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Kieran Donaghy Loachra Gael

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Just finished watching Loachra Gael great story about Kieran Donaghy he always seemed a bit cocky on the field but he came across a humble and genuine nice fella tonight. Interesting to learn when he lived in Tyrone as a young lad he was a classmate of Joe McMahon.

I must praise TG4 too, I find Loachra Gael 1 of the most enjoyable shows on television.

DUALSUPPORT (Limerick) - Posts: 1038 - 05/03/2020 22:43:18    2272420

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Looking forward to watching it back on TG4 player.

TG4 does a fantastic job of promoting gaelic games in general.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 06/03/2020 10:15:14    2272451

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Genuinely engaging and grounded guy. He and Cooper - what a double act that was. Scary, as they could always conjure something. He could scrap for 50:50 ball and with the basketball quick hands, he had the pass seen and executed before his feet hit the ground.

essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 06/03/2020 10:32:56    2272454

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He came across as a decent chap. Obviously you would be on your best behaviour when talking about your life for an hour on TV. However I follow him on social media and again he comes across very well especially with his lovely family. How different he is off the pitch to on the pitch. I daresay most GAA scoundrels are sound off the pitch.

lilylanger (Kildare) - Posts: 758 - 06/03/2020 10:44:49    2272458

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absolute diamond of a man kieran donaghy . his whole attitude to sport and life is heartwarming

mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1799 - 06/03/2020 11:38:46    2272469

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I see the red thumb brigade aren't pleased! How they hate any praise for the Kerry boys' eh lillylanger?! :D

Never was there a more fitting nickname for a man - a Star he was on and off the field.
The show last night brought back some great memories, on the Hill as he left Francie Bellew for dead in 06 in that fantastic Q-final.
Jumping out of my seat in 07 as he picked poor Alan Quirke's pocket for those two goals on that famous famous day when Cork were left in ruin in our first All Ireland meeting.

The unbearable tension and unbridled joy of that glorious epic in sun-drenched Limerick - a contest that will live long in Kerry memories and is assured of its place as one of the greatest games of all time.

For anyone that hasn't already, I would highly recommend reading his autobiography. I've read a good few down through the years and, biased as I obviously am, I think it is one of the very best. It's certainly head and shoulders above Colm's, Paul's, Darragh's and Tomas's, sorry lads.

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 06/03/2020 12:41:23    2272484

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Looking forward to watching it....Kieran owes a lot to Tg4 ;) I wonder would he have got his shot without the underdogs TV show?

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11227 - 06/03/2020 13:12:35    2272493

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Always loved the Star!

cavan.galway (Galway) - Posts: 182 - 06/03/2020 13:23:36    2272496

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Comes across as a sound head on off the ball when he is on.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2779 - 06/03/2020 14:00:41    2272501

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Watched it last night....Kieran comes across as honest and decent off the field...like most players.

I think he summed himself up at the end...he was the type of player you'd love if he was playing with you and hate playing against.

Jesus those scenes in Limerick 14 brought back bad memories....in fact he destroyed us on many occasions.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11227 - 07/03/2020 09:08:10    2272562

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Laochra Gael has lost its appeal, it's all about the "celebrity" type players that put themselves out there, lots of far more talented & skillful players who just slipped into the background. It's all about what sells TV or boosts viewing figures.

moc.dna (Galway) - Posts: 1212 - 07/03/2020 10:53:07    2272572

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Replying To moc.dna:  "Laochra Gael has lost its appeal, it's all about the "celebrity" type players that put themselves out there, lots of far more talented & skillful players who just slipped into the background. It's all about what sells TV or boosts viewing figures. "
In fairness now, I don't see how you could argue that in relation to Donaghy!!
An immensely talented and skillful player and one of the greatest personalities of the modern game.

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 07/03/2020 11:34:46    2272574

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Seems a decent enough chap but there's no doubt he was a panto villain on the pitch especially his last few years in the games v Dublin!

DUBJOHN (Dublin) - Posts: 932 - 07/03/2020 11:56:21    2272580

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Replying To moc.dna:  "Laochra Gael has lost its appeal, it's all about the "celebrity" type players that put themselves out there, lots of far more talented & skillful players who just slipped into the background. It's all about what sells TV or boosts viewing figures. "
Life, sport and the GAA is and should never be about the most skilful or player with the most medals...it's about personalities and stories to tell.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11227 - 07/03/2020 12:19:28    2272583

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Replying To moc.dna:  "Laochra Gael has lost its appeal, it's all about the "celebrity" type players that put themselves out there, lots of far more talented & skillful players who just slipped into the background. It's all about what sells TV or boosts viewing figures. "
That's true, plenty of less vocal and more talented players that just slip away and they're not going to be as controversial. That's an easier sell to viewers and probably boosts appeal to some people.
He probably got as much out of himself as possible considering he didn't have that great a skills set. As a target man inside he offered an option when things weren't going well.

catch22 (USA) - Posts: 2148 - 07/03/2020 12:26:26    2272588

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Replying To moc.dna:  "Laochra Gael has lost its appeal, it's all about the "celebrity" type players that put themselves out there, lots of far more talented & skillful players who just slipped into the background. It's all about what sells TV or boosts viewing figures. "
While it could do with more profiles of obscure players like in Champions League Magazine or Premier League World, it's hard to criticize TG4 for ensuring to celebrate high-profile players

eoghan6688 (Galway) - Posts: 154 - 07/03/2020 12:27:38    2272589

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Replying To yew_tree:  "
Replying To moc.dna:  "Laochra Gael has lost its appeal, it's all about the "celebrity" type players that put themselves out there, lots of far more talented & skillful players who just slipped into the background. It's all about what sells TV or boosts viewing figures. "
Life, sport and the GAA is and should never be about the most skilful or player with the most medals...it's about personalities and stories to tell."
Correct, it's all about personalities & stories to tell, the "celebrity" status & the number of followers you have on Twitter & Instagram. It's all about "I " now, what's in it for me, spin an auld sceal or two & your made.
Forget about the players who performed between the white lines who were legends of the game but we're just quiet individuals off it, as their story won't boost ratings & yes it shouldn't be about most medals won, don't know where that comes into it.
Including a recent Mayo man on Laochra Gael just re emphasises the point, he wouldn't lace the boots of players such as Maurice Fitzgerald or Michael Donnellan or Mikey Sheehy, but he has plenty of "personality" & stories to tell.

moc.dna (Galway) - Posts: 1212 - 07/03/2020 13:43:09    2272601

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Saw someone saying Donaghy would have made hay with the advanced mark. Maybe, but the point surely is that he didn't need it. He could do it all by himself without any artificial assistance. I won't miss chewing the fingernails off myself every time he got on the ball, but I'll miss seeing him in games.

essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 07/03/2020 15:28:38    2272613

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Replying To moc.dna:  "
Replying To yew_tree:  "[quote=moc.dna:  "Laochra Gael has lost its appeal, it's all about the "celebrity" type players that put themselves out there, lots of far more talented & skillful players who just slipped into the background. It's all about what sells TV or boosts viewing figures. "
Life, sport and the GAA is and should never be about the most skilful or player with the most medals...it's about personalities and stories to tell."
Correct, it's all about personalities & stories to tell, the "celebrity" status & the number of followers you have on Twitter & Instagram. It's all about "I " now, what's in it for me, spin an auld sceal or two & your made.
Forget about the players who performed between the white lines who were legends of the game but we're just quiet individuals off it, as their story won't boost ratings & yes it shouldn't be about most medals won, don't know where that comes into it.
Including a recent Mayo man on Laochra Gael just re emphasises the point, he wouldn't lace the boots of players such as Maurice Fitzgerald or Michael Donnellan or Mikey Sheehy, but he has plenty of "personality" & stories to tell."]Ok so you had a problem with David Brady getting a slot...I wouldn't be Brady's biggest fan but saw much commentary on this online and people getting upset he was on it...."sure he was no all Ireland medal" was a common theme....which is not true for anyone that follows GAA...he has a club all Ireland with Ballina.

I believe Maurice fitz and Donnallan have been covered...anyone else they have left out? Maybe you should write to Galway based TG4 and air your grievance

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11227 - 07/03/2020 17:40:41    2272646

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Nothing against Donaghey, but I'd prefer to see one about someone like Matty Forde or Declan Browne who were greater players in not particularly very good teams, surly that's the spirit of being a Loachra Gael.

At this stage they've done one on Seamus Moyninhan, Gooch, Declan O'Sullivan and Dara Ni Cinnede, there's only so many times you can watch what's basically the same story and games.

Be some fascinating stories to come out of Leinster in the 00's and Ulster they should really do more on from that era, when winning a province was almost as difficult as winning an All Ireland.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 07/03/2020 18:21:43    2272649

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