RTÉ GAA Pod: Whelo's confession, Mayo's Messi and Tipp
Mikey Stafford steps in for Cathal Mullaney in the presenting seat this week and is joined by Marty Morrissey and Ciarán Whelan at RTÉ HQ to mull over the weekend's football action.
Shane McGrath then joins for the hurling chat, where he laments Tipp’s loss to Limerick in Thurles, an evening that ended with his car stuck in the mud!
After Whelan gets his hurling‑days confession out of the way, it’s straight into Armagh and Donegal, where the ex‑Dublin footballer shares that despite Armagh’s record he feels they are still in a good place, though they had many missed chances at the Athletic Grounds on Sunday.
Kickout piggery was back as a topic for another week, and Whelan comments that he thinks it is overplayed, adding that the lack of control for managers has continued to reduce kicking in games.
While Armagh continue to be low on goals and two‑pointers, Whelan expresses his lack of concern for the 2024 All‑Ireland champions as Ulster football continues to thrive, with the MacRory Cup final, which Morrissey attended drawing a large crowd.
Possible Mayo Messi Kobe McDonald’s debut is dubbed by Whelan as "unbelievable", and he explains how Mayo need a star like David Clifford to have an impact. McDonald's young age and his future plans are discussed.
Commentator Morrissey makes a big prediction that Monaghan may be contenders for an Ulster final come championship season due to a "softer" draw, but Whelan reflects on the impact of home losses on player morale and their poor league performances overall.
Significantly, Dublin’s performance in their defeat to Kerry is described by Whelan as a "difficult watch", noting the lack of energy from the Dubs and their slow attacking play.
The Rossies are flying high, and discussion turns to the swings being seen in scorelines and the potential impact of the wind on results. Next up for them is the Dubs at home, which Whelan feels will be a winnable fixture for thew home side.
Lastly, Division 2 is discussed, with Whelo saying he feels there will be some great games in the coming weeks in this division.
When attention turns to hurling, McGrath dials in to express his disappointment in Tipp’s performance on Saturday and says he would love to be a fly on the wall at their training sessions this week.
McGrath also brings an armful of impressive stats to the discussion on Limerick’s puckout retention and feels panel competition is key to their success so far.
He is also full of praise for the pitch conditions at Nowlan Park but expresses concern about a perceived lack of emerging talent in Kilkenny to replace the likes of TJ Reid and Mossy Keoghan.
Attention then turns to Division 1B, where Morrissey reacts to Clare’s scare against Kildare, adding that he feels Kildare are the "best of the rest" and have a good chance of staying in the division.
Finally, Dublin and Wexford’s spicy encounter is tipped by McGrath as an important factor in the Leinster Championship, and he comments that defensive coaches for both sides will be despairing.
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