They Said It ....

June 2006

“If the three in-a-row is mentioned in the dressing room, John (Allen) will absolutely lose it. He said at the start of the league ’if I hear fellas talking about a three in-a-row here, don’t come back.’ That’s what he said and he’s right because you could get caught up with the concept of history in the making. Our main aim is to be as competitive in every game and to take every game as it comes.”
Cork’s Sean Og O’hAilpin tells us that his team mates are not being let get carried away with the idea of easily winning a third successive All-Ireland SHC title

“Mickey and I will never have a team that is classed as defensive in nature. We follow Brazil’s philosophy – we’ll score a lot, the other team will score a lot too, but they’ll not score more than us.”
John Morrison reveals that together with manager Micky Moran, they aim to get Mayo playing beautiful free flowing football

“I think it’s ill-advised what they are talking about because I don’t think it’s doing the Mayo players any good and the Mayo supporters are not happy to hear people whingeing. The supporters would prefer if they just prepared the team and stopped talking.”
Galway manager Peter Forde responds to claims by Mayo coach John Morrison that the Tribesmen played negative football in their league semi-final win over their Morrison’s side

“Right now our contract with the other two sporting bodies is only for 2007. When we sit down to negotiate for the use of Croke Park beyond 2007, I will expect to see clear, tangible evidence that the planning process relating to Lansdowne Road is making progress.”
New GAA President Nickey Brennan warns both the IRFU and the FAI that they must make progress with the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road is they wish to have the use of Croke Park beyond 2007

“Players have to meet very exacting requirements if they are to prosper on the inter-county scene and unfortunately lifestyles don’t always allow that. When that happens, decisions have to be made in the overall interests of a squad and their ambitions.”
Roscommon manager John Maughan after he dropped two members of his squad for disciplinary reasons

“That is my dream. Did the people who dreamt of Croke Park being what it is today think it wouldn’t happen? If you don’t dream, you won’t achieve. I know that there have never been more than seven or eight teams capable of winning the McCarthy Cup every year. But it still has to be a target.”
GAA Director of Hurling Paudie Butler on his desire to increase the number of counties who have a realistic chance of winning the Liam McCarthy cup

“If you drop the ball in the half back line it’s not the be-all and end-all, you can always blame the lads behind you for a goal going in, but not at full back. It’s a different game completely, there’s a lot more ball coming directly into you.”
Kilkenny’s JJ Delaney, who moved from wing back to full back to cover the absence of Noel Hickey, admits that playing on the edge square leaves no room for error