This is something that I have been thinking about for a while now...why are senior inter-county games 70 minutes long, but club games are only 60? Wouldn't it make more sense to have club games extended to the 70 as well? And don't start going on about fitness etc, most players would be well able for it. Like it must be a bit strange for a county player to go and play ten minutes less when he goes back to his club. Just a thought...

updaroyal (Meath) - Posts: 1132 - 17/05/2009 21:45:27    285890

Have always questioned this one myself. All games at all grades should by 35mins long.

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6348 - 17/05/2009 22:03:00    285914

i cant remember when they said it came in, but i seen a program before and they said it used to be 60mins, but felt for intercounty games it was too short for the "elite" players of the game. then they tried 80mins for a season years ago copying rugby but they said it was to long for such fast paced games as gaelic and hurling. so the happy medium of 70mins was tried and it worked perfect...

pridengalway (Galway) - Posts: 327 - 18/05/2009 10:20:01    286118

Extending it to 70 minutes for all adult games would be something I also would be in favour of. The history of this is that Senior championship inter county games were extended to 80 minutes in 1970 but then reduced to 70 minutes about two years later. This was because 80 was found to be too hard on amateur players. However since then fitness levels are as much as twice the level they were 40 years ago. While I would not be in favour of extending the time back to 80 minutes I think the duration should be extended to more competitions. It is not unusual to hear some supporters ask at the beginning of a match what the duration is. This is understandable.

The real Árd Rí (Meath) - Posts: 990 - 18/05/2009 10:23:36    286127

Simply because the players are too fit these days.

All the interesting football is usually played in these last 10mins when the pitch opens up...

wingwonder (UK) - Posts: 535 - 18/05/2009 10:45:51    286153

Why indeed. Why was there 1 set of rules for the Winter and another for the Summer?
Why is there no Connacht hurling championship?
Why are Galway and Antrim in Leinster H/C and Westmeath, Meath etc are not?
Why is there an unspoken rule that gives you a free in the first few minutes but does not give you a free
for the exact same foul in injury time?
Why are kick-outs given from further out the field after a team scores against you and not vice versa?
Why does it cost millions to run county teams in an amateur sport?
Why are KK deified by the GAA for putting out 1 team while other struggling "dual counties" get a friday evening @7pm
slot for a CR final?
I could go on but I wouldn't like to come across as being bitter. And I still prefer Gaelic games above all others. Mad!!

RAM85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 978 - 18/05/2009 11:16:40    286192