Supporters don’t want to stick to game plan

It struck me while watching the Kerry v Cork game from the terrace in Austin Stack Park recently that there is a huge gulf between the football being played out on the field and the supporters expectations of same.

As Kerry moved sideways and backwards trying to find a gap in the packed Cork defence, the players appeared oblivious to the groans of sheer frustration coming off the terraces. The players were, of course playing the game they saw in front of them but the supporters’ wrath was born of an idealised untenable version of the game of Gaelic football that has all too sadly disappeared into the mists of time.

It was a startling lesson, nonetheless, to hear some of the comments directed at some of the players who, while oblivious to them, were obviously acting on instruction and sticking rigidly to the agreed game plan.