GAA Christmas Crackers 2013 - Quotes of the Year

“1948 is a long time ago. Sean T O’Kelly was the president, John A Costello was the Taoiseach, he took over from Eamonn De Valera, Noel Browne was the Minister for Health and it’s all over! Waterford are All Ireland champions for a third time, the first time since 1948. Waterford hurling is back on the big stage!”
A short history lesson from WLR FM commentator Kieran O’Connor before the final whistle sounds in the All Ireland minor final.

“Domhnall O’Donovan is the left corner back, he hits it, it’s over the bar! Oh Holy Moses what a match! I have never experienced anything like it.”
Marty Morrissey explodes with excitement as the Clare number two equalises in the last act from a drawn All Ireland of biblical proportions.

“When we were getting food I got brought aside and I didn’t know before that. Davy brought me aside and just said I was starting. I didn’t know before that. I thought it was brilliant, I always wanted to start. But I was a bit surprised alright.”
Shane O’Donnell on his short notice call-up for All Ireland final Saturday which was followed swiftly by 3-3, Liam McCarthy and man of the match glitz.

“My doctor Tom Higgins will be delighted because I came through a tough game without getting a heart attack!”
Peter Power survives another eventful afternoon on the sideline as Dungarvan CBS capture the Croke Cup in Semple Stadium.

“First question from me. Did any of ye get a prediction right?”
Michael Ryan turns the tables after a last gasp Jake Dillon free allows Waterford escape from Ennis with one point to spare.

“There was a big wind with us and it was a bit of a hit and hope. It was lucky enough I suppose but we’ll take it.”
Kevin Moran plays down his epic clincher against Tipperary that completed a six point turnaround.

“This game of Gaelic football has been infiltrated by a load of spoofers and bluffers, people with no experience in some cases of Gaelic football. Fellas with earpieces stuck in their ear, psychologists, statisticians and dieticians and we have forgotten the basic principles of the game.”
Pat Spillane hit a familiar stride during half time of Cavan versus Fermanagh.

“It’s pure constipated hurling. They’re so inhibited in everything they do. Look at Conal Keaney, remember that display two years ago in the league final against Kilkenny. The zip they had in them that day, that’s totally gone out of them.”
Ger Loughnane describes Dublin’s frustrating display, much to the amusement of Michael Lyster and Eddie Brennan, after the drawn Leinster quarter final with Wexford.

“What I witnessed last night made me very angry, particularly from the Wexford players. Nobody has a right to go out on the hurling field and pull across another guy’s head and I saw several examples of it last night. I thought it was absolutely disgraceful.”
Michael Duignan criticises the approach of the Model county to the replay in Parnell Park.

“If Waterford lose to Offaly in Saturday's All-Ireland qualifier, it will be a disaster.”
John Mullane lays it on the line in his Irish Independent column.

“I want nothing to do with that. It’s an absolute disgrace. I see Mickey Harte smiling and jumping up and down at the end like they achieved. I’ll tell you what, they achieved something absolutely rotten. I can’t believe somebody gave Sean Cavanagh a man-of-the-match award… it’s not within the rules, you’re not allowed rugby tackle a player to the ground. He’s a brilliant footballer but you can forget about Sean Cavanagh as a man.”
Joe Brolly’s outburst in the Sunday Game studios after Tyrone’s quarter final win over Monaghan.

“I remember going down the street and buying the Mi Wadi orange and biscuits and all that and having them on the table when they came in.”
Davy Fitzgerald created a homely atmosphere as the Clare players piled into his living room after losing to Cork in the Munster semi final.

“If I was there with a big grumpy head people would say that he doesn’t care. I show a bit of emotion and I get a slagging for it.”
Kieran O’Gorman absorbed plenty of stick for his animated expression in a photo of the minor management team following the All Ireland semi final.

“I’m shaking like a leaf in spring.”
Liam Aherne of Live 95 FM is swept up as Limerick shake up the Munster championship by taking out Tipperary.

“You only have to look around, there’s nothing but people in red tops with tears in their eyes.”
Merely moments after pulling the rug under Ballygunner with 2-4 in the space of seven minutes, Passage manager Peter Queally absorbed the enormity of their maiden county title.

“It’s a small area but what a heart. I will always say that Ballysaggart is the greatest place on earth. If there’s anyone around that wants to go anywhere be in Ballysaggart tonight because it’s going to be rocking.”
Ballysaggart boss Adrian Meagher in buoyant form after the blue and navy became the first Waterford club to attain Munster junior honours.

Giant of the big ball leaves lasting legacy

 

The sole motivating factor behind Gary Hurney’s growth into a marked man on the inter county and provincial scene was always the betterment of Waterford football.

 “When I was there, I gave it my all and I enjoyed every minute of it. I had a good relationship with all the players and I have seen three or four managers come and go. They all had the same ambition I had and that was to progress Waterford football and try to win something. We didn’t win any silverware but we certainly promoted Waterford football.”

Square one signalled a bleak beginning. Aged 18 and still in St Augustine’s, he commenced his championship quest against Cork in May of 1999. The hosts were murdered in Fraher Field (3-23 to 0-4), with the newcomer managing Waterford’s solitary second half score from a free two minutes from time. His long running crusade consisted of lifting performance levels, improving results and altering attitudes towards the team both inside and outside the county.

At a towering 6 foot and 4 inches, he boasted size and strength but also subtlety and a lethal left boot. He alternated between midfield and full forward; excelling in both positions. Only three championship wins arrived out of 24 appearances. He faced Cork four times and Kerry on three occasions. They ran the Kingdom close at Fitzgerald Stadium in 2006 (0-16 to 0-8). He still settled for 6-37 in championship football. After fifteen seasons of campaigning, the Déise are now stretching upwards rather than staring blankly into the abyss.

 The wear and tear ultimately turned his mind towards retirement. Restricted by back and neck injuries, the Ballinacourty veteran took a brutally honest assessment when the shutters cascaded on the season. “Every player knows himself when it is time. Even during the year itself, I had picked up a lot of knocks and a lot of niggles. To be honest about it, there is no better feeling that going back in January to give another hard slog and compete in the championship. I just felt that the body wasn’t there. As a player, you have to make that decision yourself. Every time you go out, you have to do your best. And you feel that if you can’t go out and do your upmost best for the team and you’re not able because of injury, it’s not fair on everyone else. For me, injury was going to be a problem this year. It was last year. I reckon without the injuries or if I was a small bit better maybe we could have changed the result down in Galway.”

He also contemplated the long term damage of continuing on. “There is a life after GAA as well that I had to look at. I’m very active and I have been very active from a young age. I want to be able to do something after it and I think that if I stayed on for another year, I could have jeopardised that.”
2010 ushered deliverance. Six wins and two draws yielded overdue promotion. In their final day win over Clare (0-20 to 2-5) at Fraher Field, Hurney kicked seven points. It teed up a bonus trip to Croke Park against Limerick but silverware eluded them by two (1-16 to 1-14). He scored 2-6 in the subsequent championship. “2010 was obviously our best year,” the 33 year old says unequivocally. “It probably took me eleven years to get to that. I dreamt of the day of playing in Croke Park for the Waterford footballers. I don’t think on the day that we let ourselves down, we played very well and we were unlucky. Over the years, we have been very unlucky with certain decisions. That would have been one of my major highlights.”

Other rare days in the sun come flooding back. They spoiled the promotion party for 1/50 favourites Cavan at Breffini Park in the last round of the 2006 league. Man of the match Hurney notched two points. “That sums up John Kiely and what he has done for Waterford. If it is one thing that the man has, he tries to get the best thirty lads to play football in Waterford. That’s his first goal and his second goal is to make everyone enjoy it. He made us all feel ten foot tall and made us believe in our own ability. John read out the programme before the game and he had nothing else to say really. It just shows that the ability is there.”

Erratic results irritated however and held the team back from building a head of steam. “Our major problem over the years was consistency and getting back to back results. We kind of struggled with that. Around 2008, 2009 and 2010 we really got consistency in our performances. We were going for promotion in all of those years. In 2010, we got it. Everyone knows what happened in Division 3. We were very unlucky, it came down to the last game and we lost out.”

He represented Munster in six Railway Cups (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2013). “Any chance you get to put on the royal blue jersey, you take it. It’s great for the Waterford lads to see a guy out there representing the county. It’s not just myself but there’s been five or six others that have been there and won medals. It’s a massive honour.”

 As Abbeyside’s stock rose in the local hurling market, Hurney dabbled in the inter county game and made six championship appearances (four starts and two substitute outings). In 2008, he scored a point in Justin McCarthy’s last game in charge versus Clare and a goal in Davy Fitzgerald’s debut scalping of Antrim. Hurney also sampled a slither of action in the historic All Ireland semi final that year. The number eighteen replaced Jamie Nagle on 69 minutes. “It was a big choice at the time because I was senior football captain and Justin had asked me in. I quickly made up my mind. In fairness to Justin, he let me plug away with the two and it was probably difficult to do it. Getting to the All Ireland final in 2008 was a massive boost to the county. I’ll never forget the feeling after winning the semi final against Tipperary regardless on or off the pitch. The whole county was buzzing. Unfortunately, the day itself and the All Ireland didn’t go our way but I still won’t forget the feeling after the semi final.”

After almost sending tremors through the championship from Salthill last summer, Hurney believes that Division 3 status is attainable in 2014. And in Paul Whyte, provider of eight points on that sodden July afternoon, the team appear to possess a natural successor to steer the attack. “Paul is a young guy and a fantastic footballer but I hope that he doesn’t have to take the whole load on his shoulders. I see that JJ Hutchinson is back on the panel and Brian Wall is staying on for another year and he will show great leadership to the young players. For the team to progress and perform, you need your stars but you certainly need all of the team rowing in. If that’s happening and the work is being done at the back, Paul and the others will find their scores a lot easier. I have no doubt this year that their goal is to get out of Division 4 and Niall and the lads will leave no stone unturned.”

Jackson frequently publicised Gary’s gifts and he offered the following reference in 2008. “Gary Hurney - where in Ireland would you get a fella 6’4" and 15-and-a-half stone, absolutely fearless, great pair of hands, impossible to dispossess, solos as if the ball was part of his anatomy and kick passes the ball brilliantly?” The giant of the big ball in white and blue was one of a kind.

Waterford Under 21 hurling finals 2002-2012

Abbeyside's 2004 winners

2012
Ballygunner 1-13 St Carthages 0-15

2011
Ballygunner 4-23 Cappoquin 0-10

2010
Ballygunner 2-18 Dungarvan 1-11

2009
Ballygunner 1-7 Dungarvan 1-6

2008
De La Salle 2-12 Cappoquin 1-7

2007
Abbeyside 1-18 De La Salle 1-17 (AET)

2006
Abbeyside 2-9 Ballygunner 1-11

2005
Ballygunner 1-14 Ballyduff Upper 0-8

2004 Replay
Abbeyside 1-13 Ballygunner 1-6

2004
Abbeyside 1-14 Ballygunner 1-14

2003
Tallow 3-7 Mount Sion 2-8

2002
Tallow 1-18 Mount Sion 2-8

O’Keeffe proposes tweak to Waterford SFC group games

After a run of low turnouts in 2013, county secretary Timmy O’Keeffe believes that the round robin stages of the senior football championship should be held on a home and away basis over a two year trial period.

The end of year returns revealed the current lack of appeal in the group games. Gaultier v Ardmore recorded the lowest figure of €110 on the gate. Ballinacourty v Ballinameela (€153) and Clashmore v Gaultier (€180) only fared marginally better. Four other games failed to break three hundred euro.

“It is very noticeable that interest in the league section games of the senior football championship is at an all time low,” O'Keeffe noted in his report to convention. “ As can be seen in the analysis of the senior football championship gate receipts further on in this booklet, of the 23 games shown at 8 different venues, 19 of them recorded a gate receipt of €520 or less. These games, played at neutral venues, not alone are not attracting the neutral supporter, they are not even attracting supporters from either club! Perhaps it would be worth considering that these league section games could be played on a home or away basis on a trial period for two years. The idea would be that the groups drawn for 2014 would be for a two year period, 2014 and 2015. Each team would then be guaranteed five home games and five away games over a two year period.”

He feels that this measure will revive interest in the early rounds of the championship. “In addition to improving gate receipts, playing the games on a home or away basis would bring the game back to the people of the parish and in so doing would give the senior football championship a much needed boost."

He believes that every club ground should be able to cope with hosting these games. “Of course, each club pitch would have to be of a minimum standard and issues like stewarding, collecting gates, scoreboards, parking, etc. would have to be worked out but most club grounds are now of a high standard and with goodwill and hard work these issues could be resolved. “

 

Déise record small shortfall in 2013 accounts

Waterford GAA secretary Timmy O’Keeffe was upbeat about the county’s financial situation after the board incurred a small loss of €2,798 in their 2013 accounts. In 2012, the Déise coffers took a hit of €212,271 and the deficit stood at €120,430 in 2011. These latest figures are contained in the report for convention which will take place on December 16 in Dungarvan.

O’Keeffe wrote positively in his report about the progress made over the last twelve months. “I am pleased to report that the finances of the Board are in a much healthier state in 2013 as compared to 2012 and 2011. The accounts show a turnaround from a loss of over two hundred thousand euro (€212,271) in 2012 to more or less a break even situation in 2013.” He thanked the efforts of county treasurer Joe Cleary in this regard. “Full credit must go to the County Treasurer and the executive for this turnaround. Strict cost control, better fundraising and improved gate receipts all contributed.”

Despite these inroads, O’Keeffe still estimates that the board owes in the region of €540,000. “As of October 31, the net indebtedness of the Board was approximately €540,000, down from approximately €600,000 at the same time in 2012. This shows that we are going in the right direction but there is still a long way to go.”

 The Clashmore club man warned that this only marks the beginning of a long road to recovery. “Much more work needs to be done,” he stated firmly. “Strict cost controls will have to be maintained and fundraising efforts will have to be redoubled. The major fundraising effort for 2014 will be centred around the Punchestown Races on May 3 but the Golf Classic, the WLR FM Pub Quiz and the Night at the Dogs will need to be successful too.”

Income for the year settled at €1,248,099 which marked a significant increase on the 2012 figure of €1,087,395. They made gains of €73,701 from fundraising activities. Gate receipts swelled by €32,189.

Expenditure fell slightly from €1,299,666 to €1,250,897. Spending on inter county teams dropped from €534,715 in 2012 to €498,356 in the year gone by. The senior hurlers cost €196,821 while the footballers set the board back €115,438. The All Ireland minor hurling champions spent €52,899.

He also acknowledged the part that the clubs played in easing the strain. “The contribution of the clubs through the Club Levy is a vital part in paying down this debt and while I understand the difficult times that each club find themselves in at the moment, it is vital that every club contributes their share.”

Elsewhere in the report, O’Keeffe applauded the efforts of Seán Power’s September winners. “On the playing fields, 2013 will be remembered as the year that Waterford underage hurling really took off. In a wonderful atmosphere, Waterford and Galway served up a fantastic game of hurling. The game had everything; thrills, spills, great scores and most of all, the right result for Waterford. It’s a day that all Waterford supporters will savour for a long time to come. The home coming on Monday night in Waterford and Dungarvan were very special occasions.”

He also expressed his concern about the results of the under 21 and minor footballers at provincial level. “I wrote in last year’s report that an alarming gap has opened up between Waterford and the other five counties in Munster at underage football level and the situation has not improved much in the past year.”

Ballysaggart’s eleven game tour to Mallow

Western Championship Round 1
Ballysaggart 5-30 Kilgobnet 1-9

Western Championship Round 2
Ballysaggart 3-13 Colligan 1-17

Western Championship Round 3
Modeligo 2-18 Ballysaggart 1-15

Western Championship Round 4
Ballysaggart 0-16 Geraldines 0-14

Western Championship Round 5
Ballysaggart 1-14 St Mary’s 1-9

Western Championship Semi Final
Ballysaggart 1-15 Modeligo 3-9

Western Championship Semi Final Replay
Ballysaggart 2-17 Modeligo 1-17

Western Championship Final
Ballysaggart 3-13 Colligan 0-12

County Final
Ballysaggart 1-18 Tramore 1-9

Munster Quarter Final
Ballysaggart 1-12 Grenagh 1-9

Munster Semi Final
Ballysaggart 1-12 Knockshegowna 1-5