When you win, you can do no wrong. You are showered with overly generous praise but you take it all with a grain of salt, conscious of what might be around the next corner. Every corner we turned last year revealed a bigger prize and each time we pocketed it and moved on in search of the next. The turn of the year has brought a serious downturn in the global economy and our Gaelic Footballers have also been rocked up some tremors. Amsterdam could be written off without much damage reported given the skeleton squad, early season cobwebs and a flurry of other excuses which were easy on the ear. Fine. Done. Move on. Den Hague was to be different. Two squads, all shoulders to the wheel, we'd be grand.
First up were Luxembourg. We started well. I clipped over an early point after some sharp exchanges of handpasses. At times the ball moved seamlessly from defence to attack but on other occasions it got caught tucked under a Belgian arm, not wanting to join in the play. We found ourselves 0-7 to 0-4 down with the game nearly up. Enda had strained a hamstring. We started with no subs as Eoin Sheanon, who had spent the previous night in Holland, could not work his GPS apparently! He stood on the sideline but there was penance to be survived so there he stayed. The boys pulled it out of the fire as Eoghan Kelly whipped over a cracking score to level with one of the final actions, after a great cross field ball by Micheal.
To qualify as group winners we needed to beat The Hague B by more than what Lux had. 16 points was the target but we didn't get too worried about it. As long as we won we qualified and if we were to win the final, we would need to beat Amsterdam and The Hague anyway, as they qualified from their group. It was a stroll as we clocked up a cricket score. The danger in that type of game is lads will carry the ball, try to beat 10 men and then go for their own score. In fairness, we didn't engage in that behaviour but some of our finishing in front of goal was appalling!! Only frustration point was shooting for goal from narrow angles rather than fisting it over the bar.
This set up a semi with Amsterdam. They've recruited a few handy new lads this year and have a few giants in their ranks. We led 0-4 to 0-1 at half-time but they had missed some scoreable frees. In the second half they left nothing behind them and led by two points in the final minutes. A long ball out of our defence found Eoin who took off towards goal. En route he was unceremoniously met by two opposition defenders, one of whom pushed him into the other's knee, resulting in a possible broken nose and fat lip. Controversy surrounded whether it should be a penalty or a twenty yard free. Sheanon's final position was well inside the square. It’s debatable about where the contact happened. A twenty yard free was given which was hard to stomach but worse still the offenders went unpunished after the cynical foul. Micheal slotted it over to leave a point between the sides. We won the kick-out, worked it into a scoreable position but Ciaran Finn's curling effort went just wide.
They moved onto the final whilst we went on to play the 3rd/4th place play-off against Lux. We won the game handy but it was a toothless affair. Emmett's rocket in the second half finished them off. Again, we showed flashes of good play but were struggling to keep it up for the duration. The Hague won the final with some to spare and their second win a row gives them serious momentum heading down to Lux at the end of May. For us, a little reflection is needed in the next few weeks.
It presents me with an interesting situation. When a team that’s used to winning starts to lose, often the first thing that gets questioned is the methods of the man in charge. I could sense it building on Saturday. Players will often look for a scapegoat before looking at themselves. Their opinion on what’s right and wrong can flow back and forth easily as the history of thought gets lost amongst the opinions of the rest of the group. The trainer on the other hand cannot waver to such as everyone word can be thrown back at him by the group, who tend to have long memories. He needs to listen but also sift out all the bullsh1t to try and extract the valid points. I was presented with many opinions the other night which if put along side the same sources opinions the previous week, are in direct contradiction. Still, some useful points were made. The point is that its easy to spout but a more consistent thought process is required to succeed, especially when you arrive on shaky ground.
Training has been building nicely with good numbers regularly attending. One little concern is the absence of some 'A' players on a regular basis. The European elections have temporarily repatriated some lads to Ireland, others have been missing because of holidays, babies etc. Also, we've picked up a lot more injuries this year than last. However, in addition to these issues, I'd be frank enough and say that it has fallen down some lads list of priorities and also the hunger seems to have diminished. Some lads go unaccounted for and I think others don't do enough to free themselves up. Of course it’s a personal choice but fellas need to link it to what you see on the pitch, It was easy to be motivated when we were chasing the pack but we've struggled to lead it and we need to get that fire back.
I think about G.A.A. matters to an extent that is disproportionate to their importance. This is why, despite being knackered last night, I could not sleep. Reflecting on things lads had said to me over the weekend and thinking of how to improve things is what occupied my thoughts. I really think we have good players and we are not found wanting for fitness. On Saturday our work rate and decision making, defensively, was a little disappointing however. Also, we went forward in droves, making an effort to work the ball up by hand, supporting the man in possession, which is what we talk about all the time but don't always do. That was pleasing but at times we caused ourselves problems. We had lads lining up to shoot which sometimes makes a player hesitant to go himself as lads outside him are roaring for it. That can lead to clustering and over passing which defenders love. When you lose possession they can break fast and into the space you have left. So by closing ourselves down at one end of the pitch, we actually created space at the other end for the opposition to expose. Against Amsterdam, a lot of long balls went into their full forward line in the second half. The gap between our half backs and full backs was too great and left the lads a bit exposed.
We can get overwhelmed with tactics. At the highest level, they can indeed be the difference. At lower levels, where players have less of a 'sporting brain', you witness them act through their instincts more. It’s those instincts that need working on and refining where necessary. Simple adjustments, instructions and practice will be the key to our improvement. In Amsterdam, I asked a few lads to carry the ball a bit more given we were missing some big hitters. It didn't work. For weeks before The Hague I preached about moving the ball and supporting the man in possession. It’s harder to do than you might think. We saw the benefit of moving the ball quickly. Well, all except Eoin. His aversion to passing drives those around him mental. On Saturday, more than in the past, he released the ball. I don't know does he realise that when he draws two or three men, it leaves a few of our lads open. When he found them they invariably scored. Not directly his scores, but the team’s scores. Still on Saturday night he complained that he passed too much! I mentioned earlier the issue we had with support play and the issue with clustering things up in attack and exposing us in defence. It’s easily solved and we'll get it right for Luxembourg.
That’s stuff for the training pitch and we can control it. What is more difficult to control is whether lads have the same hunger or not. It’s difficult for them to know themselves. In a previous blog I mentioned Kinsale's County Final in 2001. The hunger that year was unreal. We overcame every obstacle we faced on the way to the final. Injuries, suspensions, difficult opponents, falling outs...the lot. In 2002, we laboured to a South-East final and were dethroned by Ballygarvan. One occasion sums up the difference between 2001 and 2002. I think it was an August Bank Holiday weekend and Cork were playing Mayo in the All-Ireland QF. We were to train on the Monday I think. Attendance was sh1t. Many travelled to the game and didn't return in time. On the way up to training, one of the selectors passed a few lads in the pub. Training on a Bank Holiday had become unacceptable whereas the year before they would have walked back from Dublin to get there. Other things became more important. Sacrifice places greater importance on things and is a necessary component to generate hunger.
I know some may link my ranting and raving at training and outside to having some sort of ego. I'd hope they are not right but my pride does get hurt when a team I train and play on loses. I'll take my share of the hits as trainer but as players we need to look to ourselves as well. The bar in Benelux has risen a little this year and we are now playing catch up. We've learned some good lessons so far and it’s better to learn them now. Creating a winning habit is important no doubt, but I'd rather lead the pack at the end rather than at the beginning. After my sleepless night of reflection, I'm hardened for the battle that lies ahead. I hope my team-mates share the feeling.
With that issue put to bed, it is also important to reflect on our B team’s first outing. Pitted against Amsterdam and Den Hague in the first two games, they found the going tough. However, their endeavour was admirable and they frustrated Den Hague into kicking some shocking wides. Defeat in the group meant a 5th/6th place play-off against Den Hague B. They beat them convincingly and kept them to one point, less than either Lux or Belgium A managed!! We await Conan’s detailed report as I did not see enough of the action to comment. I did catch Ruairi’s goal though, a brilliantly worked move from our own defence. The B team’s enthusiasm is refreshing and hopefully it can influence the rest of ours.
First up were Luxembourg. We started well. I clipped over an early point after some sharp exchanges of handpasses. At times the ball moved seamlessly from defence to attack but on other occasions it got caught tucked under a Belgian arm, not wanting to join in the play. We found ourselves 0-7 to 0-4 down with the game nearly up. Enda had strained a hamstring. We started with no subs as Eoin Sheanon, who had spent the previous night in Holland, could not work his GPS apparently! He stood on the sideline but there was penance to be survived so there he stayed. The boys pulled it out of the fire as Eoghan Kelly whipped over a cracking score to level with one of the final actions, after a great cross field ball by Micheal.
To qualify as group winners we needed to beat The Hague B by more than what Lux had. 16 points was the target but we didn't get too worried about it. As long as we won we qualified and if we were to win the final, we would need to beat Amsterdam and The Hague anyway, as they qualified from their group. It was a stroll as we clocked up a cricket score. The danger in that type of game is lads will carry the ball, try to beat 10 men and then go for their own score. In fairness, we didn't engage in that behaviour but some of our finishing in front of goal was appalling!! Only frustration point was shooting for goal from narrow angles rather than fisting it over the bar.
This set up a semi with Amsterdam. They've recruited a few handy new lads this year and have a few giants in their ranks. We led 0-4 to 0-1 at half-time but they had missed some scoreable frees. In the second half they left nothing behind them and led by two points in the final minutes. A long ball out of our defence found Eoin who took off towards goal. En route he was unceremoniously met by two opposition defenders, one of whom pushed him into the other's knee, resulting in a possible broken nose and fat lip. Controversy surrounded whether it should be a penalty or a twenty yard free. Sheanon's final position was well inside the square. It’s debatable about where the contact happened. A twenty yard free was given which was hard to stomach but worse still the offenders went unpunished after the cynical foul. Micheal slotted it over to leave a point between the sides. We won the kick-out, worked it into a scoreable position but Ciaran Finn's curling effort went just wide.
They moved onto the final whilst we went on to play the 3rd/4th place play-off against Lux. We won the game handy but it was a toothless affair. Emmett's rocket in the second half finished them off. Again, we showed flashes of good play but were struggling to keep it up for the duration. The Hague won the final with some to spare and their second win a row gives them serious momentum heading down to Lux at the end of May. For us, a little reflection is needed in the next few weeks.
It presents me with an interesting situation. When a team that’s used to winning starts to lose, often the first thing that gets questioned is the methods of the man in charge. I could sense it building on Saturday. Players will often look for a scapegoat before looking at themselves. Their opinion on what’s right and wrong can flow back and forth easily as the history of thought gets lost amongst the opinions of the rest of the group. The trainer on the other hand cannot waver to such as everyone word can be thrown back at him by the group, who tend to have long memories. He needs to listen but also sift out all the bullsh1t to try and extract the valid points. I was presented with many opinions the other night which if put along side the same sources opinions the previous week, are in direct contradiction. Still, some useful points were made. The point is that its easy to spout but a more consistent thought process is required to succeed, especially when you arrive on shaky ground.
Training has been building nicely with good numbers regularly attending. One little concern is the absence of some 'A' players on a regular basis. The European elections have temporarily repatriated some lads to Ireland, others have been missing because of holidays, babies etc. Also, we've picked up a lot more injuries this year than last. However, in addition to these issues, I'd be frank enough and say that it has fallen down some lads list of priorities and also the hunger seems to have diminished. Some lads go unaccounted for and I think others don't do enough to free themselves up. Of course it’s a personal choice but fellas need to link it to what you see on the pitch, It was easy to be motivated when we were chasing the pack but we've struggled to lead it and we need to get that fire back.
I think about G.A.A. matters to an extent that is disproportionate to their importance. This is why, despite being knackered last night, I could not sleep. Reflecting on things lads had said to me over the weekend and thinking of how to improve things is what occupied my thoughts. I really think we have good players and we are not found wanting for fitness. On Saturday our work rate and decision making, defensively, was a little disappointing however. Also, we went forward in droves, making an effort to work the ball up by hand, supporting the man in possession, which is what we talk about all the time but don't always do. That was pleasing but at times we caused ourselves problems. We had lads lining up to shoot which sometimes makes a player hesitant to go himself as lads outside him are roaring for it. That can lead to clustering and over passing which defenders love. When you lose possession they can break fast and into the space you have left. So by closing ourselves down at one end of the pitch, we actually created space at the other end for the opposition to expose. Against Amsterdam, a lot of long balls went into their full forward line in the second half. The gap between our half backs and full backs was too great and left the lads a bit exposed.
We can get overwhelmed with tactics. At the highest level, they can indeed be the difference. At lower levels, where players have less of a 'sporting brain', you witness them act through their instincts more. It’s those instincts that need working on and refining where necessary. Simple adjustments, instructions and practice will be the key to our improvement. In Amsterdam, I asked a few lads to carry the ball a bit more given we were missing some big hitters. It didn't work. For weeks before The Hague I preached about moving the ball and supporting the man in possession. It’s harder to do than you might think. We saw the benefit of moving the ball quickly. Well, all except Eoin. His aversion to passing drives those around him mental. On Saturday, more than in the past, he released the ball. I don't know does he realise that when he draws two or three men, it leaves a few of our lads open. When he found them they invariably scored. Not directly his scores, but the team’s scores. Still on Saturday night he complained that he passed too much! I mentioned earlier the issue we had with support play and the issue with clustering things up in attack and exposing us in defence. It’s easily solved and we'll get it right for Luxembourg.
That’s stuff for the training pitch and we can control it. What is more difficult to control is whether lads have the same hunger or not. It’s difficult for them to know themselves. In a previous blog I mentioned Kinsale's County Final in 2001. The hunger that year was unreal. We overcame every obstacle we faced on the way to the final. Injuries, suspensions, difficult opponents, falling outs...the lot. In 2002, we laboured to a South-East final and were dethroned by Ballygarvan. One occasion sums up the difference between 2001 and 2002. I think it was an August Bank Holiday weekend and Cork were playing Mayo in the All-Ireland QF. We were to train on the Monday I think. Attendance was sh1t. Many travelled to the game and didn't return in time. On the way up to training, one of the selectors passed a few lads in the pub. Training on a Bank Holiday had become unacceptable whereas the year before they would have walked back from Dublin to get there. Other things became more important. Sacrifice places greater importance on things and is a necessary component to generate hunger.
I know some may link my ranting and raving at training and outside to having some sort of ego. I'd hope they are not right but my pride does get hurt when a team I train and play on loses. I'll take my share of the hits as trainer but as players we need to look to ourselves as well. The bar in Benelux has risen a little this year and we are now playing catch up. We've learned some good lessons so far and it’s better to learn them now. Creating a winning habit is important no doubt, but I'd rather lead the pack at the end rather than at the beginning. After my sleepless night of reflection, I'm hardened for the battle that lies ahead. I hope my team-mates share the feeling.
With that issue put to bed, it is also important to reflect on our B team’s first outing. Pitted against Amsterdam and Den Hague in the first two games, they found the going tough. However, their endeavour was admirable and they frustrated Den Hague into kicking some shocking wides. Defeat in the group meant a 5th/6th place play-off against Den Hague B. They beat them convincingly and kept them to one point, less than either Lux or Belgium A managed!! We await Conan’s detailed report as I did not see enough of the action to comment. I did catch Ruairi’s goal though, a brilliantly worked move from our own defence. The B team’s enthusiasm is refreshing and hopefully it can influence the rest of ours.
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