Gary Neville's 18-word message that GAA legend says is key to success
Tipperary hurling legend Liam Sheedy believes sport is bigger than just winning or losing on any given day.
As well as having a positive impact on your mental and physical health, engaging in sport at any level can develop characteristics that can transfer to work and to the hectic nature of modern life.
Sheedy cited his own experience, as well as conversations with Manchester United legend Gary Neville on how sport has shaped his personality.
'I suppose at the end of the day, they all want to win,' he said of the Tipperary teams he has managed to two senior All-Ireland hurling titles.
Sheedy was speaking on the latest episode of Electric Ireland's GAA Minor Moments podcast.
He continued: 'They are on a relentless pursuit of getting the best out of themselves.
'In some ways, if you are getting the best out of yourself, you are winning. Media, etcetera, they'll all focus on the result. But most teams, if they win half the time, they are doing well. You don't win every day.
'And I think they have an ability to believe in themselves, and they have an ability to… Gary Neville has a great line where he says, 'I'm going to attack every day and I'm going to show up again tomorrow; win, lose or draw'.
'So, it's just taking that approach to life that says, I'm going to dust myself down and go again.'
According to Sheedy, the skills he learned on the pitch as a youngster prepared him for a successful business career.
'I only have the one set of tools. Whether I'm in a boardroom or in a dressing room, it's the same Liam Sheedy that you get,' he said.
'A lot of my skills, a lot of my character and how I was moulded has come from the pitch, and I managed to transfer those skills over to work, because they are fully transferable.
'There certainly wasn't anything in my DNA at 17 or 18 years of age that would have said I'd have gone on to have senior leadership roles in companies.
'I think that's the beauty of sport and about being curious and trying to get the best out of yourself. Doors have a habit of opening.
'My mother was very supportive of me throughout my life and having that strong backing, if you believe in yourself, go for it.
'She used to always say, try to give as much as you can in life, because life's a reflector. Whatever you give, you get back.
'If you give abuse, you'll get it back. If you give positivity, you'll get it back too.
'We should listen to the people who know best and the ones that have all the experience, because you are learning everyday.'
One key lesson that he passes onto any young hurler whose path he crosses is that talent is only one part of success in sport.
'I think character is everything,' he said. 'As I often say to my panels, talent might get you in the door, but it's your character that will determine how long you'll stay.
'I think the GAA have an awful lot to offer in what they give.
'I'm 55 now and it's a much more complex world that people are having to grow up in now, and I don't think the club and the community has ever had a more important role in society and in providing those kids a safe place where you can go down and express yourself and enjoy yourself, and get the best out of yourself.
'You can get all of those skills that you need in life and in work, they are all going for free, they really are all going for free. So I think the GAA has an important role to play.
'Whether you play minor for Tipp or minor for Longford, or whether you just play for your club, if you are playing and you continue to play, I think you are surrounded in a really good group.
'As I said, the kids of today, they have to deal with a lot more than we had to deal with, with social media.
'Look, it's just not simple anymore for kids, but I think the GAA has to be the heartbeat of every community.
'I think if you are in the GAA you have the best chance possible of getting the best out of yourself over your hurling career, footballing career and your business career.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Louth boss Brennan on not getting the rub of the green with referee decisions
Ger Brennan says he's twice seen his Louth outfit on the receiving end of decisions against sides - but he's confident that won't happen against Donegal at Ballybofey tomorrow with Barry Cassidy in charge. Derry official Cassidy will take charge of the MacCumhaill Park All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final tie with the winner going to Croke Park next weekend and the loser's season over. Brennan, speaking to LMFM, outlined that Louth's Division 2 loss to Donegal last year at Ballyshannon and their All-Ireland group stage defeat by Kerry at Portlaoise later that season were games he felt the Wee County were hard done by. The match official for the Donegal game was Roscommon's Paddy Neilan, while the Kerry game was refereed by Conor Lane of Cork. 'I certainly rarely would whinge about referee's decisions as players have to be accountable for their own errors first and foremost and referees are only human,' said Brennan. 'There were certainly a lot of hometown decisions awarded in that league game in Ballyshannon last year. 'In looking towards this game in Ballybofey, in one way it's interesting that a Derry referee has been appointed to look after the game. 'But when I heard it's Barry Cassidy, you are confident with someone with Barry Cassidy's experience that he is not going to be overawed consciously or subconsciously by the Ballybofey crowd and that he will give Louth a fair crack of the whip. 'Again, I think I have a bit of credit built up in the bank over the last couple of seasons by not giving out about referees. 'When Louth played Kerry last year in the group stages of the All-Ireland, we were competitive. 'We were pushing hard and it's almost as if referees subconsciously - and people outside the group of Louth senior footballers - they can't believe that Louth are being so competitive and this shouldn't happen. 'And all of a sudden some big game decisions are going against you, or the opposition are getting away with rougher challenges, which Louth players are being punished for. 'I suppose I've seen that on two occasions in particular in my time so far with Louth, last year with Kerry in the group stages of the All-Ireland and certainly in the second half last year in Ballyshannon. 'But again, happy to see you have someone with Barry Cassidy's experience, that he is not going to be influenced by the Donegal sideline and Donegal supporters and that he's going to give Louth and the Donegal players a fair crack of the whip.'
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Cercene provides Joe Murphy and Gary Carroll with first Group One success in Coronation
One of Irish racing's stalwart partnerships, trainer Joe Murphy and jockey Gary Carroll, tasted Group One success for the first time in their careers when Cercene belied 33/1 odds to land Friday's Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot . Murphy described it as the culmination of half a century of work after Cercene rallied when headed by the French favourite Zarigana inside the final furlong to win by half-a-length. Back in third was Aidan O'Brien's January while stretched further back were blue-blooded runners form some of racing's powerhouse operations. The diminutive Cercene had already belied her relatively meagre €50,000 purchase price by finishing third to Lake Victoria in the Irish Guineas. READ MORE Having held a license since 1977, Murphy's ability to make the most of his relatively small Co Tipperary string was well established. It might even have made Cercene's SP something of an insult. But the pluck to take on such an elite challenge paid off in style. A former dual-champion apprentice, Carroll (35) had previously enjoyed a couple of Royal Ascot wins for Gavin Cromwell. He recently got a boost with the likelihood of more rides for Ger Lyons on the back of Colin Keane's Juddmonte appointment. His abilities got the perfect shop window here as despite a slow start he got Cercene into a good position on the rail and was strong in the finish. His use of the whip, reportedly using it eight times, could yet prove costly in fines, but the satisfaction of a first top-flight victory was obvious. 'I've been riding a long time now and been placed in plenty of Group Ones. This is my first one and if I was ever to ride a Group One winner it was for Joe Murphy,' he said. 'I've been riding for him since I was a 7lb claimer and he's been very good to me so I'm delighted I can repay him.' Cercene, ridden by Gary Carroll, winning the Coronation Stakes on day four at Royal Ascot. Photograph:for Ascot Racecourse The wait was even longer for the trainer who commented: 'This is 50 years of work, of love and care, and all for the owners we have, all our people. It's just a whole group of people together. This is heaven on earth. 'It's a lifetime's ambition to have a Group One winner. She's by Australia – a sire I love – and her half-brother (Perotto) won the Britannia so the pedigree was there: if she was an inch bigger, I wouldn't have her!' Another Irish trainer hitting the board this week was Willie Mullins , who landed the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap with Ethical Diamond under Ryan Moore. The 3/1 favourite was Mullins' 11th Royal Ascot success. 'We will give him a little break and look at York, that is normally where we go from here. The Ebor would look possible. We would love to go to Melbourne. If we can get him qualified, that would be wonderful. We might see if we can get him Group-placed. I think he would suit the race,' he said. Ireland's tally for the week to date is nine winners with Aidan O'Brien saddling five of them. The best Irish haul ever at the meeting was 12 in 2022 with eight trainers contributing. Friday's other Group One, the Commonwealth Cup, also went to an outsider as the 25/1 Time For Sandals edged out the Irish hope Arizona Blaze. It was a second top-level victory of the week for trainer Harry Eustace who landed the Queen Anne with Docklands. Venetian Sun was described by Karl Burke as the best juvenile filly he's trained after an authoritative Albany Stakes success. 'I think Venetian Sun is a very special filly. The work she has done at home over the last six weeks – I haven't had a two-year-old filly work like that. She has been kicking all the Group horses out of the way,' Burke said.
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Club World Cup clash suspended as ‘fans hide in concourses' with delay of over an hour expected
BENFICA's stormy Club World Cup clash with Auckland City has been suspended - as fans ran for cover from predicted lightning. Organisers feared there could be a delay of more than an hour - as the match was suspended with the Portuguese giants 1-0 up at the break. Advertisement 4 A weather warning was flashed up at the venue 4 Rain suddenly tore down at the stadium in Orlando 4 Fans were quickly alerted to the delay One warning predicted "excessive lightning" in the area of the Inter & Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida. And supporters were spotted hiding in concourses amid heavy rain and thunder. A storm erupted as the second period was due to start. Former Manchester United winger Angel Di Maria had fired the only goal before then, with a penalty eight minutes into first-half stoppage time. Advertisement But ominous dark clouds swept over the stadium. And a delay was quickly announced. 4 Ominous clouds also swept over the stadium Advertisement Most read in Football THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video . Like us on Facebook at
