Eight Gaelic football championship observations: It's still too easy to control possession

Teams are now planning for end of game scenarios when they hold the lead. The hooter has completely changed the landscape. Now there is certainty around when a game will end.

The tackle is being policed severely in Gaelic football but the steps rule is not. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

There are levels to this game. All four provincial finals produced some sensational moments of pure class. When it comes to athleticism and composure and mesmerising skill, Gaelic football’s elite are operating on another plane entirely. It is worth remembering that.

Understanding the skill gap between the top tier and the rest can be a challenge. Everyone knows a gulf exists, articulating the size of it is another matter entirely. NBA journeyman Brian Scalabrine once decided that it wasn’t enough to speak this reality; he needed to show it.