A whole new ball game: Gaelic Football’s lost its kick

AFTER Cork’s pathetic performance against Limerick, is it not unreasonable to wonder if our game has deteriorated in the last few years?

It cannot always be blamed on young developing players — after all, the Kerry team that went on to win eight Sam Maguires had an average age of 22 years when they won their first. However, that Kerry team actually kicked the ball.

The current and recent Cork teams use the hand pass almost exclusively, and when they do kick the ball they invariably kick it to an opponent — that was patently obvious at the Gaelic Grounds (though James Masters was an exception).

Those of us who were fortunate enough to see the college final between St Patrick’s, Navan, and Abbey CBS, Newry, were treated to a classic Gaelic Football match where the teenagers kicked points from 50 and 60 yards and weren’t afraid to give a 30-yard kicked pass to a team-mate — that’s how the game should be played

Let’s hope they continue to play like that when they reach the senior county team — and that coaching doesn’t ruin them.

The hand pass has destroyed football and has led to systematic fouling. The powers that be must grasp the nettle and send it back to the alley where it should remain forever.

Let’s return to the beautiful game of catch and kick. Unless Cork follows this approach the team will never win anything.

Yours,

S Murphy,

Richview Park,

Dublin 6