DUBLIN DEFENDER GER BRENNAN is gearing up for a Croke Park semi final with Kerry and, although the challenges keep coming, declares he is ready for battle.
Brennan may find himself marking Kerry talisman Colm Cooper in the All-Ireland clash on Sunday but has cautioned against setting a plan for one forward when The Kingdom boast a plethora of attacking talents.
“[Kerry] have such a strong forward-line and they’re all such skillful players that I’d say they might mix it around,” he said. “They may inter-change which they’ve done before as well, so we’ll just prepare for every eventuality as best as possible. But we won’t get overly caught up with them either.”
Brennan told TheScore.ie about the evolution of the modern, which now sees players switch positions and on-field responsibilities with ease. As a defender, the Dubliner explains, he must be equally adaptable.
As he discusses the other changes in modern GAA, Brennan happens upon the word ‘resources’ when talking about players.
He expanded on the theme: “The workload involved in senior inter-county hurling and football has really come on over the last 10, 15 years. We’re professional in every way bar getting paid. I think most players would agree with that.
It has changed since I’ve started. The depth of analysis, the focus on athletic development, and so on, has really grown. I remember playing under Pillar [former Dublin boss Paul Caffrey] and there was certainly weights and analysis but it’s just come up a few notches since. You might say it’s gone from Ordinary Level to Higher Level. I don’t know where it goes from here. I don’t think it can go any further from here.”
Down-time for top GAA players is now a matter of weeks, rather than months, and Brennan admits the relentless nature of the game can lead to ‘mental lows’. He faced challenges to break into the Dublin side when Caffrey was in charge but believes all of his sacrifices have been worthwhile. Four Leinster titles, an All-Ireland winners’ medal and the knowledge he is a senior member of the Dublin squad back up Brennan’s position.
“I think it’s to do with your mindset,” added the St Vincent’s clubman. “If you’re enjoying it, it’s not a sacrifice at all. It’s something that gives meaning to your life.”
- Additional reporting by Fintan O’Toole
Svitolina made a statement after her match v Azarenka that the organisers should ban the sporting tradition of shaking hands after her opponent was booed off the court for not offering her hand out to be ignored. This was her decision to not shake the hands of sporting Russian athletes so don’t be asking authorities in sport to ban a custom that’s traditional sporting etiquette gesture, after all its only a game.
Svitolina expects the organisers Wimbledon to ban handshakes after matches , Ironic comment. Can she not stand the sporting Azarenka being booed off the court today, surely easier to say I should have shook her hand
Svitolina is mostly responsible if not totally for unsporting behaviour but are nt we all suppose to be on Ukraine side so it doesn’t matter just” boo the Russians” anyway