Not a stone left unturned.
We are all well aware of the precise and in-depth levels of preparation that inter-county GAA teams take nowadays.
From the occlussion goggles on GAA Nua, to the scandalously detailed levels of statistics and trends being tracked by the Waterford hurlers.
They train and prepare as professionals.
Monaghan and Down met in Croke Park on Saturday in an All-Ireland qualifier clash, and a member of the Farney army’s backroom team was taking this preparation to a whole new level before the game.
We saw various players, from both sides, donning the famous championship haircuts, and then we saw a Monaghan man walking along the endline from the goalposts towards the sideline.
Sky Sports sideline reporter Senan Connell detailed the work of the man, who was counting the number of steps out to the sideline.
To the man’s delight, the number of steps taken were the same as Monaghan’s home ground in Clones.
“The backroom staff are doing their homework there. I was just watching one of the lads counting the number of steps from the goalpost to the corner flags just in front of me, and he said to himself ‘It’s the same as Clones,’ so they’re leaving no stone unturned here,” remarked Connell
It’s the small details that count.
Despite the similarites between Croke Park and Clones, it was Down who started the better of the two sides.
Eamon Burns’ charges were playing some refreshing, off-the-cuff football with Connaire Harrisson, in particular expressing himself on the field of play with the type of abandon and freedom that has become so rare in the game.
WATCH:
HT: Down 1-09 Monaghan 1-09. Impressive opening 35 from minutes Connaire Harrison (1-03). Big half ahead at Croke Park. #GAAClips pic.twitter.com/yWkKTHsl3h— eir Sport (@eirSport) July 29, 2017
The Down full forward coolly slottted a fine first half goal in an explosive display.
It was a different story in the second half, however, with the half-time introduction of Jack McCarron revitalising the Monaghan troops.
Conor McManus scored the type of points that only he can, and the lively youngster Conor McCarthy showed that the billing which he has been given as the next McManus, is with good reason.
In the end, Monaghan had eight points to spare over the Down men, winning out 1-24 to 1-16.
Malachy O’Rourke’s men will now march on to yet another All-Ireland quarter final, but this fine level of preparation shows just how much every aspect of the game is considered nowadays.
