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Q: What’s the GAA status on concussion again?
On Saturday and yesterday, we saw two cases of suspected concussion dealt with in completely different ways. Yesterday, due care and attention was provided to Mayo forward Evan Regan after his sickening fall in Killarney. The game was held up for six minutes as medics tended to him. In Omagh on Saturday evening, Sean Cavanagh carried on playing despite suffering “slight, mild concussion” from a knock to the head. Regan was in serious discomfort; Cavanagh was in a position to play on but should have at least been removed from play, as per official protocol on the condition.
Q: Will Rory Gallagher show a different approach to Jim McGuinness?
The new Donegal manager admitted after his side’s 1-15 to 0-12 win over Derry on Saturday that perhaps their first half was a little “too defensive”. On the face of it, Gallagher will maintain the policies of his predecessor, although there might be subtle changes over time. The league is said to be an experimental playground but teams need points too and Donegal got them against Derry.
Q: Are Down potential dark horses in Ulster?
Doubtful they will come out of the side of the draw that includes Donegal, Tyrone, Armagh and Derry. Have pace in attack and Caolán Mooney adds to that after his return from Australia. He ran half the length of the field for a stunning goal against Kildare yesterday. They did seem to run out of ideas when faced by Kildare’s blanket defence but in Paul Devlin and Donal O’Hare they have real finishers. Mark Poland came on having just returned from his honeymoon and will be a key operator. You could see them having a good run through the qualifiers but their defence needs work.
Q: Can Kevin Walsh turn Galway into a serious force again?
Walsh, having been the key man in the middle of the field when Galway won the 1998 and 2001 All-Irelands, knows exactly what is required. And the key to a glory period for the Tribesmen will be consistency. That could be hard to achieve with some college players only coming back to him yesterday and it will be some time yet before the Corofin contingent return. He is going to aim for promotion but getting a settled team and solid displays will serve him better in the long run.
Q: Road testing in February: getting the balance right?
So you think training ground form is the only arbiter of team selection? Maybe in June, but there are too many other complicating factors at this time of year in the league. Relegation is a no-no. Losing at home is a no-no. Losing at home to an understrength if dangerous Dublin is another no-no. Hence Brian Cuthbert’s room for lab testing yesterday was far less than Jim Gavin’s as Cork pipped Dublin. Win your opening pair of games and you can get out the lab coat. Lose them and you can keep your silly experiments.
Q: Do you search for yourself on Twitter?
A: No, I’d be a long time searching......
Q: How can you tell if a girl/guy is really into you?
A: A facebook poke is a clear sign!
Q: Are you a Sky-plusser or a Netflix binger?
A: Sky plusser
Q: Red Rock or Fair City?
A: Fair City, easy one that.
Q: Favourite GAA commentator or pundit and why?
A: Dermot Earley, dresses well and knows his stuff.
Q: The last time a sporting event made you jump out of your seat?
A: All-Ireland senior hurling final replay last year, what a game.
Q: Piece of technology you can’t live without?
A: Laptop... far from a tech nerd.
Q: First sporting hero?
A: David Beckham.
Q: When did you last get sick?
A: Chicken pox in primary school.
Q: One supposedly fun thing you won’t be doing again?
A: Scuba Diving.
Q: Person you would like by your side if there was a zombie invasion?
A: Eoin Doyle.
Q: Five tracks for your ideal dressing room/training run playlist?
A: Lose Yourself — Eminem, Ball so hard — Jay Z, Kanye West — Stronger, Encore — Linkin Park/Jay Z, Levels — Avicii.
Steven McDonnell: Training in winter was never a problem.
When the National Football League was run off in the calendar year for the first time in 2002, 10 of the 16 games scheduled for February 3 fell victim to bad weather.
Armagh’s game against Louth went ahead, when Steven McDonnell scored the only goal.
“We only played three games before Christmas. I didn’t find winter football too bad. It meant you had something serious to train for in pre-season.
“A lot of teams now focus on pre-Christmas training and from a player point of view, it’s more difficult for that couple of weeks period in the lead-up to the League. When the games do come around they are fast and furious.
“But, before Christmas it did allow you the freedom to maybe play a wee bit more football in training sessions because that’s what you are focusing on, instead of the physical aspect of it.
“I can remember the Louth game. I think it was the first under Joe’s (Kernan) reign. There was a torrential shower of hailstone. We were hiding for cover out on the pitch behind players or whatever, but we carried on.
“I never found training in the winter to be a problem. I got huge satisfaction — probably more satisfaction walking off the training pitch on a difficult night than what I would have had on a summer’s evening.
“I miss it. People say you don’t miss the training, the intensity and the frequency of sessions, but you do.
“Being involved with the team set-up and the camaraderie between players was fantastic. The frequency of training hasn’t changed that much, but there is more focus now on developing athletes than developing footballers.
“I am manager of the U21 county team and that’s keeping me active at the minute.
“And I am going back this year to play club football.”
Great result for @westmeath_gaa today after all that happened. @gerryhussey embracing the chaos ;)
Fair result in the end. Kavanagh missed great chance to win it for Longford. Some great performances on Leitrim team. Positive start.
At least Kildare aren’t a cynical team. Somewhere, in Derry, @JoeBrolly1993 is proud of them
Fantastic patience and composure by @Armagh_GAA in the dying minutes to grind out a win. Well done lads.
Great start for big Kev today with @Galway_GAA win over @MeathGAA
2 weeks in a row the Dubs let me down. Gal ,Down,Mayo,Clare and Dublin.Just not meant to be.Always 1. #bookiesalwayswin
Good solid start from @MayoGAA away wins so valuable in division one . On to the next and now to get ready for @SuperBowl
Without a doubt 2 of the nicest Jerseys in the country on show in this Mayo V Kerry game! #slick #lovethecolours
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