Listen, we’re all going to have excuses at some stage and they should be respected – where possible.
Some players have families, some have work commitments, some are just victims of bad luck at bad times and some are going to be on the piss all day so what can you really do?
Sometimes, it just can’t be helped.
Managers are well used to hearing all sorts of cry-offs now although the shopping excuse in Kerry was a particularly dark day for club GAA. Maybe it’s some sort of justice for the amount of communication and all the different forms of it that coaches are using incessantly to pepper their players with at all hours of the day but, honestly, with some of the excuses that managers hear, you’d find it very hard not to take their side.
At this time of year though, enthusiasm is hopping and every player in the country is kidding themselves that they’re going to leave no stone unturned this time and that they’re really going to have no regrets come the end of the year, whatever happens.
They’ll lose 12 players by April, they’ll be bitching at each other by July and they’ll be hoping for the toughest championship draw in September to get the season over with and get a f**king break away from those brothers you call team mates.
In Donegal, one club is adopting a policy of no bullshit from the get-go.
They’re being up front with each other, they’re saying it like it is. When they want to go for pints instead of sitting in a team meeting, they’ll bloody well go for pints.
That was the response of one man to the initial text in the junior footballers’ group calling for a meeting to start the year off right.
I mean, most people would prefer to soften the blow for all parties. Exaggerate the excuse, be more apologetic, make something up that genuinely seems like it can’t be helped.
But you have to admire the honesty.
“Will definitely be drinking all day”.
Just so you know.
