Style of winning a vital factor

GAA president Nickey Brennan has expressed concern about the poor standard of football displayed in some recent games, wondering if it is a consequence of a concentration on physical preparations to the detriment of skill.

He wondered aloud yesterday whether it is turning people away from the game. And, while playing rules won’t be debated until the Congress of 2010, he revealed that he and president-elect Christy Cooney will shortly announce a group to review the football rules.

Interestingly, however, while referring specifically to the third-round qualifier games in Croke Park the week-end before last (with the Kerry/Monaghan game a notable exception), he expressed the view that the style of victory was “pretty irrelevant” to the successful teams.