Dick Clerkin when he writes for the examiner is normally interesting. I would prefer the younger generation of writers. As in recently retired players or managers. anyone else feel the usual pundits/writers recycle their views.

monaghangael (Monaghan) - Posts: 7 - 20/05/2016 14:03:51    1856729

Tony McEntee writes a good article in the Examiner

Gael85 (Dublin) - Posts: 1433 - 20/05/2016 14:24:24    1856737

Jim McGuinness and James Horan are quite good. People who are only recently out of the game are able to give the best analysis of how things are done in the modern era, imo.

ZeitChrist (UK) - Posts: 154 - 20/05/2016 14:44:02    1856750

Brolly (brilliant writer), O'Rourke (very balanced and fair while not afraid to speak his mind), McGuinness (great insight into tactics) and Damien Lawlor for me.

Crinigan (Meath) - Posts: 1318 - 20/05/2016 15:13:22    1856763

Have noticed a tendancy on Hoganstand to equate age with modern thinking , example Ive seen O Rourke and Spillane labelled the Giles and Dunphy , in other words out of touch pretty much based on age
How old is Coady , Mickey Harte ?
How old was Ferguson when re retired ?
How old is man of the moment Ranieri ?
How old was Angelo Dundee when still training world champions ?
You could go on and on with examples , equally someone lauded as a great intelligent thinker of the game Gary Neville well ?

While I don't allways agree with the oldies on the Sunday Game I would be dismissing what they say because of there birth certs.

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 20/05/2016 15:34:46    1856773

I noted in recent years that many former GAA players turned part-time Sports journalist or columnists are relegated to very small area's of National newspapers. While some Journalists with little or no GAA background at all, are giving large sections with a feel that your reading from an expert.Now while I don't suggest they don't have the right to express an opinion, I can't help but feel their articles or columns overshadow those of some the great players of the past.

I fully agree that a lot of non GAA journalists are being pushed front and centre by certain media outlets as 'experts', and as Garrymc said a lot of former players that should have more knowledge of the game are reduced to filler pieces in the run up to the big games. Many of these so called experts just trot out the most popular catch phrases and sound bites and hope nobody notices. Perhaps the most obvious example of this was the build up before, and reaction to, the Dublin/Donegal semi 2 years ago. It was built up as the greatest David and Goliath moment in Irish sport, when in reality it was the All Ireland champions from the previous 2 years coming head to head. Admittedly Dublin were the form team heading into it, but were never as dominant as some journalists would like us to believe.
As for the current crop, Brolly knows his stuff, but lets the panto villain take over too often. Mc Stay is pretty good on newstalk, and the O'Ses' generally call it pretty straight too. Foley and Duggan are good too. To be honest, as long as they don't approach the topic with a set agenda from the outset the majority of print journalists are ok.

AHP (Dublin) - Posts: 323 - 20/05/2016 15:57:26    1856786

While I don't allways agree with the oldies on the Sunday Game I would be dismissing what they say because of there birth certs.

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts:3328 - 20/05/2016 15:34:46 1

I think you make a fair point here, and I agree In that I don't wish to dismiss their opinions simply because of their age.
With the massive tactical shift in GAA over the last 15 years or so, some of the more experienced guys didn't take to that too well. Admittedly a lot of people of all ages didn't take to that too well.

But with regards pundits themselves, some where more critical that analytical. Personally I prefer to hear pundits analyse the game and breakdown what Team A is doing right and what Team B is doing wrong, and discuss it in depth and suggest what could improve or address the on field problems. I really enjoyed seeing Pete McGrath on The Sunday game last season, I only wish he had more time, as I find him to be a fascinating football mind.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 20/05/2016 16:59:32    1856816

Have noticed a tendancy on Hoganstand to equate age with modern thinking , example Ive seen O Rourke and Spillane labelled the Giles and Dunphy , in other words out of touch pretty much based on age
How old is Coady , Mickey Harte ?
How old was Ferguson when re retired ?
How old is man of the moment Ranieri ?
How old was Angelo Dundee when still training world champions ?
You could go on and on with examples , equally someone lauded as a great intelligent thinker of the game Gary Neville well ?

While I don't allways agree with the oldies on the Sunday Game I would be dismissing what they say because of there birth certs.

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts:3328 - 20/05/2016 15:34:46 1856773

The problem I have with O'Rourke and Spillane is more about their lack of insight or analysis into the game and the constant whinging. Their enthusiasm for the game is only revealed in late August and before that we have to listen to how poor teams are. You wouldn't believe the pair of them served their counties for many a year. If I was to give them a soccer comparison it would be closer to Mark Lawrenson, a man who looks like he's been kidnapped and thrown into the studio of his least favourite sport. The reason Cody and Harte get listened to and respected more than the other two is because they show that enthusiasm and knowledge and are willing to put their money where their mouth is. Age is just a number in this debate for me.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2385 - 20/05/2016 17:31:26    1856828

Philip Jordans article in the Irish News every Thursday is worth buying the paper. Aaron Kernans is also quite enjoyable. Not as big of fan of Hughes, Tierney or Madden but every so often they come out with a great one. I'd say Tierney is the most likely of the three. Karl O'Kane who used to write for the Star was very good on his GAA.

I can't stand Spillanes column, it's the same crap about blanket defences and no credit for the small counties. Week in week out it's the exact same thing but yet i find myself reading it every week.

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 20/05/2016 19:01:57    1856863

Jim McGuinness for football analysis. Keith Duggan and Malachy Clerkin for colour pieces. Joe Brolly for sensationalism. Some of Darragh O Sé's anecdotes. Nicky English for hurling analysis. Ciaran Murphy, formerly of OTB, is alright too when he writes occasionally.

The local paper at home has comprehensive GAA coverage... riddled with grammatical errors.

Probably find the Irish Times coverage the most spot on but it's annoying that it means having to wade through pages of Gerry Thornley's musings on the use of one out runners and pillar defensive structures and how the "Top Quatorze" has been responsible for the death of French rugby...

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 20/05/2016 19:52:15    1856880

Ciaran Whelan for me. Relatively new at it but talks a lot more football than some that have been at it over a decade.

St.Conleth (Kildare) - Posts: 1700 - 20/05/2016 19:54:44    1856882

Jim McGuinness for football analysis. Keith Duggan and Malachy Clerkin for colour pieces. Joe Brolly for sensationalism. Some of Darragh O Sé's anecdotes. Nicky English for hurling analysis. Ciaran Murphy, formerly of OTB, is alright too when he writes occasionally.

The local paper at home has comprehensive GAA coverage... riddled with grammatical errors.

Probably find the Irish Times coverage the most spot on but it's annoying that it means having to wade through pages of Gerry Thornley's musings on the use of one out runners and pillar defensive structures and how the "Top Quatorze" has been responsible for the death of French rugby...

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts:2383 - 20/05/2016 19:52:15 1856880



Pretty sure Gerry just has the one article when he does have one, on just the one page.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7900 - 20/05/2016 20:11:32    1856885

Re GAA jornalists, for me, Crinnagan(Meath) says it all.

michael (Cork) - Posts: 381 - 20/05/2016 21:24:04    1856904

John o Keefe was pretty good in the Irish times. But to me the best paper for Gaelic games is the Irish News
Not alone for sport but for news in general

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 21/05/2016 10:28:50    1856949

tom ryan in the mail..ur guaranteed something controversial!! hes a good reader of hurling for sure

kavvie (Clare) - Posts: 505 - 21/05/2016 11:25:30    1856966

Read all the Kerry lads! Best fiction I've read in years.

JayP (Dublin) - Posts: 1772 - 21/05/2016 11:44:38    1856972

I'm biased obviously but I think Jim McGuinness' articles are top class. In depth analysis which isn't personal/mudslinging but focuses on actual game-day detail. It bores some people I've noticed from comments I've seen on this site at times. I'm a lover of the finer details of the game or as Spillane calls it "paralysis by analysis".. But each to their own. Others like a more general build up to a game or stories of historical meetings between counties etc. All of that is still preferable to sensationalist drama and horrible put-downs and dismissal which is part and parcel of how some writers operate. I really dislike

Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1321 - 21/05/2016 12:05:35    1856980

Tom Ryan Ex limerick manager writes an excellent article on Hurling in the Mail on Saturday.
Calls a spade a spade.

hurler32 (Limerick) - Posts: 867 - 21/05/2016 12:41:06    1856990

The examiner and Nicky English for hurling in my option. I find Fintan O'Toole on the42.ie very good too.

A lot of the Tipp writers are too Tipp focused and biased. It must make hard reading for other hurling fans if Tipp fans find it irritating.

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 21/05/2016 16:20:29    1857033

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/jim-mcguinness-you-don-t-need-skill-to-have-i-won-t-quit-attitude-1.2657797

http://www.the42.ie/tyrone-derry-tactics-analysis-rob-carroll-2784547-May2016/

I really liked these two articles on the Tyrone v Derry match. Both are concentrating more on trying to analyse the game.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4226 - 24/05/2016 19:22:42    1858252