'We have a formal agreement with the AFL not to recruit in Ireland because they have a big enough population to serve their own needs. But the AFL doesn't speak for all 16 clubs on all issues. But players in the GAA are free to do whatever they want. If they are good enough, they can play Australian Rules, just as they can play soccer or rugby. It is their right and privilege.' Croke Park's Director of Games, Pat Daly, admits to The Star that the GAA will find it hard to stop AFL clubs recruiting in Ireland following the success of players like Tadhg Kennelly, Colm Begley, Setanta Ó hAilpín and Martin Clarke.
'I would expect a crowd of in excess of 30,000 and I’d be satisfied enough with that. Tyrone will get marginally more tickets as they are in the minor final too, and there is an allocation for the minor teams as well; we do have to work it out and it’s fairly precisely laid down.' Ulster Council Secretary Danny Murphy believes there is no need for the Ulster SFC final between Monaghan and Tyrone to be switched from Clones to Croke Park.
'I'm over 12 stone now and when I was riding I was nine-two, nine-three, so it takes a lot of work. Those are the loves I have – hurling and horses. If I could be a jockey I would love to be out where Kieran Fallon or Frankie Dettori are. It would be great but my body doesn't let me do those things anymore.' Wexford hurling captain and former point-to-point jockey Nigel Higgins has turned his attention from the horses to the hurling and now has his sights on taming The Cats this weekend.
'We beat them. It was a challenge game. It was a help for them and for us. Obviously it gave us a bit of a boost that we won.' Cavan assistant manager Paul Grimley believes his side have reason to be optimistic after a recent challenge match victory over qualifier opponents Mayo.
'It was my first season when I was playing all the time and I ended up winning an All-Ireland as captain – you couldn't complain about that. Maybe it is a pressure off my shoulders not being captain, but I didn't mind the pressure. Within the Kilkenny camp there's no real captain – everyone is a leader in the dressing room.' 2006 winning captain James Tyrrell on his amazing second full season as a Kilkenny player. The captaincy has been assumed by Henry Shefflin this season following his club's (Ballyhale Shamrocks) success in last year's County Championship.
'You’ll always have fall-out from a defeat. Obviously we have fallen out and it has been well publicised as regards the suspended players and things like that. After a defeat, the same as everyone, you have to say to yourself that you’re prepared to go home and forget about it. The qualifier system is there now and we have to use that the same as everybody else.' Clare hurling manager Tony Considine hopes to get his side back on track against Antrim this weekend.
'I haven't talked to Graham (Canty) about it. Graham is more than able to play his own game and see what he wants to do himself. He's seldom beaten at full-back so I'm sure he'll know what he wants to do.' Cork's Derek Kavanagh, returned to his preferred midfield position, believes Graham Canty has enough to keep Kerry's Kieran Donaghy at bay this Sunday, following his own under-par performance against the Kerry forward in last year's All-Ireland semi-final.
