Following on from my first piece relating to the new President of the GAA, Jarlath Burns, as promised, I do have a broader wish list of what I’d hope/like to see the former Armagh midfielder address during his stewardship of the Association.
Before going forward to that though, let me first go back to that first column about the exxxxcellent Mr Burns (I’ll get my coat). Specificially, his appointment of a star-studded Football Review Group. Comprised of such luminaries of the game as Jim Gavin and Eamonn Fitzmaurice and Malachy O’Rourke, among others.
One common thread linking an t-Uachtarain nua and those listed above is an obvious aversion to bullsh**. Thus, while there are those who, with limited justification, would claim the big ball game needs little or no modification, Burns evidently has his ideas about how he likes to see football played. Furthermore, evidence would very much suggest that the triumvirate named above would be very much on the same page.
For what it’s worth, the following are a few ideas mentioned in my previous piece that I would love to see the group look into at the very least.
(a) During the 1994 NFL – at the end of which Meath beat a Burns-captained Armagh in the final, there was a stipulation tried (which should never have been discontinued) that decreed that after two consecutive handpasses the ball had to be kicked. Bring it back!
(b) Loosely related to the above, to pass the ball backwards inside your own ’45’ to become a foul. Punishable by 13M free for the opponent.
(c) Increase the value of a goal (scored in open play) to five points. Likewise in hurling/camogie/Ladies Football. Thereby encouraging teams to play attacking football. Because, not only does it allow the building up of big leads with greater ease, it forces those who have fallen behind to throw off the shackles.
(d) For group based competitions, ensure that referees do not take charge of matches in the same group as which their own county is participating. It’s fairer on all teams and, indeed, referees themselves. Just this past weekend we saw a match with some highly contentious calls by a whistler whose own county have still to play on of the teams he was officiating for. Not satisfactory or necessary.
(e) Temptation would absolutely be to go straight for a full blown TMO, but, with elements the GAA unlikely to buy that due to the fact that they’re more conservative than Boris Johnson ever was, an expansion of the remit of HawkEye would be a good start.
Now, as promised in the original piece pertaining to Jarlath’s accession to the office of Uachtarain, I have a broader wish list of issues which it is hoped he will at least attempt to remedy during his tenure. Some more personal than others. In the immortal words of Baz Luhrmann, I will dispense this advice now.
(f) Disabled Viewing Facilities in Croke Park: Temptation was to begin this section ‘Lack of’ such is the paltry disgrace of an attempt at providing same in the Association’s flaghship venue. It amounts to nothing more than arse covering and even at that anybody prone to builder’s bum will get a breeze. It is my intention to make contact and seek a meeting with the President asap. In order to raise the following:
(i) Positioning of current set up – Right at the back of the bottom deck of the Cusack Stand. Apart from the fact that one may as well be in arctic Siberia, if anybody stands up, you end up watching on the screen and thus may as well be at home.
(i2) Why are there no DVF on the Hogan Stand side of the field, recognised as the best view in the whole stadium and, by the way, practically adjacent to Drumcondra Railway Station?
(ii) Parking – Why, given the amplitude of space within the confines of the ground, why is there no disabled parking therein? At this juncture, in the interest of honesty and fairness, I must admit to being in the very fortunate position of having a relative working in GAA HQ who assists me with same, but we disabled are a family all unto ourselves and the vast majority thereof are not as fortunate and deserve much better than is currently the case.
(g) Increase the value of a score from a line in hurling/camogie to two points (minimum). Like the handpass rule in football, this was trialled years ago and never should have been discontinued.
(h) The introduction of a ‘Mark’ in hurling. Currently being experimented with in camogie (ditto sideline ball from the hand) and is well worth a runout in hurling also. If for no other reason than the reality of it being much harder to catch a sliotar than a football.
(iii) Press Facilities – As an honorary life member of the NUJ, an employee of the Meath Chronicle and running my own website which, at the time of typing, has over 380,000 views in less than five years, it is insulting and/or discriminating that I’m unable to join my colleagues in the Press Box at Croke Park., llllll
(i) Fastrack the unification of the GAA, LGFA and the Camogie Association, if for no other reason than to avoid the farcical situation which befell Meath’s Na Fianna at the back end of last year, having to play two All Ireland semi finals at opposite ends of the country within less than 24 hours of each other.
(j) Prioritise the broadcast of more handball and/or rounders if at all possible. No doubt many will see the inclusion of same as curious at best but (i) they are GAA sports and are entitled to at least comparable coverage to their brother and sister sports and (ii) they are sports I would love to learn more about.
(k) When next GAA Media Rights are up for discussion, that the possibility of a free-to-air GAA TV type channel. It might seem drastic, but consider the following:
1. RTE is a cesspit of badness and, given how important the GAA are to their viewership figures, it’s the least they might do.
2. It has already been done for both the Irish language and the Oireachtas – neither of which are as popular or important as the GAA.
3. It would put an end to the kerfuffle over GAAGo and other subscription services.
Look, he’s not going to get them all done, he might not even investigate a fraction thereof, but the Implimentation of any of the above would be to the betterment of the Association.
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