Deegan calls for an end to the handpass
May 18, 2012
Former Down great Conor Deegan
Speaking at yesterday's launch of Newstalk Radio's GAA coverage for 2012, the two-times All-Ireland medal winner suggested that only close-fist handpasses should be allowed:
"I would remove the open hand pass. A lot of the football we play is based on boys being able to hit these little pop passes but they aren't going very far. If you do that at pace with a closed fist, it is much more difficult to do and you might slow the game up a fraction.
"The game is getting quicker but not necessarily better. It's a small point but it's easy to referee and you won't have these passes over boys' heads because to execute that at pace would be much more difficult. It's a simple solution to something that is a bit of an issue in the game.
"Our core skills have eroded. Go back to the hybrid game and the Aussies were better able to kick that ball than we were and that's just wrong.
"A lot of managers find comfort in keeping the ball and not giving it away rather than taking the risk and putting the ball in," he continued, according to the Examiner.
"I think Kieran McGeeney has changed his mindset. He has the big lad on the edge of the square and they are banging it in a la Armagh twelve years ago. But you have to have the players to do it. I hate to see a team defend heavily and try to break out slowly.
"If they come out and kick it long and accurately, I can live with that. We might as well go to rugby league otherwise, where we retain possession and go forward slowly." Tweet
