Not sure about Marty Clarke but I know that when Setanta O'Hailpin came back for a short while he was training with Na Piarsaigh and they reckoned his whole shape had changed. He was one of the best athletes we had when he left but was twice that when he came home. Tadgh Kennelly had forgotten how to kick a ball when he came back but was physically a beast when he came back. He didn't last the full 70 in the 09 final (he shouldn't have been on at all after 12 seconds) but whilst he was on he covered every blade of grass on the field. Michael Shields came bak because he didn't like the game but he benefitted from professional training and I hear that Tommy Walsh (the Kerry one) has become an absolute monster since going over there. it is professionalism that lets them batter us but for amateurs, we do ok.
reminds me of that old joke. Ian Paisley gets hit by a car and goes into a coma. Suddenly after 15 years he awakens with a start and the nurse informs him of the duration of his coma. "Pray tell fine nurse....is Queen Elizabeth still the monarch?" "Oh no. All that nonsense was done away with years ago, Britain is now a Republic" "This(h) is terrible news.....and pray tell....is Ulster still an integral part of the Union?" "Oh no reverend paisley, Ireland is now united and free" "And are the reformed Churches still prevalent" "No Reverend Paisley, it turns out the Catholics were right. Everyone is Catholic now" "But surely some things must have remained the same....tell me..are Rangers still the dominant force in scottish football?" "Yes, they had rather a good win last week in the Glasgow derby" "Thank the Lord....and pray tell fine nurse...what was the score?" "...erm.....i think it was 3-14 to 2-16" and oldie....but a goldie
Rangers are just jumping on the bandwagon other sporting organisations and teams jumped on a long time ago in recognising the rich vein of talent that is the Gaelic football community. Alonso played Gaelic when he visited the Republic as a kid. Ronaldo gets a photo holding a hurley stick. You're right lads, as legitmate as the Gaelic footballer signing for Rangers.
He's not a Gaelic footballer though is he? He is a kid from Ireland who played a bit of Gaelic Football. The same as Irish kids up and down the country. i don't think it is the same as the afl who actively look to convert players to a game they wouldn't have played before but rather a guy who played one game at a very low level signing professional forms with an association football club. He is no Tomas O'Leary who won an u-21 all Ireland and then wins the grand slam and heineken cup in rugby. He is no Tadgh Kennelly who won the Grand Final in the AFL and a senior All Irleland. He is no Matthew Macklin who played u-21 hurling and fought for a world title last night. He is no Kevin Moran who won a Football All Ireland and an FA cup in England He is a kid who played with other kids at no level at all.....same as Alonso. At least Alonso played with players who went on to win senior All Irelands at inter county level. This lad played with players who wont even play in the Derry senior Championship.
