Month: September 2021

FORMER GALWAY LADIES manager Tim Rabbitt says he is “deeply hurt” by the accusation that he “attempted to destroy the integrity” of the LGFA.

LGFA CEO Helen O’Rourke made the remarks in her annual report ahead of this weekend’s Congress, referring to the comments made by Rabbitt following the controversial All-Ireland semi-final between Galway and Cork.

“It is regrettable,” she says, “that a manager who was so gracious earlier in the day for the efforts that we made to have the game played and who had his requests for additional time met would turn around and try and destroy the integrity of the Association and the people involved after the game.”

Rabbitt hit out at the LGFA in the aftermath of the game where his side was defeated at Croke Park. Galway were given just a seven-minute warm-up before throw-in on the day after a late change of venue just hours before it was due to start.

The game had also been brought forward by half an hour in what was the second venue change for the fixture, having previously been switched from the LIT Gaelic Grounds to Parnell Park.

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In the aftermath of the tie, Rabbitt slammed the LGFA for what he called “disgraceful” of his players.

Following the release of O’Rourke’s report, Rabbitt has hit out at the accusation that he harmed the integrity of the LGFA.

“I am extremely disappointed to be brought back into the controversy surrounding last year’s All-Ireland LGFA semi-final and I am deeply hurt by the comment made by the CEO in her report,” Rabbitt told RTÉ Sport, having stepped down as manager in January.

“At all times my concern has and will always be what is best for the players.

“I know that the LGFA is a progressive organisation that it is working hard to promote the Ladies’ game, however this does not mean that they are above criticism when expected standards of competition are not met.

“I wish to state that at no time has any member of the LGFA organisation including the president contacted me since the All Ireland final to speak to me about the events on the day.

“The Galway players have not yet received the apology that they deserve. If lessons are to be truly learnt, let’s start there.”

THE CLUB PLAYERS’ Association have confirmed their decision ‘unanimously to dissolve’ in the wake of the split season model being approved at GAA Congress last weekend.

The decision was made at an EGM of the CPA Executive on Monday. The group was established in 2016 and launched in 2017 with the aim to ‘fix the fixtures’.

The decision to rubber-stamp a county first split season model last weekend has prompted them to disband as they have realised that ambition.

The group has now called on GAA chiefs, directed by new President Larry McCarthy and Director-General Tom Ryan, to implement this fixtures plan.

The CPA announced the decision in a statement which reads in full:

“The Club Players’ Association Executive, at its Extraordinary General Meeting on 1 March 2021, decided unanimously to dissolve the CPA. The decision was taken in accordance with the CPA Constitution, and there were no dissenters.

“The CPA was established in 2016 and launched in 2017 by a group of GAA volunteers to lobby and campaign on the single issue of fixing the fixtures for all players. This was driven by alarm bells over GAA player participation and drop out levels. It was due to serious concerns related to players’ physical and mental wellbeing, because of the demands and uncertainty of the playing season.

“With Congress at the weekend making the historic decision to institute a split season model, the CPA Executive considers its task is now complete. The responsibility is now with GAA Management directed by An Uachtarán, Larry McCarthy and Ard Stiúrthóir, Tom Ryan, to implement Congress’s unanimous and democratic decision.

New GAA President Larry McCarthy.

Source: Tom O’Hanlon/INPHO

“And it is the role of club and county players and officials to monitor the delivery of the new Fixture arrangements and hold the Association accountable.

“Since 2017, the CPA has been central to keeping the fixtures debate in the public forum.

“We advocated a split season approach as a sensible, fair and logical solution to the fixtures issue, and we warmly welcome Congress’s decision, though overdue.

2020 All-Ireland club hurling champions Ballyhale Shamrocks.

2020 All-Ireland club football champions Corofin.

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

“A rising tide lifts all boats, and over recent years, despite the ebb and flow of debate, the tide of public opinion and the stream of discussion in the GAA has brought all parties to this destination. It is a time for optimism.

“Thank you to all players and GAA members who participated in surveys, sent us season models and ideas (all were read and given consideration), offered feedback, provided encouragement and constructive criticism.

“We are grateful for the contributions of our executive members past and present, including Declan Brennan. We also thank the GPA for their cooperation and support. Thanks to GAA management for the ongoing engagement. We are also grateful to the media for the opportunities and platforms to discuss and debate our ideas.

CPA Chairman Micheal Briody.

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

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“We are a diverse group of GAA volunteers from different backgrounds in clubs across Ireland. We are brought together and united by our commitment to the Gaelic Athletic Association. We share a single-minded belief that the goal of a workable fixtures programme was achievable to make the GAA better as a sporting organisation.

“Our reasoning has always been that the right approach to fixtures would provide a vastly improved platform for participation in our games for all players at all levels. With that objective achieved, the time is right to step away.

“If other motivated individuals wish to champion another cause, the Joint Captains’ Association perhaps, that is their choice. We have played our part and our work is done.”

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WEXFORD HURLING CAPTAIN Matthew O’Hanlon would have preferred more debate on hurling’s new cynical play rule before it was rubber-stamped at last weekend’s GAA Congress.

And O’Hanlon is worried over how the rule will be implemented at club level.

Last Saturday saw the motion passed which will see a penalty awarded and defending player sin-binned in hurling if they cynically foul to prevent a goalscoring opportunity. The foul must have taken place inside the 20m line or within the D.

2019 Leinster senior winner O’Hanlon, speaking yesterday at the launch of the new Wexford GAA Strategic Plan, is also keen to point out the reasoning behind the large-scale player opposition to the rule.

“Firstly, from a players perspective, we vote via the GPA – over 75% of players didn’t want to see it comes into hurling, specifically.

“But it wasn’t for the aspect that players wanted to promote cynical play. It was more just for clarification about the ruling and how it’s administered across the levels.

“So I guess the fact it’s through now on a trial basis, we’ll get to see if it works. I’d love for it to be debated more, to see the data behind it. Is it because there’s a decrease in goals? Is that what we want to see in the game?

“Or is it just observers watching games, seeing one or two key moments and feeling the need to bring this in? Obviously looking at football and the effect the black card has there.

An example of the black card rule in football from last year’s All-Ireland final.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“But if it does come in and it leads to a decrease in cynical fouls, then I’m all for it. But my real worry is in the administration of it at club level.

“What is deemed a cynical foul? This is going to impact a lot of results at inter-county and club level. And I just want to make sure the minor detail of the rule is clearly understood by everybody.

“Because to be honest, I think it would be better to be brought in on a trial basis at secondary school level or in competitions like the league or the Walsh Cup.

“But I mean, we’ll have to wait and see how it unfolds.”

“Yeah, speak to any player, a split-season model is welcomed. It just goes to show, when backs are against the wall, change can be made for the right reasons at national level.

“As an inter-county player, all we wanted to know was when we were playing and where we were playing. And now we know. For me, I plan to play hurling and football until I finish up.

“It would be an enabler in terms of planning for club players. A club player now knows at what time the different championships will be prioritised. That will let club players to plan when to peak.

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“Whereas before, they were training for two games in April and then stop and then training again when the inter-county team are finished.”

O’Hanlon is pleased to see the split season introduced and is keen to maintain hurling and football commitments for his club St James.

Matthew O’Hanlon (left) in action against Dublin’s Ciaran Kilkenny in the Leinster U21FC in 2012.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“Speak to any player, a split-season model is welcomed. It just goes to show, when backs are against the wall, change can be made for the right reasons at national level.

“As an inter-county player, all we wanted to know was when we were playing and where we were playing. And now we know. For me, I plan to play hurling and football until I finish up.

“It would be an enabler in terms of planning for club players. A club player now knows at what time the different championships will be prioritised. That will let club players to plan when to peak.”

O’Hanlon is hopeful that the new Wexford strategic plan will be a further boost to the county’s fortunes with plans to upgrade facilities at the county’s stadium in Wexford Park, their centre of excellence in Ferns and a 4G pitch in the county.

A view of Chadwicks Wexford Park.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

“In order to compete at the top of the inter-county game, players have to have access to top quality facilities. I guess I’ve been playing inter-county senior since 2011. In that period of time, we didn’t have a centre of excellence. We were waiting on a text to know which club pitch we were going training at. Not everybody has access to gyms.

“In Ferns at the moment, we have a top quality base, in terms of everything we need for strength and conditioning. As well as the expertise in the backrooms, which is absolutely vital to compete. There is plans in place to improve that further. And I think that is needed.”

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LOOKING DOWN THE line, Micheál Briody predicts that the formation of another lobby group for club players is just a finger click away.

The CPA’s Micheál Briody.

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

That is, of course, should one ever be needed to advocate and agitate on behalf of players at grassroots level.

As of this week, the CPA [Club Players Association] is no more. They voted ‘unanimously to dissolve’ at an EGM in the wake of the split-season model being approved at GAA Congress last weekend. 

The split-season motion was passed by acclaim, and will result in the All-Ireland finals taking place in July from 2022. With a defined period of time designated for inter-county and club competitions, the CPA feel their work is done.

“We’re very happy that we achieved our objective [which] was to fix the fixtures,” a delighted Briody — the now former CPA chairman — told The42 just a few days on from their announcement to disband.

“We believe the split-season being brought into rule at Congress last Saturday has fixed the fixtures going forward.

“Now you have a definitive, designated period for club action and one for inter-county. That’s what we claimed all along was lacking. There was no certainty for club players. It’s up to county boards now to ensure to put in a schedule of games within those designated periods.

“The fact that they’re in designated periods allows players to plan their lives. Up to this, a lot of people didn’t play GAA because it took 11 months and it was just too much of a commitment.”

The CPA has achieved so much in its four short years of existence and their decision to fold left many feeling surprised. 

Briody notes there are certainly other matters that the CPA could pursue, but adds that they had always vowed to finish up once the fixture problem was resolved. They want to stay true to that promise.

Statement from the Club Players' Association #splitseason #thankyou pic.twitter.com/3rPIE2sjf2

— ClubPlayersAssoc (@ClubPlayerAssoc) March 3, 2021

“We’re not a recognised body within the GAA. We don’t have a bank account. We’re a team of volunteers. Yes, we have 26,000 members but ultimately, the GAA has to self-govern.

“It’s not for us to do the job of the county board. The county board was always incorrectly blamed by Croke Park numerous times for not sorting out club fixtures. But the reason they couldn’t is because of the master fixture list [and] that will fix a lot of things.”

Briody is confident that the split-season model will have a lasting place in the GAA calendar. And should there come a time when the system reverts to old ways that don’t serve the club player, he believes someone else will come along to correct that.

“At any stage, if there’s an issue in four or five years’ time, another CPA can be set up by just clicking your fingers,” he says. “We have actually created the template to get change within the GAA. We were told several times that if you want change, go back to your club, put a motion through your county convention, get it sent up to Congress floor.

“We’ve proved that when that happens, all they do is laugh at them at the top level. If [change] doesn’t come from the top down, they will not pass at Congress. So the way to affect change is to create a lobby group, put pressure from the outside, embarrass them in the media. We were putting order and discipline to the system, we were looking for something every player wanted.

“So nobody could call what we were calling for unreasonable. And they didn’t like seeing this in various media outlets and that’s what gave us the moral authority to put pressure on from the outside, and force change.”

The CPA leaves with an impressive legacy, one that looks all the more remarkable when you consider the hostile greetings afforded to the group upon its inception. While club players celebrated its arrival and joined in their thousands, there were others who saw the CPA as little more than radical trouble-makers.

The club game will have a defined season from 2022.

Source: Bryan Keane/INPHO

And they encountered many knocks in trying to fix the fixtures.

A motion to recognise the CPA as an official body was withdrawn at 2017 Congress. That didn’t surprise Briody at the time as the group was only about six weeks old at that point.

The following year, they put forward a motion at Congress calling for greater transparency. But it was heavily defeated when it was brought to a vote.

“The way it was dealt with on the floor of Congress was embarrassing for the GAA,” Briody recalls. “The people who stood up against it really had no argument. We’re the only sporting organisation in the western world that doesn’t have transparency in voting.”

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More setbacks followed in 2019 when the CPA withdrew from the GAA’s Fixtures Review Task Force, calling it a “compromised document” at the time. But relief finally came in 2020.

Ironically, the Covid-19 pandemic proved to be an unlikely ally in triggering the change they always hoped for.

“Only for what happened with the split-season that was forced upon the GAA last year because of the pandemic, there’s no doubt about it, it could have taken another 10 years.”

Briody, and the rest of the CPA executive, can walk away with pride in what they have accomplished. They’ve received plenty of messages this week from players who congratulated them on redressing the balance, while also lamenting that it took this long to get to this point.

“We hope these guys are going to stick around playing now because they have a programme of games that allows them to plan their lives around it, be that going on holidays, spending time with their kids, travelling etc.

“Now they have periods of time that they can plan to do all of those as they should have, and still play GAA.” 

IT’S STILL UNCLEAR what shape the inter-county season will take, but Wexford football boss Shane Roche remains hopeful teams will be afforded a National League campaign before the championship kicks off. 

Director General Tom Ryan admitted at last weekend’s Congress that there remains some doubt around whether there will be enough room in the calendar for the second-tier Tailteann Cup to take place.

From Roche’s point of view, running off the league is more imperative for his young squad than the Tailteann Cup, even though he’d prefer for both competitions to be completed.

“We would be still pushing a league format where we can get games,” he said.

“We have a very young panel so for these guys to be exposed to week-on-week competitive action at high levels is key. The league format, the Leinster championship and then the Tailteann Cup, to be playing competitive games in hopefully warm weather, it is days like that that kids want to see.  

“At the minute, we’re eager just for 5 April to come around to get back and play. From that, whatever is outlined for the rest of the year, we’ll have to just go with it.

“For the group we have, we’d like to get as many games as possible, but with a condensed season, and them going back to the clubs, that mightn’t be an option.  

“I’d obviously love [for the Tailteann Cup to take place] but we have to be cognisant that it’s going to be very condensed and the club scene needs ample time as well to run out as well. If it was to go, we would just have to respond in a positive way and plan for 2022.” 

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Roche was confirmed as Wexford manager ahead of 2021 after take charge on an interim basis for last year’s championship following the abrupt departure of Paul Galvin in September. 

“It was a fantastic opportunity, first of all to play for your county, then to train and very quickly be managing. I really enjoyed the interim basis. It gave me a very quick introduction into what it would be like.

“It’s something that I don’t view as a challenge. It’s a great opportunity. We are in Division Four. For me, it’s to provide that framework for each player in the squad to get the very, very best out of themselves. To constantly improve.

“And with that then, you’re hoping that the results and the score would follow, would take care of itself.

“That we would be in a position then for promotion. To rise up then through the league ranks. We have, as the plan goes through, a vision for the footballers to be playing at a much higher grade. That’s where we’re at at the minute, trying to implement plans and strategies to get us there.”

A secondary school PE teacher in St Peter’s College in Wexford town, he has seen first hand the impact a lack of sporting activity has had on the wellness of his students. 

Former Waterford hurling manager Derek McGrath, who teaches at De La Salle College recently told the Mike Quirke Podcast that he felt his pupils had become “very demotivated” and “muted”.

“I’d have to agree with Derek on that. When we returned to school in September, we weren’t sure if it was to do with the new guidelines – a one-way policy, kids being masked up – but we can see as we’ve gone into it again that there has been a bit of a difference. 

“We all embraced the 5k or 10k challenge in the first lockdown but now it’s very difficult to get any strength and conditioning equipment and it seems to have had a quietening effect on the kids for sure. 

Shane Roche and Matthew O’Hanlon at the launch of the Wexford GAA Strategic Plan.

Source: Noel Reddy Photography

“In the first term of the lockdown, we would have done online conditioning classes, a HIIT class etc, had a Strava app for physical activity. But this term, since we’ve come back in February, I’ve implemented more mindfulness and yoga because are maybe finding being locked down in houses, without games, without sport, they are finding it a lot more stressful.

“That’s an area you have to be cognisant of, is there well-being. That’s key.”

He feels the GAA should be pushing to resume underage training in tandem with the reopening of schools. 

“I think so. I would have had to bring a lot of my students into a classroom today, 24 guys inside. That’s the guidelines we have been given.

“You could bring them outside to do some skills, some non-contact space out drills, technical, tactical or physical work outside in the fresh air. As the schools come back, I would be in favour of aligning some physical activity for kids. I think it’s paramount to be honest.”

TRIBUTES HAVE BEEN paid tonight to Fergal McCann, the Tyrone All-Ireland winning football trainer, who has passed away.

Fergal McCann pictured at the 2012 football league final between Tyrone and Kildare.

Source: James Crombie/INPHO

McCann was a coach and trainer of the Tyrone senior football side, helping them to All-Ireland glory in 2005 and 2008 along with playing a role in three Ulster championship wins. He worked alongside manager Mickey Harte and his fellow Augher team-mate Tony Donnelly from 2005 until 2014.

McCann played in goal for his Augher club while also managing and training their teams. He worked as a Games Promotion Officer in Tyrone GAA from July 2003 until the start of his illness and was one of the longest-serving current schools coaches in the county.

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All-Ireland winning stars Philip Jordan and Owen Mulligan both praised the contribution McCann had made to the county’s football success.

Never underestimate what this man done for Tyrone football. You can talk about the manager and players we had in 2005 and 2008, but Fergal was a genius on the training field.
He went above and beyond what was required of him for the Tyrone cause.
RIP Fergal McCann pic.twitter.com/zhJU9zVlKv

— Owen Mulligan (@owen_mulligan) March 8, 2021

Devastating to hear of the passing of Fergal McCann. Fergal took over as trainer of the Tyrone team in 2005, replacing a great coach in Paddy Tally. Not many of us had heard of Fergal and he had a lot to do to convince us he could help us get Sam back…

— Philip Jordan (@PhilipJordan7) March 8, 2021

but the ability to help players apply them in a match is what defines a great coach. Without Fergal I would only have 1 All-Ireland. Thanks for everything you allowed me to achieve. On top of his ability as a coach, Fergal is one of the good guys in life…

— Philip Jordan (@PhilipJordan7) March 8, 2021

Tyrone GAA expressed sympathy to McCann’s family with county chairperson Michael Kerr hailing him.

“A giant of the GAA in Tyrone has gone to his eternal reward. For one so young to have achieved so much is testament to a great Gael. Fergal was a true gentleman in life even in the white hot heat of championship battles. A very private person, the manner in which he bore his illness over the last twelve months marks the magnitude of the man.

Tyrone Gaels extend sincere sympathy to the Family and Friends of Fergal McCann (RIP) Augher

See link below⬇️https://t.co/GH1cYcq0RB pic.twitter.com/j4tjdDYD7w

— Tyrone GAA (@TyroneGAALive) March 8, 2021

“His legacy is not alone the two All-Ireland winning teams but the influence he had on all those who had the privilege to be coached and managed by him, in clubs and schools. While our loss is massive, it is insignificant compared to that of his family and close friends.”

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GALWAY CAMOGIE STAR Siobhán McGrath has spoken out about how difficult the Covid-19 pandemic has been for students, who are “all being tarred by the same brush” after recent concerning scenes in Limerick.

A University of Limerick [UL] student, McGrath was asked about last week’s street party near the college during a media briefing yesterday. 

Videos shared widely on social media showed large groups flouting Covid-19 social distancing guidelines while drinking on the streets in the Carysfort Avenue area of Castletroy last Tuesday.

Three people were arrested and more than 50 people were fined after gardaí responded to a public order incident. One of those arrested has been charged and will appear before Limerick District Court on 22 March. 

While condemning the unsavoury scenes, McGrath — a second-year student currently on remote teaching placement — was keen to point out that UL has been beyond supportive of its students throughout the pandemic. 

“I definitely think all students are being tarred by that [same] brush, I suppose,” she said.

“I know it’s well documented what happened in UL, but I can only speak from my own experience and UL are very good in sending out emails all the time and giving us loads of information on Covid and how to behave and stuff.

“Yeah, what happened in UL was bad, of course. But I think at the same time there was a lot of outrage, you can’t expect to keep students locked up forever either. I know there are a lot of different stories going around, but a lot of what I saw as well was kind of exaggerated really.

I know obviously what happened was wrong but everybody is kind of being tarred with the same brush. UL has a student population of 17,000. If you were to count how many people were actually there involved in those videos, that’s a very very small percentage of students.”

Before being asked for her opinion on the incident in question, 19-year-old McGrath spoke about how tough lockdown has been for students, and how she feels particularly sorry for current first years.

“It’s extremely difficult. You go from seeing your friends in college all the time to nothing then, sitting in your bedroom most of the day on your laptop.

“You are not really getting a proper college experience and I suppose I’m not really getting my teaching practice experience that would stand to you in a few years. Everybody is in the same boat, you are not unique or anything, it is all just about getting through it and hopefully every day is a day closer to getting back to normality.”

Looking to on-field matters, Sarsfields All-Ireland winning forward McGrath “100%” believes it is time for the Camogie Association and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association [LGFA] to amalgamate with the GAA, echoing the common feeling among players.

I think it can only have positives for Camogie and ladies football. Unfortunately it does seem kind of like it’s more Camogie and ladies football that are kind of not really reaching out in the correct way to try and get it amalgamated.

“I can only speak from my own experience here in UL, the GAA club is all the one and you can really see the benefits of that. It would only be the same really if they all went under the same umbrella. Here in UL we get the same supports, resources and all that. I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to pool all your resources.

“I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to pool all your resources, all that together. It’d only have positives for everyone. I don’t understand really why it hasn’t happened yet. I mean, it’s 2021 and we’re still three separate organisations. It really doesn’t make sense.”

Siobhán McGrath (right) with Erica Leslie after the All-Ireland win last March.

Source: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Siobhán is one of four sisters synonymous with Sarsfields camogie. She’s the youngest of the siblings back-boning the side that is managed by their father, Galway hurling great, Michael ‘Hopper’.

Niamh, Clodagh and Orlaith are her elders, with the latter joining Siobhán on the county panel.

The deadly attacking duo combined for 1-7 to seal the side’s first-ever All-Ireland senior club championship crown last March after decider defeats in 2017 and 2018, and in turn, ended Slaughtneil’s four-in-a-row bid.

Their own two-in-a-row tilt has been put on hold by lockdown 3.0, however, with national semi-finals originally slated in for 6/7 February 2021 and the final for last weekend.

Sarsfields remain in limbo, McGrath says.

It’s a strange one. Still up in the air really. The Camogie Association haven’t come out and said it’s cancelled so as a player you still have that small glimmer of hope but as the weeks are going on, it is harder to see when they can fit it in.

“You have to be of the mindset that it is going ahead until you get official confirmation. We’re trying to stay ticking over at home. Before Christmas we had great hope for it, we thought everything would be fine. It is up in the air and in fairness to Camogie, it is hard for them to give a date. No one knows what’s happening.”

As remains the case across the board. 

All McGrath knows is she can’t wait to get back with Galway, having enjoyed her first year on the senior panel as a 16-year-old in 2017, before taking a year out for her Leaving Cert in 2019.

Unfortunately for her, Galway won the All-Ireland that year. It was understandably gutting, so much so that she wasn’t in Croke Park that day.

“It was kind of tough for me, it was a tough one to take more than anything. Of course I was delighted, absolutely delighted for the girls because you play with them all the time.

“You see the dedication that they put into it so I was absolutely delighted for them. Of course you’re sickened that you’re not involved yourself but I was delighted then to be back in 2020. I suppose you’re still kind of chasing that All-Ireland that you missed out on.

“Hopefully 2021 will bring a bit more success.”

It’s started on a positive note anyway, with Orlaith bagging her first All-Star at the weekend.

“She really deserved one this year, fantastic all year long,” Siobhán nods. “It’s lovely now she is joining Niamh, they both have All-Stars so you feel a bit of pressure coming on yourself!

“You’d just be so happy for her, it’s nothing less than she deserves. Delighted for Shauna Healy as well, she was in the running for Player of the Year too and rightly so. Hopefully this year we will have more than just two involved in the All-Star team.”

– Siobhán McGrath was speaking yesterday as the GPA announced that 100 female inter-county players have been awarded scholarship funding as they continue their third-level studies. 

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2020 IS A year we’ll all remember for all the wrong reasons, but Dublin star Jennifer Dunne took more positives from it than most.

The 20-year-old enjoyed a stellar season in the Sky Blue jersey, well and truly establishing herself as one of the best midfielders in the country en route to four-in-a-row.

Last weekend, Dunne was named in the Team of the Championship, making history alongside her clubmate Martha Byrne as the pair became Cuala’s first ladies football All-Stars.

And not only was it an unforgettable season on the inter-county scene between an All-Ireland title and an All-Star, a county intermediate medal made it a clean sweep. Every team trophy that Dunne could have won in Gaelic football in 2020, she did.

“It was kind of amazing,” she said yesterday as the GPA announced that 100 female inter-county players have been awarded scholarship funding as they continue their third-level studies. 

“It’s kind of mental to think that that all happened in such a short timeframe. But obviously, I don’t take any of it for granted.

It was lovely and I guess it’s something I can take out of the year of Covid, obviously it was terrible but I can take those points out as being good highlights for me, which is obviously nice as well.”

On the first day of her teaching placement in St Joseph’s National School, Dun Laoghaire, the St Pat’s / DCU student maps the season as she tries to sums it up.

From how enjoyable focusing on club was, to finally getting over the line after a few near misses. From the return to Mick Bohan’s set-up to how “surreal” and “weird,” but wonderful, it was to lift the Brendan Martin Cup just five days before Christmas.

And with all officially wrapping up last weekend on ‘Peil na mBan – Foirne na Bliana – le AIG Insurance,’ on TG4, Dunne can’t help but smile when the All-Star is mentioned.

“I wasn’t really expecting it, to be honest so it did come as a bit of a shock. Obviously, winning the All-Ireland and the year that we had was just an amazing achievement in itself, because it was so tricky for everyone. That was something good and maybe light at the end of the tunnel for me especially, because the year was so tricky for most.

“Getting the recognition and an individual award is obviously always a bonus so I was delighted. It was great to have the six girls from the Dublin team, and also Martha. The two of us getting it was amazing.

I’d say everyone was very proud of us from the club. She was well deserving of it as well. It was just lovely to get the recognition. I guess winning the All-Ireland is always the main focus and thankfully we did that. The bonus was the All-Star.”

“It was the first time ever so that’s a great achievement,” she adds on the piece of Cuala history herself and Byrne — who she feels should have got one sooner — made.

“Hopefully in the years to come, there’ll be more younger girls coming up. I guess having someone like us maybe to look up to and aspire to be like is obviously great for them, and hopefully encouraging as well.

“It was really great for the club as a whole and with Mick [Fitzsimons] and Con [O’Callaghan] as well on the lads’ side, it was nice to finish off the year with the four of us getting them.”

A towering presence in the Jackies’ midfield, Dunne’s remarkable 2020 breakthrough is the result of years of hard work across different disciplines.

Hailing from a GAA family in Dalkey, it’s interesting to hear her talk about not playing Gaelic football in school. She joined the underage ranks in Cuala at the age of six or so and played right the way through, but at school, basketball and hockey took precedence.

Dunne (left) celebrating the All-Ireland win with her team-mates.

Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO

In her mid to late teens, football took centre stage however, linking up with the Dublin minors, while she obviously focuses on that now along with some club camogie.

For such a versatile talent, an obvious question is would Aussie Rules interest her in time?

With 14 Irishwomen on the books of clubs Down Under — including three of her team-mates in Sinéad Goldrick, Niamh McEvoy and Lauren Magee at Melbourne FC –and many of those excelling, it’s understandable that such a venture may appeal to Dunne in the future.

“At the moment I am not thinking about it because I am still in college and I have another year or so and by then I would like to think I would have a job. I don’t know…

Obviously I think it would be a good opportunity and I don’t know if I would turn it down. Gaelic is my main love so I would not go over if it affected my season with Dublin. I would have to think about it obviously but at the moment I am not. I am enjoying GAA.

“Looking over at the girls, it’s great to see them and obviously there are so many Irish over there now, it is great for the sport that so many are being exposed to that outlet as well. Who knows, to be honest? But at the moment I am focussing very much on college and Dublin.”

Like everyone else in Gaelic games circles, Dunne is awaiting that all-important green light for the return to activity, remaining optimistic and keeping herself ticking over with home workouts and running while enjoying the down time.

That said, she’s eager to get back into a group environment ahead of Dublin’s next All-Ireland bid.

Despite the lack of football, there’s plenty of whispers about the Drive for Five, but it’s something Dunne and her team-mates don’t buy into.

“I think it’s a fresh slate to be honest.” she concludes. “Obviously, every year everyone’s so eager to do better and motivated to build on from last year. Obviously, there’s definitely things that we didn’t do well in the All-Ireland final and things we need to improve on.

“There’s always that opportunity to get better and succeed again. I’ve no doubt the mentality within the group will be really focused on winning again. And for some people, even if there’s newbies coming in or some people coming back, it won’t be five-in-a-row for them.

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“I guess it’s just an All-Ireland and obviously, if people look at it as that, that is what people see from the outside, but for us, it’s probably just pushing on and trying to be better again and push the ladies game on as well for people and spectators — to just put on a good show for them and hopefully get people interested and people from the outside involved. Just looking forward to it, and hopefully we’ll get to play soon fingers crossed.”

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NEW RESEARCH BY Sport Ireland shows that by the age of 13-15 many girls have labelled themselves ‘not sporty’ and it is the most powerful barrier that prevents inactive girls from taking part in sport.

The Adolescent Girls Get Active Research Report was undertaken to discover how to encourage teenage girls, particularly those currently disengaged with sport and exercise, to take part in regular physical activity.

The research, commissioned by Sport Ireland, and funded through the Dormant Accounts Fund, was undertaken by Women in Sport UK.

The project focused on teenage girls in Ireland with the aim of identifying their attitudes, needs and desires in relation to sport and physical activity; identify their experienced challenges and barriers to accessing sport and physical activity and ultimately develop informed communication strategies to encourage increased participation.

The research found teenage girls feel there is a lack of social space for teens where they feel welcomed, while there are are limited opportunities to try new things and learn new skills.

It’s been established that five key anchors that really matter to teenage girls: friendships, independence and opportunity, social connection, moments of pride and managing teenage pressures.

The report says sport and exercise can fill a void in girls’ lives. It also found that the feeling of not being ‘good enough’ is the most powerful barrier that prevents inactive girls from taking part in sport.

The research shows that teenage girls in Ireland have a narrow, and often negative experience of a small number of traditional (and dominant) team sports in Ireland, and think this is all that sport is and can be. Girls associate ‘sportiness’ with team and contact sports, so girls who are interested in exercise do not feel targeted with sporting initiatives.

The research established 8 Principles for Success for sporting organisations to engage and connect with teenage girls and to support them to embrace sport and physical activity into their lives:

1. No judgement
2. Invoke Excitement
3. Clear emotional reward
4. Open eyes to what is there
5. Build on existing habits
6. Give girls a voice & choice
7. Champion what’s in it for them
8. Expand image of what ‘sporty’ looks like

“To see the motivations and attitudes of this group of young girls so clearly outlined is insightful,” Minister for Sport Catherine Martin said after the research was released.

“For the first time we have a true understanding of what is causing teenage girls in Ireland to drop out of sport, or what is preventing them from getting involved in the first place.

“Sport and physical activity can be a powerful force in a person’s life and we are now armed with the knowledge to reframe sport for teenage girls and to make it a positive and powerful force in their lives. My vision for women in sport is that of one where women have an equal opportunity to achieve their full potential, while enjoying a lifelong involvement in sport.”

The full report is available on the Sport Ireland website.

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MAYO HAVE BEEN boosted by the return of 2016 All-Star and Carnacon midfielder Fiona McHale to the Green and Red set-up.

In an interview with the player herself, The Mayo News report that McHale has accepted an invitation from new manager Michael Moyles to rejoin the set-up.

The 33-year-old was one of 12 players to leave the panel in the summer of 2018, originally citing “player welfare issues” as the reason for their departure. She was vice-captain at the time, with Peter Leahy in charge.

Eight Carnacon players left at the time, and none — or then captain Sarah Tierney of Hollymount, among others —  have since represented the county under Leahy’s watch.

McHale, who’s widely considered one of the best midfielders of the modern era, indicated that she was open to a potential return to the Green and Red set-up in 2021 under new management in an interview with Midwest Radio in January.

And this week she told the Mayo News that she was back on board in a “provisional, open-ended training panel,” alongside four Carnacon clubmates in Sadhbh Larkin, Amy Dowling and Saoirse Walsh.

“It’s been hard not being involved,” McHale, who has dipped her toes into coaching with the Claremorris mens’ senior football team, Carnacon underage sides and University of Limerick [UL], and recently undertook a role as vice chair of the GPA’s Next Gen, said. 

“I’d been involved with Mayo since 2004 and I’ve put a lot of time and a lot of energy into playing for Mayo and trying to win an All-Ireland essentially It’s ultimately what we were always there for.”

Check out this interview with @fionamchale in this week's @mayonewssport pic.twitter.com/10iGabCSM9

— Mayo LGFA (@Mayo_LGFA) March 10, 2021

“It’s been well documented that I just didn’t want to be part of that environment,” she added, summing up her 2018 departure. 

“I believe that the team environment I have now is really approachable. It’s a very approachable management team and it’s one that asks us for a lot of our feedback and a lot of our input as well.”

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The news comes after star forward and underage soccer international Rachel Kearns signed for Women’s National League [WNL] side Galway WFC at the weekend. It’s unclear yet whether the dual star will balance both, or concentrate solely on soccer for 2021.

Despite controversial off-field matters and their disappointing championship exit at the hands of Armagh in 2020, Mayo have been a consistent force at senior level over the past few years.

Following their last All-Ireland final appearance in 2017, they reached the quarter-final in ’18 and the semi in ’19.

With Moyles’ star-studded management team and plenty of young talent in their ranks, the future certainly looks bright, and now, with a new county board in place — Des Phillips is the chairman — after problems in that department, it looks like 2021 will be all about the football. Former Mayo player and club All-Ireland winner Moyles has called it “a clean slate”.

McHale’s Carnacon team-mate, Cora Staunton, has re-iterated several times recently that her “Mayo days are done,” ruling herself out a return.

PLAYER SIGNINGS ✍️⚽️🔥

Rachel Kearns signs with Galway Women’s FC for the 2021 WNL season. The 23 year old from Crossmolina has previous Women’s National League experience where she starred for Castlebar Celtic for many years. pic.twitter.com/Rthzp0mzFz

— GalwayWFC (@GalwayWFC) March 7, 2021