Some things aren't forever...
Meath don't fear the Dubs
Hard words to listen to, these. But it may be now time to admit that Meath do indeed fear the Dubs in much the same way everyone else in Leinster does.
The candle was blown out in the 2014 Leinster Football Final, a match which may well represent the darkest day in the history of the Leinster championship.
In fairness Dublin are not the force they once were, although Meath themselves have had a very poor start to 2022.
Flying in training
The phrase is principally associated with the Galway hurlers during those long years in which they began their championship campaign two months after everybody else.
In the absence of any other proof as to how they were going, journalists and pundits would knowingly declare that these boys were 'flying in training'.
Once uttered, it was invariably the preface to a limp performance and a dispiriting defeat.
We will be using subs
A solemn vow issued as the players are ready to head out before the match.
After the game: Apologies to the lads who didn't get on today. Next day'.
So-called weaker counties
All but the most sensitive and politically correct have dispensed the prefix, unable to maintain the pretence in the face of absurdity.
Those who still deploy it only do so ironically.
The phrase 'so-called weaker counties' may turn out to be one of the main casualties of the increasing professionalisation of the game.
You've got to lose one to win one
A catchcry which no doubt emerged purely as a means of making a losing team feel better, this phrase no longer words in counties like Mayo, (south) Galway and Limerick, so thoroughly discredited has it been.
The Down footballers, who won their first five All-Ireland finals and only lost one eventually in 2010, killed the maxim stone dead a long time ago.
Well, that lad won't be starting the next day
A bold proclamation made after the wayward but extremely talented lad at centre forward misses his 100th training session.
Come the next match, the wayward but extremely talented lad will be starting.
A wide is as good as a point at this stage
Dubious whether this was ever true.
It is usually said about a team who are leading narrowly as a game enters its closing stages. The cardinal sin here is dropping the ball into the goalie's hands.
Therefore, putting the ball dead is regarded as some kind of victory. The truth is that a wide is always, at least, a little bit worse than a point, regardless of the circumstances.
They've another 15 on the line who are as good
Usually said admiringly about the finest of teams. Was often said of the Kerry team of the late 70s and 80s. If it was true then why did Micko stay loyal to the older fellas until they were nearly in zimmer frames?
They're blowing for everything nowadays
When old hurlers are asked to explain the many deficiencies of the modern game, their lament usually, nay always, begins with this cry.
Naturally, they don't deploy statistics to support this assertion. They haven't arrived at this conclusion after seeing a tweet on the topic from OptaHurlingJoe.
Brian Gavin gave eight frees in the second half of the 2011 All-Ireland final.
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