|
This is going to offend people of a certain age.
Tallowman GAA on YouTube and TG4/Eir during Covid showing old matches have shone a light on many of the legendary hurling and football matches.
So many of these legendary games from the 80's and 90's were absolutely awful. Yes they were exciting finishes and in terms of heart and passion the players could not be faulted, but they were awful in terms of quality. Player intelligence and skill were scarce commodities, there was about 2-3 top class hurlers on every team and beyond that there was honest endeavour but an attitude of pull, wind and swing and ask questions later.
The real start of intelligent hurling came with the Cork team of the mid noughties, and in football with the Tyrone and Armagh teams. Before these teams came along, it was crash bang wallop.
This is by no means to insult those who won provincial or All-Ireland medals back then, but in my view GAA now is in a far better place than it was back then and while there were pulsating finishes to matches back then (and Ciaran Carey's point v Clare is still the best hurling point ever scored), these great moments of class very much paper over otherwise mundane games.
StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 1732 - 22/04/2022 14:52:21
2412290
Link
4
|
|
Replying To StoreysTash: "This is going to offend people of a certain age.
Tallowman GAA on YouTube and TG4/Eir during Covid showing old matches have shone a light on many of the legendary hurling and football matches.
So many of these legendary games from the 80's and 90's were absolutely awful. Yes they were exciting finishes and in terms of heart and passion the players could not be faulted, but they were awful in terms of quality. Player intelligence and skill were scarce commodities, there was about 2-3 top class hurlers on every team and beyond that there was honest endeavour but an attitude of pull, wind and swing and ask questions later.
The real start of intelligent hurling came with the Cork team of the mid noughties, and in football with the Tyrone and Armagh teams. Before these teams came along, it was crash bang wallop.
This is by no means to insult those who won provincial or All-Ireland medals back then, but in my view GAA now is in a far better place than it was back then and while there were pulsating finishes to matches back then (and Ciaran Carey's point v Clare is still the best hurling point ever scored), these great moments of class very much paper over otherwise mundane games." Its all relative in hindsight. If they were exciting at the time then thats all that matters. No doubt tactics play a major part now whereas in the 80's there wasn't even a manger in many cases just a coach. Moving the ball in the right direction was all that mattered.
When we look back at hurling in 30 years we might be cringing at the amount of hand passing, pulling and dragging and overcarrying that went on and saying how skill less that was.... I hope!
ZUL10 (Clare) - Posts: 693 - 22/04/2022 15:09:30
2412297
Link
2
|
|
I pity today's youngsters who never saw real Gaelic football.
Shame too that no real films are available to show how great the game was in the fifties when I started out.
The goalie minded the goals and the fullback never left the square.
There was no need for coaching.
Either you could play or you couldn't.
worple (Roscommon) - Posts: 339 - 22/04/2022 15:35:19
2412313
Link
5
|
|
Replying To StoreysTash: "This is going to offend people of a certain age.
Tallowman GAA on YouTube and TG4/Eir during Covid showing old matches have shone a light on many of the legendary hurling and football matches.
So many of these legendary games from the 80's and 90's were absolutely awful. Yes they were exciting finishes and in terms of heart and passion the players could not be faulted, but they were awful in terms of quality. Player intelligence and skill were scarce commodities, there was about 2-3 top class hurlers on every team and beyond that there was honest endeavour but an attitude of pull, wind and swing and ask questions later.
The real start of intelligent hurling came with the Cork team of the mid noughties, and in football with the Tyrone and Armagh teams. Before these teams came along, it was crash bang wallop.
This is by no means to insult those who won provincial or All-Ireland medals back then, but in my view GAA now is in a far better place than it was back then and while there were pulsating finishes to matches back then (and Ciaran Carey's point v Clare is still the best hurling point ever scored), these great moments of class very much paper over otherwise mundane games." The same can be said for most sports to be fair
That's just the nature of the beast.
I'd argue that the Wexford team of 04 sort of reinvented the wheel out of nowhere.
Cork adopted a very similar game plan, but had better players so won 2 all Irelands.
That Ciarán Carey point was unreal, but my personal favourites are as follows :
Dj Carey vs Clare, 02 i think
Eoin Quigley vs kk in 05
Rory McCarthy vs Galway 96
Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 2648 - 22/04/2022 17:20:23
2412333
Link
0
|
|
Replying To StoreysTash: "This is going to offend people of a certain age.
Tallowman GAA on YouTube and TG4/Eir during Covid showing old matches have shone a light on many of the legendary hurling and football matches.
So many of these legendary games from the 80's and 90's were absolutely awful. Yes they were exciting finishes and in terms of heart and passion the players could not be faulted, but they were awful in terms of quality. Player intelligence and skill were scarce commodities, there was about 2-3 top class hurlers on every team and beyond that there was honest endeavour but an attitude of pull, wind and swing and ask questions later.
The real start of intelligent hurling came with the Cork team of the mid noughties, and in football with the Tyrone and Armagh teams. Before these teams came along, it was crash bang wallop.
This is by no means to insult those who won provincial or All-Ireland medals back then, but in my view GAA now is in a far better place than it was back then and while there were pulsating finishes to matches back then (and Ciaran Carey's point v Clare is still the best hurling point ever scored), these great moments of class very much paper over otherwise mundane games." I agree it's better to watch now, both football and hurling. Coaching and training and lifestyle for players pre-90s were unrecognisable to what it is now. But I wonder nowadays with coaching developments, nutrition, use of technology and/or S&C,longer season etc did players enjoy it more back then? Are players less willing to make the increasingly growing commitment to play intercounty football and hurling in comparison to pre 90s. And they could have a few pints mid-season without their business being shown on Snapchat.
GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7342 - 22/04/2022 18:04:26
2412337
Link
3
|
|
Its always annoyed me over the years when people go on about the good old days, how football is now terrible, and we need to go back to how it used to be played. The Dublin-Kerry rivalry of the seventies is held up as the ultimate golden age, but if we're being honest, its probably because people got to see it on TV and in colour.
The rivalry itself was almost as one sided as Dublin-Mayo in modern times, and the standard of football of football, through no fault of the players and coaches of the time, is poor compared to what we see today. The game has moved on, and will continue to evolve, which is a good thing.
petejoeduff (Donegal) - Posts: 329 - 22/04/2022 18:49:28
2412344
Link
0
|
|
Replying To StoreysTash: "This is going to offend people of a certain age.
Tallowman GAA on YouTube and TG4/Eir during Covid showing old matches have shone a light on many of the legendary hurling and football matches.
So many of these legendary games from the 80's and 90's were absolutely awful. Yes they were exciting finishes and in terms of heart and passion the players could not be faulted, but they were awful in terms of quality. Player intelligence and skill were scarce commodities, there was about 2-3 top class hurlers on every team and beyond that there was honest endeavour but an attitude of pull, wind and swing and ask questions later.
The real start of intelligent hurling came with the Cork team of the mid noughties, and in football with the Tyrone and Armagh teams. Before these teams came along, it was crash bang wallop.
This is by no means to insult those who won provincial or All-Ireland medals back then, but in my view GAA now is in a far better place than it was back then and while there were pulsating finishes to matches back then (and Ciaran Carey's point v Clare is still the best hurling point ever scored), these great moments of class very much paper over otherwise mundane games." From a Tyrone prospective you are bang on the money. Only Micky came along we still would have been also rams.
Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2011 - 22/04/2022 19:03:48
2412349
Link
3
|
|
Replying To Saynothing: "From a Tyrone prospective you are bang on the money. Only Micky came along we still would have been also rams." You couldn't pull the wool over Micky's eyes.
Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2454 - 22/04/2022 20:30:47
2412364
Link
4
|
|
Pensioners like me have largely given up on Gaelic football. It's now only for youngsters. I feel sorry for them as they have never had the chance to experience the kick/catch game which is what it was designed to be about. I would cross snow and ice to see the great players I remember from the fifties and sixties,but sadly "the game has moved on"
worple (Roscommon) - Posts: 339 - 22/04/2022 20:58:05
2412374
Link
1
|
|
Replying To Saynothing: "From a Tyrone prospective you are bang on the money. Only Micky came along we still would have been also rams." Can say pretty much the same with ourselves and big Joe. He took training / coaching / use of data etc to a new level.
ardmhacha (Armagh) - Posts: 172 - 22/04/2022 21:34:57
2412384
Link
0
|
|
Hard to credit that people are saying football is better now than the previous century. Are people really that satisfied with the rugby league back passing like game we have now? The unwillingness to take a chance on your own skill and kick the ball back 20m when you are in a scoring position yourself?
I maintain the two most exciting things in gaelic football remain a kickout to centre field and a ball dropped high on the square. These don't suit the stats men that have blighted the game though.
Give me catch and kick anyday.
Leitrim_12 (USA) - Posts: 207 - 23/04/2022 08:41:17
2412413
Link
2
|
|
Replying To kentuckytucky: "Hard to credit that people are saying football is better now than the previous century. Are people really that satisfied with the rugby league back passing like game we have now? The unwillingness to take a chance on your own skill and kick the ball back 20m when you are in a scoring position yourself?
I maintain the two most exciting things in gaelic football remain a kickout to centre field and a ball dropped high on the square. These don't suit the stats men that have blighted the game though.
Give me catch and kick anyday." Unless you ban handpassing and backwards kicking you won't be seeing much of that again
Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 1411 - 23/04/2022 11:13:53
2412442
Link
0
|
|
Replying To kentuckytucky: "Hard to credit that people are saying football is better now than the previous century. Are people really that satisfied with the rugby league back passing like game we have now? The unwillingness to take a chance on your own skill and kick the ball back 20m when you are in a scoring position yourself?
I maintain the two most exciting things in gaelic football remain a kickout to centre field and a ball dropped high on the square. These don't suit the stats men that have blighted the game though.
Give me catch and kick anyday." The game did go through a serious rough patch for a decade or so with so many county and club sides obsessed with the safety first approach but I think you are describing the game as it was 7-10 years ago.
People are still complaining even though the game has obviously evolved and I think currently the game has the perfect blend. Skill levels are as high as they have ever been.
I would rather watch a division 3/4 game today that the best division 1 games from the 70s-90s.
Wally (Tyrone) - Posts: 912 - 23/04/2022 11:36:00
2412450
Link
0
|
|
Replying To Wally: "The game did go through a serious rough patch for a decade or so with so many county and club sides obsessed with the safety first approach but I think you are describing the game as it was 7-10 years ago.
People are still complaining even though the game has obviously evolved and I think currently the game has the perfect blend. Skill levels are as high as they have ever been.
I would rather watch a division 3/4 game today that the best division 1 games from the 70s-90s." Tbh I watched a couple of div4 games this year and they weren't great Wally. I watched the AI final last year on TV in a bar in Limerick and it was a fantastic game. The semifinals also. While 2003 was very gritty 2005 and 2008 were good entertaining finals too.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11806 - 23/04/2022 11:46:00
2412454
Link
0
|
|
Really enjoying hurling these days :)
skillet (Limerick) - Posts: 1062 - 23/04/2022 12:05:43
2412456
Link
1
|
|
Always enjoy reading StoreysTach posts.
All I'll say is they were different times. The standing the GAA had in Ireland back then was different. People worked in different types of jobs and we didn't have technology like we do today. As a result management and coaching was not at the level it was now with a small number of expert people, often ex players. The GAA was slow to acknowledge other sports and usually did so through its own lens, eg the compromise rules series in 1984 which was interesting.
Nowadays coaches learn from each other, other sports and can access content within seconds on their phones or tablets. The best coaches challenge each other and are not afraid to innovate, perhaps see plans not work on big days but persevere with them until they beat fruition.
All that said those days of yesteryear were highly exciting. As a child watching the Limerick hurlers there was nothing like seeing Jimmy Carroll get on the ball out the field because we knew he would go directly to Joe McKenna on the edge of the square. It was a privilege to see players like Tony Doran play. These players seemed to be giants and in school we often mimicked things they did on the field of play. One thing to point out though - the level of training these guys did was huge. The sports science wasn't anything like today but the Kerry footballers who played under Mick O'Dwyer will tell of hours running in sand dunes to get to the level needed to play for Kerry.
Great times, but I do take your point. It all fits into a great history but some of the top level coaches in GAA now could probably work for major professional clubs given their education, talent and adaptability.
slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 23/04/2022 12:26:06
2412461
Link
1
|
|
Replying To Viking66: "Tbh I watched a couple of div4 games this year and they weren't great Wally. I watched the AI final last year on TV in a bar in Limerick and it was a fantastic game. The semifinals also. While 2003 was very gritty 2005 and 2008 were good entertaining finals too." Agree 2008 final was a good one but only if you were from kilkenny one of the most one sided finals ever.
Tiger1 (Wexford) - Posts: 219 - 23/04/2022 12:43:02
2412465
Link
0
|
|
Replying To Tiger1: "Agree 2008 final was a good one but only if you were from kilkenny one of the most one sided finals ever." Was talking about the football finals in that post Tiger1. Nearly all the hurling games I ever watched from under 9 upwards were good games!!!!!
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11806 - 23/04/2022 14:03:20
2412484
Link
0
|
|
Replying To StoreysTash: "This is going to offend people of a certain age.
Tallowman GAA on YouTube and TG4/Eir during Covid showing old matches have shone a light on many of the legendary hurling and football matches.
So many of these legendary games from the 80's and 90's were absolutely awful. Yes they were exciting finishes and in terms of heart and passion the players could not be faulted, but they were awful in terms of quality. Player intelligence and skill were scarce commodities, there was about 2-3 top class hurlers on every team and beyond that there was honest endeavour but an attitude of pull, wind and swing and ask questions later.
The real start of intelligent hurling came with the Cork team of the mid noughties, and in football with the Tyrone and Armagh teams. Before these teams came along, it was crash bang wallop.
This is by no means to insult those who won provincial or All-Ireland medals back then, but in my view GAA now is in a far better place than it was back then and while there were pulsating finishes to matches back then (and Ciaran Carey's point v Clare is still the best hurling point ever scored), these great moments of class very much paper over otherwise mundane games." Wrong on all counts.
Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 23/04/2022 14:27:51
2412488
Link
0
|
|
To be honest, watching these games back football is way better nowadays. Same with hurling particularly in the 70's and 80's was poor. Like how can the older generation no appreciate the skill levels involved in the current game.
The Dublin team in the last decade the talent they had Brogan, Connolly, Flynn, Mannion, McCarthy, Fenton, McCaffrey the list could go on and on were and are some of the most skilful and exciting players I would think to have ever played the game.
The skill levels are way higher particularly in the backs nowadays. Look at Tyrone's full back line last year, McKernan, McNamee and Hampsey could all go out and do a man marking job, but were able to come forward and kick important scores for their county.
Same with hurling but to be honest you don't really hear hurling people talking about the good auld days I think they probably understand that hurling is better nowadays.
CartaDubh (Clare) - Posts: 51 - 23/04/2022 15:50:51
2412501
Link
0
|