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Changes in the GAA - super thread

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  • #2102
    Kermit.de.frog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,107 ✭✭✭✭Kermit.de.frog


    Posted this in championship thread in response to yesterday's attendance.
    Because only one team is going to win. Who wants to attend a 'championship' for runners up?

    Kerry will come up, get mauled by Dublin, and leave.

    It's going to be like when Kilkenny dominated hurling. A lot of people just gave up on it (myself included and I love hurling far more than football). It got to the stage where I just couldn't be bothered with it.

    Like it or not the GAA will have to come up with a credible strategy for all the other counties in football.


  • #2103
    ClanofLams
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,262 ✭✭✭ClanofLams


    Kermit.de.frog wrote: »
    Posted this in championship thread in response to yesterday's attendance.

    It’s going to get much worse. 45,000 attended the semi final between Galway and Dublin last year. Even the Dubs, outside their hardcore fans, have little interest in watching. With Mayo potentially about to enter a period of ‘transition’ ticket sales could really fall off a cliff.

    Dublin have changed half their team since the first All Ireland, 8 players who lined out Saturday were 26 or under. The population advantage was one thing when the game was amateur but when you bring in specialised coaching, underage development squads etc it just multiplies that advantage hugely.

    Dublin are going to win an absolute minimum of 7 All Irelands per decade. The game is gone.


  • #2104
    Duffy the Vampire Slayer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,384 ✭✭✭Duffy the Vampire Slayer


    ClanofLams wrote: »
    It’s going to get much worse. 45,000 attended the semi final between Galway and Dublin last year. Even the Dubs, outside their hardcore fans, have little interest in watching. With Mayo potentially about to enter a period of ‘transition’ ticket sales could really fall off a cliff.

    Dublin have changed half their team since the first All Ireland, 8 players who lined out Saturday were 26 or under. The population advantage was one thing when the game was amateur but when you bring in specialised coaching, underage development squads etc it just multiplies that advantage hugely.

    Dublin are going to win an absolute minimum of 7 All Irelands per decade. The game is gone.

    GAA was also relatively unpopular in Dublin which diminished the population advantage. That's not so true anymore.


  • #2105
    beggars_bush
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,896 ✭✭✭beggars_bush


    Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »
    GAA was also relatively unpopular in Dublin which diminished the population advantage. That's not so true anymore.

    That's complete bull
    Dublin generally always had a good team and were well supported (got better crowds than the current team)
    The difference, was that other counties could compete with them, when it came down to 15 v 15 on the field


  • #2106
    Duffy the Vampire Slayer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,384 ✭✭✭Duffy the Vampire Slayer


    beggars_bush wrote: »
    That's complete bull
    Dublin generally always had a good team and were well supported (got better crowds than the current team)
    The difference, was that other counties could compete with them, when it came down to 15 v 15 on the field

    The GAA would seem to disagree. The entire stated reason for increased funding in Dublin was that it wasn't very popular there and needed help.


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  • #2107
    The high horse brigade
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,456 ✭✭✭The high horse brigade


    Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »
    The GAA would seem to disagree. The entire stated reason for increased funding in Dublin was that it wasn't very popular there and needed help.

    It was more that soccer and rugby were getting a foothold


  • #2108
    beggars_bush
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,896 ✭✭✭beggars_bush


    Bambi wrote: »
    The truth is though that the games outside of Dublins are boring too, Most of the championship games were not great, the only bit of excitement was provided by Mayos slapstick routine of nearly losing against any other team. The game yesterday was an All Ireland Semi that went down to the wire and it was still pretty flat.

    Other counties are going to have to catch up but given the dire place football wound up in over a few years back (thanks slick Jim) it will take time. At least you're seeing kick passing again

    Really?
    There were plenty of non Dublin games this year that were entertaining
    Roscommon v Mayo
    Kerry v Donegal
    Mayo v Armagh
    Cork v Roscommon


  • #2109
    beaz2018
    Closed Accounts Posts: 173 ✭✭beaz2018


    Its only a matter of time (maybe 5-10 years away) before Dublin start cleaning up in the hurling also. The amount of young lads you see with hurls these days in areas that would have been soccer or rugby is unreal.


  • #2110
    Happyilylost
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,870 ✭✭✭Happyilylost


    beaz2018 wrote: »
    Its only a matter of time (maybe 5-10 years away) before Dublin start cleaning up in the hurling also. The amount of young lads you see with hurls these days in areas that would have been soccer or rugby is unreal.

    They can take our football.........

    But they'll never take our hurling........

    William Wallace. Sound fella.


  • #2111
    fly_agaric
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,324 ✭✭✭fly_agaric


    beggars_bush wrote: »
    That's complete bull
    Dublin generally always had a good team and were well supported (got better crowds than the current team)
    The difference, was that other counties could compete with them, when it came down to 15 v 15 on the field

    Don't know how well you know Dublin but I don't think so. At least my own area soccer was far and away no. 1. in 80s/90s. GAA (football) very much a minority sport, fewer teams, fewer children playing, fewer volunteers. All is reversed now going by what I see with my own eyes. As repeated endlessly on the thread Dublin has a large population.
    Even if GAA was not the most popular sport back then, that would still allow a bigger pool of players (and supporters) than most other counties allowing Dublin to be at least competitive on their day.


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  • #2112
    Gachla
    Closed Accounts Posts: 255 ✭✭Gachla


    I know Dublin have been handicapped in hurling because some very good players have gone with their footballers but, it's actually quite embarrassing that they haven't made more inroads at All Ireland level. They have the same huge financial advantages their footballers have.


  • #2113
    Fann Linn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,045 ✭✭✭Fann Linn


    Have to leave something for the rest of ye.


  • #2114
    Duffy the Vampire Slayer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,384 ✭✭✭Duffy the Vampire Slayer


    Gachla wrote: »
    I know Dublin have been handicapped in hurling because some very good players have gone with their footballers but, it's actually quite embarrassing that they haven't made more inroads at All Ireland level. They have the same huge financial advantages their footballers have.

    They started from a much lower bar.


  • #2115
    Gachla
    Closed Accounts Posts: 255 ✭✭Gachla


    Fann Linn wrote: »
    Have to leave something for the rest of ye.

    It's embarrassing, let's be honest.


  • #2116
    Gachla
    Closed Accounts Posts: 255 ✭✭Gachla


    Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »
    They started from a much lower bar.

    That's true. They have made improvements, they're obviously far higher up than they would have been without the money but after this length of time, they should have made an All Ireland final at least at this stage.


  • #2117
    jmayo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,224 ✭✭✭✭jmayo


    bruschi wrote: »
    yeah the game itself is in bother. the repeated sidways handpassing and trying to barge through a wall of players. Its almost turning into rugby league type set up. All out mass defend followed by who has the fittest players to run forward on the counter attack.

    How many matches have we watched this year where the time between a team gaining possession and having a scoring attempt has been numerous minutes.
    It is now turning into a game where possession is key and only attempts within the so called scoring zone is allowed.

    Wasn't it March this year we had a schools match with a score of 0-2 to 0-1 ?

    Defenses are getting so well marshaled, all players are now defending meaning there is so little space.

    In football you now have everyone tracking back, every one tackling, blocking runners, etc. There is no space.
    Added to that you have basketball coaches working on the players ability to offload the ball and move into space to take the next handpass.

    That together with the dominance of one county at senior level, and growing power at club and underage, should mean people in Croke Park should be getting very worried.

    But it doesn't look like it.
    We will have the usual shyte where the annual roundup mentions greatest team ever, some plucky county who for once won two rounds of the championship and the semi resurrection of a once great county who have won a few games.
    You can fill in the blanks on who gets those labels this year.

    The game is in trouble and some counties are in deep trouble.
    Are central authorities doing anything about it ?
    Are they trying to roll out a Dublin style development model to the weaker and failing counties with necessary funding ?

    Has anyone the balls centrally to take on the often incestous abysmally run county setups that couldn't run a pi** up in St James Gate never mind try and figure out how to manage the rollout of a bertie sized state funded largese. :rolleyes:

    Are they more interested in building trophy stadiums that just mean ticket prices go up, even for fans that probably will never set foot in them ?

    Maybe someone should remind Croke Park HQ it is not much use having state of the art stadiums selling a product that not many are willing to attend.

    I am not allowed discuss …



  • #2118
    gaffer91
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,345 ✭✭✭gaffer91


    jmayo wrote: »
    How many matches have we watched this year where the time between a team gaining possession and having a scoring attempt has been numerous minutes.
    It is now turning into a game where possession is key and only attempts within the so called scoring zone is allowed.

    Wasn't it March this year we had a schools match with a score of 0-2 to 0-1 ?

    Defenses are getting so well marshaled, all players are now defending meaning there is so little space.

    In football you now have everyone tracking back, every one tackling, blocking runners, etc. There is no space.
    Added to that you have basketball coaches working on the players ability to offload the ball and move into space to take the next handpass.

    For as long as I can remember, people have been saying teams are too defensive, too much handpassing etc. It's only the last few years I think it really is true. Some of the play is absolutely brutal, boring fare, for the reasons you've just mentioned.

    Some of the other great skills are also being slowly eliminated from the game. People are much more reluctant than before to take on difficult shots- it's all about ensuring you actually do convert a "high percentage shot". Tactically sound but watching people boot it over from a handy position on the 20 metre line isn't exactly exhilarating.

    Take high fielding as well- happens a lot less because of short kickouts and the obsession with retaining possession.

    A shot clock and a rule enforcing kickouts to go out past the 45 metre line would probably help a little with these things. But all of this is just window dressing until the Dublin issue is dealt with.


  • #2119
    seligehgit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,286 ✭✭✭seligehgit


    Mod Note

    There is a new thread solely for discussing the contentious subject that is the dominance of Dublin GAA.

    >>>>https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058005558

    This thread is now solely for discussion of reforms not relating to Dublin GAA.


  • #2120
    Jack Barlowe
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15 ✭Jack Barlowe


    gaelic football has really deteriorated as a spectacle. at one point i counted maybe 10 or 12 handpasses in a row from dublin including backpassing before someone had the courage to actually kick the ball. its only when a score is highly likely that a kick is attempted these days. awful to watch.

    1 handpass only permitted before a kick is required would fix things. Here is the definitive example of how it should be played. no other footage is required

    dublin cork 1983

    notice how when the game was played with pure instinct it resulted in an incredibly open free flowing game with the ball often bouncing over players heads into space. wild erractic and random the way gaelic games should be. not this cautious 'work it up the field' approach (that has crept into hurling also)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFAwR6fNExo


  • #2121
    RoyalCelt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,245 ✭✭✭RoyalCelt


    Bambi wrote: »
    The truth is though that the games outside of Dublins are boring too, Most of the championship games were not great, the only bit of excitement was provided by Mayos slapstick routine of nearly losing against any other team. The game yesterday was an All Ireland Semi that went down to the wire and it was still pretty flat.

    Other counties are going to have to catch up but given the dire place football wound up in over a few years back (thanks slick Jim) it will take time. At least you're seeing kick passing again
    Dublin played putrid football under Pat Gilroy before Jim McGuinness took charge. Why is this always glossed over. The pro Dublin media pushed donegal as the bad guys when they were never the first.

    Even now Dublin defend with every man in their own half and then counter attack in numbers. This is basically the template McGuinness and Gilroy used.


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  • #2122
    bruschi
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 4,149 Mod ✭✭✭✭bruschi


    Jack Barlowe wrote: »
    gaelic football has really deteriorated as a spectacle. at one point i counted maybe 10 or 12 handpasses in a row from dublin including backpassing before someone had the courage to actually kick the ball. its only when a score is highly likely that a kick is attempted these days. awful to watch.

    1 handpass only permitted before a kick is required would fix things. Here is the definitive example of how it should be played. no other footage is required

    dublin cork 1983

    notice how when the game was played with pure instinct it resulted in an incredibly open free flowing game with the ball often bouncing over players heads into space. wild erractic and random the way gaelic games should be. not this cautious 'work it up the field' approach (that has crept into hurling also)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFAwR6fNExo

    whilst I'd agree that the sideways endless handpassing is not great to watch, going back 35 years to wild kicking for the sake of it and lauding a player not being able to read the bounce of the ball is not the answer. There is always this hark back to old times and reminisce about how great the game was years ago. the game as a spectacle has moved on hugely, players are fitter and far more skilful. Some of the routine scores nowadays were unbelievable efforts years back. Its why the likes of Matt Connor, Mikey Sheehy, Sean Purcell etc were superstars then, they stood out so much because of their abilities and they didnt resort to standard catch and kick but played a controlled skilful game.

    Some of the best scores ever involved 2 handpasses in a row. Teams adapt, Kerry changed their tactics at half time and moved the ball in quicker on Sunday and kicked longer and it worked. Handpasing works, but so does kicking. Limiting to only one handpass and then having to kick is, in my opinion, not a solution. And trying to replicate a game fro 35 years ago definitely is not the solution.


  • #2123
    blanch152
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,851 ✭✭✭✭blanch152


    jmayo wrote: »
    How many matches have we watched this year where the time between a team gaining possession and having a scoring attempt has been numerous minutes.
    It is now turning into a game where possession is key and only attempts within the so called scoring zone is allowed.


    It isn't always that way. Dublin scored 1-5 in seven minutes at the start of the second half on Saturday, and could have had more. However, unlike hurling, where the ball travels more than the players, you can't keep up that intensity for 70 minutes. That makes game management so important. When you are on top and winning ball, go for the jugular. Mayo didn't do that in the first half and paid a price. Ditto Tyrone the next day. Dublin and Kerry made their periods of dominance count.


  • #2124
    Jack Barlowe
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15 ✭Jack Barlowe


    bruschi wrote: »
    whilst I'd agree that the sideways endless handpassing is not great to watch, going back 35 years to wild kicking for the sake of it and lauding a player not being able to read the bounce of the ball is not the answer. There is always this hark back to old times and reminisce about how great the game was years ago. the game as a spectacle has moved on hugely, players are fitter and far more skilful. Some of the routine scores nowadays were unbelievable efforts years back. Its why the likes of Matt Connor, Mikey Sheehy, Sean Purcell etc were superstars then, they stood out so much because of their abilities and they didnt resort to standard catch and kick but played a controlled skilful game.

    Some of the best scores ever involved 2 handpasses in a row. Teams adapt, Kerry changed their tactics at half time and moved the ball in quicker on Sunday and kicked longer and it worked. Handpasing works, but so does kicking. Limiting to only one handpass and then having to kick is, in my opinion, not a solution. And trying to replicate a game fro 35 years ago definitely is not the solution.
    Sorry but I cant agree that the game is more skilful today - thus my point about players looking for teammates to take responsibility. lacking confidence in their abilities as footballers. the game has morphed into a form of basketball wrestling and volleyball with the actual art of kicking the ball reserved for play within range of the posts. efficiency + clinical win at all costs approach.palming the ball to the net should not be allowed. very little excitement. I rarely watch gaelic football for this very reason. hurling is light years ahead.

    take the time to watch the full video link. while it is a highlight reel, almost every score is the result of skilful play and good player reactions / anticipation. my point re. the bouncing ball was made to illustrate that this element of unpredictability added excitement to the game. the video speaks for itself - the passages of play are way more exciting when players act more instinctively. the ball moves swiftly up the field - 3 or 4 kicks / passes being sufficient. maybe 2 handpasses max then but no more. an emphasis on kicking takes all the bunching out of the middle of the field and results in more open space and therefore it follows - more running into open space . remember its called gaelic football .as for fitness - the players in that 1983 video look much faster and agile on their feet than anyone in last weeks game.


  • #2125
    bruschi
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 4,149 Mod ✭✭✭✭bruschi


    Jack Barlowe wrote: »
    Sorry but I cant agree that the game is more skilful today - thus my point about players looking for teammates to take responsibility. lacking confidence in their abilities as footballers. the game has morphed into a form of basketball wrestling and volleyball with the actual art of kicking the ball reserved for play within range of the posts. efficiency + clinical win at all costs approach.palming the ball to the net should not be allowed. very little excitement. I rarely watch gaelic football for this very reason. hurling is light years ahead.

    take the time to watch the full video link. while it is a highlight reel, almost every score is the result of skilful play and good player reactions / anticipation. my point re. the bouncing ball was made to illustrate that this element of unpredictability added excitement to the game. the video speaks for itself - the passages of play are way more exciting when players act more instinctively. the ball moves swiftly up the field - 3 or 4 kicks / passes being sufficient. maybe 2 handpasses max then but no more. an emphasis on kicking takes all the bunching out of the middle of the field and results in more open space and therefore it follows - more running into open space . remember its called gaelic football .as for fitness - the players in that 1983 video look much faster and agile on their feet than anyone in last weeks game.

    this is very much a case of agree to disagree I think, particularly when you say you rarely watch football. In the first 30 seconds of that game, you had a Dublin player on the 45 mis hit a ball straight into a Crok back, who then went on to bounce the ball twice, the ball scutters around on the ground and a Dublin players lashes at it, it falls into a Cork player who then tries to kick it long and completely mis hits it to a free player on the wing until it is worked down to be just kicked aimlessly long to a Dublin player.

    I watched the rest too, nothing in it would tell me that the players or the game then was more skilful. It was rash and wild and full of mis placed passes and shots. And the game then allowed players handpass a ball directly to the net. I agree, I dont like the palmed goals, as many of them are borderline throws into the goal anyway.

    But in general, restricting handpasses to one in a row only is not a solution I think will work.

    I do get the nostalgic element of reminiscing of older games, but I dont think either hurling or football were better games to watch in the 80s than they are now.


  • #2126
    jmayo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,224 ✭✭✭✭jmayo


    blanch152 wrote: »
    It isn't always that way. Dublin scored 1-5 in seven minutes at the start of the second half on Saturday, and could have had more. However, unlike hurling, where the ball travels more than the players, you can't keep up that intensity for 70 minutes. That makes game management so important. When you are on top and winning ball, go for the jugular. Mayo didn't do that in the first half and paid a price. Ditto Tyrone the next day. Dublin and Kerry made their periods of dominance count.

    I was sitting in the Davin having to watch that 7 or 8 minutes, but thanks for reminding me of it. :mad:
    And yes I also watched how Mayo held onto the ball for minutes in first half as well trying to work a score.
    But why were they doing it ?
    Had it anything to do with how many Dublin had defending by any chance ?

    And if Mayo had adopted a packed defense then would Dublin have cut through them so easily?

    Oh and Dublin are adept at the old recycling the ball as well when they want, so don't try and pedal the usual shyte that only certain teams play pure attacking football.

    BTW the key to going for the jugular as you put it is either the other team playing loose and/or having very good quality pretty fit players to take advantage.

    I am not allowed discuss …



  • #2127
    Gael85
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,429 ✭✭✭Gael85


    Jack Barlowe wrote: »
    gaelic football has really deteriorated as a spectacle. at one point i counted maybe 10 or 12 handpasses in a row from dublin including backpassing before someone had the courage to actually kick the ball. its only when a score is highly likely that a kick is attempted these days. awful to watch.

    1 handpass only permitted before a kick is required would fix things. Here is the definitive example of how it should be played. no other footage is required

    dublin cork 1983

    notice how when the game was played with pure instinct it resulted in an incredibly open free flowing game with the ball often bouncing over players heads into space. wild erractic and random the way gaelic games should be. not this cautious 'work it up the field' approach (that has crept into hurling also)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFAwR6fNExo

    Gaelic football is polluted with coaches playing negative football who are frauds taking money from clubs and county boards with inadequate training methods. Donegal and Tyrone won football playing with blanket defences but what was overlooked they could play good counterattacking football and had lethal inside forwards. Nowdays manager are trying to apply same tactics when no attacking outlet. 15 bodies behind the ball win, lose or draw.

    On kicking ball into forwards what point of kicking ball into 2/3 man full forwards when 8/9 bodies parked into front of them? Teams are handpassing more to draw opposition defenders out of position. 1 hand pass will only encourage more blanket defences.


  • #2128
    D9Male
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,644 ✭✭✭D9Male


    There is no way the game is less skillful now than it was back then.


  • #2129
    blanch152
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,851 ✭✭✭✭blanch152


    Jack Barlowe wrote: »
    Sorry but I cant agree that the game is more skilful today - thus my point about players looking for teammates to take responsibility. lacking confidence in their abilities as footballers. the game has morphed into a form of basketball wrestling and volleyball with the actual art of kicking the ball reserved for play within range of the posts. efficiency + clinical win at all costs approach.palming the ball to the net should not be allowed. very little excitement. I rarely watch gaelic football for this very reason. hurling is light years ahead.

    take the time to watch the full video link. while it is a highlight reel, almost every score is the result of skilful play and good player reactions / anticipation. my point re. the bouncing ball was made to illustrate that this element of unpredictability added excitement to the game. the video speaks for itself - the passages of play are way more exciting when players act more instinctively. the ball moves swiftly up the field - 3 or 4 kicks / passes being sufficient. maybe 2 handpasses max then but no more. an emphasis on kicking takes all the bunching out of the middle of the field and results in more open space and therefore it follows - more running into open space . remember its called gaelic football .as for fitness - the players in that 1983 video look much faster and agile on their feet than anyone in last weeks game.


    I would think that the five points kicked by Paul Mannion on Saturday off both feet from all angles would compare very favourably with any distant memory of skill from the past.


  • #2130
    RoyalCelt
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,245 ✭✭✭RoyalCelt


    Hawkeye9212 wrote: »
    Dublin will never be kicked out of the Leinster championship. And they shouldn't. Can't have a provincial championship and exclude one the counties. A second tier championship will widen the gap between the top teams and the rest. Besides, we already have a tiered competition. The League should be elevated to a higher status by the GAA. Reduce it to three divisions and give it a lot more coverage than one show on a Sunday night.
    Why not? Galway play hurling in Leinster. Antrim can qualify for Leinster. London used to play in Ulster. There should be exceptions. Considering Dublin will probably win the next 50 leinster titles why the hell shouldn't they be removed. It's a pointless procession.

    I like the idea about the league being 3 divisions but if you move it to the summer dublin will win it handy every year making it another **** spectacle. The league is good now because teams like Dublin don't take it seriously at the start as they take a break later then the rest. It means counties that will never beat Dublin in summer could beat them in the league.
    D9Male wrote: »
    Full disclosure: I am a Dub.

    First of all people talk about the GAA as if senior intercounty football is the be all and end all. It is not, it's about minor B football championship club games and Saturday morning nursery for U6 and a multitude of blitzes and tournaments organised at underage level.

    The primary objective of funding is to improve participation and quality at all levels. The senior intercounty team is just the tip of the arrow.

    There are hundreds of thousands of kids in Dublin, so I think it is appropriate that a lot of the funding goes there.

    Next thing on the Dubs. For me, the main reason they're so dominant is playing population. Croke Park home games, good coaching, golden generation, etc. are all factors but they pale into insignificance against the sheer weight of numbers at Dublin. I coach at U12 and U10 level in Dublin, and looking at all the top U12 teams in Division 1, they're all clubs with big numbers. I think this holds true generally.

    The game is remarkably healthy. On Sunday I will be up in Armagh at an U12 blitz with almost 500 kids from 28 clubs from 9 counties in attendance. Next month I will be at a similar event for U10 in Westmeath. These things are absolutely brilliant and are important for the mental and physical health of our country. Not just the GAA, but the IRFU, FAI and other bodies are really important in getting kids off the couch and onto a pitch. So let's not forget all this positivity when we talk of the doom and gloom on Dublin winning lots of All Irelands.

    And what about changes to intercounty? When the GAA was established, Dublin was not the most populated county (it was Cork). Now it is over twice the size of the next most populated county (Antrim). In my opinion, intercounty football won't be competitive with the existing structure. Personally I think we need to either amalgamate counties, split Dublin or a combination of both. But I hate both solutions. I kind of think it is unsolvable while Dubiln has such an advantage in playing numbers.
    A Dublin split in 2 and Meath/westmeath amalgamation sounds interesting. I could definitely see a united meath competing with North/South Dublin. It would be an even playing field for us in terms of resources/advantages but the gap would definitely close.


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  • #2131
    Jack Barlowe
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15 ✭Jack Barlowe


    the footage from 83 I used is a good example of 'flow' . a state of being when an individual ( or team ) is fully absorbed and engaged in a creative pursuit ( or sport for eg. ) and does not have to pause and think too much

    the current game is more like the antethesis of flow - players second guessing themselves often turning backwards when faced with the terrifying responsibility of having to kick the ball instead of throw it 5m to another teammate. whens the last time you saw a defender kick the ball up the field ? worried about losing possession - there's supposed to be a good chance of losing possession - it what keeps things interesting.

    more kicking = more space = more running into space = players forced to move quicker = less blanket defences = less wrestling and pulling / dragging. the ball carrying / nurturing approach has led to the blanket defence. sure the final kick for a point might be as good as in decades gone by but its certainly not a satisfying in that it was the result of a carefully controlled boring build up. sorry to break it to you guys but the core of the game is sh@te to watch. I wont be losing sleep over it as im into hurling but I thought i'd pass on the observation.


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