Not being a football man, I'll watch gaelic if its on. Some matches are exciting, but, more and more, they just put me to sleep. There are a few things I don't get about the modern game. Since when does a tackle mean hitting your man in the ribs with a closed fist? What is the story with knocking the ball from the hands of the free taker? Kicking the ball away from the team taking a line ball? Not releasing the ball on frees and line balls when the its clearly the other teams? Are these not penalties, like delaying the game? I get the mind games that goes on, but gaelic is looking more and more like thugball than football and it takes away from the game for me. Hurling is getting there, but its not as bad, yet. Tactics like these aren't manly, they're petty and cowardly.

kilflynn (Kerry) - Posts: 66 - 01/03/2015 15:21:09    1697928

Watch something else if you don't like it.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7344 - 01/03/2015 17:08:12    1697988

Nice to see another Kilflynn man on here!

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 01/03/2015 17:48:29    1698003

What I find fascinating is that the people that describe Gaelic Football as boring tend to love soccer and to find it so interesting. I just find it ironic

PoppinPoints (Meath) - Posts: 225 - 01/03/2015 17:49:32    1698005

Indeed PoppinPoints,

Not to mention the hoards who don't watch Gaelic Football because there is too much pulling and dragging, too much hand passing and not enough kick passing. Yet all these traits are imminently forgivable in Rugby football!

So much is to do with how the media sell it deride it..

dahayeser (Cork) - Posts: 337 - 01/03/2015 18:34:03    1698026

Jaysus Daysaher. There was more kicking in the Aviva today than at an All Ireland Final!

Seriously though, it's impossible to beat hurling and there is too mich handpassing and not enough kick passing in gaelic football. Too much cynical play too, I don't think the black card will remedy much there. But it's still miles ahead of soccer, rugby or any other fieldsport for me.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7344 - 01/03/2015 18:49:30    1698040

What I very ironic is people standing up against the points made by kilflynn

I agree with everything he says - I've watched football all my life and am getting more and more bored with it - and before the judgmental massacre, I watch little to none soccer.

Football has evolved into an extremely dull affair - but it is nice to see people on this site standing up for it for once!

Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1415 - 01/03/2015 18:55:00    1698041

Well Kilflynn who are the current kingpins and All Ireland champions?

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2519 - 01/03/2015 19:05:50    1698046

100% of Gaelic Footballs problems are due to the administrators.

For some unknown reason yellow cards are not handed out for jersey pulling (in my opinion jersey pulling should be a black card offence) which is constant in some games (including todays Dublin v Kerry match) and very visible yet referee's never hand out cards and the administrators don't point out that they should be yellow cards and tell the refs to start issuing them.If we end up with some games with 6 or 7 sendings off because of jersey pulling so be it, the players will do anything (in any sport) as long as they can get away with it and they are getting way with it now.if they get sent off for jersy pulling the players will learn their lesson but honestly It is a part of game that could be cured over night.

The rules of the game have not moved with the times and I suspect that in ten years time the rules will be no different and the same type of football (blanket defense) will be favoured by a lot of teams as it works well.

People blame coaches etc but a coaches job at all levels is to teach players to do the best thing to help the player be able to contribute to a team winning a game and that is what coaches are doing currently.

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 01/03/2015 21:57:26    1698133

A few years ago, I would have said I would rather watch a bad gaelic match than a great EPL match, even though I don't particularly like soccer and never really played it outside N.S. I find it mind numbingly boring. But, with the way things are going at the moment, I would rather watch a good sporting soccer match than what passes for gaelic nowadays, that's where I think gaelic has gone. It is one of our sports, why should I go watch something else if I don't like it, as one poster so eloquently, tastefully and thoughtfully said? I want our games to be the best they can be and, from what I see now, at least to me, is utter nonsense. What can/should be done to stop these garbage actions from continuing?

kilflynn (Kerry) - Posts: 66 - 02/03/2015 13:31:17    1698305

The win at all costs culture that has infected the GAA means that players and managers simply arent concerned with the good of the game anymore, so alot of your bugbears you mentioned wont be changing anytime soon. For example, knocking the ball out of a free takers hand gives the conceding team an opportunity to re organise their defence etc. Its long since been established that GAA players and managers cant be trusted to play the game honestly so its up to the GAA to legislate these things out of the game. Dont hold your breath.
Still though, its not as bad as youre making it out to be.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 02/03/2015 14:31:30    1698347

TheHermit - thought I was the only one! Not too many left in the parish I hear.

kilflynn (Kerry) - Posts: 66 - 02/03/2015 15:08:35    1698363

Aye we are scattered to the four winds, what choice do you have when a country is run by people who seem to expect us all to live in Cork or Dublin to have any chance of a decent career!

Sure didn't you have to soapbox derby anyway on Sunday to entertain you ;)

I know where your coming from, I think the biggest problem is not the rules of Gaelic football but there implementation. Its as simple as that IMO. Although I would like to see something done to limit hand passes. Football is a great sport but something needs to be done about implementing the rules to a uniform standard at every level.

Anyway we must start a Crotta trend come the Kerry hurling championship!!!

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 02/03/2015 16:07:04    1698399

There seems to be a lot of systematic fouling, where nearly half the team get a yellow but no one gets two. Perhaps a basketball max card limit overall. Say three yellows and the next guy gets a black/red. Giving away a few penalties in a row in rugby results in a sin bin, which works well also.

I know a load of people will say no more rules or its too hard for the refs. In rugby, ref gives a warning and the next guy goes. No need to count anything.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1108 - 02/03/2015 19:12:37    1698480

why is it so cynical..well what more can we expect from the likes of dublin and kerry

mayotyroneman (Tyrone) - Posts: 1821 - 02/03/2015 20:00:53    1698498

Look back at the past decades - it was far more cynical then - some of those games in the 70's and 80's on All Ireland gold are unreal - booting and decapitation was the norm!!

Brolly (Monaghan) - Posts: 4472 - 02/03/2015 21:16:27    1698538

Indeed and most of those games involved Dublin and Kerry.....oh wait that must be a dream these counties don't indulge in the dark, cynical arts. It's those mad Northern hordes, they are to blame for everything....EVER!

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9702 - 02/03/2015 21:50:48    1698556

Well, frankly, because it works. Look at tyrone against mayo a few weeks back. 15 men behind the ball from the word go and they win. If they go man for man do they win? If they could they wouldn't have 15 behind the ball in the first place. What more proof do you need?

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 03/03/2015 10:09:28    1698585

Agree with the Master! Take Mayos opening game of the National Football League against Kerry! The cynical side Mayo have added to their game is plain for all to see.

Lifford Gael (Donegal) - Posts: 1925 - 03/03/2015 10:41:18    1698595

kilflynn
County: Kerry

Well said, don't be put off plenty agree with you, Rome and Nero springs to mind.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4896 - 03/03/2015 10:44:12    1698596