If you think after a game it’s time to put the feet up - think again!
IT WAS a busy weekend for the GAA with National Football League back up and running and of course our annual congress.
It was a disappointing result for us in Tullamore against Offaly as it was a game we should have won but we didn’t. I could bore you about our chances that we missed and our decision- making being quite poor at times.
That certainly won’t change the result so we have a massive game next week at home against Longford. So we dust ourselves down and knuckle down in training for the week.
It’s great having games each week as you don’t have time to feel sorry for yourself when you lose one. It’s funny in management; one week you’re on a high, the next week you’re on the floor and that’s why we love it.
If you’re wondering what takes place on a Sunday after a game for management I will give you a little insight.
First of all, when you lose, you just work harder to get it right for the next day.
So if you’re thinking that you can just put the feet up and watch television, I’m sorry but no.
You contact every player and go through his game and help him to be mentally ready for recovery on Monday so he is ready to train for Tuesday.
If you don’t go through that process, Tuesday will just become a blame game and you lose a good training session. So we will be making contact through calls or emails with each player and this can take anything from five minutes to 25 minutes per player.
Monday is also important to touch base with players by meeting up for coffee or lunch. This works well for some players also.
Gone are the days where you meet for training Tuesday and Thursday, play a game on Sunday and meet again on the Tuesday.
In between all of these sessions is the key to unlock whatever needs to be open so you can get the best from your player for the next game.
That’s my job and busy as it sounds I wouldn’t or couldn’t have it any other way.
Back to Congress. The powers that be that came up with the B championship decided that “Jesus lads, you know what? I think this a bad idea so we will pull it” and they did.
So common sense did prevail which is good but it seems to me that these men have missed a trick with a potential new structure for the championship.
We had great ideas from great people who were all asked to come up with proposals for a new structure.
Time and effort went into coming up with these proposals and every one of them got turned down, but our hierarchy had a better idea and came up with the B championship. To B or not to B ...... I’m afraid not to B, thank God!
The mark from the kickout is an interesting one. I’m not sure about this as it will slow the game down.
Will it encourage more high fielding? Maybe, but it will slow the game down. That’s guaranteed.
In relation to bringing the All Irelands forward, I think this was a good initiative as I felt this was going to benefit clubs and I was disappointed this didn’t get through.
Meanwhile, I’m sure at this stage both Sligo schools are all set for their Connacht final in the county grounds on Saturday.
I’m really looking forward to this game and wish everyone the best of luck.
The one thing we are guaranteed on Saturday is that a Sligo school will be crowned Connacht champions.
Now that sounds good.
To B or not to B... I’m afraid not to B... thank God! The mark from the kickouts is an interesting one