Player's View: Micko, meet the Shamrocks...

Many things in life are complicated but football should not be one of them according to GAA legend Mick O'Dwyer, writes Alan O'Mara. The iconic figure, who has won 12 All-Ireland titles as a player and as a manager, was in Bailieborough last Wednesday for a chat with the current Shamrocks side before their IFC quarter-final clash against local rivals Killinkere. Nowadays, a lot of managers including the likes of Mickey Harte look towards sports psychologists to help instil belief but very few will have the effect on football players that 'Micko' has. After all who would you rather listen too; someone that needed to extend his mantelpiece to fit all his football honours, or someone who read stuff out of a book? Standing in the middle of the pitch, juggling a football in his hand like he was still 15, there was complete and utter silence from the 40-odd bodies that had huddled around to hear what he had to say. It's not every day you get to listen to a man that has been through so much in sporting terms and more importantly - consistently succeeded. The man just oozed sense. When it comes to football, he just can't understand why people try to overcomplicate the game that he has grown up with and clearly loves. O'Dwyer insisted that nowadays people get bogged down in tactics and game-plans, at times, when there is no need too. With regards to training, you can do drills until the cows come home but the best thing you can do to practice for a match is, eh, play a match! His fitness trainings involve running laps and sprints and he is not a big fan of "bollards" (we'll presume he meant cones!) either. His philosophy was also simple. Why bother hopping and soloing - when clearly the football travels quicker than a man. If you delay the delivery of the ball, you're simply giving the other team more time to organise their defence. If in a war, would you get your soldiers to march over and back before going forward? Don't think so! So get it, move it as quick as you can to the goals and try and to get a score. Is football really that simple though? Surely he could not have been so successful with only those few simple rules. Actually, there was one more thing! Commitment. When asked about his time with Wicklow, 'Micko' was admirably honest. However, what was noticeable was his repetition of the 'C' word. He confessed that he was working with a very average bunch of players but they agreed to make that total commitment - to try and maximise their potential as a group and see where it took them. Let's be honest, Wicklow were never going to win Sam Maguire but success has to be measured in different ways. Don't forget that out of 32 counties; only one can claim the much desired prize. Wicklow's run through the qualifiers this year boosted the whole county. Progress has to be made in steps. Did you know the famous 'Bomber' Liston was out of shape, addicted to 'Smarties' and not particularly good on the ball until 'Micko' got a hold of him and got him working hard? Anyway, you could listen to the man all night but it is amazing what you can take out of a 30 minute chat with him. Coincidence or not, Bailieborough won at the weekend too!