IT’S A FAMILIAR practice every summer that hundreds of GAA players leave Ireland and head across the Atlantic to sample life Stateside for a few months.
This week saw the revelation that Tipperary will be without three of their brightest young talents as Liam Casey, Kevin Fahey and Jason Lonergan are bound for the USA.
The Roscommon footballers, a major success story in the league campaign, have lost the versatile Conor Daly as he is bound for Boston.
Liam McHale is currently coaching Roscommon after a distinguished playing career with Mayo.
He admits that it is disappointing to lose a player of Daly’s capabilities but after sampling USA summers himself, he is no mood to blame youngsters for making that choice.
“Conor pulled out two weeks ago, said he was going to the States. We are a bit disappointed but if that’s what he wants to do, he’s a student, a young lad.
“I did it three or four times myself so I’m not going to be a hypocrite and say they shouldn’t do it. I was in Boston and Chicago.
“It was easier for us because if you lost the first round of the championship there was no qualifier and your phone would be hopping on Monday morning.
“These fellas are getting good offers, they are good footballers. I personally had the time of my life any time I did it. I would never try and persuade a fella from going.
“If they feel the need to do it then it’s a great experience for them. The will be playing football, the good guys will still be doing a bit of lifting and playing a fairly competitive game every weekend.
“We are disappointed because we can’t afford to be losing fellas like Conor but at the same time we understand that if that’s what he needs to do then so be it.”
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Good appointments in both football & hurling.We will be hoping for steady improvement in both codes in 2016.
Good job it was Cian O’Neil who got the job so…..anyway he’s a very highly thought of coach, seen his work personally during time at UL so def think this is a good step in right direction for Kildare, and the mighty Joe Quaid, what a man! best of luck to him, hopefully does good work up dere, from all in Limerick!!
Glen hasn’t had the best track record in county management to be fair and Cian O’Neill has a great CV….. politics prob did play a part but we now have one of the best coaches in the GAA. Hopefully he will get the younger players primed for the championship.
Best of luck Cian O Neill, on wards and upwards.. There is some talent there, it would be great to see it brought on. I cant see anyone getting near Dublin, but Kildare should be a Division 1 Team and in the top 6 or 8 in the Country.
Hurling appointment is great ..but Cian o sullivan should only be a selector at best with the manager been Glen Ryan ..POLITICS
Cian O’Sullivan?
the truth is out there now after the county board meeting last night ..well done to a certain few gentlemen who had the balls to challenge the selection committee ..but the rest of the delegates were afraid to go with the overwhelming support for Glen Ryan and his back room staff of legends ..Sad day for Kildare gaelic football team ..That county board is rotten to the core