I think the key point on McGees sentiments is that is quite ok for individual teams to approach the game in whatever way they see fit and the rules allow. However those responsible for the games long term health should consider what type of game Gaelic football ideally wishes to be and modulate rules, within reason, accordingly to promote the behaviors and styles that we aspire to.

Soccer is a poor example in this regard as while being a skillful game it is also a simple one lacking in complexities in terms of use of possession , scoring, prevention of securing opportunities through fouls etc. Alos, ironically, many of the traits of skillful play in soccer , like retaining possession, are teh inverse in gaelic due primarily to low risk, low skill option of handpassing.

Both rugby codes are more relevant given their inherent complexity , and the presence of a significant physicality component in the games psyche, and both are pro-active in addressing unwanted tactical innovations. Granted there is a tension in rugby union regarding what the sport wants to be , but rugby league is proactive and clear. As are relatively complex games like basketball and American football.

Cynical fouls have always existed and defensive tactics are nothing new. However it is right and healthy that we step back and say what type of game the sport ideally would be , especially as the nature of style of play is so dramatically different depending on who is playing and the context of the game.

In regard to my own opinion.....the finest sights in gaelic football that I have seen have been down to individual skill on the ball and use of kick passing by teams like Kerry when in full flight. I am also mindful of the increasing low level physicality of the game and view this as a danger to its long term health. Rugby's evolution at any thing like a serious level ( decent club seconds/ thirds sides) precludes a huge proprtion of even athleic males from participation now unless they are willing to actiualey wokr on bulk. Anyhting that di so for galeic football limits its potential popularity as a particapatory sport. For height read the same concern as bulk.

Mangers, coaches players etc. find new approaches and angle snot becaus ethey want the game to improve but becasue THEY want to improve relative to their opponents. Just because something is differnet and new does not make it bad but neither is it necessarily good. Therefore some oversight is needed

rotarian (USA) - Posts: 55 - 30/07/2013 15:49:36    1447775

If Mayo or Dublin win the All Ireland this year will everything Change?? They both play decent enjoyable football with no blanket defences in my opinion. So if either of them win the All ireland will the Donegals, Monaghans and others revert back to more traditional football?? In 2011 Donegal didn't get the balance right with Defending and scoring but last year did. Everyone wanted to be at their level. If one of the above win the All Ireland playing open good football will other counties try to get to that level and forget about blanket defences?? Who knows. It kills me to say it but i really like the way Dublin are playing football this year.Open play, long passing, hand passing when needed & Pretty decent defending. Mayo the same. I love football either way and will watch/attend games for years to come no matter how the game is played. I am looking forward to Dublin v Cork the most this weekend as i think it will be the only open game of the 1/4 finals. Good Luck to all Teams & supporters

chriscart580 (Meath) - Posts: 376 - 30/07/2013 15:50:15    1447776

Seriously?!? Did he really say that? Omg!

Jackeen (Dublin) - Posts: 4097 - 30/07/2013 15:52:03    1447777

Fair enough Marooned, I don't want to insult Galway but for me there was a feeling that Cork were playing within themselves. The upset was probably on for a while but of however many good goal chances Cork had (5 or 6 anyway) if they had taken one or two I think Galway may have fallen away quite quickly.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 30/07/2013 15:57:44    1447790

I can just hear Jackeen sharpening the knives as we speak.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 30/07/2013 15:59:17    1447791

Fair enough Marooned, I don't want to insult Galway but for me there was a feeling that Cork were playing within themselves.

No doubt Cork probably feel they could have played better but that is getting to be a fairly standard performance from them over the past year or two. Their really good days seem to becming less frequent.

Marooned (Galway) - Posts: 2383 - 30/07/2013 16:08:12    1447802

bluedubstar
County: Dublin
Posts: 639

1447760
30/07/2013 14:51:20
Treaty_Exile
County: Limerick
Posts: 126

1447680
Can I ask why some have put Dublin forward as the guardians of the traditional game? Surely another swipe at Kerry, who I think play a FAR more attractive game than Dublin. I like what Eamonn Fitzmaurice is doing at the moment, there was some delightful kickpassing in the Munster final. If they can sort themselves out defensively (the high ball caused them no end of trouble once Cork had a go), they could be a serious outfit.

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Yes you can ask. Thats because Dublin are playing playing a very nice open brand of traditional football. We don't play a sweeper. We mark man on man. Sorry that Kerry are not been mentioned in the same vein. I know they invented Football and allow other counties every second or third year a lend of sam. But no one has nailed a declaration to a mast and said, hear ye, hear ye, Dublin are the Guardians of the traditional game.

Maybe its your Munster tinted glasses that are distorting that particular headline. And also for the record, Kerry do and always play a lovely brand of football. Its the Kerry way. Is it far more attractive than Dublin, well thats debatable? But I would be very interested to hear how 'FAR' more attractive you think it is, would you break it down for me so that I can understand? Genuine request. Thank you Sir!

Hello there Bluedubstar!

Firstly, I would apologise for getting ahead of myself in declaring Kerry to be 'far' more attractive. I would say more attractive, but I suppose that is open to debate. I don't know how that 'far' fell in there. For the record, I would also agree that Dublin do indeed play a very attractive brand of football, and have tended to throughout their history. I think it would be more apt if I had said that if the two teams face each other, and I expect them to, I think Dublin would be beaten. Maybe I have confused attractiveness with which team I actually think would come out on top if they played each other! I took exception to an article from someone who dislikes Kerry intensely, and have wrongly taken it out on the Dubs, who I have a lot of time for! I hope I have not caused any offence and will be more careful with my words in future :P

As for Munster-tinted glasses, I think wifeandfamilyandthosearoundme-tinted would be more apt, but believe me, I've shouted against Kerry, even if I do end up shouting for them more than anyone seeing as Limerick tend to bow out early!

Treaty_Exile (Limerick) - Posts: 386 - 30/07/2013 16:09:25    1447805

Oh and the rest Brend. Hope ms cantwell responded accordingly?!

Jackeen (Dublin) - Posts: 4097 - 30/07/2013 16:10:37    1447808

he did say it and Joanne Cantwell replied by saying I can't believe you've just said that. Jimmy being the pro he is continued on as if it was a given thing for the lady of the house to be at home. and reverted back to the game in hand. Priceless radio.

ShowsFair (Fermanagh) - Posts: 292 - 30/07/2013 16:12:49    1447814

chriscart580
County: Meath
Posts: 69

1447776
Great post wish it had been mine .

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 30/07/2013 16:13:58    1447819

30/07/2013 16:09:25
Treaty_Exile
County: Limerick
Posts: 128

1447805
bluedubstar
County: Dublin
Posts: 639

1447760
30/07/2013 14:51:20
Treaty_Exile
County: Limerick
Posts: 126

1447680
Can I ask why some have put Dublin forward as the guardians of the traditional game? Surely another swipe at Kerry, who I think play a FAR more attractive game than Dublin. I like what Eamonn Fitzmaurice is doing at the moment, there was some delightful kickpassing in the Munster final. If they can sort themselves out defensively (the high ball caused them no end of trouble once Cork had a go), they could be a serious outfit.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes you can ask. Thats because Dublin are playing playing a very nice open brand of traditional football. We don't play a sweeper. We mark man on man. Sorry that Kerry are not been mentioned in the same vein. I know they invented Football and allow other counties every second or third year a lend of sam. But no one has nailed a declaration to a mast and said, hear ye, hear ye, Dublin are the Guardians of the traditional game.

Maybe its your Munster tinted glasses that are distorting that particular headline. And also for the record, Kerry do and always play a lovely brand of football. Its the Kerry way. Is it far more attractive than Dublin, well thats debatable? But I would be very interested to hear how 'FAR' more attractive you think it is, would you break it down for me so that I can understand? Genuine request. Thank you Sir!

Hello there Bluedubstar!

Firstly, I would apologise for getting ahead of myself in declaring Kerry to be 'far' more attractive. I would say more attractive, but I suppose that is open to debate. I don't know how that 'far' fell in there. For the record, I would also agree that Dublin do indeed play a very attractive brand of football, and have tended to throughout their history. I think it would be more apt if I had said that if the two teams face each other, and I expect them to, I think Dublin would be beaten. Maybe I have confused attractiveness with which team I actually think would come out on top if they played each other! I took exception to an article from someone who dislikes Kerry intensely, and have wrongly taken it out on the Dubs, who I have a lot of time for! I hope I have not caused any offence and will be more careful with my words in future :P

As for Munster-tinted glasses, I think wifeandfamilyandthosearoundme-tinted would be more apt, but believe me, I've shouted against Kerry, even if I do end up shouting for them more than anyone seeing as Limerick tend to bow out early!

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No offence taking! Take it easy.

PS
I'd think Dublin would beat Kerry. But I wear extra thick blue tinted glasses.

bluedubstar (Dublin) - Posts: 835 - 30/07/2013 16:39:35    1447847

Hahaha no problem :)

Treaty_Exile (Limerick) - Posts: 386 - 30/07/2013 17:02:35    1447882

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. One man's pint is another man's poison etc, etc......

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6178 - 30/07/2013 17:12:14    1447905

If they won there might be some valid point to the article. Sorry but thats not the game contesting the all-ireland.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4953 - 30/07/2013 18:22:47    1447994

doublehop
County: Kildare

1447720 I wonder if Cork had taken more than one of around the 10 goal chances they created would he be still waxing lyrical about Galway's brilliant attitude. Galway were gutsy and hung in there but it was Cork's complete lack of killer instinct that made the game close. Mayo as an example took all their chances and Galway weren't getting slaps on the back then.

It's pandering rubbish like this that make you wonder about that Football Review Committee. I wonder does McGee feel as strongly about Neil Lennon who successfully beat Barcelona deploying a very defensive system or Munster Rugby who won a European Cup playing ten man rugby or would he prefer to have been playing for a bunch of players "who played the game as it was supposed to be played" but still don't win. You play for trophies, not please the neutrals.

The nail has been hit on the head there lad. In fairness 10 might be a bit of a high number but you are 100% correct about everything else.

I've never actually thought of the comparison between Munster rugby and defensive gaa teams before but another decent point. When a rugby team play for possession & territory, take no chances and grind out a great win it's labeled as heroic. When a GAA team does it, it's labeled as puke football!

white.n.blue (Monaghan) - Posts: 249 - 30/07/2013 18:38:49    1448011