As the dust settles on another season, the GAA will look to do an deep dive and see how we make our games better. Nothing should be off limits – we should be asking those who have played, still play and who are actively involved on the ground about the state of the game across football, hurling and camogie.
I am not an advocate or supporter of the committee room principle where decisions are made by lifelong administrators. They may do an excellent job at that level, but give me a general who has tasted war in the field as opposed to those educated in an academy.
Certain rules need to go. One such example is the forward mark. I do not think this needs any more explaining than is obvious. It adds nothing to the game, slows it down and, to be fair, is being exploited at this stage through smart coaching.
Certain implementations need to occur immediately.
Regarding the feigning of injury, referees are caught between a rock and a hard place in many instances. A head injury to a player could result in real damage on all sides. Thankfully, however, instances such as these are pretty uncommon.
We have players in all codes of the GAA going down under robust and fair challenges holding their heads. Forget about honesty on behalf of the players – that ship has sailed, it is win at all costs.
Referees need to take a much tougher stance on stoppages and whether play can continue.
We can all take lessons from other sports and, notably in the Premier League this season, injured players must remain on the sideline for 30 seconds post-treatment. Effectively this means a team can be disadvantaged for a limited period. Something akin to this – players being held off the field for maybe one minute – could certainly be trialled in the GAA and hopefully prompt a change in mentality among players and coaches.
Like many, I find the new structure of minor football frustrating and I have never fully understood why it was moved to U17 level. It needs to return to U18.
In addition, Minor Championship games should precede Senior counterparts. Whether the structures allow for this is another matter, but fixtures committees could make sure that the Minor Championship campaign is aligned with the Senior Championship where possible.
Certainly the Minor semi-finals and final should precede the Senior equivalents.
The honouring of jubilee teams needs to return to half-time during the senior-final.
Instead of fire-breathers, dragons and whatever else running around Croke Park turf during the interval, let’s afford those great players of the past more respect and honour them as we should. It is nothing short of disgraceful in its current format, before the game.
There has been enough commentary about the new structure and group format in both the Tailteann Cup and Sam Maguire, but the top two from each group stage should qualify for the quarter-finals.
Why do we have to have preliminary quarter-finals? Is this just another avenue for the GAA to make money – especially in a condensed calendar?
Again, I believe we are trying to fit square pegs into round holes. Perhaps Tailteann Cup winners also need a re-entry point to the same year’s Sam Maguire campaign. It’s a larger carrot for the teams in the competition and would certainly make the it more credible.
Perhaps any Championship structure with the condensed nature of the calendar means that the latter point cannot be a reasoned ask. However, if we were to add a few more weeks to the calendar and allow the finals to run into August I see no reason why this cannot be facilitated.
Most club championships do not start until the last weekend in August anyway, so it appears a sensible way going forward.
That doesn’t mean I don’t still miss the third Sunday in September.
There are certain things we cannot change in the game, neither on nor off the field.
Neither the GAA nor RTÉ appear to have the appetite to change how their GAAGO streaming service operates.
The fact that many of the older faces like Joe Brolly, Colm O’Rourke and Pat Spillane have gone from our screens has created a rather sterile television product but regardless of who and what kind of product is available, it is plain to see that the appetite will never wane from a supporter and viewing perspective.
The game has never been as popular and, despite the cries of lack of entertainment in modern football, the players have never been as holistically skilful as they are now.
Some of the marquee players in the current game – David and Paudie Clifford, Shane Walsh, Rian O’Neill and Shane McGuigan – continue to attract and be admired by the youth of the game.
Moreover, these are local guys, amateur players who line out week-in, week-out for their clubs. I remain thankful for our game, in all its flaws and all its glory.
It’s the glue that binds us.
Congratulations to Down
Down Ladies won the All-Ireland JFC at the weekend when they beat a stubborn Limerick side by two points.
Orla Swail did what all good subs do – made an impact – and it was her goal that changed the course of the tie.
Natasha Ferris was again Down’s main scoring threat and with Down’s promotion into the intermediate ranks secured, Ferris and co will look forward to a 2024 season with renewed vigour.
Congratulations to them.
The ladies’ games at the weekend at all levels further highlighted how much better the GAA is when working together.
The GAA need to ensure integration of both the LGFA and Camogie Association on an equal footing to their male counterparts.
There should be no disparity – equal access must be a foundation and cornerstone.
