Pictured left to right are Marc Ó Sé, Michael Murphy, Paddy Andrews, and Aaron Kernan on the GAAGO RATIFIED set.
By John Harrington
Such is the nature of inter-county Gaelic games now where the margins are so fine that it’s rare you’ll ever hear a team manager or player give you a revealing insight into what happens behind the scenes.
They’re reluctant to pull that curtain across because they’re fearful they’ll give their opponents a nugget of information that could be used in some way against them.
You might be best friends and team-mates with someone in college but if you play for rival counties then there’s a strict Omertá on anything to do with your respective experiences on that front.
It’s only when the boots are hung up that the guard comes down, which is why the first episode of the new GAAGO RATIFIED midweek show which was aired this week was so fascinating.
GAAGO analysts Michael Murphy, Paddy Andrews, Marc Ó Sé, and Aaron Kernan sat down together to chat about some of the most memorable games of their lives, and it was riveting stuff.
Andrews spoke about the fall-out from Dublin’s defeat to Donegal in the 2014 All-Ireland semi-final which he is convinced gave them the tools and determination to then go on and win the next six All-Irelands in row.
Ó Sé gave an at times very amusing account of Kerry’s 2014 All-Ireland semi-final replay victory over Mayo in the Gaelic Grounds.
Murphy reflected on Donegal’s victory over Kildare in the 2011 All-Ireland quarter-final and Kernan is still clearly not quite over Armagh’s defeat to Tyrone in the 2005 All-Ireland semi-final.
For the viewer it’s all hugely revealing and entertaining stuff. And for the former players themselves it was eye-opening to hear how the other half lived.
“It was really enjoyable,” says Michael Murphy, who chaired the discussion. “When you've actually finished playing you're maybe a bit more curious and a small bit more willing to share a few things. Obviously when you're still playing you're not sharing anything.
“It was very eye-opening to hear the perspectives of the other players. And in some cases their experiences being so different and in other cases their experiences being quite similar. It was enjoyable to sit down with the lads as it always is because we have a good relationship and nice interactions.
“To hear them speak about things, experiences personal to them, was brilliant and eye-opening.
“When Paddy was talking about that 2014 All-Ireland semi-final It was fascinating to hear about the learnings they took from that defeat and how they applied them to become the best team that have ever played the game.”
In attendance at the 2024 GAAGO match schedule launch at Croke Park in Dublin were, Football analysts from left, Aaron Kernan, Michael Murphy, Paddy Andrews and Marc Ó Sé. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
The first GAAGO RATIFIED episode fairly zipped along because Murphy, Andrews, Ó Sé and Kernan have an easy rapport and weren’t shy about open and honest with one another.
The beauty of the informal format is that as one player shares a memory it sparks one in another and the domino effect can take the conversation to some unexpected places.
“I think it's a relaxed environment where when a former player tells his story it opens up the door for you to be a bit more maybe honest in telling your story,” says Murphy.
“The fact that we're comfortable in each other's company makes you feel like the cameras are away and it's like you're just sitting down in your front room chatting to three friends.
“The topics are a mixture of looking back and reminiscing and a lot of the topics to come are a lot more current and a lot more where we're at now and looking forward to the future.”
GAAGO RATIFIED is available for free on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts with episodes (there will be 10 of them) dropping every Tuesday.
From next Thursday, another new weekly show, ‘The GAAGO Analysis Show’, will also be available on the same platforms.
As the name suggests it will focus on the previous weekend’s action in both codes with two new leads analysts due to be announced next week ahead of the first episode.
“The increased number of games throughout the season is brilliant and there are a number of podcasts out there that analyse Gaelic games in the middle of the week but I think this GAAGO midweek analysis show will be something unique,” says Murphy.
“We'll be speaking about the games and we'll also be able to use footage to illustrate what we're talking about and analysing so I think will be the exciting part and what will separate it from the rest.
You can watch the first episode of GAAGO RATIFIED below.
