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Stynes advises O hAilpins to toughen up
Thursday, January 19, 2006

Aussie Rules veteran Jim Stynes has warned the O hAilpin brothers from Cork that they need to toughen up if they are to succeed with their clubs Down Under.

Stynes feels that the next 12 months will test Aisake and Setanta’s character and ambition to the full but, most of all, their physical strength.

"I remember watching Aisake play hurling for Na Piarsaigh in Ireland a few years ago and I thought he was too easily pushed aside by physically stronger opponents," Stynes said.

"Australian Rules is a game for big, strong men, and whilst Aisake is athletic and has got pace, he will get smashed without adding some muscle."

Stynes believes that Setanta also needs to work a lot more on his game before he can be assured of a long-time career Down Under.
"The challenge for Setanta is to be a significant margin better than his team-mates or he could drop in and out of the seniors and be moved on."

Setanta not happy with Croker deal

Setanta O hAilpin
Friday, January 20, 2006

Former Cork hurling star Setanta O hAilpin has become the first major GAA star to publicly criticise the opening up of Croke Park to so-called ’foreign games’.

The Rebel County ace is critical of the GAA for taking the decision to allow its headquarters to be used for soccer and rugby in 2007.
The landmark move to let soccer and rugby internationals to be played at the GAA’s famed Jones’ Road venue has incensed O hAilpin.

The now-Australian Rules player insists that Croke Park should have been exclusively reserved for the playing of Gaelic games.

"Croker has always been the home of hurling and Gaelic football and I think it’s wrong for the GAA to allow other sports to be played there.
"It’s disrespectful to the history of our Irish games," the professional sportsman declared.

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Setanta Ó hAilpín 64 AFL Games 45 Goals

Up the Rebels All-Ireland Hurling Champions 2004/2005

I don't think Setanta's problem is with physical strength as much (and I don't think the article implies this) but more natural ability and the hardest component which is awareness on the field. If Setanta can somehow acquire the ability to act instinctively on the field and not need to think to much about options in play and what he wants to do, he will be OK. Physically, he is a perfect specimen for our game.

I hold some faith with the coaching panel's decision to elevate him onto the senior list. They must have some belief that he can contribute

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C'mon Blueboys!

Kevin, I'd be interested to know if Santy's comments regarding Croke Park are well received. No doubt, Irishmen would be proud of his efforts to break into AFL footy and wish him well as they did Tadgh and Jimmy before him (which I am sure is how Aussies regard the success of Ben Graham and Darren Bennett in NFL). But the other side of the coin is that he has forsaken the Irish Games for Aussie Rules.

If Aaron Hamill expressed his concerns over the direction of Carlton Football Club, there would be a riot. Is there any resentment to his "defection"?

Apologies ahead of time if you think that this post is in any way mischievous. I stress that I am a great admirer of Santy and Aisake and am over the moon that they are at Carlton.

Great to see articles from Ireland re Santy and Aisake. Agree absolutely with marci's comments. Really the two toughest things they need to conquer are the skills which are very hard to learn in a few years, and very hard to then execute under extreme pressure, and the awareness. It is that thing of intuitively knowing where to run and what to do in any given situation in a game, and to do it as second nature, without thinking. I think Santy has a great opportunity with Fev's injury to get game time up forward in the Wiz Cup. Seems to be his best spot, leading hard and shooting for goal.

Both boys have the mental toughness, huge effort to come halfway across the world to try out in a foreign game, and there run times show they push themselves. They are both great athletes, Aisake will build himself up. They are as quick as any 196cm + player I've ever seen, but it certainly won't be easy and they'd both be hoping to make big steps forward this year.

What they may give us is unpredictability, that wildcard option that does the unexpected. But we must be patient and hope for the best.

I agree with Stynes in that Setanta and Aisake do need to toughen up physically.
Its pretty tough for them as theyre not used to the kind of physicality this game demonstrates.
I think Setanta needs his nose broken or something and he will be right after that.
He seems to tip toe through the tulips at times in case he steps on someone....
In Setantas case physicality will have to be something that will need to be extracted from him if he is to survive first and then succeed.
I think once that comes the rest of his game will just fall into place.

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

A very funny line Syn I think his original attitude will see him OK
...."..when does the fookin' hittin' start..."

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occidentally orientated

Let me tell all of you something now, Jim 'd1ckhead' Stynes, should be keeping his mouth shut, he's not liked and his opinions are not wanted at all, and in no way respected. How many times has he come out and, with semantics, criticised the 2 lads, he has done it to Tadhg as well, still does, he doesnt want anyone to steal his thunder and it stuck in his throat that Tadhg won the premiership when he never did, he will never admit to it though. There is far more to it than I can or will elaborate on, but trust me, that man is an asshole.

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'Cause I'm J.U.D.D
I'm dynamite
J.U.D.D
And I'll win that fight
J.U.D.D
I'm a power load
J.U.D.D, Watch me explode

Maybe there are issues there Beano but Jim Stynes does some brilliant work in Australia.
His work with troubled teenagers is sensational and I have the utmost respect for the man.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

I don't like him much.......Beano has a point by the sounds of it.

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The problem will be made. for the solution to be sold, to your face before your eyes, tolerance is now the new danger

There is a thing called ulterior motive....sometimes I think when it comes to this kind of thing and charities and the like it as all about how you are seen in the publics eye and not out of a passion to help.

I dunno though....I don't know the man personally. I can be wrong...alot

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The problem will be made. for the solution to be sold, to your face before your eyes, tolerance is now the new danger

IMO Setantas weakness is that he gets lost on the field to often, by getting confused on chasing the ball or minding his opponent.
Thats why ill throw him in a forward pocket and tell him just to play and gather the ball at any opportunity. Once that is masters i think he could play in any position.

Stynes his harsh on them because he wants them to achieve.

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"Dont count the games, make the games count"

I'm not sure that you meant it to be, but this is a pretty big accusation and also a pretty damn lousy thing to say..

Had Jim Stynes speak at my school once and he was inspirational..


On a side note, I saw Aisake, Setanta, Jordon Bannister and Paul Bower at the tennis recently.. Even though he is big, Setanta still looked like he needed a few more kg's.. He's very tall but he's not so 'big' that people recognize/assume that he's a footy player.. if that makes sense..

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"Some people take delight in Carlton. " - Verbs

Under any other circumstances, that would be a VERY lousy thing to say.......................
not here, that would be typical of the man, now, I know that the flip side is, regardless of the motive, young people are profiting from it which is always good.
But I would say, read the mans autobiography, it's not so unbelievable that the man does it to project himself well.

And he doesnt do it to get the best out of the boys, he does it cos he doesnt want anyone emulating him, which on one hand Tadhg has done, plus Setanta was a HUGE name here before he went, Stynes was a mediocre player, THAT'S IT, nothing more.

On Setanta's size, he is 100kg, the club don't want him any bigger, otherwise it would affect his mobility.
I know Stynes is a big name down there, but I gather not so much amongst the Irish community, he has forgotten his roots with some of the things he has said and it has come to peoples attention that he has done nothing to actually help the lads except fire criticisms at them, which is kind of strange if that is a way of helping, considering the type of work he does.

_________________
'Cause I'm J.U.D.D
I'm dynamite
J.U.D.D
And I'll win that fight
J.U.D.D
I'm a power load
J.U.D.D, Watch me explode

Beano, im a huge Setanta supporter..
But i dont see the Stynes thing as blatant criticism.. i see it as constructive criticism..
I think hes on the money.. i really do.. and so would Setanta.

Setanta isnt used to this style of game and its very different to Hurling.
Because he was brought up on a diet of it , it will take some time...he needs to smash the packs.. and he wont make it until he can.... you cant be 6ft 6" and 100 kgs and not really push into the packs in this comp.
He needs to play like that because he doesnt really have the nouse yet to play as an outside player.

im sure he will make it... but he will have to follow what Stynes says.

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

No probs SOS to be honest i don't think it has been commented on in general. of those people i showed the article to- some people agree with him, some don't and more people as you point out question his right his right to comment on it when he defected. Its a nothing issue really. The debate over the opening up of croke park is a red hot issue at the moment. If anyone is interest www.rebelgaa.com will give you a good variation on the arguements for or against opening up croke park. "Is there any resentment to his "defection"? " Well most people respect his right to do what he wants & the fact that he couldn't be kept in cork cause he wanted to be a professional. However the vast majority of cork fans (myself included) are still a bit disappointed with his decision to come down under. He was one of the top emerging stars in cork & could have won many all irelands for cork which is the thing that most youngsters in cork aspire to. he won an all star and Young Player of the year in his first season, got to an all ireland final,cried tears at the final whistle,was loved by cork fans, and then he suddenly decided to try his hand at a new sport. it would be liek having mark murphy play his first season get Rising Star and then decide to defect to an NFL team. I'd still prefer to have him in the blood and bandage of cork than navy blue but i will be the first one to hope that he can make a good career down under. Most Cork people in general do hope he makes it but yes there is still some resentment towards Carlton for "stealing " him from us.

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Setanta Ó hAilpín 64 AFL Games 45 Goals

Up the Rebels All-Ireland Hurling Champions 2004/2005

Well, people are lousy and pretentious alot of the time........they are forever doing shit just so they become well liked....

I didn't really mean to accuse him.....my point was that I wouldn't hold anyone in any higher regard just becasue they donate money and some time here and there to charities.....It's easy and it wouldn't surprise if, in some cases, this type of work is reccomended by managers and shit just to up the popularity....It's not often about being good anymore It's all about money.

Anyway I don't really see any reason to doubt what Beano is saying.

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The problem will be made. for the solution to be sold, to your face before your eyes, tolerance is now the new danger

Hey Kevin, have a look at this article - AFL to curtail Irish imports

Too late to keep Santy and Aisake at home, but some recognition of the potential harm to the Gaelic games nonetheless.

Stupid decision by the AFL. Why am I not surprised.
Why don't the Irish progress their competition to be more professional and therefore make their product more viable.?
Understand their pain, but with pain comes intiative and progress.

Once again this AFL administration is not looking at the best interests of our code.

Wouldn't put it past this turd Demetrispew to try and make this rule retrospective.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill