COURTESY of Balls.ie’s Guide to Life, here’s 11 sayings you'll only hear from a GAA-head.
1. ‘ONE 'A YIS!”
This common saying captures the frustration of observing from the sidelines as two team-mates go for the same ball.
2. ‘A WIDE IS AS GOOD AS A POINT AT THIS STAGE’
Except it’s not. This highly inaccurate phrase, used close to full-time when the leading team registers a wide, remains prevalent in GAA.
3. ‘SOCCER-STYLE’
Commentators and spectators are often guilty of using this when a ball isn’t kicked from the hands or punched into the net.
4. ‘SURE TOG OUT ANYWAY’
This is what managers and selectors say when you tell them you’re carrying an injury and don’t think you’re fit to play.
5. ‘IT’S ONLY THE LEAGUE’
GAA is still all about the Championship. If your county loses by 12 points with an experimental line-up early in the season, don’t worry about it; it’s only the league.
6. ‘LOOKIT’
Although not recognised as an actual word, this multi-purpose verbal crutch is mainly utilised by GAA players during post-match interviews.
7. ‘RATIFIED’
Whenever a new manager has been handed the reigns or has been entrusted for another season, it’s never ‘appointed’, ‘selected’ or ‘chosen’; it’s ratified.
8. ‘TAKE ‘YER POINT!’
A player in possession is edging closer to goal but has bodies still to beat in front of him. The option to go for goal is there, but the sensible thing to do is “take ‘yer point.”
9. ‘THEY HAD THEIR CHANCE FIRST TIME AROUND’
An underdog has one opportunity to win, and that’s in the first game. If it goes to a replay, they don’t stand a chance.
10. ‘THE SYSTEM’
Jim McGuinness invented The System. Donegal won an All-Ireland playing The System. People call it The System ‘cos they’re not quite sure what it is. The System even has it’s own Wikipedia page.
11. 'PULL ON IT!'
Reserved only for hurling, this one is usually blurted out by onlookers when a grounded, in-play sliotar is there to be drilled at goal.
12. 'MEATH WON'T FEAR THE DUBS'
It's probably time they started to. They've beaten them just once in a decade.
13. ‘FINALLY, THREE CHEERS FOR THE LOSERS. HIP HIP!’
The celebrations cannot really begin until the captain has issued some sort of semi-patronising acknowledgement to the losing side.
