Injury Time 8march2024

This program is sponsored by Kilmore Abbey and Gardens. The host discusses various sports events, including GAA games and Galway United's upcoming match against Drogheda. The host praises the groundskeepers for their hard work and mentions Addy Curran, a local Clifton man involved with Galway's coaching. The host also mentions the Cunnamara All Blacks' recent performance and previews the upcoming Six Nations games. After an interview with John Caulfield, the host discusses the challenges faced by Galway United and promotes various local businesses. This program is kindly sponsored by Kilmore Abbey and Gardens, 095-52001. Good evening guys and welcome to Injury Time here on Conamara Community Radio, I hope you all had a lovely Friday evening, a cold but dry one thank God, got a few showers here in between but overall a fairly decent day with sunny spells, a long way to continue, we've seen enough rain now to last us a long time now but moving on guys, with a patch ahead guys, plenty of GAA action, obviously with the hurling weekend and football as it and later on in the show I would have the great Fancy Foley going to most games with us over the last weekend and the upcoming games this weekend, plenty of action in store with the GAA and it'll be great to see the local Clifton GAA team, all teams be out in force in very shortly, they'll be back training as well, I think the other 16, the other 17 and even the first team will be back out training as well and along with Renfrew Island all our Conamara clubs, so it'll be great to see them locally, teams be out in action in the next few weeks or so and it'll be great to see it and we wish all the teams and coaches and Renfrew Island here all the best with obviously the season ahead in all codes and especially in the GAA would kick it off very shortly but it is less than 45 minutes to Galway United's home game against Drogheda, another huge game, it's been a fairly good start for Galway United, they unluckily lost 1-0 to Pats at home on the first game of the season and then they had a massive away win in Dundalk and then a huge win in Amadisi Park the following week against Waterford and then they were just unlucky to lose 1-0 away to Shelburne on Monday night, so obviously plenty of action and they're less than 45 minutes away from kicking off in Amadisi Park and it's a massive one against Drogheda United, Drogheda would be probably the teams down there with Galway United so it'll be a massive game, hopefully they can come out with a big win and it might see a bit of sunshine during the week as well so that'll help the pitch to make sure it's back to its best, obviously Noel Connolly and his team have done a magnificent job considering the amount of games being played in Amadisi Park and the amount of rain that has been falling so it's great to see no games being called off and it's a tough task really in this weather you know and so a big shout out to Noel Connolly and all his basketball team as groundsmen in Amadisi Park and PJ Heflin and Cunnamara will know Noel Connolly fairly well because he comes out every year to give them a hand just before the season starts for the rugby as well so he's no stranger to Cunnamara here and especially with the Cunnamara All Blacks and probably to give a special mention to the Cunnamara All Blacks unlucky last weekend in the league final losing by three points to Craig's but they have a few big weekends coming up now they're in the semi-final of the cup against Castlebar this weekend I think and then peace God touch wood hopefully it'll be a cup final as well so it's been a fairly good year they've been solid wins seven from seven in the league unlucky to lose last weekend but it's good to see the club doing so well on the field which is great to see it and they were out in big numbers in the Dexcom stadium there last weekend so just unlucky but especially the under-18s doing well as well and good to see obviously the likes of Marcus Manning, Figo O'Neill and I'm glad they've all been involved with the current under-18 squad as well so plenty of talent there which is great to see and obviously there's a big weekend in the Six Nations along two big games Scotland and England coming up for the Grand Slam and the Triple Crown so big weekend for Ireland Rugby as well so we wish them all the best of luck as well so plenty of action plenty of sport this weekend so obviously 45 minutes to kick off in A&E Spartan so we want to wish them all the best of luck this evening hopefully we can get a win to keep the run going nine points will be a fairly decent return after five games so hopefully that can they can get the result tonight and we wish John Caulfield and Olly Horgan and the backroom team and the players all the best of luck and a special mention to Addy Curran who is involved he's a local Clifton man here he was involved with the coaching background there at Galway so it's great to see as well he's done so well with West Coast United as well you know down through the years he's done he's he's been coaching for a good number of years and he's been up to both monitors there as well to get his a bit more experience as well so great to see Addy doing so well and please allow me to continue but we'll have a little interview with John Caulfield from Monday's game after Monday's game and he's telling us how important this game tonight is and we'll have a quick listen and we'll be back very shortly after this interview and then we'll have the ads and we'll be back very shortly it wasn't a it was a very good performance by us you know we were well on top for lots of the game and for certainly the first 50 minutes we started really well had quite a few set pieces delivery was poor tonight for some reason obviously one corner flag was flooded so it was we seemed to get a few corners in that area early on but for 50 minutes we were totally in the ascendancy and then maybe we got sucked in and to be fair it's the shells they hit us on the counter and and and reacted quick from there the ball hit the post and scored and you just cannot do this to shells you know they're in fairness to Damien he's a super team they keep the ball you know they drain it out of you they're very good in possession they just know when to go ahead you know that you you seldom see them losing the game and they go ahead and they're brilliant at that keeping the ball killing the game you know rotating the ball making you work so hard but our guys work really hard we did everything to try to get back into the game and you know you can see at the end I suppose there were probably a bit of backs to the wall but we just had that little bit of quality around the box. That was the biggest ingredient from your side's perspective that you didn't just get at least a point out of it tonight because of the lack of quality in the final. Well yeah but I want to say like at the end of the day to be fair we're in that we're in we're coming at the start of the season and you know we've had a very heavy pitch fight night tonight's pitch even though talk is always good you know there was severe rain for five six hours before the game and you know you can see it was in really poor condition you know normally talk is brilliant and it took its it took its flow the game in terms of in terms of it was a good open game but it took its flow in terms of you know trying to for us trying to get in behind them and cause them a few problems but look at all that my lads are brilliant they're working so hard and you know it's a big challenge for us but as I said you can't go behind and get children early on in the game and unfortunately that's the way it was. Finally John as long as I know you never get over inflated with victory or over overly deflated with with victory the sense of realism and on to the next challenge now picking these boys up. Yeah and that's the challenge for us because it's going to be our third game in a week on Friday it'll be the second game in a week so there's a huge challenge for us being at home and it's time of the year where the grounds are heavy so we'll obviously rotate a few players but look at the honesty and effort from our lads has been fantastic and you know and every game this season there's been very little in the matches you know we've had four we've won two and lost two and been very little in the matches and if my guys work like that every day in every match we'll be all right but it's it's a long long season there's no easy matches. This program is kindly sponsored by Calmore Abbey and Gardens 095 52 001 Westport based shrubbitist Martin McNally will be doing home visits in the Connemara area on Tuesday the 12th of March. If you would like to make an appointment with Martin please contact him on 087 222 6260. From the 1st of March Irish CityLink will be accepting the free travel pass on all services running between Clifton and Galway. This service also stops at Clegan, Letterfrack, Mamcross and more. To ensure your seat book online at citylink.ie that's citylink.ie please note that to reserve a seat you must book online where we charge a small booking fee. Irish CityLink your choice your way every day. Kings Paper Shop from toys to gifts to cards and more all you could need behind one door but not only that there's online too where you can get all your gifts and not need to move. Check out our website kingspapershop.ie and join us on Facebook and Instagram for great gift ideas and discounts. Every week at Cabinet Super Value Clifton we have some fabulous money saving offers just for you so why consider shopping anywhere else? Have you tried out our local delivery service yet? Our online shopping team offer a safe online shopping experience for all of our customers whether it's contactless home delivery or contactless click and collect be sure to check out shop.supervalue.ie forward slash shopping for more details. Please note that due to unprecedented demand we've had to include a three euro service charge for click and collect. Cabinet Super Value Clifton the super and the value we give you both. Joyce's hardware recess located behind Joyce's grocery specializing in animal feed fuel supplies and all your hardware needs competitive prices on bulk feed. Joyce's will deliver to all areas of Connemara. Contact Brian on 095-347-50 or 087-268-6946. If you are looking to rent a holiday home in Connemara check out Connemara holiday lettings website where you will find the largest selection of holiday homes throughout Connemara. Call 095-22669 or visit connemaralettings.ie to find out what fantastic offers we have throughout the year. Hi guys welcome back and it is a lovely Friday evening and a really enjoyable day once again and we're going to switch codes guys and obviously there is plenty of league action in both hurling and football and obviously we'll be looking towards the Galway's obviously for Joyce's football and Henry Shefflin in the hurling two big years for the Maroon and White. The ever-present Francie Foley will see me through all this knowledge of both codes and obviously he's probably been watching the bit of the hurling and the football in the last few weeks and he'll probably give us a bit of a more insight and see what to expect from both goal teams for the coming for the coming season ahead now. Good evening Francie how are we keeping? Good evening Jamie it's nice to hear you again. And same to ourselves now it's obviously the league season has kind of kicked off now the last kind of few weeks and you know it's still a lot to kind of do there's lots of changes lots of players being used but it's as you said in another couple of months it'll be the business end of the season coming into the championship but obviously the league is the main talk about the minutes and obviously for both goal teams they'll both want to have a strong season in the league and kind of and bring that into the championship. Well yeah the league and so far I'll take the football if you don't mind first but anyway in the football I know that's taken into account the injury list and all that but the thing is even with what's going out we were you know we had a couple of wins against Tyrone and Monaghan last week and Monaghan I don't care we won but the performance was even though we scored three goals but the performance was poor and the the lack a lot as far as I was concerned anyway the lack of interest gave the impression that you know they were only going through the motions until they got the first goal and then things fell into place but it and I you know I would die for that maroon jersey but it wasn't a five-star performance and I didn't expect to be expected to be a five-star performance because they're missing so many talented players but having said that now well you know before the Monaghan game I was very disappointed because definitely you know that we were going going for the drop but it looks a bit brighter now and we're five points and we have to play Kerry and Dublin now maybe I'm maybe I'm a pessimist but I don't see any change coming from the match in Dublin in the stadium and I don't see any anything coming from our game in Killarney but anyway we've come to that stage we have to what will be will be and if they go out against Dublin and play well and if you go to Kerry and play well I'll be happy but I don't want to be bet out the back gate and come in the front gate or front gate out and come in the back gate that I don't accept and up to now personally myself I've been totally disillusioned with the way the football has been played generally speaking applying to most counties not all of them but certainly applying it to Galway I mean I in my wildest dreams I couldn't believe that you could be 10 years out from the goal and you could head it over the bar and it's recycled and in some stages comes back to that to the goalie almost again that is not acceptable under any circumstances and as I said I'm a true Galway fan but some bright man came up there last week some GA man and he said in order to get points get players to shoot from which he gave a distance to a ward if you get a point from we'd say for just for argument's sake 35 40 years out you'll get two points they give them two points for it and if you score a goal which is three points give them four points now I don't know would I agree with a lot of that because you mean that contradicts in the mark another wasted effort and as we have it for a good while but to me and I'm sure a lot of people would agree with me it's a joke and okay there's ways of promoting the game helping the football satisfying the supporters but as it's played at the moment I mean it's it's turning a lot of people off 100% and just looking at the the scoreline really like a Galway 312 1 and 14 points and you wouldn't see 312 in too many Gaelic football games anymore really because you know you've looked at a few scorelines there like you know that's like for Manon Aramaepe was at 11 points to 15 and you know obviously there's very little goals anymore in these Gaelic football games you know and I've seen Antrim were nine points Westmeath 13 you know it's I think as you said that the mark really is one of my things my pet hate really if you call the mark it slows down the game you get all the opposition back into their places again it really kind of really really slows down the game there's no momentum then really with the game when people call the mark you know but it's obviously these rules are are made in the top the top people in the in the G and you know that they I don't know that they'll be watching much football at all over Antrim or not but it's going to be still a talk of mine for the next few years I'd say by the looks of it and you know it's it's just a pity though that it is the talk of mine because it's the game is it's definitely it's gone back a bit over the last number of years I know there are dedicated people at the top and I know at the top as well those those people that don't want change won't have changed but unfortunately for me at this point in time Damien it's a case of closing the stable door when the horse is gone and uh uh this this these changes and these proposals should have been implemented not one year ago maybe four or five years ago and management have been stressing it and the importance of it but seemingly there's there's dictators at the top of the GAA too there are genuine men there are genuine women but there are dictators as well as far as I could gather so as I said the stable door is locked now and and the horse has gone but it'll be hard to it'll be hard to bring the the horse back to the stable now Damien as far as I can see very true and uh you know but look at the result it was probably a good result for Galway in a very tough venue in Clonagh it's always been a tough place to go for a lot of for a lot of counties you know so to score 3-12 and to come out to win was the most important thing on the field for Galway and hopefully they can they can match that obviously a big one on Paddy's weekend I think Dublin are coming to Pears Stadium so that'll be obviously it'll attract a big crowd for the weekend I think but it'll be a tough game for Galway oh absolutely as I said uh uh you know you don't have to be a pessimist to think that uh the way Dublin are playing at the moment and I've had an odd one saying they might only send a half a team down to Galway well that I can't foresee happening but I do see defeat for us a full stop and uh the thing is I know these injuries and uh you know that we've we've six of our best players missing and it's it's sad to think that you know that you know you're you're out not only for one game or two games but in most of the the cases I'm referring to they're out for the last three months and uh probably some of them be out longer but uh well we're unfortunate from that point of view any team that suffers that kind of injury and a long-term injury there it's it certainly affects the whole rhythm of the team that's exactly it and and the other obviously six big player big name players you know as well so you know it's uh but you know as I said on the other side you're giving other lads a chance to prove themselves maybe a few of the younger lads might step up to to the to the to the four and and hopefully you know maybe stake a claim on the team but it's obviously when the big players come back they'll most likely slap back into the the sharp 15 again but it's good to see the young guys doing well uh obviously it'll be a big massive test against Dublin uh in Paddy's weekend that'll be a huge one but look at the other games there now there's a carry in Tyrone played out a very good game there I think it was on TJ Carr carry 118 points to 111 uh so you know it was I think a strong carry performance there as well in Fitzgerald Stadium as well you know yeah well I was watching I watched all the games over on and uh I was very impressed uh quite impressed with Kerry and uh Clifford you know like uh he's he's he's Mr. Kerry there's no question no doubt about it he's uh if he ever is missing and they put most they should put him into Cottonwood because definitely he's a one-man show as far as I'm concerned about Kerry and how if he's not playing they're down and if he is playing they're on top but a great game but then then uh you know the opposition they were throwing away chance after chance after chance but in the end to me the best team won and uh likewise with Dublin likewise with Dublin Derby I watched that very uh in its entirety and I was as I am for the last couple of matches very impressed with Dublin they're coming together at the right time they're bringing back players the old brigade they're nearly all back now and as it is with the new fellas or the younger fellas on the team I would have to say this a lot of people wouldn't agree with me maybe but the type of football Dublin play it's it's nice to watch because they're not recycling the ball back to centre field or back to the fullback or back to the goalie straight ahead know where the goal posts are play for each other and and and and to me they're a lovely team to watch at the moment yeah and Dublin uh Jerry put it up to Dublin there uh last weekend uh in Sedley Park up in Derry uh Dublin 1-16 uh Jerry 1-11 so uh it was nice to see Dublin get a decent game of football you know like obviously they probably made a lot of changes there but it's it still it was great to see a you know Derry and Dublin and a fairly entertaining kind of tight enough game a tight enough game well I'm I'm absolutely you know I'm I would be delighted uh I would be delighted uh to see Jerry progressing and even even to win the league or go well in the championship and win it but the thing is that it would be nice to see Jerry progressing and any other team but I'm not saying that Dublin should should be winning everything but I'm only just stating my own point of view that as they're playing in the last few games in the league they are playing great football and it's not boring is that great word of boring football it's not boring actually it's entertaining and any team that can match them and win against them I would admire them and uh on the other I think they played the same evening as well was uh our neighbors uh Mayo did you happen to watch their uh 15 points uh 50 I think it was 15 points to nine points of what's coming in uh Hastings uh in Castlebar and McHale Park here now uh that probably they'll be all obviously tight enough game there as well but you may all came out from the top there as well so good a good win for Mayo as well yeah absolutely and you know I was reading Bradley last week again I do read him every Sunday I don't know some days I know he's he's you know he's he's well well got with some with some of the lot of supporters but up to a week ago he was blasting Mayo for being so poor and this that and the other now last week the headline headline on his column was that that Gerry his own team haven't got the power uh meaning the forwards to to get Sam McGuire and then he was talking about Mayo he referred to as the Mayo supporters about that and uh we know that they had no dynamic uh sharpshooter which was a disadvantage to them but anyway he said that the Derry it didn't have the firepower to win and win in Ireland now that to me is bunkum as well because Derry are one of the top teams at the moment in the country oh they'll be when the championship starts that's that's a different kettle of fish but at the moment they're up there they could possibly in my humble opinion they could be reach the league final as will Dublin or Kerry but if you ask me now who do I think will be in the league final I'd like to see Mayo in it I'd like to see Goulburn in it I'd like to see a Connick team in it but I'm afraid that's one uh happen and to me it'll be Dublin and Derry at this point in time it's looking like it's looking like he's well and uh looking at up the uh up near uh Ballyshannon you have uh Donegal did a big win against Lowd of the McGuinness back in in in the manager's role there you know will he turn it will he turn them around and uh make them a team that's you know that'll fight again uh on the pitch well I know about because I I've been up to Donegal my sister lives up there and I I'm familiar with a couple of ex-players uh believe it or not but I I think I I McGuinness like he's certainly a big asset to Donegal but I'm told they have floodlights and they play at night in the dark when people are looking because in case anyone would adopt their tactics but but not being funny though he's getting the results but then uh you know I would love to see them progressing as well but he hasn't met any heavyweight yet in my opinion do you mean and until he meets the heavyweights we won't know how how far Donegal have advanced for as since the last two years very true they can always allow there would be a big name football team as well they can also um there'll be a lot to prove there a lot of questions answered there from McGuinness as well when it comes up to the big team when the big teams come you know it's it'll be a big test for them like though they've that have that various I'll be looking at the results you know they're being poured off in the last few years you know under uh McGuinness has kind of settled a bit now you know in in with the team so hopefully they can improve and the ever-present Murphy in the attack you know he's always going to be there he's always going to be dangerous dangerous as well you know so they'll be relying you know a bit like Harry with Clifford they'll be relying on him a lot as well so if he stays injury free you know it'll be a bonus for Donegal oh absolutely and as I said you know on several occasions when I was 20 you know that I would love to see any team and I want I would know I don't want to see any team and I suppose in any sport but we're talking about football now I wouldn't want I don't want to see any team uh you know downgraded or being beaten out the gate and uh the more progress any county makes and even the weaker counties whom who you know don't get the competition it's nice to see them advancing as well to the stage where you know they might be equal to the top teams but they can put up a show and they're not humiliated and anything that's progressive for me is is is is I'm happy about it very true and uh looking towards this weekend there's a plenty of hurling action um and you know it's probably the highlight of the the weekend it's probably the the main one uh tomorrow night uh it's in uh in Limerick I think it is a park and grieve and you have Limerick versus Tipperary and I'd have is it 7.35 throw in so that'll be an unusual time but live on RT and I'm sure it'll be a cracking game of hurling well I mean I would not interrupt you but I just have the there's all the matches down there and I have a Limerick chip on top Westmeath and Cork and uh Wadsworth and Wexford, Clare, Kilkenny, Offaly and Cork and Galway and Dublin well I have the two there now tomorrow night Limerick and chip what I have seen in the league anyway and I've seen Clare and I've seen the the the challengers at the moment I don't see maybe that's I'm not drunk or anything but I don't see anyone beating Limerick at the moment in the in in the league or in the championship because the this this would be a test for them but tip I do perfectly think Limerick are going to win that comfortably tip might give them a game for three quarters of the match but the final the final count will be Limerick to win it in my opinion by maybe six or seven points and just referring in I won't bother the other ones but we have Galway and Dublin uh I have to refer to this I mean we go out and we we beat Westmeath by 20-30 points we beat Antrim by the same amount and so on and so forth and then when we come back and I'm I'm a pro huddling supporter as well but then when we meet keep like Tipperary or Clare or Limerick and you know we're not able to equal the challenge and it's disappointing because under uh under Shefflin now I was reading that he has lost two semi-finals I think to Limerick all-Ireland semi-finals and he has lost two instant championship finals to to to Kilkenny and that to me is not that to me is not progress I know they'll go out to win and everything else and I know we have a lot of young hurdlers who are who are great hurdlers but they're not they're not up to the standard of winning all Ireland and it's disappointing and we're the best manager in the country but we are not getting the the recordings and that it you know maybe maybe I'm looking for perfection but that to me is that is that progress and in with fellas like the Borks and the Mannions and and and uh McInerney 31 32 33 and 34 are outrageous the clock is against them and they'll have to either shape up this year now or they'll have to just accept that they're not good enough one or the other yeah like if you look at it like considering how they fall have fallen short for the last number of years and then on the end if you look on the other side the club the club hurling in Galway is so strong and they usually get to an all-Ireland so it's obviously with St Thomas's uh this year you know and it's just a pity now that they can't bring it on into the county and and and challenge for uh all every year like you know and like look I obviously I also spoke to Limerick and they still have the hunger for the league and and and the all-Ireland and they're gonna they seem to have the hunger for the last you know four or five years and they still have the hunger so it's gonna be hard to beat and really like I think the hunger is probably not there from the other counties really and you know like the goal to win but it's you know the hunger you know the passion is probably not fully there within the within the camps you know but um it's gonna be as you say it's gonna be very hard to kind of not stop Limerick from winning all-Ireland again but um on the goal point of view you know it's it's probably a transition bringing young lads through and probably only a year or two left in in other lads as you said the other lads are hitting hitting it over the turkeys as well so like they're only a year or two left in there um you know like another year left in in county and they'll probably go back to their clubs you know and so it's going to be an interesting you know time for Galway like though there's there's Sheffield bringing more younger lads and you know a sacrifice of a couple of years of you know bewilderment as you could say and and try to build for the future you know but it's it's a tough task at the minute for Galway to even to sniff an all-Ireland uh at the minute you know it's like with Limerick and you know you know the likes of Ethan Kilkenny and and Clare are all improving as well you know well but uh but uh the odd aspect about that here for me Damien is this I mean we won under Murphy we won five all-Irelands consecutively if I'm correct and uh uh you would expect we we haven't won an all-Ireland before but you know when we beat Limerick but we're not getting the reward from the results of having consecutively won five all-Ireland minor holding titles now you could ask this question of me then that happened to Limerick they won 321 titles consecutively and it took them many years before they reached the standard that they're applying now to their county so like I mean there's something missing there too that uh she would do win five all-Ireland minor twice surely there's three or four capable there might be there are a few on the team but not enough to make that difference of winning and and then and and winning an all-Ireland so that aspect of it is is hard to fathom but the other aspect then is this that's that I know that uh you know I know time is is catching up on some of them and so on and uh this year uh as I said already without repeat myself Limerick look like the kingpins again this year and I love it if it was Galway or some other team but it looks like to me that won't happen so uh we could be in the doldrums for another few years if the older guys retire without winning an all-Ireland the younger lads are coming in take them maybe two or three years to mature enough to replace the older guys but that is an eternity for a team for for for talented players that's exactly it and you say it could take time and uh hopefully they'll they'll mature into to some good hurlers and please god Galway can produce uh once again like you know it'd be great to produce like another Joe Canning or uh you know the likes of the you know the next next fusion tune and back of the day you know or like so um but time will tell as I say uh frankly it's a pleasure having you on um I mean I've got all that I've got all that got everything off my chest now and it was better than taking me reenies or reenies or whatever you call them for my digestion so I'm happy to be talking to you you you you can relax and watch the hurler now this weekend but uh because everything's off your chest now you can enjoy it a bit more no I told your friend there now I just repeat it quickly and let you go but I'm the first man to have gone out to scrub on my barge last week did you hear that you'll have it at home in no time no you will uh you could even scrawled with a with a bread knife it was so soft well I tell you with with the rain we're getting now in the last few months I tell you with uh it'll definitely be soft anyway you know good luck in your new promotion thank you now that was the ever-present Francie Foley uh huge thank you for coming on the show Francie and uh he's getting all his uh all his off his chest there now so he's happy for the weekend um so guys would be I'm gonna play a song is he's looking Francie's favorites for the all-ireland hurling title it is a limerick once again and we're gonna have a little listen to one of the their songs that have been played in croker uh on many times in the last number of years after all the finals is uh dreams but the crime breeze so every never quite because i think possible now do what I couldn't find to be a blazing mind so take it every day every possible way so you're a dream so now do do so now welcome back and that was uh dreams by the cranberries a great uh limerick band and uh you've definitely heard of a thing in croker and uh even a few of the rugby games I would say now it's getting very popular um being played and uh unbelievable band by the cranberries now guys moving on it is a big day obviously it is the 8th of march uh international women's day uh it is today so uh it looks just looking at women in sport guys uh there is especially in Ireland like for a small nation uh we have such uh proud uh athletes out there you know down through the years even like to look like Sonia Sullivan uh in the athletes um even at the minute now Katie McCabe is a big uh big factor and one of my favorites probably and and she's one of uh one of the best out there really probably Katie is uh Katie Taylor you know and uh she's just such like a role model for for women in sports as well which is great to see it and uh even closer to home you know there's so many you know teams doing so well in in sports as well which is great to see it and uh you know this is your day to enjoy it and hopefully you all get looked after and get spoilt uh by uh family and and friends as well like you know and it's great to see it's been an honor as well you know and and but looking at women in sport it's great to see it and down to the down to the years uh with with myself I've managed to get a a few you know very good players in the sport you know a rising rising talent here in in Clifton is Molly Booth uh involved with the uh the uh sevens in rugby obviously into the uh the under 18s uh Connacht rugby and Ireland and you know and she's such a bright future in the game as well uh and then you know Katie Dwyer is another rugby player from my hometown and after I got her on the show a few times as well she was great to see it and in a few weeks time I will have uh Julianne Russell of Galway United and former uh former Ireland uh international there uh all the way from Mike Cullen and also a very close to home then is who it was a great supporter of uh of West Coast United and she's done she's sent us a many a prize and many a jersey signed jersey there and she is a Liverpool captain and Ireland international Niamh Fahey you know so there's so many great players out there and uh it's great to see it and there's a lovely interview we have uh that was just played over the week um on Taddy Cain's show and there it's you know it's a lovely I'm going to replay it here now very shortly for you as well uh Jessica Hanson uh of Grainne Wales so I think she's Swedish born uh living in uh Clifton and you know she's heavily involved with Grainne Wales heavily involved with West Coast United uh fairly many and many other sports you know so she's a credit um uh to herself and to uh community here around Connemara you know so it's great to see so just have a listen guys well worth a listen uh she's heavily involved in so many sports and she's such a great lady but she is just one of many uh local you know local ladies that are heavily involved in the game in many games in many sports you know so there's probably too many to mention I don't know single people but the lovely interview that was done uh during the week by uh Taddy Cain will have another listen to it guys um it is Jessica Hanson of Grainne Wales and I'm now delighted going uh or keeping our our focus on women because International Women's Day is this Friday we've now invited Jessica Hanson hello Jessica lovely to meet you you are the chairperson coach a player and a parent and you're involved with the Grainne Wales GAA club here in Connemara you know when I was thinking about International Women's Day and sort of the role of women take in different aspects of society I was kind of curious about women in sport which seems to have seems to really come on in in you know between football and rugby and but I maybe I'm unfamiliar but I just needed to hear a little bit about the GAA because they're such a fabulous community organization and I was just wondering about women from your experience how does the GAA currently support and encourage women's involvement in Gaelic games say grassroots levels at our level here so so actually we are not part of the GAA okay so we are part of the standalone association called the LGFA okay which would be Ladies Gaelic Football Association so the GAA would offer you know girls can go and play for the GAA up to the age of 12 but after that they can't be involved in the GAA so that's why we'd have a standalone you know an LGFA association however that's coming to an end there is actually going to be a one club model and they're hoping to you know set that out in 2027 and I guess that is actually to get everyone in a you know equal playing field say something like Croke Park wouldn't you know there wouldn't be the LGFA it is the GAA but with the new you know they're going to rule that they're going to have the one club model it will be everyone will be kind of equal in that status so that's probably a good thing but still for now we are the LGFA okay so the LGFA is as I said only a ladies association so actually no boys can play with the ladies no boys can join our association yeah again that will change by 2027 there will be no more ladies only or men's only club there will be just one club model. So well that's obviously that they are moving forward so what steps have been taken to improve opportunities for women within the organization other than then well it's a huge big move to to to have one a one group it's a huge move yes and obviously they've been working on that for years but it's actually only voted on in the last couple of months I'm not exactly sure what month it was decided but I know that there is now an integration process started within the counties but saying the LGFA themselves obviously we're only 50 years old I think the LGFA okay and say in the last couple of years they've had something you know like women in sports so it's a standalone training for about 12 months that women in the LGFA association can participate in only women and it's to kind of get them you know into the leading roles in football you know working at a higher level yeah and that is something that only happened in the last couple of years. Little's coming on board in the LGFA has you know given huge opportunities to girls in football in the latest football it's a big sponsor and you know they're really getting their name out there getting girls in sports out there I'm sure you everyone has seen this oh they're ads oh yeah absolutely yeah absolutely fabulous really really fabulous and at decision-making level would you think you know the integration piece now you know they're really taking this on board you do you think that you know in promoting leadership and decision-making at the highest level that they they are are really focusing on on the one model with men and women coming together to have to have one organization one one body that would represent a Gaelic football yeah I do think because I don't think this decision you know the decision wasn't taken lightly by the LGFA more so even than the GA you know we probably as a lady standalone smaller club I know if you're talking money that's always what it comes down to sometimes between the men's and the ladies however the GA and the LGFA there's so much more than that because that is basically the culture of Ireland it's a cultural sport it's not just a sport you know it isn't a cultural thing so the GA should you know it should be a one club model it should be equal on all levels you know 11 field and I do think that will happen I think the ladies that work tirelessly in the LGFA higher up than we do in our club you know in county provincial I think they are they're really really good at what they're doing I don't think they would do it unless they know that it would be equal you know opportunities for men and women going forward would you think you have access to the same resources currently no no I don't I don't but I don't think it's really anyone's fault I don't think it's anyone's I think it takes time and I do think we are getting there just looking that you know we're getting TV coverage you know for our ladies sports I mean now we're talking obviously into county but we are we're there on the TV people are watching ladies sports again it's it comes down to money but I think ladies sports and I think ladies I think ladies Gaelic football is actually one of the fastest growing sports in all of Europe oh wow and considering that's only played in one country or two countries you know Britain as well but it's one of the it's actually the growth you know fastest growing sport so no I don't think it's level playing field at the moment I really don't but it will change fighting talk Jessica absolutely and it does take people at at grassroots level to buy into it and to fight for it and you know to not give up yes I think that's really important yeah yeah there's a kind of a political side to it as well isn't there you know there is so gender equality and inclusivity are really you know the GAA themselves are moving forward the LGA is moving forward so that's very positive for the sport and the very fact that you say it's you know it's the fastest growing women's sport I mean that's really encouraging you know it's a really exciting time I imagine to be involved in the sport I really do think so and I think it's just it's an amazing sport you know it brings everyone together it's a real inclusive sport you know I don't think I met many people who haven't played you know Gaelic football growing up at some point in schools or it's kind of in school you will play Gaelic football and you will play the tin whistle it's kind of and for those that obviously you know by my accent I didn't play Gaelic football at school and I didn't either knowing when we're going by my accent and see this well for those of us that would want to join that have no background is there room for us so how do we get involved so there is the Gaelic football associations are not just about football it's obviously an inclusive you know sport however so if you're interested in just playing a bit of football and having fun so we have obviously underage football we have adult football and we have mothers and others football so mothers and others yes it's fun it's non-competitive it's fun it's for people who might never have played football people who might have young kids and just want to get out for an hour a week and you know that's going to be run by Paul Gannon and it's another form of exercise you know people are doing karate and doing you know I for one didn't think you know obviously didn't look into it too deeply but you know I wasn't aware that it was you know I felt you couldn't play as well you wouldn't play it well it's brand new for this year and I do it's brand new for our club for this year but I definitely don't think it's something that you can't play you can play you know Gaelic football at any age at any level you know it's it really is that fun it's meant to just be inclusive it's meant to be for everyone well I'm just laughing to myself because I'm thinking a friend of mine who does walking football I'm wondering do they do walking some of you new one walking Gaelic football yes and it's honestly I just I would love to see as many as possible out when this starts up it hasn't started yet but it is fun it's a community-based sport you know like the rugby's been there for a long time the soccer's been there for a long time the ladies football is only there for 50 years but it is growing and I think ladies you know we we know how to to work and we know how to get things bigger and better and I think that's why it is also you know a growing area you know we're including everyone from the children to the mother to the others oh the others yes yes I definitely in the other category definitely and Jessica just just before you finish I'm sorry now we seem to be flying through this program this evening but we really need we really need a bigger discussion with you and that's something maybe I'll be pushing with the radio you know we really need um a bigger discussion and maybe get a few of your your players your your mothers and others and you get a little group in together but just before you go before you go Royal New Wales quickly you know their successes they've been very successful haven't they yes I mean obviously as I said I'm not involved in it that's long but Paul Gannon is involved since it started about 23 years ago I think they went from I don't know if anyone you know there's obviously a junior competition an intermediate competition a senior competition and you know they went senior you know back in 2004 he might quote me on all the dates now but I'm just to my knowledge I think it was 2004 and since then they won junior competitions they won the Northern Ireland um seventh competition last year which was you know really big this year there's a lot of you know um energy put into winning the junior title again and you know it's yeah like the managers behind the scenes work tirelessly and I think Paul Gannon is definitely he's he puts a lot of work into that club and he wouldn't be Royal New Wales if it wasn't for Paul Gannon well congratulations to Paul and all his his back team in supporting and it's lovely to see and and we wish you Jessica and your club continued success you know in the in the months ahead and as I say we're going to have a bigger conversation with you but thank you for this evening and it's really encouraging that your sport is is growing and women have a future in the GAA that's fantastic news Jessica thanks for that thank you Catherine thank you uh that was an interview uh during the week by Kerry Kane on Jessica Hansen of Royal New Wales and updated you and uh a big day for everyone out there guys International Women's Day uh so guys it is the end of our show unfortunately guys um a big thank you to Francie Foley here from Ireland to show Jessica Hansen take her time out there as well during the week and it's great to see it uh and it's uh we want to wish all clubs involved in action this weekend I know there's going to be uh I know there's an academy best force team they're out as well as uh and the G18s be out very shortly in four quotes Red Mile and Clifton um obviously Ireland rugby uh six stations will be in the in the kind of peak of the tournament at the minute now with two games left and then Gormley is probably just half time now haven't checked the score yet I'd like to have a bit of a surprise and uh have a check later on so we wish all teams the best of luck guys this weekend uh really hope you enjoy the show and please God we'll see you again be safe guys out there enjoy the weekend and we will see you very soon enjoy do my heart is long my heart is so long only a woman's heart can be me the tears the drip for my bewildered eye is and even though I manage only a woman's heart can be only a woman only a woman only a woman's heart can flow this memory floods my weary heart I mourn for my dreams I mourn for my wasted love that's why I know that I'll survive my heart is so low and only a woman's heart can be only a woman so this program was kindly sponsored by Kylemore Abbey and Gardens 095 52 001 oh