1. Hurling is dying, of that there is no doubt especially to us sports people in-the-know. The GAA decided to put another nail in the coffin of hurling by demanding "where you belong" people pay dearly for a service that was hitherto free.
2. Most of us have missed some classic games of hurling (Limerick V Clare, Cork V Tipperary) already. Free-to-Air television would have promoted the game a hundred fold. You might think the GAA shot itself in the foot and you wouldn't be wrong.
3. There are thousands of people throughout the country giving their services free to the GAA (especially through local clubs in every parish) and GAA-GO is a kick in the head to them whether they are people baking cakes for sale during underage training sessions or refereeing matches or playing or training teams or running the local raffle. All of these services are provided free by people who care about the GAA.
4. But, in some areas, if you have a "Dodgy Box" you can pick up GAA-GO free of charge. The moral of the story here is get a Dodgy Box if you haven't one already.
5. TG4 showed some live U20 and Minor hurling games this week. The games were excellent to the viewer and showed how hurling should be played with terrific end-to-end excitement. If you looked at the attendance you would have seen that the public areas were as near to empty as makes no difference.
6. Even if you want to subscribe to GAA-GO you must have top of the range internet, something the country is still short. Those who did subscribe were treated to a clock on screen while waiting for a decent telecommunications signal and therefore didn't see the game live.
7. Next Saturday is not an exception either where those who refuse to subscribe will miss an important Waterford V Clare hurling game - another nail in the hurling coffin.
8. I've listened to Dónal Óg Cusack on several Sunday Game programmes outlining how hurling could be improved, advertised and extended in Ulster by having a Team Ulster with players from the province and allowed to contest the All-Ireland Championship. This was ignored by the GAA - and Dónal Óg's comments about pay-per-view hurling likely will be ignored too.
9. I never thought I'd say this:- Is there a rugby club out there that wants my free services and dedication to underage rugby? I think I'd feel more "belong" there.
2. Most of us have missed some classic games of hurling (Limerick V Clare, Cork V Tipperary) already. Free-to-Air television would have promoted the game a hundred fold. You might think the GAA shot itself in the foot and you wouldn't be wrong.
3. There are thousands of people throughout the country giving their services free to the GAA (especially through local clubs in every parish) and GAA-GO is a kick in the head to them whether they are people baking cakes for sale during underage training sessions or refereeing matches or playing or training teams or running the local raffle. All of these services are provided free by people who care about the GAA.
4. But, in some areas, if you have a "Dodgy Box" you can pick up GAA-GO free of charge. The moral of the story here is get a Dodgy Box if you haven't one already.
5. TG4 showed some live U20 and Minor hurling games this week. The games were excellent to the viewer and showed how hurling should be played with terrific end-to-end excitement. If you looked at the attendance you would have seen that the public areas were as near to empty as makes no difference.
6. Even if you want to subscribe to GAA-GO you must have top of the range internet, something the country is still short. Those who did subscribe were treated to a clock on screen while waiting for a decent telecommunications signal and therefore didn't see the game live.
7. Next Saturday is not an exception either where those who refuse to subscribe will miss an important Waterford V Clare hurling game - another nail in the hurling coffin.
8. I've listened to Dónal Óg Cusack on several Sunday Game programmes outlining how hurling could be improved, advertised and extended in Ulster by having a Team Ulster with players from the province and allowed to contest the All-Ireland Championship. This was ignored by the GAA - and Dónal Óg's comments about pay-per-view hurling likely will be ignored too.
9. I never thought I'd say this:- Is there a rugby club out there that wants my free services and dedication to underage rugby? I think I'd feel more "belong" there.
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