Football tactics a disgrace says delegate
Caulry delegate Ger O’Kelly-Lynch said changes are urgently needed to address the lack of entertainment in Gaelic football. He felt the type of football played in the Derry versus Kerry All-Ireland quarter-final was "an absolute disgrace" and does little to enhance the game's popularity.
“If someone came in from out foreign and watched the Gaelic game, followed by the soccer, you’d be asking ‘what is the difference between the two sports?’ Certainly something has to be done. It was a prime slot, a Sunday afternoon, an All-Ireland football quarter-final. The season is so condensed now that people want to see a few good games before the end, but this was terrible,” he said.
Frank Mescall said, as a football man, he finds it embarrassing to be watching a football game after a hurling match.
“It’s no way entertaining at all; I’m sure - and Patrick (Doherty) is on the new group - they are working very hard on it. We have seen bits and pieces of what they are proposing.
“We won’t talk about it until the final product emerges, but there is a really good committee looking at that, putting in Trojan work. I just hope they will be successful, but it’s hard to change.
“We have had this for 12 or 13 years now.”
Sean Brady of Killucan felt the lack of entertainment is the main reason why income has fallen in the GAA. “It’s not rocket science what’s happening,” he remarked.
The chairman agreed. “When you have to pay for two or three people in your house to go to watch that, unless you are really committed it is quite difficult,” he said.
Earlier, Central Council delegate Tom Hunt reported on falling attendances and loss of revenue to the association.
The Central Council meeting in May heard gate receipts for non-provincial games in both codes organised by Croke Park were estimated to be down €500,000 from last year at €7.2m.
Shane Donoghue, Milltownpass, felt the new Football Review Committee, under Jim Gavin, needs to focus on coaching as any rule changes introduced will be negated by tactics. He said, as a county, our football is "unwatchable" and the club game is mimicking what is being produced at inter county level.
Joe Daly (Leinster Council Delegate) said coaching is not part of the committee's brief, but noted that managers will focus on trying to beat whatever changes come into play.