Patience not panic: Why GAA’s best not losing sleep over League form

In early March 2013, Kerry arrived into a freezing Ballybofey craving the warmth of a result, even just the relative heat of a performance. Snow on the mountains around the town suggested how far away summer still was, but a nine-point beating was a reminder of how moored Kerry were in the morass.

A fourth successive league defeat hinted at a burgeoning crisis. Éamonn Fitzmaurice was in his first season as Kerry manager. He was only 35 at the time, still learning and trying to adapt to the magnitude of the job and the weight of history it carried.

Kieran Murray of INPHO took a photograph of Fitzmaurice late in the game which perfectly captured that burden, the sleet falling around him providing the perfect backdrop and metaphor for the cold and foreboding look on his face.

Fitzmaurice had every right to look, and feel, concerned. The entire team had been consistently underperforming. Kerry scored just 0-6, with only two of their forwards getting on the scoreboard. Their points difference of -28 was the worst across the four divisions by a significant distance.

“It’s disappointing, not good enough, and there’s no point sugar-coating it any other way,” said Fitzmaurice after that Donegal defeat. “But we’ll stick at it again this week, try and get our house in order. I’m not going to play any blame game here. We’re not going to panic. There’s still a bigger picture there.”

There was, but it was difficult to see any clear horizon through the fog of uncertainty. “In all my years playing with Kerry,” says Fionn Fitzgerald, “that trip home from Donegal was the longest bus journey home I was ever on.”

No Kerry team had ever lost five league games in succession and the team’s response was everything Fitzmaurice wanted it to be the following week against Down. Kerry only scored 0-11 but they won by four points. A week later against Cork, Kerry again only scored 0-11 but another narrow victory kept their survival prospects alive.

“That win against Down really kick-started us,” says Fitzgerald. “The Kerry crowd were great too, they really got behind us. At the time, it could have gone either way. It was a cagey performance, but it was the game we needed to ignite us.” Kerry’s hopes of avoiding the drop still rested on their final match, a daunting trip to Omagh to face Tyrone. A pre-planned training camp to Portugal in the lead-in to that game couldn’t have come at a better time.

“That was a huge turning point,” says Fitzgerald. “It was fairly intense stuff. We did a lot of tactical stuff but, we ripped a few jerseys in the training games, let’s put it like that. Gooch (Colm Cooper), Paul Galvin and a lot of the main lads were back around then and there was a bit of stability and experience back in the squad at the right time.” Tyrone were already qualified for the semi-finals, but they weren’t going to pass up on the chance to relegate Kerry. Still, Kerry were ready, producing their best football in years in the opening half.

They led by 1-13 to 0-5 at the break, but Tyrone charged at them in the second half and Kerry only scraped over the line by one point. With such an inferior scoring difference, Kerry still needed other results to go their way. They got the break they desperately needed when Paul Mannion swung over an equalising point with the last kick of the Dublin-Donegal game in Ballybofey. Kerry were safe. Six months after winning the All-Ireland, Donegal were relegated.

That threat is now looming for Tyrone, particularly with their last three games against Kerry, Mayo and Dublin, but some of the top teams struggles for form has been a dominant theme this spring. The Limerick hurlers have lost their first three games. The Dublin footballers are 0 from 4.

“It’s not a great place to be in, but we were in a different space in 2013 to where the Dublin footballers and Limerick hurlers are now,” says former Donegal player Eamonn McGee. “Success was new to us, and it’s new to these Tyrone boys too. The biggest threat to success is your own success. You can think, ‘I’ve done it now, I don’t need to do the same thing as last year’.

“Of course, it doesn’t work that way, but we had a lot of distractions in 2013 and the focus just wasn’t right. Some of it was understandable because we hadn’t won in so long. Club fixtures didn’t help either over the summer.

“It’s not always easy for All-Ireland champions and that’s why Jim Gavin deserves so much credit. Gavin never allowed players get too big for their boots, and it’s been the same with John Kiely. He always seems to have been on top of that with Limerick so that won’t be an issue for them going forward.”

Limerick won’t be worried. They only secured one point from their opening three games last year, before blitzing Cork and Westmeath in their last two matches. In the last two seasons, Limerick have improved with every game, peaking in the All-Ireland final.

“Limerick are not performing as they’d like at the moment, but they’re still trusting themselves that they’ll be right when they need to be,” says former Galway manager, Micheál Donoghue. “If I was back as a manager now, I’d be going the exact same way. You’re looking for players, trying a few new things, and just trusting the group that you’ll get there.”

When Donoghue first took over at the end of 2015, Galway had reached the All-Ireland final that September. The following April, they were relegated to Division 1B after a playoff defeat to Cork. A couple of Galway supporters approached Donoghue on the Salthill pitch afterwards and told him to resign.

“We were new in and we were trying to change a few things on the pitch,” says Donoghue. “The message was, ‘We might take two steps forward and one back, but once we can all recognise and acknowledge that this is improving and that we only need that to be right for the championship, we’ll be fine’.

“If you can portray your plan to the players, you’ll get buy in. Everybody knows where they’re going, everybody accepts there’s going to be some heat. If we try something and it doesn’t work, that’s on me. If the heat comes, you just take it and ride it out.

“That’s not always easy, but you just deal with it. If you lost three league games in-a-row in Galway, you’d be under huge pressure. But you’ve got to trust the players and management in how they’re trying to time it. That’s very evident to me with Limerick now.”

The big difference between this year and the last two seasons though, is that the format has changed.

The championship is beginning in six weeks. Unlike last year when Limerick had a minimum interval of two weeks between games, the Round Robin format is more condensed and much less forgiving.

Their markers from last year are also down, albeit this is a spring league compared to a summer one in 2021. After averaging 0-20 in their opening three games last year, Limerick’s average to date is 1-13.

Against Cork last Sunday, Limerick only got off 27 shots, roughly half their expected average, especially during the summer. Limerick turned over the ball on 38 occasions, numbers way above their average.

Many of those turnovers were contaminated by unforced errors, sloppy first touch and poor decision making. It was Limerick’s worst performance in years.

When they only hit 0-11 in their opening game against Wexford, it was Limerick’s lowest league total since 2010, when they were in chaos over a players strike. Cork had huge motivation last Sunday after last year’s All-Ireland final, but Limerick had never suffered such a beating under Kiely before in the league.

“Limerick won’t be happy with some stuff, but they’ll be trusting that they’ll get the timing right for when it really matters,” says Donoghue. “Every team has a different agenda and a different plan. In the past, you’d have preferred a three or four-week gap from the end of your league to championship. In an ideal world, you’d probably prefer a block of training than maybe getting to a league final.”

Allianz Football League Division 1, St. Conleth's Park, Newbridge, Kildare. Dublin’s Michael Fitzsimons dejected after the game Picture: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Allianz Football League Division 1, St. Conleth’s Park, Newbridge, Kildare. Dublin’s Michael Fitzsimons dejected after the game Picture: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

The biggest difference between the hurling and football leagues though, is that the big guns in hurling are never under threat from relegation like in football. Relegation is even less appealing now with the new championship format in 2023, and with this year’s championship coming so soon after the football league finishes.

“If you were struggling in the league before, you always had that block of training before the championship to get your head sorted, to find that extra gear,” says McGee. “You don’t have that this year. It might not be much of an issue, but I’m sure some of the older guys had conditioned themselves into thinking, ‘Let’s just get through the league, do whatever you have to do, and then bring that edge for championship’.

“Physically, they’ll be grand, but mentally, it’s peaking when it matters. I think that will catch some teams out. They could be nowhere near the level they need to be at, but they’ll be in the middle of the championship before they know it. It will be a big challenge for managements too because this is so new for everybody.”

Fitzgerald isn’t so sure. Between the end of the league in 2013 to the beginning of the championship, Kerry had an eight-week break. The players also had to fit in club matches, which further dragged out the lead-in.

“It was like a different season,” says Fitzgerald, a lecturer in Sports Science in the Dept of Health and Leisure in MTU Kerry. “You’d go back to the clubs. You’d be doing a lot of heavy physical work. I think players will much prefer what’s coming down the track here now.

“Physical fitness is going to be fairly similar for most teams in hurling and football. I don’t think this whole idea of doing a crazy-hard pre-championship training regime is really necessary anymore. At this level, four weeks is probably enough. It will be very much technical and tactical stuff they’ll be working on, plus the psychology of preparation. From a sports science point of view, it’s all about fine-tuning your game and building confidence again in players.”

That appears to be the biggest challenge for Dublin. The task is all the greater again because Dublin have suddenly found themselves in a place absolutely alien for the established players the young guns are looking to for direction.

“Brian Fenton is one football’s greatest players, but he was always used to winning games,” says McGee. “Now, he and Dublin are consistently losing games, which means a different dressing room, a different atmosphere, a bigger challenge. Dublin just need something to kick them into gear. It’s not physical, it’s purely mental. They just need to find that mental edge.”

When Kerry were in this place in 2013, they found that edge and tunneled their way out of what looked like inevitable relegation. That win against Down in Round 5 was the spark they were craving. Kerry won their next seven games before narrowly losing the All-Ireland semi-final to Dublin, one of the best games ever played in Croke Park.

When Kerry returned to win the following year’s All-Ireland, Fitzmaurice spoke at one stage of the journey about how far Kerry had travelled. He mentioned the 2013 league, and how overcoming those immense challenges to avoid relegation had done so much to define the group.

“I distinctly remember Éamonn saying that in all his years involved with Kerry, the only sleepless night he had was after that Donegal game,” says Fitzgerald. “He said he didn’t sleep a wink.

“Éamonn had a great way of handling the whole thing. He never let that seep into the players. That next game against Down was so important to us, but at the end of the day, championship is always championship.

“Éamonn would have always made that point. For the bigger teams in hurling and football now, once doubt doesn’t seep into their psyche, it’s all about the summer. That’s how they’re going to be judged.”

Always have been. Always will be.

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「靴やエッジも改良されているけれど、それが4回転成功の理由ではありません」今や女子選手でも4回転ジャンプを跳ぶフィギュアスケート。2010年、バンクーバー冬季五輪では、3回転半(トリプルアクセル)を跳べるのは浅田真央さんぐらいだったのに、この10年で何が4回転ジャンプを可能にしたのか。 【画像】北京五輪で金メダルが確実視されているロシア・ワリエア選手はまだ15歳! 水泳では高速水着レーザー・レーサーが、マラソンでは厚底シューズが記録を生み出すのに貢献した。フィギュアスケートでは靴が進化したのだろうか。 「たしかに靴の素材やエッジの質は改善されていますが、それによって1回転多く跳べるようになったということは、僕はないと思う」 というのは、1976年、インスブルック冬季五輪で日本代表となり、翌77年の世界選手権で3位に入賞した、日本のフィギュアスケートのパイオニア、佐野稔氏。 「僕の時代は、靴は革製でしたけど、今は皮と皮の間にプラスチックが入れられていて、足の形に合わせやすくなっている。フィット感が増したのは間違いない。けれど、それで1回転多く跳べるようになったかといえば、それは違うと思う」(佐野稔氏 以下同) 靴でもない、エッジでもないとしたら、ジャンプを成功させるのはなんなのだろう。 「トレーニング。これに尽きると思います」 佐野氏によると、ジャンプの回数を増やすために大事なことは、高く跳ぶことと、体の軸をしっかり作ること。ということは、筋肉トレーニングを多く行うようになったということか? 「体幹を鍛えるトレーニングは必要ですけど、太い筋肉をつけてはダメ。太い筋肉をつけると重くなりますから、高く跳ぶのがつらくなる。2017年~2022年の全米選手権で6連覇したネイサン・チェン選手や羽生結弦選手もほっそりしていますよね」 ◆ロシア女性選手の選手生命は1シーズンだけ 確かにカミラ・ワリエワ選手をはじめ、4回転を跳ぶロシアの女子選手たちは、細くて、あれでよくジャンプできるなと思えるほどだ。 「ワリエワ選手はまだ15歳。驚異的なスピードで4回転を習得しているわけです。ワリエワ選手のほかにも、アレクサンドラ・トゥルソワ、マイア・フロミフも4回転を跳びますが、彼女たちはみんなエテリ・トゥトベリーゼというコーチの門下生。4回転を跳べるような特別な練習をしていると思うんですけど、練習メニューは解明できていません」 それにしても気になるのはロシアの選手寿命の短さだ。2018年、平昌冬季五輪のとき、15歳で金メダルを獲得したザギトワ選手も、19歳で銀メダルを獲得したメドベージェワ選手も、2014年のソチオリンピックのとき、キャンドルスピンでロシア団体優勝に貢献した、当時15歳のリプニツカヤ選手もオリンピックに出場したのは1回きりだ。彗星のように現れ、彗星のように去っていく。 「おそらく体形の変化でいい成績が残せなくなるからでしょう。ロシアにはトゥトベリーゼコーチの教えを受けたいという女の子が何千人もいると聞きます。おそらく北京冬季五輪の次にミラノで行われる冬季五輪のための選手の育成も始まっているはず。ワリエワ選手は、たぶん北京では金メダルを獲得するでしょうけれど、来シーズンも活躍するかといったら、違う選手が出てくるだろうと思います」 15~16歳で現役引退! フィギュアスケートは、体が柔らかい10代半ばに大技を習得しやすいが、あまりに幼いころから練習を続けると体に無理がかかるため、国際スケート連盟では、現在15歳になっていない選手の出場を認めていない。さらに今、その年齢制限を17歳に引き上げることを検討しているという。 ◆4回転半を跳ぶのに、あと0.1秒 秘密の特訓をしているかもしれないロシアはさておき、ふつうは、跳んで跳んで跳んで、踏切やフォームを改善しながら、目指すジャンプを先生やコーチとともに作り上げていくのだという。 「だれかが跳ぶと、それまで無理だと思っていたジャンプも、やればできると思えるようになる。コツがわかるということもあるでしょう。そうやって、どんどん進化していく。 僕の時代は3回転ルッツといって、後ろ向きに入り、左足外側のエッジにのってから、右足のつま先をついて踏み切り、3回転するジャンプが跳べたら世界一になれましたけど、今は10歳、11歳の子どもたちがふつうに3回転ルッツを跳んでいます。 だれかが跳ぶと、それ以降は跳ばなければいけないようになっていくんですね」 ◆今、男子では4回転が跳べなければ世界で戦えない。 ジャンプの歴史を振り返ってみると、初めて1回転半を跳んだのは1882年。2回転半(ダブルアクセル)を跳んだのは、1948年。なんと1回転増えるのに66年もかかっているのだ。 「トリプルアクセルを初めて跳んだのは、それから30年後の1978年。4回転半を成功させた人はまだいないから、トリプルアクセル成功から44年間歴史が止まっているんです」 成功させるには高く跳んで、滞空時間を長くすること。あと1秒長くすれば4回転も可能? 「1秒も跳んでいたら、6回転だってできてしまう。今、4回転を跳ぶのに要しているのは0.7秒程度。あと0.1秒でも長く跳べたら、4回転半が成功するでしょう」 なんと、氷上の芸術と言われている競技で0.1秒が競われているのだ。 「記録を伸ばすのは、だれもやったことのないことをやってみたいという人間の向上心。それは陸上競技の100mで0.1秒を競うのと同じです。世界で初めて4回転半を跳ぶ人になりたいというのは、羽生結弦選手の夢。実際、4回転半を跳ぶのに、いちばん近いところにいるのは羽生結弦選手でしょう。オリンピックが楽しみです」 佐野稔 元フィギュアスケート選手。1976年インスブルックオリンピック男子シングル日本代表。1977年世界選手権3位。現在は明治神宮外苑アイススケート場ヘッドコーチ、日本フィギュアインストラクター協会理事長。解説者としても活動している。 取材・文:中川いづみFRIDAYデジタル【関連記事】ロシアの妖精ザギトワ「変形黒レオタード姿」に10万いいねの嵐!孤高の天才スケーター・羽生結弦に心配な「ケガと参加リスク」妖精メドベージェワ「大胆な純白ドレス姿」にファン歓喜!「第二のキム・ヨナ」が氷上で見せた圧倒的美身桝太一アナの「突然の退職」が日テレをザワつかせる意外な背景
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