If you don’t like heartfelt GAA statements, feel free to get on with your life

In fairness, a cut-off date of a fortnight after a defeat would be nice.

Certain players in GAA - and in all lines of sport - are the silent types. Others say it like they see it and say it often. In between you have a host of other characters, loose cannons, squad men and lone wolves [plural?!] that make up a winning team. When Mayo lost out on the All-Ireland, to Dublin, after two hard-fought games, most of their squad kept their heads down. The next 48 hours was all about healing as a squad, cursing the mistakes, feeling the hurt and setting new goals. Over the next week, some senior players felt the need to share their heartache with their followers on social media. The old school may not like it, hell some of their teammates may not like it, but each to their own. These men went to battle together and came as close as you can possibly get to success without getting over the line. It is perhaps no surprise that Rob Hennelly, Lee Keegan and Aidan O'Shea all released statements that could fall into the 'classy/emotional/heartfelt' bracket in the days and weeks after another Sam Maguire stole off with another set of players. Each player will have felt that gnawing sense that they could have done more or, where black cards are concerned, less. https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/783038952420872193 Whatever gets you through the night, and the one after that. It's going to be a long winter. Player statements were discussed on the latest episode of The GAA Hour, with Colm Parkinson siding with Sunday Independent columnist Joe Brolly that they are a pointless exercise. "Nonsense," according to Parkinson. Conan Doherty, playing devil's advocate, believes if someone like Hennelly, who gave away a penalty in a poor replay performance, did not address that game, it could dog him until the resumption of county football next year. He said:

"He probably feels a little responsible in his own head. He knows everyone is talking about him; so many stories being written about him. If he goes and tweets something normal - whatever he is having for breakfast, or something - people are going to start slating him for that final. "People will ask 'What are you thinking? What's going on? What's inside your head? Tell us something about this game and then get on with your life'." 

It is a Catch 22. If Hennelly, or any of the fellow statement makers, ignored the Dublin matches, they would be accused of being blasé. If they do express their disappointment, they are accused of celebrating their status as losers in a 'PR exercise'. Let the lads get their say out and move on. It is not for everybody but I know a lot of Mayo supporters will appreciate the sentiments expressed in those statements. They are not worth as much as an All-Ireland win but what is? On the latest episode of the GAA Hour, Wooly chats to new Meath boss Andy McEntee about the flawed Dublin Championship and catches up with new Clare joint manager Donal Moloney. Listen below or subscribe on iTunes.