He is being forewarned. If he comes here with the tour next week, I cannot be responsible for what might happen to him, John Kerry O Donnell, one of the GAA s most important figures in New York for many years, told the Irish Independent.
Tom O Donoghue, chairman of the North American Board (NAB), demanded that Hickey and McCarthy be dropped from the touring party (he was obviously unaware that McCarthy wasn t planning to travel). By helping to remove the protesters from the pitch, these men disgraced the Dublin jersey, he said.
NAB president Dan O Kennedy was equally strident. This player (Hickey) should be immediately told of our stand that he is not playing over here.
Read More
Every county should be guaranteed one nominee, not in a patronising way but as a means of recognising that there s excellence outside the last eight in the championship. It wouldn t come at the cost of the 45 first choices, but rather as an addition to the scheme.
Players from lower-ranked counties (the term weak should be banned!) aren t the only ones to lose out on All-Stars. They are many from stronger forces too, who had solid cases over the years but never made the final cut.
Today, we celebrate a top 50 selection from both categories.
They can all feel disappointed at being missing out, especially when they examine the lists of those who made it.
Offaly’s Pat Fleury. Photo: Sportsfile
It ran from 1963 to 1967, but since it didn t have official GAA backing and was largely ignored by the wider media world, it ran aground.
Mick Dunne (initially Irish Press and later RTÉ) led the campaign to launch a new and official scheme, complete with sponsors and a glitzy presentation ceremony, the first of which was held on December 15, 1971.
Carrolls did an excellent job marketing the new arrival, including the production of large colourful posters, which carried pictures and citations for all 30 players. They became essential decorations on pub and club walls and, in many cases, a whole range of them are still to be seen around the country.
There s no clear indication as to when the football season will get up and running, but it s still worth taking a look at some of the footballers who could light up 2021.
Some are on the cusp of burgeoning senior careers, others are returning from injury, the AFL or a break from the inter-county scene - but all have the potential to make a big impact in this championship . . .
Lee Gannon (Dublin)
One of Dublin s best performers in their All-Ireland U-20 defeat to Galway where he landed a long-range outside-of-the-boot point, Whitehall Colmcille man Gannon put down a strong season with Tom Gray s side. Used as a midfielder in the decider, he s a versatile sort and registered three points from wing-back in the All-Ireland semi-final win over Tyrone. A man in demand, he had a brief flirtation with the county hurlers, having been on the extended squad in 2019. And given that Dublin s cover isn t as deep in defence as other areas of the pitch - combined with the Dubs policy of introdu