They Said It ....

May 2007

“We did everything right. We won the match when it counted, when it was in the melting pot. We got a sufficient amount of scores to draw level on scoring difference and then we lose just because Meath scored more in the campaign. Surely the fact that we had beaten Meath should have counted before cumulative totals.”
Wexford football boss Paul Bealin criticises the system used to determine league positions when teams are level on points after his side lost out on a semi-final spot

“If you can get a Colm Begley every year you’d want to get one or two every year. I suspect there are a lot of Irish boys over there that are very capable of being very good AFL footballers.”
Brisbane Lions coach Leigh Matthews admits that AFL clubs would be keen to bring more Irish players to Australia given the success of Laois’ Colm Begley in adapting to the game

"Players are really busting themselves to get into the team. When a guy gets a chance he really wants to do it. They have to prove a point or else they’re gone. In a lot of counties you have a settled team and lads are saying to themselves at this time of the year that they’ll wait until the Championship. But in Kilkenny there are three to four guys going out in every game who really want to prove themselves. That’s why Kilkenny are winning."
DJ Carey explains the competition for places in the reason for Kilkenny’s success

"Definitely, there is no discontent amongst the camp. Gerald has come in and we’ve embraced Gerald. We’ve brought new ideas and he’s brought new ideas and we’ve embraced them. The rumours of discontent can be put to bed now because we are looking forward to the championship season and it’s coming ever closer.”
Cork’s John Gardiner dispels any rumours that all is not well with the Cork hurlers since Gerald McCarthy took over as manager

“We have three months now to change attitudes and mindsets about how we go about our hurling in Galway. The same problems that have been with Galway hurling for a few years are still there now. I suppose like all works in progress, there is a step forward and maybe two steps back.”
Galway boss Ger Loughnane is philosophical about his side’s league campaign

“I believe that Kerry are definitely the
team to beat in this year’s All-Ireland. My view is based on the fact that Kerry possess the best collection of footballers in the country. If the lads can carry over from last year the level of hunger, motivation and commitment which they showed, it will be very hard for any team to beat them.”
Former Kerry boss Jack O’Connor believes that the Kingdom have the ability to become the first side to retain their All-Ireland since Cork in 1990