Wanted: four cracking games to end season on a high
Not necessarily who’s going to win, but will we have a contest.
I find one-sided games less and less entertaining; and in recent times we have seen far too many drubbings in crucial high profile games.
I know this can happen in any code but when it comes to what we call the business end of the championship, you expect those who have made it that far to do the business. While we can all admire great team performances and great individual displays in one-sided games, it does not compensate for a keenly-contested battle that goes down to the wire.
This time of year is the showpiece for the GAA, the climax of the season, the culmination of nine months of dedicated training, personal sacrifice and meticulous planning. And just as we are settling down to enjoy a great contest, the game is over. It’s the heavyweight boxing title fight that’s over in the first few seconds. We’ve had too many early knockouts in recent years in GAA matches. The only trouble is that, while in boxing, the combatant is quickly taken back to the dressing room and the crowd go home, in football and hurling matches the game has to go on until the final whistle an hour or so after the fatal blow is stuck in the early minutes.
Unfortunately, on Sunday last we had another early knockout. Limerick’s hurlers were given a massive 24 point whupping by a team they’d always fancy their chances against. It’s inconceivable that there is a 24-point gap between two teams in an All-Ireland semi-final. But, at least, Limerick weren’t favourites to win the game.
A fortnight earlier, Dublin were raging hot favourites to end a 32-year stretch of Championship defeats by Kerry. What happened?
The pattern for the Dubs defeat was set after the 40 second knockout goal by Colm Cooper.
Thankfully, last year’s All-Ireland football was a brilliant game but prior to that Mayo and Cork had suffered hidings as well. The hurling finals have been no different with Kilkenny battering teams from the word go. It might be all very satisfying for the Kerrys and Kilkennys of this world, but from an association point of view, it is very worrying.
Not only are the team, management and officials demoralised when a team gets a drubbing but it has a knock-on effect on supporters and players down the line, especially young players. It always gives a county a lift when their teams does well. It has the opposite effect when they do badly and if repeated, can significantly curb the enthusiasm for promoting and playing the game. It will also hit the association in the pocket. Spectators are not going to follow a team they think are a beaten docket. And that’s especially problematic in counties with large urban populations like Dublin and Limerick. Their fans have plenty of choices with other sports.
No, a good completive match with the decision in doubt right up to the final whistle whets the appetite, leaves a sense of satisfaction (even if defeat is your lot) an fills the coffers of the GAA. We have four major championship games left this year. How many of them will meet those criteria? Hopefully all four. The GAA could do with it.
