Sideline Snippets - Wristy Business

Sideline Snippets is www.gaa.ie's sideways look at all things in the world of GAA! Catch it every week on the site throughout the summer. 

Kerry mismatch

Those sartorially aware GAA fans in Croke Park on Sunday might have noticed Kerry’s unusual changed strip, which was far bluer than the version they used in the quarter-final win over Limerick. Indeed, one press box denizen commented that their choice of Kerry blue was ‘almost psychedelic’.

However, it was Kerry’s choice of socks that caused an even greater stir. The Kingdom wore the same navy and blue hooped socks they donned against Limerick, although with the change to the colour of the jersey, they weren’t exactly the perfect match. One suspects fashion expert Paul Galvin might have had a word with the Kerry kitman about his colour co-ordination.

Not alone did Kerry’s socks clash with the colour of the jerseys, at least two of their players were wearing completely different coloured socks. Darran O’Sullivan and Bryan Sheehan wore all-navy instead of the hooped versions worn by their team-mates. No wonder Mayo nearly allowed O’Sullivan and Kerry in for a goal in the very first minute.

Wristy Business

Look closely at the Donegal players’ wrists in next Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Dublin and you will notice that each is wearing a band. The same goes for the backroom team.

Stitched into the band is the message ‘GP .20. MA.’ Its meaning has not yet been revealed, but it is thought to be a motivational technique employed by Donegal manager Jim McGuinness, who studied sports science and psychology during his college days.

Last year, Down manager James McCartan had his players’ jerseys stamped with the Roman numerals MCMLX to highlight 1960, the year of the county’s first All-Ireland win. Alas, the Mourne men were not to repeat the feat of their ground-breaking forefathers.

If any budding code-breakers want to hazard a guess as to the meaning of the Donegal message, feel free to drop Sideline Snippets an email at medianews@gaa.ie.

Tommy nets a bargain

Should Tommy Walsh be named on the GAA All Star team at the end of the season, then the Tullaroan man will have achieved the quite remarkable feat of winning nine successive All Star awards in five different positions.

Walsh, who has been named on the end of season All Star XV every year since his debut Championship season in 2003, will join DJ Carey and Henry Shefflin (Henry, however, can break the All Stars record with a 10th this year) on nine awards if he is recognised again.

With that in mind, it was hardly surprising to learn that Tommy has put in a fair bit of practice down through the years. However, Sideline Snippets still had to chuckle when we read an interview with Tommy about his personal finances in Monday’s Irish Times.

Asked what the best value for money purchase he has ever made, Walsh replied: “My parents bought me a hurling goalpost with a net when I was 10 and my brothers still use it at home even though we could do with a new net.”

If he lands a ninth GAA All Star after the All-Ireland final on Sunday week, then maybe a few Cats fans will do a whip ‘round to replace that old net.

Still Raining Goals for Brolly 

Joe Brolly may elicit the same kind of reaction among the GAA public as Marmite, but love or loathe the RTÉ pundit and former Derry star, there is no denying he has charisma.

Brolly may have lost a yard of pace and gained a few inches around the waist since hanging up his boots, but he is still able to turn on the style when the occasion demands it.

And he can still play football with the same swagger he did in his playing days if this goal he scored in a game at the official opening of the Stewartstown Harps GFC pitch last week is anything to go by.

Rather than go for the simple finish, Brolly, in keeping with his pantomime villain persona, executes the perfect lob and wheels away celebrating by blowing kisses to the crowd in trademark style. Old habits die hard.

On The Fourth Day

Tipperary and Kilkenny have never before played in an All-Ireland final on September 4. The counties have played in finals on September 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th and 9th. The 4th might serve as a warning to Tipperary, who previously lost finals on that date to Wexford (1960) and Galway (1988). Their only final win on that date was against Laois in 1949.