Independent.ie - Eugene McGee RSS Feed

Eugene McGee: Promotion of league a must for counties

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0000

In the last 10 years, my wariness of some so-called wealthy people -- the many developers and other sorts of 'operators' who seemed to be fabulously rich and whose power seemed to match their wealth -- grew by the day.

Eugene McGee: €250,000 abandoned report hits bum note

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0000

O'Moore Park in Portlaoise is one of the best GAA venues for atmosphere you will find and, as a lifelong fan, I was fascinated to read that the Leinster Council spent €250,000 to have consultants carry out a report on developing the ground.

Eugene McGee: Galvin more sinned against than sinner

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0000

The extent to which punishment fits the crime is always controversial these days and it also applies to justice as dished out by the GAA. The case of Paul Galvin is a good example because there is a strongly held view that the suspension of eight weeks imposed on him recently is more related to his recent history in the Kerry jersey than the actual events which brought about his suspension.

Eugene McGee: Mick Higgins - A great Gael in every sense

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

I never knew Christy Ring, Mick Mackey or Paddy Kennedy and I had a mere acquaintance with Sean Purcell and Mick O'Connell. But I actually knew Mick Higgins quite well over the past 30 years or more, and considered myself blessed to have known him. In the pantheon of great Gaelic footballers he would be considered at least in the 25 best players of all time.

Eugene McGee: Dub deal lifts player reward into spotlight

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0000

I am always a bit wary whenever I hear units of the GAA blithely discussing huge amounts of money -- be it incoming or outgoing. Maybe it is the old, genuine amateur ethos that dominated GAA thinking for a century or simply innate conservatism among older GAA members, but, somehow, loose talk about the GAA making millions here or there for little or no effort, at least raises some uneasy questions.

Eugene McGee: Westmeath counting cost of Dolan's relative values

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0000

The apparent confirmation this week that former All Star forward Dessie Dolan will not be playing for Westmeath is a serious blow to his county's chances at a time when football in the Lake County is in quite a fragile state.

Eugene McGee: Love-in with players' body to make GAA happy as Larry

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0000

They say good news travels fast, but modern communication means bad news travels even faster.

Eugene McGee: Internet wild west show a major worry

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0000

One of the great inventions of our time, the internet, has led to a marked deterioration in the quality of sporting behaviour among some GAA followers.

Eugene McGee: Rule-change brigade need to look at bigger picture

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0000

I hate to bring this up dear readers, especially with the season of goodwill imminent, but the grim news for GAA people is that coming down the tracks we have yet another pair of rules revision committees from the depths of Croke Park.

Eugene McGee: Peace accord overlooks need to club together

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0000

'He should have a long spoon who sups with the devil.' A lot of GAA people will call to mind that proverb of many centuries ago when they read about the peace agreement between the GAA and the GPA.

Eugene MgGee: Fair play demands the GAA must give longford justice

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0000

There is a fine line between whinging and common sense in Gaelic games but what masquerades for the latter is often, in fact, the former. Match after match, season after season, managers in particular -- but also fans and players -- try to convince us all that they are fair and honest when, in reality, they are whingers, pure and simple.

Eugene McGee: GAA grants mask the real financial plight of clubs

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

I thought the timing by the GAA last Thursday of their announcement of their list of financial allocations for the coming year was very significant.

Eugene McGee: Dublin's young talent giving Gilroy a welcome headache

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0000

Parnell Park has developed a kind of cult following for Dublin's Saturday night League matches in recent years, and the latest edition will certainly have added to that. Any time the Dublin team improves from being two points down at half-time to eventually winning the game by seven, the fans are sure to go away happy despite the piercing cold.

Eugene McGee: O'Mahony spat with O Se like a breath of fresh air

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0000

The GAA is full of people who tend to keep their counsel in public about Association activity. Instead, they beat around the bush or say nothing at all -- very much like politicians in this country.

Eugene McGee: All change as five-year rule kicks in

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0000

The GAA county convention season, which has been in full flow in recent weeks, is taking a heavy toll on big-name officers all over the country. It compares with the pheasant shooting season in November; there are so many casualties.

Time for clubs to cash in on Aussie exodus

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:00:00 +0000

The GAA traditionally had a very wary approach to any new developments that involved finance, with their great fear always being that they might lose some control over their own workings.

O'Connor in a league of his own this year

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Annual awards, whether for sporting achievement or otherwise, are a meaningless exercise unless the results on which they are based are grounded in solid facts, such as measurements in athletics, victory in major competitions for teams or individual performances based on facts and figures such as jockeys or golfers.

Glory rests on battle of wits

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

There are many types of inter-county team managers nowadays, from the sensible to the sensational and the ridiculous to the sublime; but the two men who lead their counties into tomorrow's All-Ireland final should certainly be classed in the sensible category.

Cork give Tyrone taste of their own medicine

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

When great champions in football eventually get beaten and eliminated, it usually is quite definite. All the great days have taken their toll, the appetite for some of the warriors has lessened and when young upstarts come along with the right attitude, then death for the champions can be slow and painful.

We can throw book at players but it'll be same old story

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

It looks as if some county boards are going to hang a 'Terms & Conditions Apply' notice outside dressing rooms -- and if these are not carried out players will not be admitted.