What can the GAA do to resurrect an interest in Intercounty Football?

Started by From the Bunker, June 20, 2018, 07:47:01 PM

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seafoid

Quote from: APM on June 26, 2018, 04:56:37 PM
I remember posting here under a different name during the early noughties in a previous incarnation of the board, that I was concerned about over exposure of the GAA where interest would wear off because of so many televised games and once the novelty of the qualifiers wore off.  If anyone thinks that attendances will bottom out, just look at the history of the Railway Cup which attracted huge numbers in the 1950s and 60s.  Now they are lucky to attract a couple of hundred spectators. Maintaining good attendances isn't inevitable and at the minute the GAA seems to be focusing on growing the number of attendances by growing the number of games, instead of increasing the numbers per game. 

There are several things that are doing untold damage at the moment:

  • Football not as good to watch.  Think back to the early 90's with Bernard Flynn, Mickey Linden and James McCartan sprinting out to the wing to win long angled balls, turning their man and running at goal.  One of the delights of football that is resigned to history.  Now, its pass the ball laterally to someone running in an arc from the sideline - repeat ad naseum.  The product is not as good.  Either we go to 13 aside or change the technical rules to stop defensive play.  However, that will lead to more hammerings, which is the second problem.
  • Hammerings - too many of them - look at Cahir O'Kane's article in today's Irish News.  Bang on the money.  The best teams are getting better and harder to defend against.  Not even Dublin fans want to see the Dubs beat Westmeath by 20pts.  No entertainment value in that.  GAA need to spend money creating a level playing field.  Dublin do not need any more money given their natural advantage in sponsorship and sheer numbers. 
  • Half empty stadia - This is one thing the GAA can do something about.  Playing a game that will attract 20,000 in Croke Park is stupid.  There is no atmosphere in the ground and it looks rubbish on TV.  Yet they continue to do this. Instead, why not bring these games to Newbridge etc.  Big demand for tickets and rockin atmosphere in the ground. 
There was an article about the Leinster hurling Final on RTe yesterday. Kilkenny have a few good young lads 21/22 "but you need at least 3 or 4 years of Strength and Conditioning these days". the Galway players have been in the gym for the last 6 years.

That is also happening in football. You need the skill AND the brawn AND the fitness AND the team interplay together. And it wasn't the case in the 90s. So you get entrenched winners and very high drop out rates.
If Mayo hadn't been so courageous since 2011 the problem would have been more obvious.

In hurling, Kilkenny's hegemony (2006-12) with the follow through in 14 and 15 was built on destroying teams from Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway in succession. None of them came back. Only Tipp had the resources to beat Kilkenny after losing. And then only once. Kilkenny were imperious for  a decade.
"f**k it, just score"- Donaghy   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbxG2WwVRjU

APM

Quote from: Hardy on June 27, 2018, 11:07:22 PM
Quote from: APM on June 26, 2018, 04:56:37 PM
I remember posting here under a different name during the early noughties in a previous incarnation of the board, that I was concerned about over exposure of the GAA where interest would wear off because of so many televised games and once the novelty of the qualifiers wore off.  If anyone thinks that attendances will bottom out, just look at the history of the Railway Cup which attracted huge numbers in the 1950s and 60s.  Now they are lucky to attract a couple of hundred spectators. Maintaining good attendances isn't inevitable and at the minute the GAA seems to be focusing on growing the number of attendances by growing the number of games, instead of increasing the numbers per game. 

There are several things that are doing untold damage at the moment:

       
  • Football not as good to watch.  Think back to the early 90's with Bernard Flynn, Mickey Linden and James McCartan sprinting out to the wing to win long angled balls, turning their man and running at goal.  One of the delights of football that is resigned to history.  Now, its pass the ball laterally to someone running in an arc from the sideline - repeat ad naseum.  The product is not as good.  Either we go to 13 aside or change the technical rules to stop defensive play.  However, that will lead to more hammerings, which is the second problem.
  • Hammerings - too many of them - look at Cahir O'Kane's article in today's Irish News.  Bang on the money.  The best teams are getting better and harder to defend against.  Not even Dublin fans want to see the Dubs beat Westmeath by 20pts.  No entertainment value in that.  GAA need to spend money creating a level playing field.  Dublin do not need any more money given their natural advantage in sponsorship and sheer numbers. 
  • Half empty stadia - This is one thing the GAA can do something about.  Playing a game that will attract 20,000 in Croke Park is stupid.  There is no atmosphere in the ground and it looks rubbish on TV.  Yet they continue to do this. Instead, why not bring these games to Newbridge etc.  Big demand for tickets and rockin atmosphere in the ground. 

They're making some progress on this one, at least.

Good post.

Hardy, if I recall correctly, you agreed with me that time too.  You've been about this place a long, long time.  Nearly as long as Tony Fearon!

seafoid

Quote from: APM on June 28, 2018, 08:22:59 PM
Quote from: Hardy on June 27, 2018, 11:07:22 PM
Quote from: APM on June 26, 2018, 04:56:37 PM
I remember posting here under a different name during the early noughties in a previous incarnation of the board, that I was concerned about over exposure of the GAA where interest would wear off because of so many televised games and once the novelty of the qualifiers wore off.  If anyone thinks that attendances will bottom out, just look at the history of the Railway Cup which attracted huge numbers in the 1950s and 60s.  Now they are lucky to attract a couple of hundred spectators. Maintaining good attendances isn't inevitable and at the minute the GAA seems to be focusing on growing the number of attendances by growing the number of games, instead of increasing the numbers per game. 

There are several things that are doing untold damage at the moment:

       
  • Football not as good to watch.  Think back to the early 90's with Bernard Flynn, Mickey Linden and James McCartan sprinting out to the wing to win long angled balls, turning their man and running at goal.  One of the delights of football that is resigned to history.  Now, its pass the ball laterally to someone running in an arc from the sideline - repeat ad naseum.  The product is not as good.  Either we go to 13 aside or change the technical rules to stop defensive play.  However, that will lead to more hammerings, which is the second problem.
  • Hammerings - too many of them - look at Cahir O'Kane's article in today's Irish News.  Bang on the money.  The best teams are getting better and harder to defend against.  Not even Dublin fans want to see the Dubs beat Westmeath by 20pts.  No entertainment value in that.  GAA need to spend money creating a level playing field.  Dublin do not need any more money given their natural advantage in sponsorship and sheer numbers. 
  • Half empty stadia - This is one thing the GAA can do something about.  Playing a game that will attract 20,000 in Croke Park is stupid.  There is no atmosphere in the ground and it looks rubbish on TV.  Yet they continue to do this. Instead, why not bring these games to Newbridge etc.  Big demand for tickets and rockin atmosphere in the ground. 

They're making some progress on this one, at least.

Good post.

Hardy, if I recall correctly, you agreed with me that time too.  You've been about this place a long, long time.  Nearly as long as Tony Fearon!
Hardyarse the fiddler went awol there for a while in the late 90s.
"f**k it, just score"- Donaghy   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbxG2WwVRjU

Hardy

Quote from: APM on June 28, 2018, 08:22:59 PM
Quote from: Hardy on June 27, 2018, 11:07:22 PM
Quote from: APM on June 26, 2018, 04:56:37 PM
I remember posting here under a different name during the early noughties in a previous incarnation of the board, that I was concerned about over exposure of the GAA where interest would wear off because of so many televised games and once the novelty of the qualifiers wore off.  If anyone thinks that attendances will bottom out, just look at the history of the Railway Cup which attracted huge numbers in the 1950s and 60s.  Now they are lucky to attract a couple of hundred spectators. Maintaining good attendances isn't inevitable and at the minute the GAA seems to be focusing on growing the number of attendances by growing the number of games, instead of increasing the numbers per game. 

There are several things that are doing untold damage at the moment:

       
  • Football not as good to watch.  Think back to the early 90's with Bernard Flynn, Mickey Linden and James McCartan sprinting out to the wing to win long angled balls, turning their man and running at goal.  One of the delights of football that is resigned to history.  Now, its pass the ball laterally to someone running in an arc from the sideline - repeat ad naseum.  The product is not as good.  Either we go to 13 aside or change the technical rules to stop defensive play.  However, that will lead to more hammerings, which is the second problem.
  • Hammerings - too many of them - look at Cahir O'Kane's article in today's Irish News.  Bang on the money.  The best teams are getting better and harder to defend against.  Not even Dublin fans want to see the Dubs beat Westmeath by 20pts.  No entertainment value in that.  GAA need to spend money creating a level playing field.  Dublin do not need any more money given their natural advantage in sponsorship and sheer numbers. 
  • Half empty stadia - This is one thing the GAA can do something about.  Playing a game that will attract 20,000 in Croke Park is stupid.  There is no atmosphere in the ground and it looks rubbish on TV.  Yet they continue to do this. Instead, why not bring these games to Newbridge etc.  Big demand for tickets and rockin atmosphere in the ground. 

They're making some progress on this one, at least.

Good post.

Hardy, if I recall correctly, you agreed with me that time too.  You've been about this place a long, long time.  Nearly as long as Tony Fearon!

Longer now.🙂

kerryforsam2018

Play 13 a side.
2 points for a score outside 45
All kick outs must pass 45
50 metre free for any cynical plays
Abolish black card
Bring in sin bin

High Fielder

Go Professional with 8 franchises and start paying the best exponents of the game. Leave whatever is left behind to play a truly amateur competition

Rossfan

Davy's given us a dream to cling to
We're going to bring home the SAM