Seizing your Inter-County Opportunity

The new GAA season provides new managers, new trainers and new players. It can be a daunting experience for a young player trying to make the grade. Each year, we see four or five new faces securing their place in the panel but many more will fail. The object of this blog post is to identify small things players can do to make the grade. It looks at players who are training with their county for the first time, players still in their initial years on the squad and players who haven’t got a chance to show what they can do yet. Some might take guidance from it and I’m sure other players can provide further advice. Alot of these tips are applicable to players trying to make a step up at all levels in GAA as well as other sports.

 

You’ve been selected for the training squad:

·     Ask the manager which position he would like you to play in – if you are versatile it’s important to know what the manager thinks your best position is.

·     Interact with other players and slowly try to build relationships – being part of the group is important – being the person in the dressing room people avoid is fatal.

·     Work hard and keep the head down – push yourself in fitness work and don’t hide in drills or games – it doesn’t go unnoticed. Managers look for commitment and hard work as much as skill and natural ability.

·     Ask for advice from older members of the squad regarding improving aspects of your game – experience is invaluable.

·     If a more experienced player makes a comment to you regarding something you’re doing or not doing in training, listen to him, he’s doing it because he believes you’re worth encouraging.

·     After a few weeks, ask the manager what improvements you need to make to guarantee your place in the squad – don’t just ask, work on what he tells you.

·     Don’t miss training unless it’s unavoidable - attendance is important. If you find it easy to make excuses to the team and yourself you’re not cut out for this level of commitment.

·     Be positive. Negativity is obvious and it has an unwelcome presence in a dressing room. No one likes a sulk.

·     Commit to the gym work whether you’re a regular in the gym or a newbie – there’s no hiding place once the gym test results come back. Missing gym sessions is viewed in the same light as missing field sessions these days.

 

You’re on the panel for a year:

·     Most players get little or no game time in their first year – there are always exceptions.

·     Getting game time in your first season doesn’t guarantee it in your second year - you only play if you perform.

·     Accept that you have to be patient and remain positive.

·     Ask the manager what you need to do to get into the team – whether you agree with his point of view or not, he’s the one picking the team so concentrate on his advice. Spend extra time away from training working on areas you need to approve if needs be.

·     Don’t become a number in the squad - if you don’t believe you are good enough to contribute to the team you’re wasting your time. Stay positive and keep trying to improve.

·     You still have a lot to learn from more experienced players.

·     Make sure you are in good condition - fitness is a basic requirement and achieved with hard work. You can be the most talented player in the panel but if you are unfit you won’t get into the team.

·     Successful players are obsessive - if you get injured, make sure you do all you can to get back as quickly as you can. Don’t let an injury keep you out for longer than it should.
 

You haven’t been selected for the training squad:

·     Some club players believe that they have the ability to be part of an inter-county training squad. They may be correct. Players, particularly from weaker clubs generally end up playing in central positions for their local sides while realistically their best position may be a less central role. It is very hard to get noticed in club games when you are playing out of your most natural position. Generally, managers will give players opportunities if they feel they deserve one. Pick up the phone and call him, ask can you train with the team for a month. That shows hunger, belief in your own ability and commitment. The manager has nothing to lose by bringing you in for a trial period. How else are you going to get your chance?

Vodafone off the mark early

Last week Vodafone announced that their logo is to be replaced on the Dublin football and hurling teams’ jerseys for the first rounds of the National League. Their bright red trademark will be replaced by a white emblem of Suicide Or Survive (SOS); a charitable organisation who aim to ‘break down the stigma of mental health issues and ensure that those affected have access to quality recovery services that are right for the individual’.

A corporate entity offering a charity such a potentially beneficial opportunity speaks volumes for the level of corporate responsibility that Vodafone endorse. Their ‘Vodafone Ireland Foundation’ was set up in 2003 and provides funding for sponsorship, emergency relief and families facing adversity. Their latest offering is testament to their commitment to positively impact on society.

When I heard that Vodafone were planning to replace their logo with SOS, I applauded the company in my head. Not only because organisations like SOS need all the support and advertising they can get; Vodafone have pulled off a marketing masterstroke. The coverage that Vodafone received from the gesture was phenomenal, far greater than what they would have received from two National League games.

The story was carried in nearly all national news outlets and gave great exposure to SOS. On the other side it championed Vodafone as a company in touch with real life issues and married it to the cause of mental health awareness. It is worth noting that mental health awareness is a massive issue at the moment and very much in the media spotlight.

In 2008 when the GAA opted for a multi sponsor approach to their All Ireland Championships, Vodafone became one of three title sponsors of the football series. Three years later Vodafone switched from being one of four sponsors of the football championship to becoming the sole sponsor of Dublin GAA. This move highlights the strength of the Dublin GAA brand and the success of both teams in 2011 has undoubtedly rewarded Vodafone’s investment.

Personal research undertaken in 2007 suggested that Guinness was the most recognisable sponsorship partner of the GAA at the time. I imagine that right now they are still in that position but Vodafone are right behind them. Since beginning their sponsorship in 2008 they have been clearly visible to GAA fans throughout the country while their recent switch to Dublin GAA has actually increased their visibility across the board.

In recent months news articles have noted that some counties are struggling to secure sponsors for the coming year.  Expect to see more county boards offering naming rights on their grounds to potential sponsors as they try to balance the books. Most counties will struggle to promote their brand to the level of Dublin GAA but with the right sponsorship strategy, companies will reap the rewards of investing in inter-county teams.

It is suggested that the sponsorship market in Ireland will be worth €120-€130 million in 2012. Sponsoring companies will be looking for a favourable return on investment through claiming any advantages they can. Vodafone’s start of year initiative has certainly set a benchmark for the year ahead where companies will have to think outside the box to claim maximum advantage in a cluttered marketplace.

Permanent Home Advantage

As I listened to the experts discuss the draw for the Heiniken Cup quarter finals my mind strayed in a different direction. They spoke of how important home advantage is. The term itself says it all; you have an advantage playing at your home ground. Transferring this theory to the GAA can only mean one thing; Croke Park as the unofficial home of the Dubs.

In 2011, Dublin played seven National League and six Championship games. In those thirteen games, ten were played in Croke Park. The three games played outside Croke Park were National League games. What can we take from the league fixtures? Croke Park is the home of the Dubs. Traditionalists will suggest that Dublin’s home venue is Parnell Park but it’s hard to argue that point seeing as the only action it saw last year was a couple of O’Byrne Cup games. How can a team have the fortune of playing in their home venue for an entire championship? It’s the equivalent of Dublin Senior club champions, St Brigids playing the entire Championship at their home venue. On a broader scale it’s like Ireland playing all their 6 Nations games at the Aviva. It wouldn’t happen.

Ask the GAA why the Dubs play all of their games in Croke Park and the answer may include; the size of their following and the marketability of their fixtures. The main reason is money. Dublin supporters will pay to watch Dublin play in Dublin, just like most counties; you get your greatest support at home.

So the GAA is not about making money? Really? If the GAA wasn’t about money, Dublin’s footballers would be on a bus to Carlow or Tullamore on a Sunday in June. The last time they played a Leinster Championship game outside of Croke Park was in June 2006 when they travelled to Longford. They came away from Pearse Park after scraping a one point victory. It’s no wonder they haven’t left their back yard since.

In view of last week’s debate on the future of the GAA and the payment of managers, you have to wonder how far apart the notions of amateurism and professionalism really are. The Association’s wage bill soars annually as managers, coaches, physios, caterers, games promotion officers, county board staff as well as Croke Park staff all take their cut. Pay for play is an argument for a different day but it is clear that those who advocate volunteerism within the Association are generally the ones who profit from it.  

I don’t begrudge Dublin their All Ireland title, they deserved it and it was good for football. I have played against Dublin in Croke Park and witnessed the noise from the Hill when their team are on top. It is a huge advantage to them. If we played Dublin in Wexford Park that advantage would swing in our favour which arguably might help us get the few points we have needed on the last two occasions. For example, if we play Offaly in the first round of the Leinster Championship, the first team out of the hat plays at home, if we draw Dublin and we come out first we still play at Croke Park. Does that make sense? I’m pretty sure Voltaire wasn’t speaking of the GAA when he said that ‘common sense isn’t all that common’. You might argue that the concept could be applied in some situations.

The truth hurts

“If ur English, u play for England. If ur English and sh*t, u pretend ur Irish grand parentage matters to u and play for Ireland!”

“I'd rather have my 1 England cap and be forever yearning more than take somebody from that countries chance away because my nans from their.”

These are two of the tweets which appeared on my Twitter timeline last night in the name of QPR’s Joey Barton. It was like a red rag to a bull for a lot of Irish tweeters who felt it was necessary to show Barton their outrage. Why did they feel the need to let him know their thoughts? Because Barton was wrong in what he said? Certainly not. Because he insulted a true Irishman? Hardly. Because we never discuss the commitment of English players lining out for Ireland? Don’t think so. Access is the reason for the backlash; Twitter has opened the doors for all to have a go at professional athletes, movie stars, politicians, musicians, etc.

I don’t know Joey Barton personally or any of the celebrities that I follow on Twitter. I try not to make assumptions about people I don’t know. Some people believe that Twitter encourages them to say what they like to those they follow. I disagree. The outburst came after former Irish midfielder Matt Holland criticised Barton on Talksport radio. The Bury born player represented Ireland 49 times after declaring for the national side at 25.

If the death of Gary Speed thought us anything last year, surely we can see that success and wealth don’t automatically bring happiness. What gives any of us the right to send hateful messages to people who we know very little about? People argue that setting up a Twitter account means that from that moment you are ‘fair game’. Personally I think that it is a pathetic attitude.

Creating a Twitter account is optional so you have to accept that you are open to criticism when you post opinions. The criticism however should be balanced. Sometimes you don’t enjoy popularity from being honest and as the old cliché goes, the truth hurts. Let’s face it, if Matt Holland was good enough he would have worn an English jersey in the 2002 World Cup. He obviously wasn’t good enough so he chose to declare for Ireland. We took him with open arms as we do with any English player who shows an interest. Some people have a problem with that. Personally I don’t see it as a problem; we want to be successful so we pick the best players available regardless of birthplace. We get on with it and support them in the belief that they are doing their best.  

Are we as a nation really that upset about what Joey Barton said on Twitter? I doubt it because what he said is the truth. Does anyone out there actually believe that at 25 Matt Holland’s dream was to play for Ireland? The man sang God Save the Queen before a Championship playoff final. Why? Because he is English.

Don’t get me wrong I was cheering as loud as anyone when Holland equalised against Cameroon in 2002. I’m really looking forward to the European Championships this summer and a Jon Walters winner will mean as much to me as one from Kevin Doyle. At the end of the day the issue isn’t what Barton said, it’s the medium he used to say it.

The GAA should engage younger members

I thought a lot over the past week about choosing a topic for my second blog piece. I found it very difficult to pick a topic that I felt would be interesting as well as acceptable for a current inter-county GAA player to write about. When I thought about certain things within the GAA I thought to myself, ‘no, you can’t write about that’. Sometimes I feel like I can’t say certain things because of the knock on effects it may have on my playing career right now. I spend so much of my time playing GAA as well as associating with those who are involved in it that sometimes it is difficult to understand some of the goings on.  

Most players have issues with how the GAA is organised throughout the year, whether it’s the scheduling of club games or county board squabbling. There appears to be a lack of communication between officials and both club and county teams in most counties. It often seems that those who hold positions of authority within counties are self-serving and old-fashioned in their outlook. Change is something which arouses suspicion and young people are often discouraged from seeking positions within the GAA.

If the GAA is to move forward, the youth of the organisation need to be involved. The mentality that suggests that younger members are not capable of contributing to the running of the GAA at club and county level is ridiculous. If anything, the youth of the organisation in general are far more advanced in areas of marketing, advertising, sales and online media than their older counterparts. If the age profile at decision making level remains as is, the association can never expect to develop.

Often it seems that young members don’t want to get involved and it’s not hard to see why. The level of politics, back scratching and secrecy at times make the GAA look more like the Illuminati than an organisation inclusive of all; not to mention being transparent and fair. We’ve all heard the stories and they never actually surprise us because we’ve all witnessed something similar along the way.

The problem lies within the system as it does with politics in Ireland. Our current Government spoke of change before the last general election but once they gained control ‘appetite for change’ became ‘more of the same’. The level of politics within the GAA is clear so maybe the youth of the organisation have recognised that there is also no appetite for change within the GAA.

Will the age profile of the GAA president remain the same going forward or will we see younger office holders? At the moment I’d envisage more of the same. In that respect we can liken our organisation to the Catholic Church; an organisation which can hardly be applauded for its foresight and management. The most successful businesses in the world have vibrant leaders with dynamic ideas. The GAA needs the same at many levels.

The aftermath of 'Cha'

At 26 James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick has decided to hang up his intercounty helmet in what could be described as a shock to many. Having won five senior inter-county All Ireland titles as well as three All Stars, the Kilkenny hurler has cited lack of game time as the main reason for his decision.

Playing senior intercounty hurling or football is a massive committment for any team and no more so than for a group that can be described as the most successful hurling team to ever compete. Fitzpatrick is a teacher in Dublin and travelling to Kilkenny for training more than likely adds to his efforts. Failing to nail down a starting place only adds to the strain.

The papers carried the story from early in the week of the retirement but beyond that there seemed to be an agenda. It was mooted that Fitzpatrick could declare for Dublin. There seemed to be little fact behind the possibility yet the media seemed to welcome it as a positive switch. Why? Probably because there is a school of thought that Dublin hurling needs to be strong to keep hurling both interesting and competitive? And what better way to promote hurling in Dublin as well as increasing the potential of the senior team than to bring in a player of Cha's reputation and quality.

This is the first time I have read reports of transfer within the GAA as positive. If Fitzpatrick wanted to join Tipperary, would it be viewed as a positive move or as a threat to the amateur ethos and the intercounty structure we have in place? I doubt the GAA would encourage such a move. The media would print articles of how a player sold out and brand the GAA as 'in crisis' with fears of more intercounty transfers.

In today's (23/11/11) Irish Independent, Martin Breheny suggests that Fitzpatrick is destined to declare for Dublin. The player listed 'The Moon' as a location he would like to holiday, the home of the Sea of Tranquility. Breheny asks, 'how's this for a coincidence? The geological description of the Sea of Tranquility notes that "whenever colour is processed and extracted from multiple photographs, it gives off a slightly bluish shade". Surely a sign that 'Cha' is destined to end up with Dublin. It's written in the stars, or at least on the Moon'.

There's no doubt that this is tongue and cheek from the reporter but it gauges the ease with which the media are willing to marry 'Cha' and Dublin hurling. As a player who has relocated in Dublin and switched to a Dublin club I know there is an unease regarding the amount of players joining clubs in the capital. It would seem that the proposed intercounty transfer of a high profile player should cause massive debate but it appears to be accepted if not welcomed!

The media shape opinions on wide reaching subjects from current affairs to fashion to sport. If the media decided to suggest that a possible switch from Kilkenny to Dublin was an outrage, then that would be the talking point. It seems though that the media have now championed the Cha to Dublin cause and opened the public's mind to the prospect. Now, I don't believe that a player who has achieved all that he has with his native Kilkenny would be interested in a move to play with Dublin, but maybe I'm wrong.

What would happen if a move went ahead? We already have rumours of Cavan's Seanie Johnston and Offaly's Niall McNamee joining Kildare. Does this signal the end of the current intercounty structure? I'll nail my flag to the mast here, if I could get paid to play GAA I would grab it with both hands, who wouldn't? At the same time, playing for your county is a fantastic reward and brings great pride. However, the modern game is so demanding that it is increasingly harder to give the required committment while balancing work, family and everything else. Either way, I don't see it as a cross roads we will reach during my playing time but eventually the debate will need to be settled.

Once that happens, the media will be at the forefront of the discussion and be under no illusions; their view will play a major role in the outcome.