It's not the first time we mentioned that 'siege mentality' is the cliche of the GAA summer and last night sports psychologist and motivational coach Enda McNulty joined Joe Molloy and Colm Parkinson on Off the Ball to discuss a phenomenon which seems to be more prevalent this year than ever.
In what was a very interesting discussion, McNulty vouched for the idea of an 'us against the world' mentality in the short term but admitted that over time its value diminishes.
Instead, he said that positive psychology, empowering players and mastering the skills of the game are the optimum course of action for the long term; calling these aspects the drive shaft to the indicator bulb that is a siege mentality.
Their chat is well worth a listen.
While I fully accept that a siege mentality works for teams and is currently helping the likes of Armagh and Tipperary, it's the way managers and the like try to sell it in the media that really grinds my gears. Armagh's guff about taking some sort of moral stance by not talking to the media over unfair treatment they felt they received regarding the melee with Cavan being a perfect example.
Then of course we had the laughable situation earlier in the summer, after the Cork v Clare Munster hurling match, where the GAA had apparently been out to get both teams.
There's also the 'No one in the media/county gave us a chance,' line which is too often bandied about as if every team has a divine right to be favourites in every match they play. If no one gave Tipperary a chance it's probably because they're in the same province as last year's two All Ireland finalists and Limerick, last year's Munster champions. It's no disgrace to be ranked as an underdog and certainly nothing to throw back at people when you start winning.
Maybe that's just me speaking from the media's side though. Can't we all just get along?
