Crunching the numbers on GAA's insatiable appetite for data analysis

The reality is that if anyone is seriously wondering how important performance analysis is and if the sport is improved as a result, they probably don’t understand it.

DATA TRACKING: General view of a Derry player with a GPS tracker hidden under the back of the jersey to track distances run for analysis. Pic: Oliver McVeigh / SPORTSFILE

The very first slide in JC O’Shea’s presentation featured a quote from Pat Spillane. Somewhat of a surprise given a seminar like this is the sort of thing Templenoe’s finest would regard as his worst nightmare.

O’Shea was one of several speakers at the GAA Performance analysis community of practice day last week at SETU in Carlow. Since 2019, he has filled this role for the Kerry footballers. It was one of his fellow county man’s most infamous lines that he was responding to: “Paralysis by analysis.” A common refrain, the spoofers and bluffers are taking over and it is harming the sport.