Conor Gormley- A Tyrone rivalry with Oisin & Armagh explained. A Brilliant listen
Two men who really didn't like each other sit down in a room. This is some podcast. Conor Gormley won three All-Ireland's with Tyrone and when the Armagh rivalry was at it's height- he was the enforcer. He marked the dangermen and said the 2005 All-Ireland semi-final was the most intense game of his life. Gormley, quiet by nature explains being overlooked by Mickey Harte as a minor, exploding onto the scene because he marked Peter Canavan at club level and feeling almost bitter about saying goodbye to Tyrone. He struggled to watch them for years. Oisin named Gormley, Ryan McMenamin and Brian Dooher in his autobiography for 'verbals' we explore that touchy subject. Conor also explains the moment when his father took a heart attack during a club game. Conor jumped the wire and attached the defib. We talk ‘that block’ against Steven McDonnell in 2003. It was the moment, which secured a first Sam Maguire for Tyrone. On the week Tyrone play Armagh in an Ulster semi-final, we look ahead to that game from an iconic footballer. One, until now, we knew very little about. 15,000 eggs a day, a hurler, refusing drink, and the question he asks his kids after every game. It's Conor Gormley like you've never heard him before
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Kerry survive, hooter must go, Monaghan fall short. Donegal & Galway through along with Clare and Down. Munster Hurling is king
The Munster Hurling championship has saved the world from doom! Packed into a big football weekend, Cork/ Clare and Limerick/Tipp shook us all. Magnificent stuff.The football was good too. Donegal will play Down in the Ulster semi-final. Cork really could have/ should have beaten Kerry, Oisin wants to bin the hooter- Monaghan might agree!Questions remain over Mayo but Galway look in a really good place. A painful weekend for Fermanagh.
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35:53
Ross Carr- gratitude for life
When you sit down to record a podcast, you never quite know how it’s going to turn out. This was one of those. Ross Carr is one of those interesting people you come across in life and this is an intimate reflection on living and growing older. Ross Carr is just north of 60, young- but fully aware of the fragility of life. There’s been losses, Eamonn burns being one, and the former All-star has responded with a more rounded outlook on what life should be. The Mournes and the splendid Clonduff certainly helps with that direction. Two All-Ireland titles in 1991 and 1994 were magic days in Down. There’s been little since. Why? Kevin Mussen was the first to bring Sam Maguire across the border in the 1960’s- his county and club friend followed in his footsteps 30 years later. Being a good parent, questioning was he good enough, when to stop playing and when to finish coaching. Above everything, Ross Carr’s love of place and the GAA shines through. A great listen this week
Mind games and addressing the elephant in the room. Seanie Johnston has an interesting take on the flat Cavan performance in Omagh. Tyrone take on Armagh next (what a game) and Meath come from 10 down to beat Offaly. Wins for Dublin, Louth, Armagh and Kildare. Westmeath, Antrim and Wicklow lose- but there's lots of positives.
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26:05
Ger Houlahan. All-star, TV pundit, Armagh captain, life is for laughing
What a laugh and what a man. He wore the orange of Armagh for almost two decades. He captained the team, All-star award, but watched as all those teams around him picked up Sam Maguire, while Armagh missed out. He did collect back-to-back Ulster titles towards the end, but it wasn’t quite the same. Craic, depth, fun and emotion. This is Ger Houlahan at his best. One of the original TV pundits, icon, celebration king and continues to give back.
The GAA Social brings to life stories from Gaelic Games. It features pundit discussions and wide-ranging interviews with the sport’s players, managers and officials.