WHILE pondering what to write for my annual football review, I always take a wee look back at what I wrote the previous year just to get the creative juices flowing.
I was amazed to see that in my very first few paragraphs last year I spoke about how we all got it wrong as pundits in tipping massive favourites Dublin to sail off with another All-Ireland success and I also mentioned that one of the finest forwards in our game Benny Coulter had decided to retire from football.
So I think it only fitting that I should start this year’s review by stating that Dublin are worthy All-Ireland champions this year and that rumours of Benny Coulter’s retirement plans have been put on hold as new Down manager Eamonn Burns has coaxed the marquee goal getter to once again don the red and black in another tilt at glory.
Dublin are deserving champions and will be favourites for many years to come. The fact that Stephen Cluxton, one of their most influential players, had one of his worst games in the final against Kerry and Bernard Brogan was equally as ineffective and yet they still had a bit to spare against the Kingdom really speaks volumes about the strength and quality of players at Jim Gavin’s disposal.
While Christmas is always renowned as a time for goodwill and peace to all men (and a few women) and, I would love to look through the year’s action through rose-tinted spectacles, there unfortunately wouldn’t be many moments of sheer delight to write about as the action was mediocre to say the least.
I hate to be the GAA Scrooge but most headlines this year involved the new buzz word – sledging. Diving and feigning injury also reached ridiculous and farcical levels. It was ludicrous to see that when one county from Ulster were perceived to be the main transgressors, they were demonised by all sections of the media while the All-Ireland champions had a player who openly participated in these dark arts and yet was rewarded with an Allstar.
We also witnessed a rise in player power this year. While there once was a time when the manager and county board were seen to be the only real show in town, player power, while always prevalent in years gone by, has never quite shown its hand as strongly as it has in the last few months.
Teams who have made it to the All-Ireland football semi-final and All-Ireland hurling final have shown the door to their respective mangers in a unanimous vote of no confidence. This situation now puts even more pressure on the incoming manager to deliver but, more importantly, on the players to produce now that they have practically put the new management in place.
While I was not privy to all the goings on in the Galway hurling and Mayo football panels this year, I genuinely feel that both management teams were treated poorly.
MANAGER OF THE YEAR
One manager who didn’t win anything really apart from promotion from Division Three and yet was seen to have a hugely successful year was Fermanagh’s Pete McGrath, whose popularity and respect as one of the greatest managers in the game grew considerably.
The Erne county were applauded off the field after losing to Dublin in the All-Ireland quarter final, deserved recognition after what was a year that put considerable pride back into the Fermanagh jersey.
However, if I was to pick my manager of the year it would still have to go to Jim Gavin. I know that many people will say that it’s too easy for the Dublin manager as he has so much talent and resources at his disposal, but you only have to look at Louis van Gaal or the now departed Jose Mourinho this year in the Premier League who regularly have untold wealth and talent at their disposal and yet are a million miles away from a league title.
Gavin had to produce this year and sometimes being the favourites, especially after losing out last year, can be a hard cross to bear and yet he and Dublin are champions for the third time in five years.
In a game where managerial scrutiny and criticism has reached new levels, Gavin was able to produce the goods and motivate his team in a quiet, dignified manner which he deserves huge credit for.
OVER-REACTION OF THE YEAR
My over-reaction of the year award funnily enough doesn’t go to Tiernan McCann after the ‘rufflegate’ affair against Monaghan in the All-Ireland quarter final, but to the Cork County Board who argued that Padraig Hughes’s awarding of a dubious penalty to Kerry in their Munster final encounter robbed their team of an All-Ireland semi-final place.
Now I do agree that it wasn’t a penalty, but I hate to be the bearer of some blunt news to all in Cork but the reason you didn’t get to the last four probably had more to do with the fact that Kildare beat you by eight points in the Qualifiers.
Sometimes the truth is hard to accept and I would sincerely love to believe that my O level results were so poor because of the poor teaching I received but I have since reconciled myself that they were probably more to do with the fact that I did absolutely no work for them.
GRINCH OF THE YEAR
My least sought after award is my Grinch of the Year award, which was won by Willie Frazer last year. This year it goes to anyone in our association who has anything to do with policing disciplinary committees because they are about as effective as an ashtray on a motorbike.
How in the name of all that is good and holy can we have any respect for a committee that disciplines a player after receiving a red card only to find out that he will face none of the sanctions imposed because their respective county boards can get him off by employing some high-powered solicitor which makes our association look weak and toothless.
I am not having a go at the county players who now know that they can effectively go unpunished, but at the whole situation that is a total shambles and must be rectified because it is a big Achilles heel.
SCORE OF THE YEAR
My score of the year was probably the easiest to pick and while the hurling fraternity were practically salivating over Joe Canning’s wondrous strike in the Leinster final against Kilkenny, I honestly believe this score was easily a match for it.
With just over 10 minutes remaining against Galway in the All-Ireland Qualifier at Croke Park, six Donegal players combined for a brilliant team goal that killed the game. Paul Durcan’s kick-out was broken down at midfield and picked up by Odhrán Mac Niallais. The centre-forward found Colm McFadden just outside the 40 who then launched a ball towards Michael Murphy.
Donegal’s talisman perfectly touched the ball down into the path of the on-rushing Ryan McHugh (above) who coolly finished past Brian O’Donoghue in the Galway goal. This score was a thing of absolute beauty as no player from Galway touched the ball from the kick-out until it nestled in the back of the net.
McFadden’s 40-yard precision pass was sublime, as was Ryan McHugh’s finish but the athleticism and deft touch of Michael Murphy, meaning that McHugh did not even have to break stride ensured this score will live long in the memory and encapsulated everything that is good, but not seen often enough in our game.
COMEBACK OF THE YEAR
My comeback of the year award goes to Fermanagh whose attitude and ‘never-say-die’ spirit was never as evident as against Roscommon in the Qualifiers.
They looked dead and buried midway through the second half only to pluck victory from the jaws of defeat, led by the enigmatic Sean Quigley who once left the Rossies reeling just like Sligo had done in the Connacht campaign in a year that will be remembered as a Championship when the underdog well and truly bared its teeth.
GAME OF THE YEAR
Game of the year unfortunately was not as easy to pick and I was leaning towards the Crossmaglen- Scotstown match in the Ulster senior club final, but I know if I give any more credit to Cross in my column then the half of Mullaghbawn that is still speaking to me probably won’t anymore.
I was also going to award it to a hurling game after I witnessed the sheer brilliance of the All-Ireland semi-final between Tipperary and Galway but have decided to keep it in the footballing family purely because it’s my column and I can do what I want.
Again this imaginary award goes to an unusual pairing as Westmeath won their first ever Championship match against their greatest rivals and infinitely more salubrious neighbours from the Royal county of Meath.
This game had everything with five goals and 37 points scored in the most expansive game of football witnessed in years. There were more plot changes and twists than a Columbo movie and, to top it all, once again the underdog triumphed after an amazing comeback.
My biggest upset of the year award had quite a few teams involved and Sligo very nearly won it with their massive result over Roscommon in the Connacht championship but my award goes to a team I had very little faith at the beginning of the Championship.
When Antrim travelled to Portlaoise in the All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers, avoiding a drubbing would have been seen by many as a success of sorts. But the Saffrons had read a totally different script and even after falling 1-7 to 0-1 down in the first half, they came roaring back and won the game by two points, providing a much needed boost and recognition for all of Frank Fitzsimmon’s hard work during the year.
GAA PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
My much sought after gaa personality of the year award unbelievably goes to a hurler (just so they won’t feel isolated) who has proven to be an inspiration to all on and off the pitch.
Just four months after being diagnosed with testicular cancer and after undergoing surgery, Noel McGrath (below) was named as one of the substitutes on the Tipperary team to face Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final.
This game will be remembered for so many reasons as it was an absolute classic that had everything, including one of the best forward displays in recent times, with Seamus Callanan scoring three goals and nine points and still ending up on the losing side. But for many it will be remembered for what sport is expected to represent as we saw Noel McGrath introduced into the fray to a standing ovation from both sets of supporters.
Unfortunately sport and the fairytale ending didn’t oblige as McGrath was on the losing side that afternoon but he and hurling were the real winners as he made the greatest comeback this year.
The sight of Anthony Cunningham the opposing manager talking to him just after the final whistle sent out all the right messages about what the GAA stands for. So on that highly positive note, it only remains for to me to wish all in Gaa land a very happy and healthy Christmas and a prosperous new year.
I’m off now to buy ’Er Indoors a special gift that is reflective of 20 years of devoted marriage, but like what do you get the person who really has everything she ever dreamed of?
I hope there’s late night shopping in B&Q! Ho Ho Ho!
