Another high week of drama on the GAA scene, 3 GAA high profile peolpe begin their drive to launch their upcoming books and they all got off to a flying start. well as the man says, there is no such thing as bad publicity.
All 3 involved will be very happy indeed with all the media attention they have received to date but sure what else is going on in GAA circles only the boring club scene and journalist have damn all to fill their weekly columns with.
Alas, Mickey Harte, Donal Og and Tadgh enter the scene and the papers go the work big time. And if I was their book PR guy I would be very happy with this head start and no doubt all will make lovely xmas presents for dads all over the country.
All these books will sell well but... I however can't really see how much money can be made on such book sales. Ireland has too small a population and I certainly would not wash my dirty linen out in public for a few thousand euro.
Maybe the maths add up as Mickey Harte and Tadgh Kennelly come across as guys who know how to twist a pound or two.
Donal Og is gay - Cork's worst kept secret Donal Og's revelation in his book that he is gay was the worst kept secret in Rebel country.
I can only imagine the taunting he has received from hecklers in the crowd because as a goalie he is a sitting duck. He must be mentally a very strong guy to put up with same and it will be interesting if he decides to continue playing for the rebels.
To me one of the bravest places to play in hurling is in goals and certainly a hurling goalie is not your sterotypical gay. to come put public is a very courageous thing to do. no doubt the book will go well for avid hurling fans.
Tadgh Kennelly's 'deliberate foul' baloney The most discussed book was Tadgh's - for all the wrong reasons.
Tadgh is a lovely fellow and I would be very surprised if it said in the book that he had premaditated to taking out Nicholas Murphy- but this is the way it was twisted last Sunday's paper and then all hell broke lose.
There are alot of angry rebel fans and rightly so if that is printed in the book. No player or county deserves that.
I can honestly say that having spent 14 years playing with Kerry and during that time I had 4 managers - Mickey Ned, Ogie, Paudie and Jack O' Connor - and never did they advocate, encourage or nourish dirty play.
In fact, is was publicly discouraged. Fine we had hard men and Kerry had hard players on the field over the years but none went out to intentionally hurt their opponent. it was always frowned upon in Kerry and it always will.
Tadgh, I feel, was taken out of context but he has learned a harsh lesson - books are a dangerous animal- just ask Jack O Connor.
Surprised with the Mickey Harte book too I was very surprised to see Mickey Harte having a go at Sean Cavanagh. To me Cavanagh is a super player and has given his life to the Tyrone cause. For Mickey Harte to say otherwise on the build up to the Cork match really surprises me. Mickey comes across as a fellow who has the ultimate respect from his players and this no doubt will do him no favours.
Back to the all stars, Mike Mac and Anthony Lynch were unlucky to lose out.
I was happy for Daniel Goulding but Pearse O Neill can find himself lucky to get the nod. he had a great year but a a terrible final. M Shields was a lucky full back - 2 bad days out in head office and he still gets the nod - there just was no major opposition bar Tommy G and sure they were never going to give 8 to the Kingdom.
This weekend I am taking the cobwebs off the boots to play in a charity match up in Tuam.
Organised by Padraig Joyce and Michael Donnellan, it is for a young lady called Valerie Dolan - the charity is Vision For Valerie Dolan. - so if you are around Tuam around 3pm go and watch a few old dinasours like Glen Ryan, Anthony Rainbow, Kieran McDonald, MartinMac and many more line out against the present Galway team and please support a worthy cause
All the best and talk next week if i come back in 1 piece
the pony