Colm O'Rourke

Kerry's David Clifford and Galway's Shane Walsh shake hands before the All-Ireland final. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

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Colm O'Rourke Opinion The split season probably did more for US clubs than for those in Ireland

It seems a lifetime away now, but the straws in the wind for the season were evident from early in the Allianz Football League.

‘Shane Walsh is no ordinary player. Greatness does bring responsibilities.’ Picture by Brendan Moran

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Colm O'Rourke Opinion If Shane Walsh thought he could go quietly, he was badly advised

A small club called Kilkerrin-Clonberne were in the news a lot last week. They would prefer not to be. Their immediate thoughts are on the first round of the Galway intermediate championship against Headford on Friday, but the glare of publicity has focused on something else, not of their making.

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Colm O’Rourke Opinion exclusive Meath gave me so much, and now it’s time to give a bit back

It came as a bit of a bolt from the blue, even for my family and close friends.

‘And after all that, there is only one David Clifford.’ Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

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Colm O'Rourke Opinion Galway are getting better with each game, but they still need a bit of improvement to catch Kerry

There are not too many mushroom counties — ones that spring up out of nowhere and win an All-Ireland. Galway is one of them. While Mayo come out of Connacht with all guns blazing and with a huge noisy, colourful following, Galway do it the opposite way. They believe they can win, no outward brashness or show, just an inherent belief in their ability to beat all comers once they get to a final.

Kerry's Seán O’Shea kicks the winning point against Dublin in last Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

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Colm O'Rourke Opinion In the white heat of battle, it takes a great player to step up

An epic battle decided by an extraordinary kick from a man with nerves of steel. It wasn’t the first and it won’t be the last Seán O’Shea will kick from that distance. He has a boot like a bazooka, but there is a difference between doing that in other games and one to decide an All-Ireland semi-final with the Dublin crowd baying.

Johnny Heaney and Finnian Ó Laoi celebrate Galway’s win. Picture by Daire Brennan

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Colm O’Rourke Opinion Galway improving every step of the way

Despite the big crowd and vibrant colour in Croke Park yesterday, there was little in the way of atmosphere during the first half of the All-Ireland semi-final.

Dublin's James McCarthy. Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

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Colm O’Rourke Opinion Everything rests on the fitness of Dublin's big two

The outcome of today’s All-Ireland semi-final may depend more on who doesn’t play as much as who does. Dublin may be short two of their greatest heroes in Con O’Callaghan and James McCarthy. If so, the balance tilts very much towards Kerry, who are the team under most pressure to deliver. The golden boys of minor have no senior medals. Patience is wearing thin in the Kingdom as the Dubs have had to take a section of Fort Knox to house their All-Ireland medals of the last decade.

Galway's Shane Walsh and Armagh's James Morgan tussle off the ball in their All-Ireland SFC quarter-final. Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

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Colm O'Rourke Opinion The problem is simple - GAA rules are made to be broken

Too often the wheels of justice in the GAA move slowly, and justice delayed is justice denied. Thankfully, this weekend it seems as if some elements of last Sunday’s controversies involving Armagh and Galway have been resolved.

Galway's Cillian McDaid celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during their All-Ireland SFC quarter-final against Armagh at Croke Park. Photo: Daire Brennan/Sportsfile

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Colm O’Rourke Opinion Galway walking on water ahead of Derry duel

Galway were spared the handicap of having to prepare two teams for Saturday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Derry — one with captain Seán Kelly, and one without.

Paddy Small of Dublin in action against Seán Powter of Cork. Photo: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

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Colm O'Rourke Opinion Dubs’ muscle memory is enough to see them through but it’s a long road back for Rebels

There were a few things on the Cork wishlist going into last night’s duel with Dublin. The first one, of course, was not to give away an early goal and to try and get to half-time with the game still in the balance. That was achieved relatively easily.

‘David Clifford gave Pádraig O’Hora the mother and father of all roastings in the league final.’ Photo: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

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Forward thinking promises dream day with some of the country’s most talented players out to prove their greatness

Today, we try to make some sort of a case for Mayo’s chances against Kerry. The Allianz League final in April was merely an exercise in shooting fish in a barrel as Kerry ran up a score of 3-19, to Mayo’s 0-13.

Cavan’s Mickey Graham, Westmeath’s Jack Cooney, Offaly’s John Maughan and Sligo’s Tony McEntee. Photo: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

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Colm O'Rourke Opinion Second tier heroes get big day out with Tailteann Cup as important to these players as the Sam Maguire

It is neither patronising nor an exaggeration to say that this is one of the biggest days in the whole championship year.

Michael Murphy with Declan Bonner. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

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Colm O'Rourke Opinion Donegal are in danger of losing respect in their own county

In many ways today’s all-Ulster clash is all about Donegal. We know exactly what Armagh will bring to the party. They will play without fear, they will kick the ball, they will keep forwards up and they will not want to play laterally if at all possible. In other words, the mirror image of Donegal.

‘The future for Derry is very bright but not in this form.’ Picture by Ramsey Cardy

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Colm O’Rourke Opinion There’s no back door salvation without a night of long knives

There’s nothing like a boring provincial final to get people talking. But to quote Oscar Wilde, the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about. On that scale the Ulster final was a winner last Sunday.

Enda Smith of Roscommon has a shot on goal despite the efforts of John Daly of Galway during the Allianz League Division 2 final. Photo: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

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Colm O'Rourke Opinion Roscommon have firepower to crush Galway’s title hopes

When I think of Galway it conjures up images of swashbuckling football with great individual players. The three in a row team of the 1960s were a bit ahead of their time. Clever men who were well educated for that decade and they played smart football too.

Players from 15 Tailteann Cup counties at the launch in Croke Park last Monday.Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

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Colm O'Rourke Opinion GAA missed chance to avoid a new tale of woe with Tailteann Cup

The long-awaited launch of the Tailteann Cup arrived last week. For me it was severely underwhelming, and attracted very little publicity. Even the GAA’s own website could hardly be said to have given it a massive blast. Details are somewhat sketchy. The bigger picture is clear: The semi-finals are in Croke Park and the final is on the undercard of an All-Ireland semi-final with live TV for those games.

Dublin's Brian Fenton is tackled by Meath goalkeeper Harry Hogan during last year's Leinster semi-final at Croke Park. Photo: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

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Colm O'Rourke Opinion Royals are not ready yet to turn the blue tide

Those with good memories will recall when games between Meath and Dublin were contests as distinct from just matches.

The scheduling of games is leaving a lot to be desired. Photo: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

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Colm O'Rourke Opinion Cavan’s lightning won’t strike twice with Donegal primed to settle score

The GAA’s scheduling department seems to be asleep at the wheel. There were nine football championship matches last weekend and just three this weekend. Who is supposed to be monitoring this?

Brian Fenton was back to his brilliant best against Wexford. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

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Colm O'Rourke Opinion Born-again Dublin show the old dog can still bite

The first signs of rust in the Dublin machine appeared in Wexford Park last July. Ten months on, with many long nights when it would have been easy to decide to ride off into the sunset and cash in their gold, Dublin’s players showed there’s life in the old dog yet.

Galway's Damien Comer. Photo: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

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Colm O'Rourke Opinion Attack-minded Galway look more like a team of the future than Mayo

The old order is restored in Connacht with Mayo and Galway — even if it is the first round and Roscommon are going to be a lump in the soup for all other teams west of the Shannon.

A general view of the GAA's Croke Park headquarters

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Colm O'Rourke Opinion There is one chance to get the Tailteann Cup right and if it falls flat this year then the show is over

The football championship starts with an almighty whimper this weekend. Yes, the All-Ireland champions started the show last night, but it was against a Division 3 side, while today three teams from Division 4 are in action along with New York, who have no division at all.

Kerry's David Clifford in action against Pádraig O'Hora of Mayo during the Allianz Football League Division 1 final. Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

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Colm O'Rourke Opinion Predictable Mayo need to get radical or become redundant

The big tent has been taken down and the circus has moved on. There is little even in the way of comment about the league now. It was neatly packaged away during the week. Probably by Monday in most of the counties who played last weekend, even if some counties like Louth and Roscommon were entitled to a bit more in the way of celebration. Cavan would have expected to get out of the fourth division and as for Kerry, well it is still only the league.

Kerry's Jack Barry in possession of the ball during his side's Allianz FL Division 1 meeting with Mayo at Austin Stack Park, Tralee three weeks ago. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

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Colm O'Rourke Opinion Counties already looking ahead to championship but Kerry will be eager to land a national title in Croke Park

It’s a big day out in Croke Park today — or maybe it isn’t. The proximity of the championship has changed the dynamic of the Allianz League finals. For today’s participants, eyes have already turned towards the championship, but surely there must be a boost to confidence for the winners even if a little is held back.

‘Take Mayo as an example. They did not look last week as if they were intent on getting to the final.’ Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

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Colm O'Rourke Opinion Division One is a great competition that nobody wants to win

The best competition in the GAA, the Allianz League, has now become, in the top division at least, one that nobody seems all that interested in winning. In the past it had greater prestige when everyone competed for only one league title. In those days, teams from the lower divisions qualified for quarter-finals and had a tilt at the big guns — most of the time without success. It was a big thing for those counties to get a chance to slay the dragon.

One thing from last Sunday that was a complete success is the ‘bring a ball’ initiative which has been going on for a while in Navan. Picture by Daire Brennan

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Colm O’Rourke Opinion GPA need to avoid double standards and need to pick their fights better

If Matthew O’Hanlon’s approach is anything to go by, the GPA have adopted new methods of diplomacy and negotiation — lobbing in a grenade.

Hannah Tyrrell finds the net for Dublin against Meath last weekend. Photo: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

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Colm O'Rourke Opinion Ladies are leading the way - It would be a big mistake to adopt the bad traits of the men’s game

A few things took my fancy last week. After a short debate at Congress about amalgamating the GAA family, I took in the big game between Dublin and Meath in Navan and I reached several conclusions.

Dublin's Ciarán Kilkenny and Brian Fenton have been finding out how the other half live. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

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Colm O'Rourke Opinion Decline of the Dubs is mostly down to attitude

The long dreary winter of strong winds and heavy rain continues and for Dublin there is certainly no sign of spring. They are being battered from all angles.

‘Changing under 20 to under 19 must be part of an overall solution rather than taken in isolation.’

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Colm O'Rourke Opinion Age old problems still to be resolved

We are coming near the start of Lent and this week’s offering is one of dry bread and water. If you have no interest in Congress or the politics of the GAA then you should look away now. You would nearly have to be a GAA nerd to see much significance in how a change in a year group for competition could be seen to me (and many others) as being of any importance.

Referee David Gough sends off Tyrone players, from left, Kieran McGeary, Peter Harte, Michael McKernan and Pádraig Hampsey. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

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Colm O'Rourke Opinion Gough did what needed to be done and now it’s over to the authorities to stamp out nonsense

Over to you was the message from David Gough to the GAA disciplinary authorities. In one act he has given the GAA and the referees the power to tidy up the mess that the melee between Armagh and Tyrone highlighted.

Dublin’s Brian Fenton arriving at Austin Stack Park in Tralee before last night’s clash with Kerry. Photo: Stephen McCarthy

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Colm O'Rourke Opinion There is no third wave of outstanding players waiting to emerge - Dublin’s decade of dominance is over

A few things struck me after just one round of league football. The first one is that the Dubs are finished — they’ll probably be relegated and doomed to years in the desert. In fact, I might not even mention splitting Dublin again. I jest, this is hardly going to happen.