Penalties should be booted
There was plenty of disquiet when the Westmeath senior football final was decided on penalties this year, and it will be interesting to see if there is a move from any of the 47 clubs in Westmeath to address the issue at the upcoming county convention.
Whether they can alter their own planning regulations at the start of the year is something that should be explored. For example, they could consider the option of putting in place ‘45s instead of penalties, if it went that far. Taking penalties is such an unfair system in Gaelic games, and there were plenty of queries after this year’s senior final as to why the GAA has gone that route, one more familiar with another code.
If it can be addressed, the time for clubs to start considering their options is now, during the planning of competitions in January. It is at this time of the year that things are set in place for the rest of the season, and while it is a time when people tend to relax and take things easy, those who are planning should be aware of how important this period is.
The senior final is the county’s main showpiece, with the greatest of respect to the others, but there is no reason why changes could not apply across the board.
There was also some annoyance in relation to the timing of the senior hurling final (3.30pm) on a day when the clocks had changed. Again, clubs planning for the year ahead could easily include as a regulation that, in wintertime, finals are not scheduled for later than 2pm. That would cover off a potential problem.
The embarrassing situation that Westmeath had this year could be easily avoided by including that all preliminaries (such as the minor final and pre-match parade) are subject to weather conditions. Yes, it is unfair on the minor team involved to be pointing the finger at them for this year’s issue — the truth is the scenario was not planned for. If clubs knew in January that, come county final day and inclement weather, the minor final would have to be postponed — or played at an alternative venue — they would be at least aware of what happens and not be asking awkward questions on county final day.
Joey Williams, Lough Lene Gaels manager, was quite irate about the playing of the minor hurling final on the day the senior hurling showpiece was abandoned after just 13 minutes. In fairness to the two clubs involved, the minor final was fixed and planned for with no proviso regarding weather or fading light.
Johnny Murray, manager of The Downs, was understandably annoyed after this year’s senior football final replay when people suggested to him that penalties are an unfair system. Quite rightly, he suggested something ought to be done about it. Yes, it may well be a case of closing the door after the horse has bolted, but at least changing the regulations could avoid a repeat scenario.
It could be that the majority of clubs are happy to go with penalties at the end, if the game cannot be decided by a replay — but at least have the conversation. Furthermore, clubs could also consider the option of an extra five minutes each way if the teams are level after extra time in the replay. The chances are it would, in most cases, produce a winner. If not, then proceed with ‘45s, a Gaelic games skill, rather than penalties. The goalie would still be a key player as, in most teams, they are now the most accomplished player when it comes to kicking the ball off the ground, and it is not for the better that such a skill has faded almost completely from the game.
How hurling would be decided is a more difficult challenge, but the same system could apply regarding replays and extra time, and there is a much stronger chance that would provide a winner. If not, free pucks are much fairer than penalty pucks.
Where did this penalty shoot-out come from, one might ask? Winner on the day for both football and hurling was first introduced as a free-taking shoot-out from the 65m line in hurling and brought in from the 45m to 33m out in football.
The GAA’s Central Council endorsed a move to penalty shoot-outs at the end of 2018, and it was backed by Congress the following year. Club competitions are a different matter, and counties are masters of their own destiny with regards to the regulations they have in place for their own championships.
Moaning after county finals is of little use if there has been no effort to address potential problems at the start of the year.
Rules update needed on cynical play
It was disappointing, frankly, to witness some cynical fouling in the closing stages of the Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar versus Kilkenny CBS Leinster Junior ‘A’ final at Robinstown. The home side were pressing hard in the latter stages in search of the goal they needed, but the opposition were content to drag them to the ground and even take a red card for a dangerous pull across a player.
It’s particularly ugly at underage level, but the eventual winners will say, ‘them’s the rules’. It’s sad that it has come to this, but the GAA will have to act and ensure that cynical fouling is punished right across the board. People were angry with referee Barry Kelly, and there were some choice remarks about him afterwards, but he only applied the rules as they are. Had the option of a black card and a penalty been within the rules, it would have solved the problem and punished the kind of cynicism that has no place in the greatest field game of them all.
All Blacks have an edge
There was much furore over the Irish defeat by New Zealand in the Autumn Series at the Aviva Stadium. It was a clear-cut, very decisive win by the All Blacks, 23-13 in the finish. Ireland were ring-rusty, and that was always a dangerous position to be in playing the All Blacks first. Ireland’s handling errors cost them dearly on the evening, while the penalty count seemed baffling.
However, the really disappointing thing was the showboating on the Irish players’ part, and not something we have associated with the great Irish sides of the recent past under both Joe Schmidt and Andy Farrell.
Fast forward a week, and Ireland stuttered to victory over Argentina (22-19) in what was an unconvincing performance, to say the least. Farrell’s men led by 13 points at half-time following James Lowe’s try but didn’t trouble the scoreboard in the second half. They have two games ahead against Fiji and Schmidt’s Australia to complete the Autumn Series before the Six Nations in February. England in Dublin on February 1 is a massive game.
Katie’s a national treasure
Ireland’s Katie Taylor showed all her warrior skills and more besides as she got the better of Amanda Serrano in front of 60,000 fans in Dallas in the early hours of Saturday morning. Millions of streaming fans also tuned in across the world to watch a compelling joust, where bravery was taken to new levels.
Taylor got the verdict by a solitary point, but it was controversial, to say the least. The referee deducted a point in the eighth round for what he deemed illegal use of the head, but in truth both fighters were going flat out for almost the entire duration of the fight. No quarter was asked, and heads clashed a number of times, but battling so fiercely at close quarters was always going to lead to such a scenario.
The Serrano camp was unhappy with the 95-94 verdict in Taylor’s favour, and some of the comments in the ring afterwards were quite unsporting. Serrano later rowed back on her claims that Taylor deliberately headbutted. Katie Taylor is a national treasure and an international superstar. Yes, the verdict could easily have gone Serrano’s way, and indeed she had Taylor in serious trouble at the end of the first round, but the Bray boxer refused to accept defeat. She battled and, like she said, it’s a ferocious sport, one in which only the bravest survive.
Watching on, one couldn’t help but ask, is this almost too brutal? The relentless blows to the head could have repercussions in later life, and maybe now is the time for Taylor to bow out of a sport that has given her so much joy.
Trilogy talk abounds, and a third meeting with Serrano, maybe at Croke Park, might be too good to turn down, but Katie must consider her health.