lost to Tipperary by six points in the Munster Semi-Final. In the All-Ireland Quarter-Final Cork came back from a poor first-half to secure a two point victory (2-19 to 2-17). They lost to Kilkenny in the Semi-Final; it was the first time the two sides met outside of the final.

In 2009 Cork suffered defeat at the hands of Tipperary, a strong and dependable half-back O hAilpin had the better of Noel McGrath. His influence helped to get Cork back into contention but Tipp held on for a three point victory. They defeated Offaly in the qualifiers but they failed to see off a talented Galway side losing 0-15 to 1-19.