They Said It ....

December 2006

“There can be no more blaming managers or county boards because they have the man they wanted. The players have the talent, but do they have the balls and the leadership? That’s what they have to go out and prove on the field. Another thing that the players have to get over is their tendency to get carried away with one good performance. The county might go stone mad, but they must keep their feet on the ground.”
Martin McHugh questions whether John O’Mahony’s appointment as Mayo manager can change the county’s fortunes unless the players stand up and are counted

“This game and the occasion is something that will go down in GAA history. I think it’s only right and proper that the best facilities in this country, and perhaps in Europe, should be baptised with a Gaelic match.”
Tyrone boss Mickey Harte is delighted that his county’s NFL game with Dublin at Croke Park will be the first competitive fixture to be played under the venue’s new floodlights

“Now I was not the flavour of the month in Kerry for some reason or another. I was never going to be in the shake-up to become the Kerry manager. I wasn’t going to get unanimous approval from the executive of the Kerry county board.”
Paidi O Se explains the reason he was not considered for the vacant Kerry manager’s position

“As usual at the end of next year, I will sit down with the county board and look at the situation. But to say I’ll definitely be leaving at the end of 2007 is simply wrong.”
Joe Kernan knocks back talk that he has already decided that 2007 will be his last year as Armagh football manager

“I’m contemplating finishing the whole lot – that’s drastic but it’s not an overnight thing. It’s been going on for months, years. If I go into a pub and have a Lucozade, I’m after having 12 pints. I’m nine years on the Mount Sion panel, eight years with Waterford but I don’t need this hassle.”
Waterford star Eoin Kelly says he is considering giving up hurling at 24 because of the abuse and vicious rumours that are spread about him

“To say I am extremely disappointed is an understatement, I am totally astonished not to be allowed to implement year two of our three-year strategy after a very successful year which we exceeded all expectations and targets”
Jim McKernan expresses his displeasure at not being reappointed as the Antrim senior hurling manager despite winning both the Christy Ring Cup and the Ulster championship