Numbers game fails to tell the full story

The most celebrated in-game statistic by an individual in Gaelic games? There are a couple of stand-out contenders.

Tue, 08 Dec, 2015 - 00:00

John Fogarty is the Irish Examiner’s GAA correspondent, with unique insights into the action on the pitch and in the Gaelic games’ corridors of power.

For a while, Henry Shefflin held the record. Dr Liam Hennessy revealed the remarkable fact that the Kilkenny legend, in winning the 2002 All-Ireland final man of the match, was in possession of the ball for just 29 seconds. In less than a minute, he’d scored 1-7, 1-3 from play. He had also led the Clare defence on a merry dance in general play. Economy has never been more effective.

But last year David Moran did something that challenged the status bestowed on Shefflin: in the All-Ireland semi-final replay against Mayo, he handled the ball a massive 47 times, known as plays in statistics parlance. Double the amount any Mayo player got their mitts on it, the statistic was greeted with much fanfare and quoted ad nauseam in justifying his man of the match selection.