Only a Kerryman

Is this the first All-Ireland since the introduction of the backdoor system where none of the provincial winners will be represented? After a tough days work am too lazy to look it up so maybe some Jimmy Magee out there will inform me...

What's the point in winning the provincial championship, if you're not Sligo? Padraig Joyce's suggestion that the winners of the provincial championship get a home quarter-final draw should be looked at. But then how do the provincial winners get a home draw when they kick up a stink when they're not scheduled to play in Croke Park for the quarter-final? Only in the GAA.

Whatever the merits of the current system, there's nothing like a Kerryman to put things in perspective. Or maybe not. The Kerryman, the newspaper that is, reckons, that unlike in 2005, when they were defeated by Tyrone in the final, this year the team is well prepared. Why?Because...wait for it...in 2005 poor auld Kerry only had five games to "hone" their preparation in comparison to Tyrone's nine. Whereas this year they've had six while Tyrone have played seven. So, that's much fairer altogether that is. 

Would Kerry have won 35 All-Ireland's getting out of Ulster every year? 

Whatever you do, don't ask a Kerryman!

From Aussie Rules back to GAA

After the recent ballyhoo over AFL recruitment in Ireland and the dark prophesies of a mass exodus of the GAA's best young players to Australia it's interesting to see that Tadhg Kennelly has confirmed his plans to return to Ireland next year with the intention of winning an All-Ireland with Kerry.

Setanta declares this a sensational revelation. In any Tadhg Kennelly interview I've ever read he's always expressed his desire to return to Ireland win an All-Ireland with Kerry, as his father Tim did, so the extent of their scoop is a little exaggerated.

Tadhg's sacrifice for the glory of an All-Ireland medal is to be admired. He's going to give-up the successful career he's built with the Syndey Swans--along with the glorious sunshine and the quality lifestyle downunder.

A brave move and one we should admire. I can't help thinking though that it it is Kerry he is returning to, so the odds of doing a celebratory jig in the Kingdom's colours are not exactly stacked against him. Returning and winning Sam with Mayo, now that would be heroic.

Still, fair play to Tadhg.