Watching the Premier League as a huge soccer fan this year is undoubtedly interesting. At this stage of the league, coming into December and the busy Christmas period Leicester, yes Leicester City are top of the league. If you have a quick look around the European leagues you can expect to see the likes of Barcelona, Juventus, Bayern Munich and PSG leading their leagues, and in the English league we have Leicester City. Now no disrespect to Leicester, they are playing great football and deserve to be up there but I ask the question of Chelsea. They so comfortably won the league last year and have kept the same core of players, I know they have lost some key dressing room players and leaders like Peter Cech and Dider Drogba but realistically they still should have the quality and experience there to be leading the league again this season. So where has it all gone wrong? Have the players lost faith in Jose? Or are they just not getting the luck needed to be leading the premier league?
As the dust settles on the 2015 hurling championship and the All-Stars are handed out recognising the country’s top players for their outstanding performances throughout the year, we look back on the main talking points from this year’s championship. Kilkenny retaining Liam McCarthy once again, TJ Reid in irresistible form, Galway and Tipperary serving out a cracker in the semi at HQ and the re-emergence of Waterford as a top tier contender for the Holy Grail. As a Waterford man and hurling supporter I was delighted to see my own county lift a league title and again begin to be a reckoning force in the championship but to me their results isn’t what I find significant it’s how they achieved these results with the deployment of the “sweeper” is what interests me.
Now every person that has played GAA at various different levels is well aware of the tactic of “dropping the man back” and playing a free role in an attempt to shore up the defence and I myself am well-accustomed to it. We have seen this deployed at senior club level and at inter-county level and undoubtedly can have its success. However, in the championship this year Waterford under the stewardship of Derek McGrath have used this tactic and advanced it to become one of the most defensively minded teams in the country. Throughout the championship Waterford only conceded 3 goals which is an extremely impressive return and deserves to be praised in itself but only managed themselves 5 goals, 3 of which came in defeating cork in the 1st game of the Munster Championship. The following day out when they came up against the Premier men in the Munster final, arguably one of the biggest and most anticipated events in the sporting calendar they once again adopted there defensive approach but on this occasion Eamon O'Shea identified this and countered it with similar tactic themselves which lead to one of the most disappointing Munster Finals in recent times with Waterford managing a mere 16 points throughout the 70 minutes of action. Throughout the game it was obvious to see Waterford’s plan in sniffing out any goal opportunities and depriving Seamie Callanan of a yard of space which after his virtuoso display against Galway later on in the series is not easily done. Once any Tipperary attack was broken down Waterford attempted to break out and by delivering ball up to the Waterford attackers namely Maurice Shanahan the primary target. More often than not he was surrounded by opposition defenders usually completely out numbering the amount of Waterford attackers because the majority of the players are under instruction to retreat back with the main objective being defensive orientated. Once it was evident that this tactic was not working Waterford had no plan B or C and the game itself ended in Tipperary claiming another Munster title. We are just 3 weeks away from what most people are saying is “the most hotly anticipated mixed martial arts fight ever”. The Notorious Conor McGregor will finally get to fight the featherweight champ Jose Aldo inside the octagon, that’s if Jose doesn’t suddenly break a nail and have to pull out again (yes Jose we all know you had a bruised rib). Now seeing as the fight was meant to happen way back in July at UFC 189, some were speculating that this fight might have lost its appeal, but that is far from the case especially here in Ireland. From the man who basically became an overnight sensation to the general Irish public when he knocked poor Marcus Brimage into next week via TKO in Stockholm, McGregor has basically been the darling son of Ireland ever since and to most people and can do no wrong.
Technology is evolving in the world every single day of the year, there is some new advancement in the world that makes the world an even smaller place that it has already become. These advancements have made the world a much better place, however, it has also changed it not for the good incurring many a consequence to go with it. These consequences could have potential harm if they continue to improve the way they have been over previous years. These technological advances include smart phones, tablet devices, computers laptops and such devices but technology in the sporting world has also changed dramatically over previous’ years. The power a smart phone has is imaginable; this small digital device has the power to contact anyone anywhere within the globe at least. The convenience of having such power is appetizing for these developers to further improve them as best they can.
Bad acting and corrupt villains. No, I am not referring to the latest James Bond film but in fact the current state of world football. Widespread simulation, match fixing and corruption now as common as bad haircuts throughout the sport. It has gotten to the stage where I am nearly embarrassed to tell someone I play football. A few weeks ago, I was chatting up a girl in a pub and when I told her I play football she said “oh, so you are one of those guys who get touched and throw yourself on the ground?” Needless to say I did not pull, but it got me thinking about the state of the sport and how could it have gotten this bad. A simple shoulder to shoulder collision these days, is likely to result in a foul. The amount of diving also contributes to this image of the sport being of “soft” nature, with some of the top players in the world taking this to extremes. Ashley Young, Arjen Robben and Luis Suarez to name but a few of the regular offenders. As for the corruption, the sport we all know and love has been used by a few FIFA executives to make quick and easy cash.
In the summer of 2015, scandal hit footballs head governing body, FIFA, when the US department of justice arrested 7 FIFA executives on corruption charges. These executives took bribes from Russia and Qatar to vote for them and send the next two world cups to these countries. FIFA’s long standing president Sepp Blatter denied any wrong doing in this case but I just cannot see how he could have been unaware to all of this happening under his nose. John Delaney has admitted to receiving a €5 million “loan” from Blatter following the infamous Henry handball in 2009. So in my eyes Blatter is corrupt, how in the name of god he is still FIFA president is beyond me. He is set to step down in the near future but even when that will be is unclear. He is subject to Swiss criminal investigation and is currently still FIFA president. Any other position of power in the world and he would be long gone as well thrown in jail. Do you dread taking your kids swimming on a Sunday morning because you promised them you would? I mean, all the hassle of gathering swimsuits, hats, goggles and Oh wait! Don’t forget the towels!! It’s a pain right… You arrive at the pool/ beach and the excitement builds, energy levels are sky high and all your kids want to do is go plunge into the water… You try to give them a quick pep talk and lay down some ground rules like “Don’t go out too deep” and “Stay close to me”. “Can we just go swim now” replies an enthusiastic and excited little voice. As your little darlings take off to dive into the water ignoring your final advice “Be careful”, you ask why you do I do this to myself… Images of kids been rescued on last night’s episode of Bondi Rescue flood into your head along with the reports of 559 casualties rescued by Irish Water Safety lifeguards in just one summer month. Wouldn’t it be great if you didn’t have to worry about your kids, imagine if they automatically knew how to swim so that the second they plummet into the world of aquatics they swim like fish. Unlike animals who instinctively swim when plunged into water, us humans must learn how to swim. The benefits of swimming are endless, with five benefits of swimming for kids listed below. Surely the next decade or so will determine what’s in store for the GAA? There are strong opinions for and against the motion of professionalism in the GAA. Personally, I am gradually beginning to lean towards the GAA turning professional. Like everything in life there are pros and cons with each decision we make. However, I think it is only a matter of time before some sort of monetary rewards are given to players. I don’t think there is anyone out there that would deny these incredibly dedicated and talented athletes some sort of pay for play system.
Of course there is always that demographic of the population who would argue against the system because you are deemed to be ‘breaking tradition, the culture and fundamentals of the game’. Their absolutely 100% right in what they are saying. The GAA dates back to 1884 where it was founded in Hayes Hotel, Thurles County Tipperary. The idea of the GAA was to bring people together and there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Hurling, Football, Camogie and Ladies Football all play a unique role in defining what the GAA symbolises and stands for worldwide today. So you've splashed out and got yourself gym membership. Go you! Now, as we all know, gym membership doesn't come cheap, so you've decided you're going to make the most of it. You've spent the first few months on that treadmill sweating your ass off and you've finally managed to shift some of that puppy fat that’s been bothering you for the last god knows how long. I applaud you; this is not an easy thing to do. So now comes the dreaded toning. You've seen all the pictures on the internet and posters in the gym of these beautiful strong women who have muscles, and you think “well if they can have muscles and still be feminine then surely so can I?” And the answer is yes, of course you can! Gone are the days when women were seen as masculine for working their muscles. Nowadays there is nothing more feminine than a lady that is toned and proud.
Depression. What is it? Who suffers from it and why? These are the questions that come to mind when I hear the word depression. In recent times, the taboo subject has been getting more recognition, for good and bad reasons alike. For me, it was reading about sporting figures that suffered from this disabling mental health issue that it really came to light and hence, my reasoning for this blog post.
I have played Badminton from the young age of 6 or 7 years old. Badminton has always been a part of my life in good times and in bad. It is a sport that is very competitive but at the same time friendly. You can get so caught up in your game and not care what’s going on around you because you’re so engrossed in the game. What shot your opponent is going to play to you next? Or how am I going to win this rally and step one step closer to winning the set. It’s all about your footwork and movement and how you’re going to push yourself to get to the next shot that seems too far away.
With the right training, footwork and technique you’re more than likely closer then you thought you were. Some people just don’t understand the sport. They think it’s an easy game with no skill or excitement. Like all other sports it takes time and commitment, years of learning, hours of training, thinking you’re getting nowhere but in fact you’re more than likely improving. You go through periods of failing and loosing but this happens to all of us, at some stage you will have a lucky strike and win. Happiness and achievement will occur at this period of time and you will realise that all those long hours of training have paid off. You will think of the times when your challenges and targets seemed unreachable but you have finally got there! But what about the people with physical impairments? Do they get to play? |
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