Well here I am back again. Haven't posted anything in an age. Six months out of work now, and you'd think I would have been able to manage the time to squeeze a quick post in. It seems not.
Not a lot has changed, but there is massive potential for new developments. I've chased a particular job for nigh on 1o years and I think I have finally nailed it. Just waiting on a start date, but don't expect to hear for another month or so.
Still single and happy. Also still single and unhappy. Hmm...
I love being single, but would love to be with someone. Is this normal, or does every man feel that, and are just smart enough to realise that you can't have your cake, etc?
I don't seem to have problems meeting girls. I do seem to have problems finding the kind of girl I really want to end up with. Is it right to settle for anything less? How many dates does it take to decide? Surely that feeling you get at the start can't be wrong. But I've been wrong about lots of things before. Is everyone as conflicted? Do I over-think everything?
Jesus, I give myself a pain in the lower left ball with this, but can't seem to stop.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Cork v Joe Canning
Unfortunately I didn't get to Thurles on Saturday evening for the hurling qualifier between Cork and Galway. I was in polite company but there was a little portable tv in the house I was in, tuned to the game. Regularly trailing off to see who Diarmuid O'Sullivan was trying to decapitate at any given moment, the bean an tí suggested I retire to the lounge where the host family possessed a tv set no less than 50 inches in size!!! A colossal behemoth of televisual indulgence. It didn't matter, as it was apparent on the portable just what a talent Joe Canning is.
The kid is 20years old and doesn't look remarkably athletic or too physically imposing. Yet there he was tossing the Rock aside, nonchalantly splitting him open before scoring his first goal in a haul of 2-12! The kid's calm and assurance is worth admiring. He resisted the longing advances of Mr Loughnane for a year, and his predecessor Conor Hayes also. How confident can a kid be, to be so certain that he is going to be an inter-county player that he could decide the timing himself? And without the arrogance one would have expected.
He makes the game look so simple. Slotting sideline balls over the bar from centre field direction, his confidence undimmed by a wayward effort from closer in, a couple of moments previously. The GAA really should reconsider their previous attempts to award 2 points for a converted sideline cut in hurling. Of course I am only calling for this as Ben O'Connor converted also so the margin of victory would remain unaltered, but the execution of such a difficult skill should be rewarded accordingly. In this year's Fitzgibbon Cup with LIT, Canning scored from four such line balls! Regular All Star forwards have gone four seasons without scoring a point from one line ball. Or indeed gone full hurling careers.
I think people should pay special attention to Joe Canning. His is a name that is going to be considered in the future with the likes of Ring and Carey. His potential is that he could outshine Tipp's Eoin Kelly or even Henry Shefflin, the game's current unchallenged master.
It's a terrible pity though that Galway lacked the guts and fire in their bellies to really attack top six opponents. They should have beaten Cork when one player scores 2-12 but with nobody else taking any responsibility they fell short. I thought one of the key elements Loughnane would contribute to Galway hurling would be fire and passion and an attitude where they wouldn't take a backward step. Instead it was the likes of Brian Murphy, Shane O'Neill and Sean Óg that brought fantastic levels of aggression that are crucial to winning any championship game in any sport.
I really hope that this is a kick start for Cork who haven't played well as a team since the Semplegate fiasco last year against Clare, and not a final sting from a dying wasp. There is potential there in the forward subs and the backs (D O'Sullivan aside) are still playing exceptionally well. A concern would be lack of a top class replacement if one of our centre fielders were suspended or injured. Kevin Hartnett acquired exposure to championship hurling over last 2 summers however taking Tom or Jerry out of the team would weaken it significantly.
John Gardiner at full back was excellent. He sets extremely high standards and rarely fails to meet them, even filling in in a position he has never played in previously. I think Sully's days may be numbered. The Dublin full forward identified a lack of athleticism in dragging him out around the field in order to challenge him, with success. While never blessed with astonishing pace, we could always rely on his physical strength, but J Canning cast a new light on that. Admittedly Canning fouled the ball in scoring that first goal, which referee Barry Kelly did not see, but taking on O'Sullivan in such a bold fashion which he has never been challenged may have indicated the start of one glorious hurling career and the end of another. It remains to be seen.
The kid is 20years old and doesn't look remarkably athletic or too physically imposing. Yet there he was tossing the Rock aside, nonchalantly splitting him open before scoring his first goal in a haul of 2-12! The kid's calm and assurance is worth admiring. He resisted the longing advances of Mr Loughnane for a year, and his predecessor Conor Hayes also. How confident can a kid be, to be so certain that he is going to be an inter-county player that he could decide the timing himself? And without the arrogance one would have expected.
He makes the game look so simple. Slotting sideline balls over the bar from centre field direction, his confidence undimmed by a wayward effort from closer in, a couple of moments previously. The GAA really should reconsider their previous attempts to award 2 points for a converted sideline cut in hurling. Of course I am only calling for this as Ben O'Connor converted also so the margin of victory would remain unaltered, but the execution of such a difficult skill should be rewarded accordingly. In this year's Fitzgibbon Cup with LIT, Canning scored from four such line balls! Regular All Star forwards have gone four seasons without scoring a point from one line ball. Or indeed gone full hurling careers.
I think people should pay special attention to Joe Canning. His is a name that is going to be considered in the future with the likes of Ring and Carey. His potential is that he could outshine Tipp's Eoin Kelly or even Henry Shefflin, the game's current unchallenged master.
It's a terrible pity though that Galway lacked the guts and fire in their bellies to really attack top six opponents. They should have beaten Cork when one player scores 2-12 but with nobody else taking any responsibility they fell short. I thought one of the key elements Loughnane would contribute to Galway hurling would be fire and passion and an attitude where they wouldn't take a backward step. Instead it was the likes of Brian Murphy, Shane O'Neill and Sean Óg that brought fantastic levels of aggression that are crucial to winning any championship game in any sport.
I really hope that this is a kick start for Cork who haven't played well as a team since the Semplegate fiasco last year against Clare, and not a final sting from a dying wasp. There is potential there in the forward subs and the backs (D O'Sullivan aside) are still playing exceptionally well. A concern would be lack of a top class replacement if one of our centre fielders were suspended or injured. Kevin Hartnett acquired exposure to championship hurling over last 2 summers however taking Tom or Jerry out of the team would weaken it significantly.
John Gardiner at full back was excellent. He sets extremely high standards and rarely fails to meet them, even filling in in a position he has never played in previously. I think Sully's days may be numbered. The Dublin full forward identified a lack of athleticism in dragging him out around the field in order to challenge him, with success. While never blessed with astonishing pace, we could always rely on his physical strength, but J Canning cast a new light on that. Admittedly Canning fouled the ball in scoring that first goal, which referee Barry Kelly did not see, but taking on O'Sullivan in such a bold fashion which he has never been challenged may have indicated the start of one glorious hurling career and the end of another. It remains to be seen.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Rock n Roll lifestyle?
Saturday night 9pm, and I'm sitting in preparing for an interview (civil service, yawn - no offence Rosie) on Monday.
Has my life really come to this or does procrastination affect everyone's social lives to the point where they feel the need to sacrifice the fun stuff? Is this another manifestation of that fucking Catholic guilt?
I haven't been to Mass in about 10 years (weddings and funerals aside), so why should I still feel that? Was I that deeply indoctrinated? Jesus, they're good. If the Catholic church wants to make some serious cash, they should get into the life coaching/motivation market. That's not too hostile a turf to muscle in on is it? I think I'd pay good money if I could channel this guilt into hauling my ass off the couch and running a few laps of the hurling pitch, or eyeing up the eastern European chicks at the gym.
Maybe the parish priest could list who lost most weight during the community announcements at the end of the service, or run though a league table of performance at Christmas instead of the long list of dead people. It'd be more interesting and could lure a few lost souls with good intentions back to the flock.
Admittedly, I haven't given this a lot of thought but it's diverted me from the research at hand, fueling more guilt. A vicious circle.
Has my life really come to this or does procrastination affect everyone's social lives to the point where they feel the need to sacrifice the fun stuff? Is this another manifestation of that fucking Catholic guilt?
I haven't been to Mass in about 10 years (weddings and funerals aside), so why should I still feel that? Was I that deeply indoctrinated? Jesus, they're good. If the Catholic church wants to make some serious cash, they should get into the life coaching/motivation market. That's not too hostile a turf to muscle in on is it? I think I'd pay good money if I could channel this guilt into hauling my ass off the couch and running a few laps of the hurling pitch, or eyeing up the eastern European chicks at the gym.
Maybe the parish priest could list who lost most weight during the community announcements at the end of the service, or run though a league table of performance at Christmas instead of the long list of dead people. It'd be more interesting and could lure a few lost souls with good intentions back to the flock.
Admittedly, I haven't given this a lot of thought but it's diverted me from the research at hand, fueling more guilt. A vicious circle.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Newby
So I'm new to this blogging carry on.
I'm not a frustrated writer, social commentator, orator or polemicist, but have recently been made redundant from a job that was slowly killing my soul, and feel happy to write long, inane, convoluted entries for my own fun.
I hope you find these thoughts interesting, and if so feel free to leave a comment. If you prefer not to, who cares? I read a lot of blogs intermittently, and rarely leave comments so won't be offended if you don't.
I'm not a frustrated writer, social commentator, orator or polemicist, but have recently been made redundant from a job that was slowly killing my soul, and feel happy to write long, inane, convoluted entries for my own fun.
I hope you find these thoughts interesting, and if so feel free to leave a comment. If you prefer not to, who cares? I read a lot of blogs intermittently, and rarely leave comments so won't be offended if you don't.
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