If the Irish team management had the good grace to publicly acknowledge in an issued statement that what went on at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick, last Saturday evening was unacceptable, it would offer some hope for the future of this International series, not to mention my sanity. I travelled to Limerick, bringing along four very enthusiastic children who were relishing the fact that they were going to see the cream of our GAA stars from all around the country playing for Ireland. What I and they witnessed was a damp squib of an effort, particularly from our own GAA ‘stars’. I am not exaggerating when I suggest that I genuinely yawned my way through this match. I accept that we have witnessed elements of thuggery in the past that even led to calls for the series to be scrapped. This game on Saturday was so poor the devil in me was half hoping there would be a skirmish or two for no other reason than to liven things up a little. The modern version of the game has become completely sanitised, with practically no physicality whatsoever. It would seem from afar that both teams have been well warned not to engage in any tussles that might bring the continuance of the series into question. I can accept that no Irish player wants to get hurt playing this hybrid game, but I certainly would not want to waste my time travelling any distance to see another game like the lacklustre effort on display last weekend. In fact there were times in this match when I began to wonder if both teams were on some sort of a financial incentive if they managed to come through 75 minutes of action without encountering a meaningful tough challenge. I believe now that if there is not a change in attitude from both sides ahead of tomorrow’s encounter in Croke Park, then Mickey Harte will have been proven correct when he suggested a number of years ago that we should never have gone down this road in the first place. In fact if the GAA’s top brass want to showcase the version of the compromise rules we witnessed last Saturday evening as a spectacle, then they should start stockpiling all the footage of this game into a great big bonfire and quickly burn the lot. At the very least they should insist that no ‘highlights’ of this game are shown, because with the exception of Bernard Brogan’s goal near the end, there was none. Handled properly, the GAA can comfortably cope with outside challenges ie, soccer and rugby but most certainly does not need to self – destruct over a compromise rules series that has many problems. Now having said all of that I am travelling up to Croke Park tomorrow with a bus load of first year students from St Gerald’s college, Castlebar, in the knowledge that hopefully both teams will have realised that they did not provide value for money last weekend and will want to do something to make amends.
County final fails to live up to expectations
Last Sunday was a magnificent day weather wise. After my trip to Limerick, I decided to stretch the legs with an early morning climb of Croagh Patrick with a few friends. It was one of those glorious sunny autumn days that you feel privileged to have the capacity to be able to get out and enjoy the magnificent views over Clew Bay. It was county final day, the sun was high in the sky and I had so much more to look forward to later that afternoon. As a former Castlebar player, I was hoping the Mitchels would win the final, but to be totally honest I was not going to be disappointed if Ballintubber walked away with their first ever senior county title either. We had one of the best attended finals in the county for decades, everyone, I assume looking forward to a thrilling game. The pitch looked resplendent and the scene was set for quality football. However the match from the perspective of all bar Ballintubber, was a huge disappointment. The crowd was there to be entertained, but the sighs of disappointment and boredom from several people close by me were audible as early as the first few minutes. In fact, by the 10th minute of the first half I had the distinct feeling that this game would be lifeless. By that stage it was fractured with stoppages and several bad misses from both sides. I accept there is no obligation on management or players to entertain on these occasions, but the display, particularly in the first half was as bad as I have witnessed at senior club level for many a year. OK, Ballintubber’s responsibility was to win by whatever means available to them and to a certain extent they have to be excused from a portion of the blame for the dire fare produced. When you come from Ballintubber’s position, that is, not having won a title in their 100 year history --you'll take anything. However I would love a county final to be remembered for the commitment of the teams involved, the exhilaration of having witnessed a classic encounter, when both teams have given of their all. Sadly this match just never got going. Castlebar Mitchell’s performance was brutal, messy and cruel, a day when it all went horribly wrong. For some inexplicable reason they never threw off the blanket of tension that can so often suffocate a potentially good performance. There is no point in self pity after the game is over. All of those Mitchell’s players involved will just have to pick up the courage to try again. The reality is that, with a few exceptions, they failed to produce on the big occasion. I want to congratulate the Ballintubber team on winning their first title. One can only imagine the excitement and sense of fulfilment it created throughout the entire parish all week. They deserve their day in the sun too. Well done.
