Sport

Cluxton, Quigley and Brian Cody - A-Z of the GAA in 2015

PADRAIG KELLY looks back on the GAA year and finds that, although there were a few surprises along the way, the familiar faces came out on top in the end...

Fermanagh's Sean Quigley sees Dublin 'keeper Stephen Cluxton across the line at Croke Park
Fermanagh's Sean Quigley sees Dublin 'keeper Stephen Cluxton across the line at Croke Park Fermanagh's Sean Quigley sees Dublin 'keeper Stephen Cluxton across the line at Croke Park

A IS FOR AGMS


December is the month when awkwardness reaches obscene levels in football and hurling clubs around the country.


It’s picking a seat behind your one with the mad hair to avoid the secretary’s stare when they’re looking for a new registrar. It’s a public show of hands when the incredible happens and two people go for the one job. An on-the-spot decision that the loser will bring up the next time you meet them in the local. It’s a dossier on two cones that went missing and an investigation into the possibility of getting new tiles for the changing rooms.


Miss it, though, and you’ll be all the talk at Mass the following Sunday.

B IS FOR ‘BACK YOU GO SON’


As in ‘Stephen Cluxton, you think you’re going to run through me? I’m Sean Quigley! Boom, take that, you felt that didn’t ya? Back you go, son. Nobody runs through Sean Quigley. Yes I know it’s going to be a free out, but it’s well worth it. Wait is he reaching for that green flag? Ah Jaysus, he is. Great stuff. Yeah ref, it was a fair shoulder, Cluxton just got his angles wrong.’

C IS FOR CHAMPION


It’s the only letter you need. Crossmaglen, Cushendall, Coleraine, Creggan. Seeing a trend here? If you want to get your hands on some Ulster silverware, put down those 8kg dumbbells and get your name change proposal into the AGM. Maybe Cilkoo will finally get over the line, or can Cilcar turn their potential into success in 2016? And just think how good Cullyhanna could be if they chan… oh, wait.

D IS FOR DUBS


People can cry and crow about every perceived advantage Jim Gavin’s side have had but, at the end of the day, the ball still has to be put over the bar.


It wasn’t the best of championships, but Dublin were efficient and hard-working throughout. They showed class and graft in equal measure and three Sam Maguires in five years ensures we are witnessing one of the great teams of the modern era. All hail the boys in blue.

E IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT


Another season where the football hasn’t exactly left us purring, while the hurling championship was as poor as it has been for a long, long time.


Not for the first time, it was left to the clubs to lead the way as TG4 delivered classic after classic over the winter months. A Sunday in front of the fire watching two teams leaving it all on the pitch while their fans go buck mad in the stands. You couldn’t beat it.

F IS FOR FENWAY CLASSIC


The hurling exhibition match between Galway and Dublin in Boston in November that left Red Sox and Liverpool owner John Henry talking about this “wild” sport.


That perception was surely helped by a decent, but savagely over-hyped, schmozzle that went a long way to reinforcing the ‘fighting Irish’ tag we seem to carry around the world.


In the end, Galway won and celebrated like they had collected three Liam McCarthy Cups at once. Yet, if they win the Walsh Cup next month they’ll barely crack a smile. For shame!

G IS FOR GOAL


Goal of the year, goal of the season, goal, goal, goal! Joe Canning, what a hit - take a bow son.


The Portumna sharp-shooter went into the top drawer and picked out an absolute worldie against Kilkenny in the Leinster final. How he did it, we’re still not sure. The ball came in high over his shoulder and, in one movement, he caught it, held his balance, swivelled and blasted the sliotar to the net at a not too shabby 157km per hour. Those are the moments that you’ll remember many years from now.

H IS FOR HEARTY


Big Paul Hearty from Cross. On 34 different occasions he as watched a team-mate go up, collect a championship trophy, raise it to massive acclaim and throw out three cheers to rub salt into the wound of a losing side.


Occasion 35 was different, though, as the popular net-minder finally got the chance to lift a trophy as Crossmaglen captain as the Rangers blitzed Armagh Harps in the county final. He enjoyed it so much he went back up for another go after Scotstown were edged in the Ulster final and who would bet against ‘Big Hertz’ making his way up the Hogan steps in March?

I IS FOR INSPIRATIONAL 


One man stands tallest in this department - Tipperary’s Noel McGrath. At just 24 years of age, his world was rocked as he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.


The 2010 Young Hurler of the Year is a determined individual, though, and he marked his recovery from surgery by taking to the field late in Tipperary’s All-Ireland semi-final with Galway. As the clock read 61:18, the crowd, including the Galway contingent, erupted as McGrath appeared on the big screen ready to cross the white line. Exactly eight minutes later, McGrath hit what looked like the winning score before Galway hit two late points. Despite the result, McGrath proved himself as a true winner.

J IS FOR JIM McGUINNESS


He may have taken the flight out of Carrickfin to Glasgow and swapped Donegal for Celtic, but in 2015 Jim McGuinness returned to the GAA spotlight with the release of his award-winning book Until Victory Always


It had raw emotion as McGuinness talked about the untimely deaths of his brothers Charles and Mark. It had controversy too as he dealt with the Kevin Cassidy issue and, intriguingly, his relationship with former number two Rory Gallagher. The latter released a statement citing inaccuracies in the book, McGuinness refuted those claims. Either way, Jim McGuinnes was back in the headlines.

K IS FOR KILKENNY


The Cats were meant to be down to their last life after the retirement of so many superstars over the last few years, but September’s All-Ireland win over Galway secured back-to-back titles and their 36th in all.


This is a county that simply does not know when it’s done, an inspiration to the entire GAA and sporting world.

L IS FOR LIAM McCARTHY CUP


In 2016, no Ulster side will be in the top tier of the All-Ireland Hurling Championship. It’s a sad state of affairs and a real wake up call for the sport in the province. Some counties continue to make progress further down the food chain, but when it comes to the elite level, Ulster is dead last.


New Antrim manager PJ O’Connell will aim to rectify that in year one of his tenure, but the failures of 2015 has to have set alarm bells ringing.

M IS FOR MENDING FENCES


The release of McKenna Cup squads at this time of the year is usually a bland enough affair, but Seanie Johnston’s inclusion in the Cavan panel is a real exception to the rule.


Once public enemy number one in the eyes of Breffni fans after his ill-fated switch to Kildare, it appears all has been forgiven. While Johnston deserves the chance to resurrect his inter-county career, his return will, of course, spark memories of that infamous gone in 60 seconds appearance for St Kevin’s hurlers to allow him to play for the Lilywhites. More DJ Spoony than DJ Carey.

N IS FOR NO CONFIDENCE


The vote cast twice out west to fill the post All-Ireland void. Mayo went first, their rebel yell ensuring the departure of Noel Connelly and Pat Holmes.


The Galway hurlers followed soon after, with Anthony Cunningham stepping down as a result. Two teams that will have to deal with the spotlight next year, knowing their audience will be split into ‘fight for your righters (to paaaaaaaartttt ways) and ‘I hope you fall flat on your facers’. It’s high-risk poker and they both have gone all-in. We wait for the river card next September.

O IS FOR THE ODD COUPLE


In this case, Donal Og Cusack and Davy Fitzgerald. The announcement came from nowhere at the end of October, a real old-school ‘say nothing ‘till ya hear more!’ Fitzgerald somehow managed to convince Cusack to leave the comfy Sunday Game studio to throw in his lot with the Banner county, I smell a sitcom. Neat freak Donal Og likes to set the cones out in a nice, straight line while his nemesis lines them out with absolutely no regard for symmetry. I’d watch it, it couldn’t be any worse than Mrs Brown’s Boys.

P IS FOR PAUDIE'S ARSE


Apparently, according to Joe Brolly, south Armagh whistler Paudie Hughes wouldn’t know a penalty if it bit him in the derrière.


It followed Hughes’ decision to award Kerry a dubious penalty in their drawn Munster final with Cork. Brolly was not happy, relaxing his modus operandi of praising all-things Crossmaglen to the hilt, to have a dig at the Rangers clubman with a fine turn of phrase.

Q IS FOR QUIFF


Don’t mention the war! Hair-gate became disrepute-gate became free-to-play-gate.


Darren Hughes tussled Tiernan McCann’s hair as Tyrone ended Monaghan’s All-Ireland hopes. McCann took a dramatic dive and became public enemy number one, then public victim number one after he faced a proposed eight-week ban for bringing the game into disrepute. The ban was lifted, but he couldn’t help Tyrone get the better of Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final.

R IS FOR REBELETTES


Damn you Tyrone, damn you! The Red Hand ladies have the honour of ruining what would have been one of the great winning streaks in GAA history.


From their first ever senior title in 2005 to their latest success against Dublin back in September, Cork have only missed out on one All-Ireland title. That was in 2010 when Tyrone whooped them 3-11 to 0-13 in Banagher in a shock quarter-final win. It means Cork have to make do with just 10 All-Irelands in 11 years, the poor divils.

S IS FOR SECOND


Or in Cushendall’s case, second-half. The Antrim side did their best Lazarus impression throughout their run to the Ulster Club title.


John McKillop’s side were behind at half-time in every single one of their championship matches this year, but always came out on the right end of the result, needing extra-time to do so against Slaughtneil in the provincial final. The best was saved for their county final against Ballycastle when they trailed by nine points at the interval but eventually won by two. This side does not know when they’re beaten.

T IS FOR TRILLICK 


The Tyrone side’s Ulster hopes may have come up short against Scotstown in the Ulster final, but their progression this year was one for the ages.


In 2014, they met Dungannon in the intermediate county final and were slapped silly across the pitch. They even needed a league play-off win against Eskra to secure senior football in 2015. But, boy, did they take to it like a fish to water. A first senior title since 1986 and a lesson that the sky’s the limit if you’re prepared to work hard enough for it.

U IS FOR UNFAIR


Is there any other way to describe how the All-Ireland semi-final went for Tipperary’s Seamus Callanan? It was one of the games of the year, and Callanan lit up Croke Park.


The Drom-Inch man hit an incredible 3-9, including a superb 3-4 from play, in one of the best individual displays seen at Headquarters in quite some time. Alas, it was not enough as supersub Shane Maloney hit a late winner to spark manic celebrations among the Galway support.

V IS FOR VERBAL ABUSE


Donegal said one of their minors suffered serious personal abuse, Tyrone refuted it. Ulster stepped in, took control and carried out an extensive report - that was to be kept confidential.


Both parties were satisfied, or at least had to pretend to be, with its findings. Then Tyrone released another statement claiming “exoneration” and like that the scab was picked. Another round of whodunit and did they do it? It was still in the news coming into December with the allegation arising in May.


Moving forward, can everyone just shut up?

W IS FOR WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT JOE BROLLY? 


It was very funny when Kieran Donaghy took Joe Brolly to big school last September, it maybe even raised a chuckle when the first couple of tweets appeared after a team had won silverware and brought it to the attention of the Derry darling.


As the months went on though, the humour died. Like the Harlem Shake, tamagotchis and Prison Break, these things are only good for so long. Please Joe, shut down your Twitter so we don’t have to suffer with this monstrosity anymore.

X IS FOR XI 


The roman numeral for 11. A limited pick for this letter, so we’ve gone the numerical route to mark Brian Cody’s 11th All-Ireland title as Kilkenny manager. Undoubtedly the greatest manager in the history of the GAA, he has the same amount as Mick O’Dwyer (eight) and Mickey Harte (three) combined. Steely determination, ruthless competitiveness and plenty more left in the tank. There’s just no stopping Cody’s march.

Y IS FOR YOUNG MAN'S GAME


Another season, another rake of men calling time on their inter-county careers. Alan Brogan, Declan O’Sullivan, Fergal Doherty, Lar Corbett, Ger Brennan, Kevin Reilly, Finnian Moriarty and Stephen Lucey are just some of the ones who have decided they can’t continue.


The average age of teams continues to drop - the modern game isn’t sustainable when you have other commitments to worry about.

Z IS FOR ZIP UP THAT JACKET 


It’s time to go again. The McKenna Cup starts next month, along with provincial competitions across the country.


The die-hards will brave the cold and the frost to watch weakened teams play low-intensity football. And you know what? They wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s the start of a new season, a new opportunity for their team to do something this year, for it all to click. This year’s the year!