The games will never be the same again.
So much pent-up audacity, hordes of newly acquired flicks, skills and tricks; nobody can wait for the games to recommence and when they do, there’s sure as heaven going to be a full blown revolution of bold, breath taking trick-plays.
Maybe the little break will be no harm.
We’re only a fortnight or so out of collective training and in the lock-down, Irish sports stars have found their calling. Rather than rest on their laurels, they’re expressing themselves in back gardens, lighting up the local field, showing off the skills they’ve honed and trained for years.
It’s freestyle sort of stuff and there’s lots to be learned from it. Even better, many are using their profiles and their skills to promote good causes, none better than the Do It For Dan trust, the brave Laois boy who’s fighting for a chance at a normal life.
The one you’ve all been waiting for. Don’t think Dad would have gotten 10 without me! 🥳
Who’s up next? 🙌💛
"Donate & Nominate"
Let's all stay positive through this strange time – get tagging & Sharing #toiletrollchallenge #doitforDanhttps://t.co/FiziRrL9Ek pic.twitter.com/9d1qGxWaj3
— do it for Dan 20 (@DoItForDan201) March 21, 2020
With the skills flowing thick and fast, we decided to poll the games, the moves, the brazenness of it all with an Innovation, Audacity and Difficulty table, with it all ranked out of 30.
Let us know how we’re wrong, and send us in any skills that deserve a shout.
15 Eoin Cadogan,Cork (15)
Now you’re hurling.
Toughest #30secondstrikingchallenge yet lads!!!! @Hoggie088 @Acadogan15 @shanekingston8 pic.twitter.com/U3BNIgvwuC
— Eoin Cadogan (@cads3) March 22, 2020
Innovation: 10/10
Audacity: 3/10
Difficulty: 2/10
14 Sligo Rovers women (16)
Tekkers.
Well done to the Sligo Rovers U 17s Women doing the #StayAtHomeChallenge some serious tekkers here @sligorovers @ITSligoFootball @oceanfmsport @faischools @FAI_WNL pic.twitter.com/E9rR5hR1lP
— NMcK (@nealmckenna2) March 22, 2020
Innovation: 5/10
Audacity: 6/10
Difficulty: 5/10
13 Orlagh Farmer, Cork (17)
Co-ordination and stamina.
Corks @OrlaghFarmer 💪 sets new record for the day #51 just noses John O’Shea. Thanks Orlagh 👌@CorkLGFA @CastleknockGAA pic.twitter.com/gYG7cjrQ8Q
— Ciarán Kilkenny (@CKKilkenny93) March 20, 2020
Innovation: 6/10
Audacity: 5/10
Difficulty: 6/10
12 Oisin Flynn, Sligo (18)
The amount of audacity on show when the GAA starts back is going to be unprecedentedpic.twitter.com/aNsG1IPVjA
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) March 23, 2020
Innovation: 6/10
Audacity: 5/10
Difficulty: 7/10
11 Tom Parsons, Mayo (19)
Toms first skill is ‘quick hands!’⚡️🖐🏻⚡️
And all you need is a 🏐&🪑, inside or outside!
How many bounces can you get in 15 secs? Tom got 33…..😛😅
So #charlestownchallenges us, tag us, DM us, we’ll share all, & pick a random prize winner Friday eve!@GrgSportswear @MayoGAA pic.twitter.com/7UDZ6JRcdd
— Charlestown GAA (@CharlestownGAA) March 22, 2020
Innovation: 8/10
Audacity: 4/10
Difficulty: 7/10
10 TJ Reid, Kilkenny (20)
Be careful with those toilet rolls.
The TJ Reid Toilet Roll Challenge: It's harder than it looks 🤣
P.S. No precious toilet rolls are harmed in the making of this 🧻👌pic.twitter.com/qbQbqq7WGs
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) March 20, 2020
Innovation: 9/10
Audacity: 5/10
Difficulty: 6/10
9 Brian Hurley, Cork (21)
Sent that boat for a battered cod.
Dummy solo challenge for a bit of fun. How many can you do off left and right in 30 seconds? @crossbar13 @D_GGs @IanMaguire18 @gooldf @Johnor92 @JohnEgan92 @CastlehavenGAA #30secondschallenge pic.twitter.com/bADV4jYyLw
— Brian Hurley (@BrianHurley15) March 22, 2020
Innovation: 9/10
Audacity: 6/10
Difficulty: 6/10
8 Keirra Cairns, Donegal (22)
Gaelic football meets crazy golf.
The Donegal u14 girls are doing their bit promoting social distancing & having fun challenging each other at the same time.
All working in isolation at home on their own.@LadiesFootballKeirra Cairns – Na Dúnaibh pic.twitter.com/idpnSvpfWS
— Donegal LGFA (@DonegalLGFA) March 21, 2020
Innovation: 9/10
Audacity: 7/10
Difficulty: 6/10
8 Kenneth Healy, Sligo (23)
Ah now Kenneth Healy, that's just showing off. What a strike. pic.twitter.com/vNbKRegqZN
— Castleconnor GAA club (@castleconnorgaa) March 22, 2020
Innovation: 5/10
Audacity: 9/10
Difficulty: 9/10
7 Aine McAllister, Derry (24)
A prodigiously talented dual star in Derry, the Ballinascreen youngster has been talked about for a while, and she’ll be heard tell of in the future.
Fantastic stuff.
This is Aine McAllister
Aine plays for @DerryCamogie1
Aine repeated her final year in school to win an Ulster championship
Aine can do this 🤤#womenshurling #showboat #changingthegame pic.twitter.com/bNCzJYA8Zb
— womenshurling (@womenshurling) March 22, 2020
Innovation: 9/10
Audacity: 7/10
Difficulty: 8/10
6 Patrick Horgan, Cork (25)
Hoggieeee.
Think we might give today's challenge a skip 🙈 pic.twitter.com/6MskLMOgdu
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) March 22, 2020
Innovation: 8/10
Audacity: 9/10
Difficulty: 8/10
5 Cillian, St Kevin’s Boys (26)
Audacious with a capital A.
Cillian take a bow son. @SkySportsNews @SoccerAM @SkySports @MixerPodcast @ExtratimeNews @FAIreland @SFAIreland @JeffHendrick92 @espn @justinburketv @ZaltanIbrahim11 pic.twitter.com/aTenRFgbnw
— St Kevin's Football Club (@stkevinsfc) March 22, 2020
Innovation: 7/10
Audacity: 10/10
Difficulty: 9/10
4 Cian Lynch, Limerick (27)
Not just a hurler, you’d know he spent a while in Ireland’s top soccer academy, St Kevin’s Boys.
Poetry in an oh-so beautiful motion.
Innovation: 7/10
Audacity: 10/10
Difficulty: 10/10
3 Mickey Quinn, Longford (28)
Quinn, the former AFL star and current Longford footballer is a box of tricks, all outrageous and confusing in their own right.
The PE teacher could teach us all a thing or two.
Great to see loads of GAA Skill Challenges out there at the moment 👌 Get creative and try invent a new skill! Worth a try in a game??😏 Lots more coming in the next few days with a some prices up for grabs too! @niallmorgan01 @Pa_Collum1 pic.twitter.com/q50Oywhi9V
— Mickey Quinn (@mickeyq06) March 19, 2020
Innovation: 10/10
Audacity: 9/10
Difficulty: 9/10
2 Cian Cassidy, Longford (29)
Disgraceful.
Right foot right foot right foot
Ah Jesus 🔥
Young Cian Cassidy of Longford is at it 💯pic.twitter.com/hRuy6URpex
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) March 23, 2020
Innovation: 10/10
Audacity: 10/10
Difficulty: 9/10
1 Ciaran Lyng, Wexford (30)
Good night and God bless.
Stop that Ciaran Lyng 🛑
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) March 22, 2020
