Every so often during the National Leagues, be it in hurling or football, a team can go on a run, the momentum from which can carry them into uncharted territory. If not always immediately, in the fullness of time.
When thinking of that scenario, in football, Westmeath are the first county that come to mind. As are Limerick when it comes to hurling.
I have a vague recollection of the Shannonsiders capturing an NHL title at some point in the early 1990s. Shortly after which All Ireland Final appearances followed in 1994 and 1996. And they, in tbe long run, would have lit the flame for generations who came in their wake, those who have become the most dominant side in the small ball code for two decades.
Getting back to football and Westmeath, in the Spring of 1994, those then under the direction of Mattie Kerrigan caused something of a sensation when defeating then All Ireland Champions Derry in an NFL quarter final at Brewster Park in Enniskillen.
Larry Giles (two) and Ger Heavin filling the onion bag but, from memory, equally as big a story at the time was the emergence of Armagh. Sparked by one of the great goal machines of the day – Ger Houlahan.
Far from being a one man team though, that Orchard County orchestra had class on every line. From Benny Tierney in goal, to Ger Reid and John Rafferty in the full back line, Martin McQuillan further out, Paul McGrane at midfield and a forward line comprising Cathal O’Rourke, Kieran McGuirke, Johnny Toner, Diarmaid Marsden, Houlihan and Jim McConville.
You’ll no doubt have noted that McGrane’s midfield sidekick wasn’t mentioned. It was of course newly installed Uachtarain C. L. G. Jarlath Burns. The Silverbridge clubman has been an inspirational fresh voice since his playing days ended. As a commentator in the media and then since entering GAA administration.
Thus, it should really have been no surprise to see him convene a committee to, as I understand it, do a broad analysis of what they believe to be the current state of Gaelic football and what proposals they would bring forward to improve it.
Yes, I hear you saying there have been myriad such quangos convened over the years but not with somebody as averse to bullsh** as is Burns and indeed as are Jim Gavin and Eamonn Fitzmauirce who populate the star-studded think that along with All Ireland Club winning manager Malachy O’Rourke and long serving former Clare boss Colm Collins. Possibly among others.
While it would naturally be counterproductive for the newly appointed President to be giving them a dossier of his own recommendations after appointing them to ” take every aspect of the game apart and put it all together again with a view to making Gaelic football a more enjoyable spectacle to watch and play, before admitting “As a former chair of the Standing Committee on Playing Rules, I can say I do not envy their task, because if I took 20 of you into a room and asked you your opinions, there would be 20 different perspectives on even what the problem is, never mind the solution”.
That said, it is clear an tUachtarain has his own ideas on how the game should be played and that they tally with views expressed on this site over two years ago. With him actually expressing very similar sentiments about 2022 Ulster SFC Final as I did about the game I used in my column analysing the woes that have blighted the big ball game for more than a decade now. https://boylantalkssport.com/2022/06/16/armagh-saving-gaelic-football-one-long-ball-at-a-time/
He went on to say “The game between Derry and Donegal, the Ulster final of two years ago, a lot of people – like myself – watched that game – an incredible game of attrition”.
“There were unbelievable skills of football on display around the half forward/half back area of the pitch; players were passing the ball sround, but in a positive way. Waiting for breaking ball etc. A lot of people loved it, but there were a lot who said football shouldn’t be like that at all”.
Bottom line – consensus is not an easy target. In any walk of life, but absolutely not in GAA terms. You have to pull the throttle several times before the chainsaw will take down the tree. Thus, while Burns may think the committee might expedite their duties quite efficiently, getting whatever they might come back with implimented could be a different story entirely.
Still, with all that being said, what would I like to see Gavin’s Brains Trust introduce:
1. Go back to the NFL Final in ’94, during that season’s early season competition, one of the stipulations trialled was one aimed at restricting handpassing. The crux of the dictum being that after two consecutive handpasses, the ball had to be kicked. It could certainly do with a return.
2. Along the same lines the above, a rule making it a foul to pass the ball backwards inside a team’s own ’45’. Penalty: 13 metre free to the opposition.
3. Increase the value of a goal to five points (ditto hurling), thereby encouraging teams to play attacking football. The benefits to the team who score are obvious, whereas it would force those conceding to come out and attack
4. In group based competitions, ensuring that referees from counties in a particular group don’t officiate therein. It’s as unfair on referees themselves as it is on competing teams.
5. Temptation would be to go for a full blown TMO or VAR, but, with that unlikely to wash with elements of the GAA that are more conservative than Boris Johnson ever was, the expansion of the remit of HawkEye would be a good start.
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Now, Donal Og Complainer has already agitated enough slurry about Burns’ angle on hurling, but, knowing the Armagh man’s background and, coming from somewhere where inclusivness is far more than a buzzword. So I’ve no doubt he’ll surprise the negativity hunters.
Outside of football, I’ve another wish list of what I’d like to see him even attempt to accomplish across a range of issues, but they will give rise to a separate post very shortly.
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