With the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championship over for another year, we thought it was as good a time as any to look back at how the minor game has evolved in recent years, and how the stars of today’s game have changed from the Minor Stars of the 1990s. And so, below we go nostalgic and look at 7 things we miss from minor football and hurling from the 90s.
7 Ways Minor GAA Has Changed Since The 90s
1. Puma King Boots
A standard addition to any kit bag during the 90s, the trusty Puma King boots were the boot of choice across the country in the 1990s. While Puma King is still loved by many Gaels across the land, the standard black boot with white Puma has been replaced in more recent years with various coloured boots and lack of tongues.
2. Mikasa Gloves
Another typical element of many a kit bag across the country in the 1990s and early 2000s was the iconic Mikasa yellow gloves. The Mikasa gloves added another challenge on a wet day, but regardless of the conditions, once you put on your Mikasa gloves you were armed and ready for anything.
3. Baggy Tops
While tight-fitted tops have become the norm in today’s Minor Football and Hurling Championships, it was a different story in the 90s when baggy tops were all the rage. This of course made it easier for your marker to stay touch tight, and as with the Mikasa gloves -when the rain poured down -a baggy top would quickly become your worst enemy. Today these retro tops take pride of place for many in the terraces, while the more modern, tight-fitted top is proudly displayed on the field by today’s crop of Minor Stars.
4. 3 Litre Water Bottle
Long gone are the days where everyone huddled around a couple of large water bottles to recharge the batteries during training or a game. Today it’s protein shakes, isotonic drinks and individual water bottles as the game continues to make big strides in terms of diet and nutrition.
5. Long Sleeve Tops
While you’ll still find players favouring a long sleeve jersey, base layers have become the go to item of clothing for a cold, wet evening for many players up and down the country. In the 90s, players would have braved all types of weather with no base layer in sight.
6. The Famous Kerry Adidas Kit
The late 90s (1998 and 1999) saw current Electric Ireland GAA All-Ireland Minor Football Champions Kerry create a bit of a stir when they partnered with Adidas for the supply of the famous green and gold kit. While this was a short-lived agreement, the famous Kerry Adidas jersey was one of the most sought after in the country, although a kit that many of today’s generation will have very little memory of.
7. Straight Knockout
The introduction of quarter finals for both the Minor Football and Hurling Championships have ensured plenty of entertainment since its introduction in the late 90s. Before then, it was a straight knockout a format that many in the game relished and enjoyed.
What Are Your 90s GAA Memories?
Is there anything you remember fondly from playing or watching Minor Football and Hurling in the 1990’s? Let us know over on our Facebook and Twitter pages using #GAAThisIsMajor.