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The National Football League has been desperate to get more offence into its game.  Every rule change going back to the 1970s has been in favour of the offence and to handicap the defence.  They've finally accomplished what they wanted: all offence, all passing and all action.  What the NFL took decades to do, the GAA is trying to do in months.  Football traditionalists will tell you both organisations have one goal: to destroy the offence-defence balance.

Just on that nfl point, yes changes are made on an ongoing basis to make the game more attractive to watch (that's sort of the rationale behind spectator sports), but to say the balance is gone in nfl would be a massive misstatement. The old adage about defence winning titles is as true today as it was 50 years ago. The last two Superbowl winners have been first or thereabouts in total defence, whilst barely breaking into the top 10 in offence.

Up Derry!

Johnny Bradley of Glen afaik

This would be the argument to call him out on.
Personally worry he's been chosen as the Irish Tommy Robinson character to scare off any ordinary decent folk supporting anti immigration candidates.

https://x.com/KimIversenShow/status/1903596642651267306

"You can't simultaneously call out the Muslim immigrants into your country AND support Israel, the country CAUSING all of the Muslim immigrants."

Not sure that argument holds up too well - the proportion of Palestinian refugees is very small I'd say.

Official stats suggest that of 18,000 applicants for IP in Ireland in 2024 (from an EU total of nearly 900k), 2,900 were Jordanian and 957 were Palestinian - typically, Jordanian refugees are Palestinian apparently - if that's the case then the group represents the 2nd largest proportion of applicants, almost tying with Nigeria at 20% each. The country of origin of the third country on the list was Pakistan with about 1,300. Neither Jordan nor palestine featured in the top 5 previous to 2024.

One other problem: you are allowing a small committee to have complete say over the entire game.  It appears they've been given carte blanche to do whatever they like.  Is there any time limit to FRC activities or is their dictatorial power over the game open ended?

Thus the goal is more entertainment and more action.  The FRC believes Kerry hitting long balls to David Clifford to be good for the game...which is fine.  When Ethan Rafferty, and other Ulster goalkeepers, run riot through opposing defences the FRC suddenly isn't interested in more excitement and scoring and put a stop to it.  You see the problem?  The FRC is picking winners and losers.

No major sport has ever overhauled its entire game like the GAA has just done.  Normally it's one rule change, to test the waters, then another and so on.  The National Football League has been desperate to get more offence into its game.  Every rule change going back to the 1970s has been in favour of the offence and to handicap the defence.  They've finally accomplished what they wanted: all offence, all passing and all action.  What the NFL took decades to do, the GAA is trying to do in months.  Football traditionalists will tell you both organisations have one goal: to destroy the offence-defence balance.  In other words, ruin the game.

I'm not trying to say who is right or wrong.  Obviously I'm in the camp of the traditionalists but that doesn't mean I'm right.  I'm simply trying to point out that a sport with the history and tradition of Gaelic football needs to mind that history and tradition and keep an eye on the long term consequences of any changes.

The moment you open Pandora's Box and allow so many changes at once, you open the door to endless changes.  Isn't that a slippery slope?

The FRC was given a remit to make gaelic football the best amateur sport in the world to watch and play.
There are fairly rigorous governance structures in place which all the new rules had to progress through and a lesser process for subsequent tweaks.
The reason why there has been such a radical overhaul of rules all at once is because of the very strict timelines imposed by Congress on the trialling of new rules.
New rules can only be introduced once every 5 years. These trial rules which were approved by special congress last October are in place until October this year. Congress (or special congress) will vote on the final package, it is probable that what we see now will see significant amendment before a final package of changes is agreed. I don't agree that the FRC is picking winners and losers based on geographical bias, if you look at the membership, there's balanced representation from all regions and indeed the gaa president who instigated the review is an Armagh man. They are reacting to feedback and statistical evidence.
They have a statistical unit analysing a large number of games from this year and comparing versus previous year's data (I believe this unit is led by a Derry man?).
The data and the feedback from their ongoing public surveys has shaped the initial proposals and the subsequent tweaks. My understanding is that no more tweaks are proposed prior to the final package being agreed for the October vote.
If we really want to shape the decisions then I think it's important to complete the feedback surveys on an ongoing basis (it's not a one and done thing and remains open) and probably more importantly, make sure that your county's delegates to the October vote understand your county's position and can articulate that position in a manner that can influence delegates.

Imo allowing the option of the short kickout improves the game in two main ways:

Firstly, it releases some of the congestion around the middle and increases the potential for a clean, high catch. (That might allow for a relaxation of the draconian rules around touching someone who makes that catch too).
Secondly, it brings a tactical decision into play, press or concede, only now, with the GK overlap option gone, the reward for pressing should be magnified and equally, the 3 up rule means that the risk and potential consequences of a press going wrong is hugely increased too.

Another big benefit is the simple fact that variation is more interesting for the spectator. Yes, we might have grown up on a diet of long kickouts, but having seen the dynamics that short options introduce, I would quite like to have the option retained.

Yes indeed, no close contests, cause the last decade has seen numerous brilliant close games in the opening rounds of the provincial championships   

Scores are of course higher as expected, but games to this point in the championship have not been.
Again, not unexpected, this next two weekends should see a number of competitive games and after them we'll be in a much better place to form our opinions.

Fwiw I think we've went to far, change was definitely needed, but our game is becoming a series of possessions which end in shots. Tackling and turnovers are declining, coaches appears to have quickly realized that 2pts are the way forward and the goal is an afterthought.
Anyway, we'll know better in a fortnight, but if we could do one thing now that might help the championship in front of us, I'm torn between the abolition of the 2pt free and the long kickout requirement.

Not sure what exactly was un-PC about the Naked Gun movies. I watched the first one recently with my 13 year old son without any concern.

On the other hand, watched Crocodile Dundee with both kids, including my ten year old daughter, and the scene in the bar with the transwoman getting humiliated was definitely an uncomfortable, dated part I fast forwarded.

As a matter of interest what was your kid's reaction? I've watched naked gun, top secret, king pin, dumb and dumber, something about Mary and airplane with my teenish kids over the last year with varying reactions!
They all have pieces that haven't aged well, dumb and dumber was a definite hit, airplane too (after they realised it wasn't a disaster movie - took a while), but they struggled with the rest tbh, they really couldn't comprehend why my wife and I were in stitches half the time throughout something about Mary and top secret really ain't great on rewatching!

It's almost on us.

(cue some Sky Sports whooshes)

Does anyone care?

We'll be hockeyed by Wicklow Sun week. Wicklow will then be ate by the Dubs in Aughrim.

I'm bored with it all.

I've read your posts for many years on GAA Board, but this is a very sad post.

For me, I'd like to resurrect the split Dublin idea with either a North Dub and South Dub, or Dub City and Dub County.

Feck me Orior. no way split Dublin. 4 behemoths instead of one. GAA is massive in capital. The fantasy 'Dun Laoghaire Rathdown' team on its own would give Leinster a good rattle.

I can handle despair. It's the little seeds of hope that kill you.

TBH being a Longford ultra gives me a certain respect in GAA circles here in Dublin. People nod heads...........there's yer man...........no hope...........still goes to all the games.........

Or else they think I'm a class of a simple bollix.

You're right, and I can't understand how dubs don't get this, the huge numbers involved in underage gaelic football in Dublin mean that splitting Dublin (which I'm totally in favour of) would result in 3/4/5 teams equal in strength to the current team. I hear you though, it wouldn't improve longford's lot or chances of adding to that Leinster haul, but at least we'd have a third provincial championship worth tuning into.

i do like most of the rules changes. 2 points for a free though is one which should go IMO

it has to stay as long as the 2 pointer is there or else it rewards fouling a good 2 point shooter outside the arc.

I don't agree with this all, the counter argument is that the longer the 2-point free remains, the more we will see players try and draw fouls outside the arc, but in scoring range.

Surely the referee has the tools at his disposal to deal with fouls outside the arc on this 2-point marksman as he's pulling the trigger?
Stats are showing about 48% success for 2pt kicks, so preventing this by giving away a much higher percentage 1pt kick would be unlikely to lead to much success in the long run.

It's common knowledge these rules benefit strong teams. There will be some bad trimmings but as long as the top 4/6 going well, all rosy in the world of the gaa.

That's likely to be borne out in the provincials too, there's good reason to expect some fair hammerings.
On the positive, it will likely ensure that the 2-pointer doesn't survive past this season.

[hard to know how much continuity you can take from U17 to U20]

Eamon Young, James Sargent, Johnny McGuckian is some half forward line for this level. Donegal are dangerous but it could be the same as last year, where whoever wins when Tyrone and Derry meet will be thinking of an All Ireland.

Galway and Mayo probably need watched having been the minor final 3 years ago but hard to know how much continuity you can take from U17 to U20

There are only 11 of Derry's 2022 minor panel on the 2025 u20 panel (35 players).

The word on the street was that Derry took the cream of the 2022 panel and added a good chunk of the 2023 minor team and a sprinkling of the 2024 minors. I'm not sure how many of those newbridge lads were on the 2022 team, but I heard there were no trials at any rate.

Who's supposed to be there or thereabouts at U20 this year? Tyrone / Derry still the teams to beat?

Was it Armagh minors that went on the run last year or 2023?
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Who's supposed to be there or thereabouts at U20 this year? Tyrone / Derry still the teams to beat?

Was it Armagh minors that went on the run last year or 2023?

Derry beat Monaghan in 2023 in the final and Armagh in last year's final.

I'm confused why did the ref call the press box. Surely if the ref didn't give the score it would have been obvious and there'd have been no need for clarification. Alternatively if he had given it where does the power to change the scoreline after the match come from. 

I think he clarified with the press box as to what his onfield decision was. The problem appears to have been that rte and a number of print journalists incorrectly added the point which could never have counted under the rules as they were then.

[To further confuse matters RTE seem to have counted the score in its points differential but GAA.ie have not.]

For some reason this didn't post but I see from reading the league tables the final score/non score the Tyrone v Armagh game may become important.

It was discussed on this thread briefly previously but at the buzzer Tyrone took a shot just before the buzzer sounded, as it was in the air the buzzer went. Then Rafferty deflected it over the bar.

The umpire initially didn't wave the flag (correctly as I understand the rule) but McQuillian who was referring ran in and told him to do so.

I may have the broadcasters the wrong way round here but RTE didn't count the score but GAAGo and BBC did.

If Armagh and Tyrone win and Mayo loose and/or Kerry draw then that one point may be crucial.

To further confuse matters RTE seem to have counted the score in its points differential but GAA.ie have not.

Rte are correct... Why would the score not count? Game isn't over until the ball goes dead after the hooter*

*from a few days ago that is

The hooter had gone, the ball was kicked on the hooter but because Rafferty touched it the point shouldnt have counted.

Ahhh.. A game from weeks ago, only half read it. Sure you could go through multiple incidents in every game re scores

You could but I don't remember two news outlets reporting different scores for the one match.  My understanding of the rule at the time was the referee should not have allowed the score because Raferrty had a touch after the hooter but as he did then the score stood and that the RTE table is then correct and the gaa.ie table is incorrect.  I am not sure if there is an official source for the correct score but potentially although admittedly unlikely it could make a huge difference this weekend.

The point was initially flagged as a 2pt,but was touched so became 1pt, but then ref realised that the touch was after the hooter and disallowed it entirely.
Nonsense of course, it was a 2pt and should have remained as such.

That's not my memory at all. Rafferty definitely touched it after the hooter. Initially the umpire doesn't go for any flag then McQuillian runs in with an arm up then the umpire signals a point. So it definitely shouldn't have been a 2pt score or a score at all but RTE changed their graphic. BBC didn't. RTE have the final score 1-23 to 0-19. GAA.ie have it 1-23 to 0-18. I'm not sure it's possible to know which is correct

Hopefully it won't make a difference

Final score as per referee was 1.23 to 0.18 - excerpt from match report below:

With a final swish, Michael McKernan unleashed a buzzer-beating effort from outside the arc just before the siren sounded. The umpire raised his flag, the scoreboard switched over, Ethan Rafferty touched it before it went over the bar making it one point instead of two. None of it mattered.

That score didn't count. It took a long time for anyone to realise it. The fact that Rafferty touched the ball after the buzzer meant the final play was considered a shot that dropped short. Ultimately, the press in the media box were informed that the issue had been clarified post-match and the revised Tyrone total was 18 points. Welcome to the new order

I wonder where that match report is from. Also the footage available makes very clear the score was awarded wrongly. It certainly didn't seem to have been cancelled. My understanding was that scores couldn't be cancelled post match.

https://youtu.be/8BBSMeWq-Gk?si=s3drdPmwQxUsGbjL

Irish examiner, the author explained how the ref clarified this all with them afterwards, the scoreline on gaa.ie is also as per above - I'd say it's all pretty definitive.

We're in trouble now! McRapist has given Ireland 12 days to sort itself out out or he's taking action!..
https://x.com/TheNotoriousMMA/status/1902464305666388075?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Could anyone think for one millisecond that the lad who struggled to string a coherent sentence together the other day in the White House penned that tweet - it starts off with 'ad hominem' ffs.....
(Which I looked up and appears to have been used in the right context).