It is officially documented that Aidan O’Shea was the first to score a four-point goal and Jack Carney the first to deliver a two-pointer. If anyone were to jest about Mayo players excelling when the stakes are low, they would be mistaken.
A significant stake lay in Croke Park over the weekend – the longevity of Gaelic football. Doesn’t that serve as enough motivation? If that feels somewhat over-dramatised, let’s consider the simple ambition of taking a bold step forward, which seemed very much part of the game.
Being a spectator as the sport introspectively evaluates itself was undoubtedly exhilarating. Gaelic football, hardened and worn out over time, made the decision to set a metaphorical boundary for itself. They might be experimenting, but at the very least, effort is being put forth.
Early assessments? To paraphrase the late Sven-Goran Eriksson: some good aspects, some lacking.
Consider the scoring system, encompassing both positive and negative aspects. The four-point value of a goal meant that O’Shea`s early goal in the first game deflated Leinster before they’d properly acclimatised. Connacht executed a successful press, suffocating Stephen Cluxton’s kick-out options and gaining a 1-9 to 0-0 lead in the opening 12 minutes.
In the prior system, that score would have been 1-7 to 0-0, equating to a ten-point lead. But O’Shea’s four-point goal and the two-point long-range attempts by Carney and Diarmuid Murtagh put Connacht 13 points ahead within the first quarter of the game.
Truth be told, the match outcome was set in stone either way. However, it served as a stark illustration of how quickly control can slip away from a team that fails to find its stride promptly. If you’re trailing by four points within the initial two minutes and struggle to get a kickout, morale is bound to plummet swiftly.
Is this a positive or negative occurrence? A single match of football cannot provide a comprehensive answer. Especially on an evening like this, when, acknowledging the treasured Railway Cup, the stakes were not life or death.
Following Connacht’s smooth victory in the initial match, we queried Pádraic Joyce on how things may vary if a league or championship match was at stake.
“The stakes would undoubtedly rise. The game strategy would probably be less offensive. There is a probability of players circling the field more often, let’s say attacking 45 and retracting to their respective 45.
Besides, teams are not going to risk going three versus three. Teams will invariably retain an extra player in the rear during the championship. They won’t expose themselves to the peril of a three vs three situation, it’s too risky. Overcoming a loose ball and finding yourself three on three, on the distant end of the pitch against teams with exceptional forwards necessitates an extra player.”
The significant uncertainty here was whether the rules alterations were satisfactory and whether the players enjoyed engaging in the game. Despite the FRC’s meticulous and conscientious efforts, they weren’t able to elevate these matches beyond their actual level.
The players engaged in the match in an exhibition style, taking long-range shots and effortlessly acing them. If they failed to do so, the missed chances didn’t affect their demeanour. On this occasion, a listless attempt falling short of its target wouldn’t ruin anyone’s day.
But chiefly, fair play was observed by all. A match without repercussions implies a game void of cynicism. As Enda Smith of Roscommon admitted post the first match, the atmosphere will be drastically different in February, with two league points up for grabs, the crowd avidly cheering, and all players fighting tooth and nail for every loose ball.
Smith suggested that the understanding of the ‘tap-and-go’ could be a key rule that may feel different in a game of significant importance. He hinted at the scarcity of such instances in the night’s game. In a high-intensity match, scenarios such as getting stuck on your 45 could raise questions about the exact implications of halting play or even challenging the referee’s decision.
According to him, the ambiguity around this regulation might need a re-evaluation from the team at FRC, although it wasn’t excessively applied during that night’s match. The circumstances under which you can obstruct a player, and when should you avoid it, would be crucial areas to consider. In a match where National League points or championship glory is at stake, these variations could create a huge impact.
Smith believes it’s the referee who’ll feel the immense strain as they need to handle such substantial rule interpretation. Jim Gavin and his troop are well aware that a weekend game isn’t the ideal stage to put these rules to an intensive test. This is merely the first step towards the ultimate objective – presenting these rules for general public perusal.
The approval from the Central Council followed by the Special Congress, all set within the forthcoming six weeks, is crucial. The legitimate testing period arrives with the 2025 season. It’s anticipated that regular club and county level games will efficiently experiment with the rule alterations.
Perhaps changes like the kickout rule and the addition of three players could alone suffice. Maybe the rules governing objection and game delays, which may result in several free kicks being advanced by 50 metres, could turn out to be essential changes. The anticipation remains as no one yet knows the exact outcome.
What is clear is that the established norms gradually fade away. However, this was only the inception. While the game lacked the intense competitive spirit, it still felt like a genuine Gaelic football match. The addition of legitimate cynicism could potentially open up the true potentials of these changes.