Five Things We Learned

Five things we learned from the weekend: GAA can’t afford to stick their head in sand on disciplinary issues

Not all managers will step up like John Kiely; Michael Coleman’s ‘profound effect’ on Galway GAA; football’s new kickout lottery

Mon Feb 10 2025 - 12:23

Five things we learned from the GAA weekend: Dublin set out into the unknown while Tipp sound battle cry

Hurling managers need to expand their panels, while football manager find themselves wrestling with the goalkeeper conundrum

Mon Jan 27 2025 - 11:32

Ireland v Argentina: Five things we learned from a narrow Irish victory

Ireland leave a few tries behind them amid a lack of precision, Argentina’s ball carrying was largely more effective around the fringes

Sat Nov 16 2024 - 11:19

Five things we learned from Leinster v Munster: Leinster’s lineout dominance set the tone

Munster made plenty running but lacked execution; Leinster’s issues at scrum continue; Jamie Osborne and Caelan Doris impress

Sun Oct 13 2024 - 12:46

Five things we learned from the GAA weekend: Galway and Armagh’s clean sheet record gives them vital edge

The finalists know how to shut up shop; Kerry have an issue with Ulster teams; Donaghy’s split loyalties; and the value of supporters

Mon Jul 15 2024 - 11:50

Five things we learned from the GAA weekend: Cork’s sheer bolshie bloody-mindedness won the day

The Rebels managed to match Limerick on vital metrics; Clare redress their history; Is the handpass now unreffable?

Mon Jul 08 2024 - 11:53

Five things we learned from the GAA weekend: Kerry talk of purists when it suits them

The Kingdom is full of pragmatists; Donegal are both battle-hardened and fresh; Derry’s nihilistic streak; Tipperary’s minor miracle

Mon Jul 01 2024 - 11:35

Five things we learned from the GAA weekend: Change is coming to the football championship structure ... again

Jarlath Burns indicates the group stages are on the way out; Mayo show what they are made of; Cork are on a learning curve

Mon Jun 17 2024 - 12:37

Five things we learned from the weekend: GAA must take responsibility for crazy scheduling of hurling matches

Limerick power on; TJ Reid closes in on magical 700 mark; how Gearoid Hegarty got his groove back; Kerry’s revenge best served very cold

Mon Jun 10 2024 - 11:02

Five things we learned from the GAA weekend: Louth just the latest to break a Meath record

Limerick’s season is going exactly how they would want; Dublin wind it up; Keith Rossiter’s Wexford revival; and those bloody abacuses

Mon May 27 2024 - 11:14

Five things we learned from the GAA weekend: A sobering seven weeks for Derry

Waterford conceding too many goal chances; Monaghan at lowest ebb; Tipp bottom out; Kilkenny work in progress

Mon May 20 2024 - 10:22

Five things we learned from the GAA weekend: Don’t mess with the Ulster final

Have Cork finally uncovered Limerick’s tactical vulnerability? John Kiely laments inability to communicate with his players

Mon May 13 2024 - 11:21

Five things we learned from the GAA weekend: Omens looking good for Galway

Media given short shrift in Ennis; Croke Park has some kinks; Tipperary lean on experience; pressure rises on Henry Shefflin

Mon May 06 2024 - 11:38

Five things we learned from the GAA weekend: Eastern Promise and Southern comfort?

Galway and Kilkenny still top dogs in Leinster; Donegal find hidden depths; Limerick tweak a winning formula; Leinster football needs a road show

Mon Apr 29 2024 - 10:49

Five things we learned from the GAA weekend: New injury rule has enough grey area to cause problems

Cork’s talent is coming through, just slowly; the football provincials still have some fans; hurling brings the sun and the spenders

Mon Apr 22 2024 - 10:38

Five things we learned from the GAA weekend: A rare and illuminating glimpse of a Fenton-less Dublin

Dublin’s very own O’Byrne Cup; Feely brings the feels for Kildare; Armagh go goal crazy; and why lower league teams are looking at the gutter, not the stars

Mon Apr 15 2024 - 10:42

Five Things We Learned from the GAA Weekend: Waterford swat aside the doomsday chatter

Cavan manager Raymond Galligan plays some loud chess; Westmeath walk a tightrope; Kilkenny need some new blood

Mon Apr 08 2024 - 10:33

Five Things We Learned from the GAA Weekend: Dublin’s league record has hidden depths

Dublin are still leagues apart; Tipperary are lacking leaders; the mystery of Cathal O’Neill; Tyrone left in state of despair; Clare see a clear path

Mon Mar 25 2024 - 11:46

Five things we learned from the GAA weekend: Jim McGuinness is looking up

The league final conundrum; Monaghan finally make the drop; Old school attacking; Kilkenny’s auditioning process

Mon Mar 18 2024 - 12:24

Five things we learned from the GAA weekend: Limerick’s drive for five gaining steam already

The Kilkenny comparisons fall short; Waterford will see a drop on the double; is Johnny Glynn the answer for Galway?

Mon Mar 11 2024 - 13:25

Five things we learned from the GAA weekend: Injuries and scores are piling up

Derry ring late changes; Cork and Kildare go goal crazy; Galway’s walking wounded ... and is that Brian Cody?

Mon Mar 04 2024 - 11:54

Five things we learned from the GAA weekend

Monaghan heading for the drop, with Armagh and Donegal poised to get promoted

Mon Feb 26 2024 - 12:21

Five things we learned this GAA weekend: Where has hurling’s black card gone?

Changing styles; Moving from one ruck to another; Waterford’s injury list; And a sincere apology

Mon Feb 12 2024 - 13:23

Five things we learned this GAA weekend: Unpredictability of opening round strikes again

No change on the western front; McGuinness steadies the Donegal ship; Worth watching if Dublin stick with quick release; Fly goalies add to the thrills in Tralee

Mon Jan 29 2024 - 12:28

Five things we learned from the 2023 Ryder Cup: Is it time to level the playing field?

Rory’s fire, social media’s role, undercooked Americans, Lowry’s exuberance and a way to even things up

Mon Oct 02 2023 - 11:16

Rugby World Cup: Five things we learned from the weekend in France

Rugby World Cup: Ireland must be wary of buoyant Scotland, and Fiji need to get their mojo back

Mon Oct 02 2023 - 06:00

Five things we learned this GAA weekend: Conor McManus will be revered forever, final or not

Tailteann Cup success for O’Rourke; Derry go down fighting; James McCarthy’s potential as an athlete

Mon Jul 17 2023 - 11:51

Five things we learned this GAA weekend: Nickie Quaid’s gamesmanship paid off in spades

The level of responsibility on goalkeepers these days is colossal; sometimes you can think too hard about the opposition

Mon Jul 10 2023 - 12:32

Five things we learned this GAA weekend: McCarthy and McManus show Croke Park can still be a country for old men

Why Hawk-Eye and Croke Park can’t get their numbers right; and why Seán O’Shea has timed his return to form perfectly

Mon Jul 03 2023 - 12:25

Five things we learned this GAA weekend: Mayo will definitely bring the heat to Dublin

Clare have dead-ball worries, Galway have good omens and Monaghan have the right man for the job

Mon Jun 26 2023 - 11:09

Five things we learned this GAA weekend: Championship draws get lost in the noise of Monday mornings

The long wait for real, consequential championship action is finally over – but was the wait worth it?

Mon Jun 19 2023 - 13:18

Five things we learned this GAA weekend: Refereeing hurling has become an impossible job

Derek Lyng’s Kilkenny project has not been a case of out with the old and in with the new

Mon Jun 12 2023 - 12:34

Five things we learned this GAA weekend: Dublin still know the right buttons to push

Limerick are drowning out the noise by turning up the music; the curious decision not to show Wexford v Kilkenny on TV backfired badly

Mon May 29 2023 - 11:23

Five things we learned this GAA weekend: TJ Reid and Patrick Horgan in silent arms race

Limerick are still struggling to find their top gears, while Jack O’Connor had plenty to say to his Kerry players on Saturday

Mon May 22 2023 - 11:18