SO, finally we are up and running. Unsurprisingly the first weekend of the new Gaelic football rules in the Allianz League wasn’t a hinge point where every team and coach had a collective road to Damascus moment, abandoning the old and ringing in the new. However, there was plenty to illustrate what is possible under the rule enhancements, particularly outside of Division 1.
As time goes on, I believe we will see teams embrace the possibilities more and more. Particularly if and when the data starts to show that this approach pays off in terms of results. After all, at the top end of the game that is all that counts, for good or bad. The referees on duty over the opening weekend deserve massive credit. Of course mistakes were made (and always will be) but they were at a minimum. Like everyone else, they are on a learning curve but, in general, they did very well.
As predicted the weather was a significant factor. It was tough going for players and officials. The best pitches like Croke Park, Dr Hyde Park and Páirc Uí Chaoimh lent themselves to fast games and good football. Elsewhere, heavy pitches meant plenty of endurance was required for both players and spectators.
I was in Salthill on Saturday. The weather was bad and the pitch was heavy. Both teams were also ultra-conservative, which really surprised me. Maybe foolishly so. Clearly it is going to take some time to flush the worst excesses of the old game from the system. Ultimately the big shift will happen when teams realise it doesn’t pay to play that way. Armagh defended with all 11 outfield players in a deep defensive block that shifted over and back, as Galway rotated the ball outside them. This pattern was identical to what happened in the All-Ireland final last July. The key difference then was that they had 14 back.
I expected Galway to be able to pull their Ulster counterparts around the pitch better and open holes easier, considering this numerical adjustment. Their big failing in that first half was their complete reluctance to take the man on or to support the ball carrier off the shoulder at pace. This would have committed some of the Armagh players and allowed gaps to open up. It would have caused a bit of panic. There were a few sporadic examples of it but I expect Galway to get better at this as time goes on. They certainly have the personnel to do exactly this.
There was also an outright lack of movement from their inside line when the ball was being shifted east and west across the Armagh defensive screen. There was never an option to pop a kick inside, to take half of the Ulster men’s defence out of the game. To be fair to the inside players, they probably knew they were never going to get the ball, another work on for Padriac Joyce and co. If anyone can coach effective inside movement, it’s the Galway manager. The other obvious way to exploit a deep-sitting defensive side is to get the two point arc moving. Galway did this to effect in the second half and kicked three two pointers from Cillian Ó Curraoin, Paul Conroy and Shane Walsh. This effectively decided the game as the long shots pushed the Connacht men clear. As conditions improve this will become more and more of a weapon for teams.
Similarly, when confronted with the deep defensive block in the second half, Armagh had a couple of moves up their sleeves. While they also showed patience in possession, critically it was at pace. They tried to take the man on and create overlaps and draw fouls. Also interestingly at one point in the second half they sent five of their players inside the Galway 20 metre line to an area where they needed to be marked. It removed any zonal defenders from the Galway defence and created a big pocket of space at the centre of the arc which afforded Armagh an opportunity to attack into. Rory Grugan released Stefan Campbell into that space with a good hand pass but Campbell rushed his shot under pressure and shot wide. Nonetheless, it did illustrate the possibilities around such setups.
In general, football’s new dawn is about the potential that the new rules can have on the game. I have been consistent in saying that it will still be a natural game of football. As time goes on we will see more and more nuances as teams get accustomed to playing with them and eventually break out of the straitjacket football that seems to be embedded in their DNAs at the moment.
The beauty for most teams of having these competitive games under their belts is they have context now for training this week, with specific work-ons. As well as the aforementioned, I would certainly be working on the three-up structure and further exploring the possibilities that this presents, particularly in possession. I am surprised how teams are getting caught out on the three-up structure. This is a clear illustration of old habits dying hard. Teams are still using their front three as the first line of defence, which obviously makes sense. What doesn’t make sense to me is bringing that three too far out the field to set up the initial defensive line.
This means that they are in danger of breaching the halfway line and conceding the 20 metre free. To me, they should not come deeper than the 45 metre line initially. If they are sucked out as far as the 65 metre line when tackling or tracking, so be it. They have time and space to adjust and remain in their half. Of course by leaving a fourth player up, this scenario will never come into play. Teams are still stuck getting back into shape rather than pressing up and going high. We saw some examples of teams really pressing up this weekend but I expect to see more of it in the coming games as the rewards become clear.
The other thing with the three up is the need to play head up football. Players’ vision has shrunk in to a small areas around them, either a hand pass or a short kick pass away. As Armagh chased the game on Saturday in Salthill, they left two back after Niall Grimley was sent off, which you are entitled to do. (If a team were leading they would play with two forwards against the opposition three backs.)
Ethan Rafferty had come on at that stage and ended up marking one of the Galway forwards as they attacked, with no one in goals. However in some of those moves, if Galway had moved the ball earlier there would have been clear goal chances. Rather than a reluctance to kick it seemed to be a lack of awareness and vision that meant that these chances weren’t created.
The same applies to the solo and go. It was used extensively in the game, and to effect, at times. However again if I was coaching it this week I would be getting the player that has taken the solo and go to get their head up immediately and where possible for the next action to be a kick pass forward to really get the attack going forward. Both Roscommon and Down used the three up to good effect when they counter attacked at pace on occasion, none more so than for Ciarán Murtagh’s goal into an empty net after Down keeper John O’Hare had been caught out in a 12 v 11 that went wrong.
Elsewhere we saw plenty of effect from the new rules. In general, the curbs on dissent and delay fouling worked well and players are clearly getting the hang of it already. A cultural change in terms of respect is underway. Niall Morgan unsurprisingly made the 12 v 11 count as he was involved in both Tyrone goals against Derry.
At Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Chris Óg Jones shone for Cork in the three up role that he is tailor-made for, scoring 1-4. Seán Bugler was outstanding for Dublin and Mayo tested them to the hilt despite being wiped out on their own kickout. This week they may also have a look at their obsession with the two-point arc as they got one two pointer from nine efforts.
On we go to Round 2. Whatever else, anodyne it ain’t as there is plenty to analyse, debate and argue over.