Battle of the hurlers of the year, how Ballygunner do it, and when did Junior B hurling get so good?
County finals have yielded to the provincial championships as we move deeper into winter of the split season of 2025. Fintan O’Toole and Declan Bogue tell Ronan Early why this time of year continues to throw up interesting storylines and matches.The hurler of the year 2025 faces the hurler of the year 2024 as Éire Óg Ennis take on Loughmore-Castleiney in the Munster SHC semi-final. John McGrath and Shane O’Donnell are just two of the decorated players who will line out in a fascinating encounter of the dual clubs, who met on the football field last year.Ballygunner are heavy favourites to reverse last year’s loss to Sarsfields. We dig into the reasons beyond their Waterford hegemony and extraordinary run of Munster final appearances.Also, Fintan reckons Ulster club hurling has never been as strong as it is now, but Declan is not convinced.We chat about the general standard of hurling down to Junior B level - when did skill and athleticism levels across the board go through the roof? How and why did this happen? In these days of extraordinary progress, are there any skills that have been lost from the game?Plus, for the time of year that’s in it, tangents abound. Should clubs be mandated to go with inside managers? And, most controversially, are Monday clubs not that great? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Why are Gaelic footballers so attractive to AFL clubs? | How the All Stars are judged
The ‘Irish experiment’ began in the 1980s and continues to this day, with Kobe McDonald and Ben Murphy the latest promising young footballers to be recruited by AFL clubs.But what makes GAA athletes desirable to professional teams in a different sport? Declan Bogue and Fintan O’Toole join Ronan Early to consider the appeal for the Geelongs and Carltons and Brisbane Lions of this world.Plus, can GAA clubs and counties make staying in Ireland more attractive to talented young men and women - or is the lure of professional sport and the Australian lifestyle simply too great in the majority of cases?Is there an argument for compensation for GAA clubs and counties? If so, how does that square with the Association’s amateur ethos?Also today, Fintan and Declan tell us what it’s like to be an All Star judge.Plus, Declan pays tribute to the great Nudie Hughes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The GAA and amateurism: How long can the centre hold?
Declan Bogue joins Ronan Early to discuss whether the GAA’s amateur status can continue to endure a growing number of players at the top level who are not content with the status quo.For how long is it sustainable that managers are paid and players are not?But what GAA administrator wants to tackle this most delicate issue? As Declan says, nobody wants to be in that seat the day the music dies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Declan Hannon retires and Limerick’s changing of the guard
Declan and Fintan join Ronan to discuss the news that we’ll not see Limerick’s history-making captain in the green jersey again.The lads track Hannon’s career from an attacking teenage sensation to the centre back and brain of Limerick’s multiple All-Ireland winners. Why was this smiley and, at first glance, unassuming man the standout leader in this team full of big personalities?What happens now with Limerick? How many young players will be fast tracked, as the most experienced campaigners rack up the miles? Or is there a sting in the tail of this great side, a la Kerry in the mid 80s, Kilkenny in the 2010s and Dublin in 2023?Also, the AFL factor in this weekend’s football finals and Hogan v Shefflin in Kilkenny. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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55:34
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Dual dilemma: From powerhouse clubs to those who don’t even try
The likes of Éire Og Ennis, Loughmore–Castleiney, Naas and Dunloy among many others are enjoying life on the GAA’s open dual carriageway, while countless rivals prefer to stay in their lane.Does being a dual club inhibit All-Ireland success? Or is ultimate success as many people participating in as many sports as possible?Declan Bogue and Fintan O’Toole join Ronan Early to debate everything dual and wonder whether the demands of hurling and football leave both adult and child players with not a whole lot of time to do other things.The lads also discuss the upcoming county finals in Cork, Limerick, Mayo and Dublin and exchange views on how much is too much for admission to these games. €25 for the SHC in final in Kildare raised eyebrows at the weekend, but it seems the Lilywhite county are not outliers in their pricing structure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Declan Bogue, Fintan O’Toole and Ronan Early unpick the week’s biggest GAA stories to explore what they really say about the modern game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ireland