JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.
Shop your local oneills.com
“You are going to see a guy who will sacrifice himself for this team because he knows when it comes down to it, you are gonna do the same thing for him. That's a team, gentlemen. . .”
If you read the pundits, the life of the modern intercounty GAA players is a tale of ordinary madness. Over analysed, underpraised, over criticised, underappreciated. Pulling on that county jersey is still the pinnacle for every young Gael.
While most of us were polishing off the remainders of turkey from the Christmas fee, these lads, the footsoldiers of the GAA were out doing what they do. Dogging along, drilling, small sided games, doing their gym work. The spectre of an early national league start this week hanging over them.
And if they ever started to doubt their sanity, they only have to look right or left. Clowns to the left, jokers to the right and here they are stuck in the middle. But they know that deep down under the clabber, slabber and general chatter about county players, that the player beside you will have the same reservoir to draw on when it comes down to it. Maybe he has different demons to slay and different voices to calm.
Who knows what goes through Cillian O’Connor’s head when he moves around a dirt track in December or what Mark Lynch in Derry feels as he returns to the fray once more. There’s no guarantees of getting games either, Derry GAA’s Liam McGoldrick explained to Cahair O’Kane in the Irish News how sitting on the bench is a rite of passage. But he added that it’s worth it for the enjoyment of a five or six year career at the top.
When you see the likes of Sean Cavanagh and Michael Fennelly hang up the intercounty boots, you wonder will their likes be seen again. Men who go, go and go again for the county jersey. Years of experience and achievement at the highest level. Likewise Mark Breheny, who called a halt to his17-year career last week, the longest in the GAA, less silverware perhaps, but no less committed.
This Sunday sees the league get fully underway. The lights are glamorous but damn cold. A Sunday, crisp and fresh, the hot smell of soup hangs in the air. If burgers and roasted flesh are the smell of summer, then vegetable soup in a Styrofoam cup is the stuff of winter. There’s an Irish Patron saint of soup somewhere omnipresent in grounds the length and breadth of country.
Don’t be surprised if Donegal hit the ground running in Killarney, Declan Bonner has the bit between his teeth and he has Odhrán Mac Niallais back in the team after opting out of the county panel last year, although his return debut only lasted a dozen minutes before he picked up the dreaded black card. MacNialais goaled in Donegal’s high scoring win over Monaghan when they outscored their opponents 4-17 to 0-19. How times have changed with those teams racking up 40 scores in the middle of January! Paddy McBrearty and Nathan Mullins were like men possessed against Armagh at the weekend. It could get interesting.
Tyrone travel to Galway and it will be interesting to see if there is continued evidence of the Hand of Stephen O’Neill in their forward play. With Conor McAliskey back after a cruciate injury Tyrone surely have more firepower this season, but can they use it against the emerging Tribesmen?
In Division 2 we were intrigued to watch fly on the wall footage of Kevin McStay exhorting his charges during the summer. It will be fascinating to see if they can continue their progress which stalled mid summer. In Divison 3 the most interesting managerial match up in the lower reaches sees Rory Gallaher return to his native Fermanagh aided and abetted by Tyrone legend Ricey McMenamin. Known to strike the fear of God in himself when he looked in the mirror, McMenamin will no doubt have the Fermanagh men reaching inside to examine their souls. They showed glimpses last week of a less kind, less gentle side with fuel to burn and roads to drive. Ricey, let’s be having you son. Also in Ulster we expect Antrim to make headway under Lenny Harbinson the St Galls’ All Ireland winning manager.
Hurling up a storm on Sunday will be Clare and Tipperary. Neither side can be satisfied with the way 2017 ended and despite some squad departures, Clare still have a reservoir of talent. With Tony Kelly having avoided the pressure of a Club campaign into the winter, the spring could be bright. We anticipate a tough day for Antrim in Pearse Stadium, too early in the year for them to face the All Ireland champions. For Galway it’s a way to ease themselves off the sofa. It will show Antrim the standard they aspire to.
Allianz Football League Roinn 1
Kerry 14:00 Donegal
Monaghan 14:00 Mayo
Galway 14:30 Tyrone
Allianz Football League Roinn 2
Louth 14:00 Down
Roscommon 14:30 Meath
Allianz Football League Roinn 3
Fermanagh 14:00 Wexford
Offaly 14:00 Longford
Armagh 14:00 Sligo
Derry 14:30 Westmeath
Allianz Football League Roinn 4
Antrim 14:00 Leitrim
Wicklow 14:30 Waterford
Allianz Hurling League Roinn 1
Clare 14:00 Tipperary
Waterford 14:00 Wexford
Allianz Hurling League Roinn 1B
Galway 12:30 Antrim
Limerick 14:00 Laois
Allianz Hurling League Roinn 2A
London 13:00 Kerry
Kildare 14:00 Meath
Carlow 14:00 Westmeath
Allianz Hurling League Roinn 2B
Wicklow 12:30 Armagh
Derry 12:30 Down
Mayo 14:00 Donegal
Allianz Hurling League Roinn 3A
Roscommon 12:30 Louth
Tyrone 13:00 Warwickshire
Longford 14:00 Monaghan
Allianz Hurling League Roinn 3B
Sligo 14:00 Leitrim
Lancashire 14:00 Fermanagh