31 May 2010
A lot of the recent and all too often wholly unwarranted scorn and hurtful criticism of our Antrim hurlers should have returned to haunt those ‘hatchet men or women,’ after yesterday’s courageous and spirited effort against a superior Offaly in the Leinster Quarter final in Parnell Park. Those who do their fault finding from behind the screen of anonymity and hurl faultlessly from the ditch should at least feel a twinge of guilt. Thankfully there are but the few who appear to follow both Antrim hurling and football, just to find fault and take perverse pleasure in lambasting the efforts of various others, in doing down the county of their birth.
Winning is the aspiration and focused goal of every team player, manager, supporter et all in any Gaa competition and so it should be as of right but winning falls to the few only and is but a part of the sport. It is the team spirit of the game and the nature of the physical competition which tests the players and provides the real entertainment value and perhaps we should dwell a little more on that aspect of Gaa.
We would all do well to measure our criticism and add perspective but above all to acknowledge valiant effort and serious commitment attendant with the sustained determination required to mount such a display of raw courage and fighting spirit as shown by Antrim hurlers yesterday. Antrim just did not have the energy or the fire power to finish a superior Offaly team yesterday but they can certainly hold up their heads.
We need to forget about the carping and get behind our hurlers and their management team, giving them increased support and plenty of encouragement to inspire them to train and want to out-perform on the field - it works. Motivation comes from within and cannot be taught but it has to be triggered. Encouragement is a great catalyst and drives great sportsmen and sports women on. Perversely the reverse is true of too much undue and unwarrented criticism. Nothing great was ever accomplished in sport without a lot of encouragement and enthusiasm.
Lawrence Smyth Antrim county PRO.