Playing Gaelic games has become a lifestyle choice rather than a recreational activity

Above: At the launch of the Aherlow club history were, from left, Tom Hayes (West Board Chairman), Thomas Peters, Lar Ivory, JJ Kennedy (author), Mick Galvin (former Dublin footballer), Noel Clifford, Terence Coskeran, Joe Kennedy (County Board Chairman) and Paddy O’Shea

The Clarinbridge club in county Galway is a name most associated with an All-Ireland club victory over O’Loughlin Gaels back in 2011. Micheal Donoghue, a man familiar to us here in Tipperary, managed his home club to that famous triumph. Talk of Clarinbridge also recalls names like Liam Donoghue (Micheal’s brother), David Forde, Alan Kerins and more recently Evan Niland.

However, in the past week the club has hit the headlines for more unwelcome notice after a so-called players’ charter went viral on social media. Reactions have been varied, from mockery by some, to the more serious-minded who see it as an indictment of the modern approach to sport.

The charter includes imperatives such as no holidays or drinking during championship (June-October), mandatory attendance at fitness test markers, logging of all activity on an app and no other sporting commitments past June, such as soccer, golf, rugby or athletics. There’s an almost biblical tone of “Thou shalt not…”

Not since the days of the infamous ban have we seen such a dictatorial document. Inevitably it has been seized upon by those who see modern methods of preparation as over the top and likely to drain the fun from participation.

Joe Brolly produced his own spoof version of rules including no romantic relationship, whether with the opposite or same sex, after the date of signing the contract, no eating of confectionary of any kind, no entering of licensed premises etc.

On a more serious note, Dermot Crowe in the Sunday Independent had a very balanced piece, which quoted Clarinbridge sources. There was an acknowledgment that the language and terminology in the charter was too draconian. However, it was also pointed out that this charter was a players’ initiative and not something imposed from the top.

Nonetheless, it does focus attention on a growing trend within the GAA where levels of preparation, even for junior clubs, have become so intense that participation is all-consuming. Playing has become a lifestyle choice rather than a recreational activity. Ultimately, enjoyment is the only rationale for playing sport and that must never be drained from the games.

Of course, much of this is sometimes driven by outside paid managers/coaches and that raises an even bigger issue for the association, one that’s proved very difficult to tackle. I was reminded at the weekend of a former president of the association who made it his mission to end under-the-table payments but ultimately had to concede that he couldn’t even find the table!

Elsewhere, as a follow-up to my comments on the poor showing of Tipperary teams in Munster club action, Ed Donnelly did a very interesting piece of investigation on the topic, with some fascinating results. He looked particularly at our club senior hurling involvement over the last ten years.

Surprisingly, Tipperary clubs collected six red cards in that period, whereas their opponents collected none. Does that imply that Tipperary sides are particularly indisciplined? Surely not. Some of those cards are down to questionable refereeing but a six-nil count does still raise eyebrows.

Some will see it as an inbuilt anti-Tipp bias, but I wouldn’t overplay that one. The two Loughmore cards in 2021 and the Denis Maher dismissal for Sarsfields in 2014 were certainly poor refereeing calls but I wouldn’t defend the others.

Ed also highlighted features of our performances, which the county would need to address as these apply to our inter-county record as well. For example, we have a very poor record of protecting leads or coming from behind in the second half. Second half displays generally are an issue for the county, as is the scarcity of second half goals. Out of twelve games we scored just five second half goals, whereas our opponents hit 14.

All of which is interesting food for thought, for which I’m grateful to Ed for poring over the statistics. I think he’s certainly correct in highlighting a county failing in our inability to protect leads or to come from behind when opponents get a run on us.

We don’t do particularly well in tight finishes either. Our three All-Ireland wins over Kilkenny, for example, were achieved by wide margins; in tighter games against Kilkenny or Galway we tend to lose out. All of which, I’d suggest, points to a psychological deficit in our teams.

Food for thought then, perhaps, for Liam Cahill and his cabinet as they put in the winter shift ahead of competitive action in the New Year. Our season kicks off officially with the Munster League in early January. We’re away to Waterford on January 7 and then play Kerry at home the following week. Our league start is on February 3 at Parnell Park against the Dubs.

Our Munster championship schedule is a tough one, starting with two away games to Limerick and Waterford in late April and early May. We could be floundering even before Cork come to town on May 19. We have Clare at home for the final fixture.

Interestingly, the management decided against announcing a panel at this stage and instead will assess players over the next month or two before naming the group ahead of the league start. It probably makes sense with so many players dipping in and out. A named panel at this stage might prove meaningless.

A team travelled to Laois last weekend for a challenge match, which was won by the locals. It was, apparently, very much a mixum-gatherum selection from Tipperary, with none of the regular panel on duty. One comment I saw had praise for Drom’s goalie Eoin Collins, Conor Whelan (Mullinahone), Josh Keller (Nenagh), Jack Ryan (Clonoulty), Keane Hayes (Gortnahoe) and Jack Leamy (Golden).

I guess the main portion of the panel is already decided, so these players are competing for the remaining slots. I’m not convinced these winter trial games offer a lot, except maybe in the area of attitude and general stomach for the hard graft.

The team has a further challenge game lined up with Kerry this coming Saturday at Fethard. From what I’ve seen at club level the management has a tough task in unearthing new players. Some of those with most potential are still too young. Incidentally, and in view of recent controversy, there are four Kiladangan players involved at the moment: Barry Hogan, Billy Seymour, Sean Hayes and Willie Connors.

Finally, a highlight for some of us last weekend was the official launch of the Aherlow club history over in Lisvernane on Saturday. The end product is a 528-page tome, a veritable door-stopper, packed with historical narrative and close to 400 photographs and illustrations. It’s a huge production for a club that enjoyed unprecedented success, especially from the 1980s until the early 2010s.

Special guest on the occasion was former Dublin footballer Mick Galvin, who was part of the successful Dubs’ formation that narrowly pipped Tyrone in the 1995 All-Ireland final.

It was a proud moment for a club whose story is quite remarkable. Coming from a low base they hit extraordinary heights with two county senior football titles in 2006 and 2010, as well as junior and intermediate hurling wins in 2009 and 2011. For one season, 2012, they were a fully-fledged dual senior club.

The ladies’ club, one of the most successful in the county, did even better winning a Munster junior title in 2011 before narrowly losing the All-Ireland decider. A very well attended launch represented the pride the parish has into its sporting legacy.

Overall, a day of celebration for the club whose story deserved to be put into print. I was honoured to be part of it.