In today’s Hospital Pass, we look at how GAA preparation has evolved over the years and examine the sky-high standards that the Gooch sets for himself.
There was a time, in the days of yore, when the only post match analysis of a game took place over a few beverages in the nearest pub the players could find after escaping from the claustrophobic confines of the dressing room.
Players from a losing team would instantly point the finger at the tactics of the manager or a star player not within earshot of the conversation, only to blame someone entirely different when in conversation with said star player later on in the evening.
Amongst the winning team, glowing compliments would be swapped freely and the more confident members of the panel would go around their teammates and instead of posing the usual question ‘You played well, how did I play?’ would say: ‘I played well, how did you play?’
Times have changed, however, and the GAA these days are as in tune with technology as any professional sport you can think of.
So much so in fact, that, this weekend, both Kerry and Dublin will have an intimate knowledge of what to expect from the opposition and indeed, of themselves, thanks to the rigorous and in-depth analysis of previous matches from a company called Avenir Sports, who use iPads, GPS tracking and computer analysis systems to ensure that no stone is left unturned in their preparation for the big day.
“As a player and a team it’s nice having that extra information on your opponent when you’re going out, and it’s broken down so simply and presented so effectively, it’s very helpful,” says Dublin defender Ger Brennan.
“It helps in two ways. First of all, I can take a look at the opposition centre-forward or half-forward. I can look at his movements, look at his strengths and weaknesses and try to exploit them myself, and I can look at post-analysis of my own performances, and see what I need to work on.”
So instead of being berated by Pat Gilroy at half-time for, say, letting Declan O’Sullivan in for a handy goal, or for shooting for a point when Bernard Brogan was free in an acre of space, Brennan might expect a rebuke because he covered only 2.75 kilometres instead of his usual 3.5 km in 35 minutes.
That’s not for us thanks; give us a post-match briefing in the pub any day.
The Gooch is his own toughest critic
It wouldn’t take much high-tech analysis to realise the destruction that Colm Cooper could wreak on the Dublin defence on Sunday; a quick look at the video of the semi-final and the bewildered looks on the faces of the Mayo defenders would tell you all you need to know.
The problem for the Metropolitans on Sunday is that the Gooch doesn’t regard scoring 1-7 in an All-Ireland semi-final as any sort of significant milestone. It’s par for the course when you’re one of the greatest forwards of all time playing in one of the greatest teams of all time.
With a surprising and un-Kerry like lack of self-deprecation, Cooper said of the weight of expectation on his shoulders: “When you go out and kick 1-5 or 1-7, and do it with any sort of regularity, then that’s what you’re going to be expected to do in every game.
“I have set the bar pretty high over the last couple of years and if you don’t reach those standards, then people start asking questions, especially in a county like Kerry, where you’re only as good as your last game.”
The Kerry captain has done enough in his inter-county career to date not to be judged on one bad performance, but the exacting standards he demands of himself should serve as a warning to any Dub who think he’ll be kept under wraps this weekend.
Be afraid, Dublin, be very afraid.
