Football: Change rules or we change the channel

The Donegal-Down game last Sunday was another stark reminder, to those who care, that the game of Gaelic football is in big trouble. It has become ultra-defensive and the overriding philosophy seems to be to stop the opposition from playing and pick up the debris left to try eke out a low-scoring win.

The Dublin-Donegal semi-final in 2011 should have been a red flag day for the GAA regarding the direction the game is heading. The managers are not to blame because they are playing within existing rules — but the rate at which things have deteriorated means the rules are going to have to be changed — and fast.

The footballing lexicon has changed from catch and kick to work-rate, intensity, blanket defences and sweepers, not to mention conditioning.