"It’s not that I am sick of it or anything else. My body is breaking
down. My back is absolutely killing me. It’s hard to be driving in
the car all day and go to training. I can guarantee you that in 10 years
time I will probably regret having played for this long. I am not leaving
because I don’t think Mayo will win anything. I am retiring because
I can’t do it any more."
Mayo ace David Brady explains that an ongoing back injury is the reason
he has decided to quit intercounty football
"It is absolutely ludicrous relegating four teams. Relegating teams
like Offaly, Dublin and Wexford is crazy. And I’d like to see the league
being promoted better - more league games in April. If we played three or
four games in April and ran semi-finals and finals in early. Hurling is
way better in April and May. The groups are finished at the end of March
and different teams are without hurling. It’s just stupid."
Clare goalkeeper Davy Fitzgerald is unhappy at the format the hurling
leagues are taking
“Nobody was more angry over what happened in the 2005 and 2006 Tests
and there is no way I would want to see the series resumed if I didn’t
think there had been a change of mindset by the Australians. But, having
put proposals to them, the vast majority of which were accepted, I believe
the series has a future."
GAA President Nickey Brennan states his belief that the International
Rules Series against Australia will return
"We looked back at last season and looked at what we could improve
on and we have been doing that in training since November. The prize we
are all after is Sam Maguire."
Monaghan’s Tommy Freeman pulls no punches when he says what his
county’s goals for 2008 are
"The only reason I am being banned is because I criticised the referee.
The reason I did that was managers have no other platform for poor refereeing.
I am disappointed I am suspended for criticising a referee. To me that is
not lack of sportmanship. All I said was the game was about players, not
about whistle happy refereeing. I still stand over it."
Limerick manager Mickey ‘Ned’ O’Sullivan explains his
disappointment at getting an eight week ban for having a discussion with
referee Derek Fahy
"I’d have no problem sitting on the appointments committee. There’s
been a bit of comment about that but the way we see it, it’s a say
at least in picking the manager. Obviously there are five from the executive,
so they have the majority, which is probably the right way. But at least
our views will be listened to. That’s all we’re looking for. "
Cork hurler Tom Kenny explains there will be no problems with players
sitting on the committee that picks the Cork senior football and hurling
managers