They get Sam or Liam, but no medals.

Flukey

On the day of the presentation of the Sam Maguire, Liam McCarthy or any of the provincial championships, players do not get their medals. They are usually given to them at a function, weeks or even months later. I think that, like in other sports, that they should get them on the day. They could still have a function for the winning teams later anyhow. What do you think?

Waylander

I "think" the reasoning behind this is the winning team are only given a certain amount of medals, regardless of how many players competed fro them over the course of the championship. As a result the counties have to figure out who gets the medals. I agree though it would be nice to see a full presentation.

Flukey

Well at things like the Champions League final you see the whole squad getting a medal each, along with the managers and referees and even the beaten teams. They could still award the medals to at least the players that played on the day and sort out the other medals afterwards.

The Rooster

Flukey wrote:

Well at things like the Champions League final you see the whole squad getting a medal each, along with the managers and referees and even the beaten teams. They could still award the medals to at least the players that played on the day and sort out the other medals afterwards.

But at the Champions League final you don't get tens of thousands of fans swarming the players afterwards, which would inevitably lead to the losing or theft of many of the medals.

threebeards

The Rooster wrote:

But at the Champions League final you don't get tens of thousands of fans swarming the players afterwards, which would inevitably lead to the losing or theft of many of the medals.

But isn't it a case that the GAA are going to try and stamp out the influx of fans onto the pitch by presenting the cup in the middle? (although they'll have their work cut out!!!)

Aido c

I agree with rooster, I mean, you are in another city, staying in hotel rooms, and you are about to go on a big blowout drinking session, no way, sort it out later when the smoke clears

Flukey

Well Aido_c, the Champions League players are all going to do the exact same, so there is no difference there. The presentation could still be done on the Hogan Stand, though they'd have to widen the area so all the players could come up for the presentation. They could then be escorted out one of the exits in the Hogan Stand and back to their dressing rooms, so they would not have to go back out on the pitch and wade through the crowds. It could all be easily done.

Aido c

I was not addressing the logistics of the actual presentation, I think somebody else raised that point, I dont think there would be any problem with holding onto the medal whila you are in the stadium.

I do think though that problems would arise when the players get back to their hotel rooms or the banquet ball and go on the Razzz / session / beer / tear. I would not want the responsibility of trying to mind that whilst on my first big batter in 10 months or so !

Flukey

It is done succesfully in other sports. I am sure they have measures to prevent them being stolen, or people might just give them to a family or friend to bring them home or look after them. It should be no more difficult to keep them safe for GAA players, than for any other sports stars. After a major competition you'll often see a winner coming off the plane with their medal around their neck that was presented to them a few days earlier. If they can do it, there is no reason why All-Ireland medals should be any different.

Blackjack

By any chance are they engraved with the details of the teams competing the final or anything like that?.