Kerry The Handpass Kings

[Redhand Santa]

Taken from the independent:

Kingdom give rival finalists a real kicking in handpass stakes

By Martin Breheny


Thursday July 22 2010

KERRY relied on the handpass more than any of their counterparts, according to match data from the four provincial football finals.

They were the undisputed handpass kings, slinging out between 39pc and 90pc more than the seven other finalists. That will come as a surprise to those who say Kerry use a more direct style than other counties.

It's a significant statement on Kerry's approach against Limerick, where they handpassed the ball 132 occasions -- 37 times more than their rivals. It was also 37 more than Tyrone used against Monaghan in the Ulster final.
Louth relied on the handpass less than any other provincial finalist, deploying it just 69 times against Meath (83). The lowest aggregate was in the Leinster final, which returned 152 handpasses, 12 fewer than Connacht where Roscommon-Sligo returned 164. Ulster had 189 and Munster 227.

The handpass has been under the spotlight since the experiments with the fisted pass last spring. They were thrown out at Congress, but a slight adjustment was made to the old format, requiring an upward striking motion. That proved controversial in the early stages of the championship as players complained about refereeing inconsistencies and while there are still occasional frustrations, things have settled down.

Overall, the number of handpasses was down by an average of 19 per game on last year's provincial finals. Whether that's due to the amended handpass or the individual styles of the competing counties, is difficult to assess.

Clean catching from kick-outs averaged just over four per county, with Monaghan best on seven and Sligo and Louth worst on one each. This was another area of experiment in the league where a 'mark' applied but like so many of the proposals, it was voted down at Congress.

Remarkably, Louth, who have highly rated midfielders in Paddy Keenan and Brian White, caught just one kick-out against Meath, which was also matched by Sligo. Tyrone proved that catching kick-outs is not necessary to construct an easy win as they managed just two, whereas Monaghan fielded seven in last Sunday's final.

As for shots at goal from outside the 20-metre line, the Connacht final was a clear winner with Roscommon and Sligo producing a total of 45, which was eight more than Meath-Louth, 13 more than Tyrone-Monaghan and 18 more than Kerry-Limerick.

[Nally Stand]

Jeez, I thought from listening to Mike Sheehy that Tyrone were the ones who played "ugly" football and who over-relied on handpasses??

I thought he always felt Kerry were the aristocrats/masters/artists/<insert other term of Kerry self-praise here> of Gaelic Football and of it's 'Catch & Kick' fundamentals??

[A Quinn Martin Production]

Is it just me or have refs given up calling illegal handpasses??

[Hardy]

Yes. It's just another of the rules that referees have decided they won't implement. You'd have to wonder what Congress is for and ask why GAA members tolerate this abuse of their democratic decisions.

[armaghniac]

Sure they are hardly footballers at all.

[ross matt]

Breheny definitely due a Pulitizer.

[Hardy]

Or, as George Hamilton  might say, a Wurlitzer.

[Zapatista]

Glad to hear it. I like the hand pass game.

[Jinxy]

Remarkably, Louth, who have highly rated midfielders in Paddy Keenan and Brian White, caught just one kick-out against Meath, which was also matched by Sligo.

That's mad.
They must win some amount of breaks.

[Hardy]

All the same, they got one awful bad break.

[Zulu]

Yes. It's just another of the rules that referees have decided they won't implement. You'd have to wonder what Congress is for and ask why GAA members tolerate this abuse of their democratic decisions.

The current amendment to the hand pass rule was anything but democratic since the first most people heard of it was after it was voted in at congress. I don't think congress should have the right to change playing rules anyway but that's a different story.

[Mike Sheehy]

Our handpassing is beautiful and mesmerizing so we are allowed do it. Other counties have short, ugly handpasses. Ulster counties have the ugliest handpasses of all..like the way you'd see two lads flinging fish to each other in killybegs or some such place.

[Puckoon]

Our handpassing is beautiful and mesmerizing so we are allowed do it. Other counties have short, ugly handpasses. Ulster counties have the ugliest handpasses of all..like the way you'd see two lads flinging fish to each other in killybegs or some such place.

That was worth logging on for.

[Nally Stand]

Our handpassing is beautiful and mesmerizing so we are allowed do it. Other counties have short, ugly handpasses. Ulster counties have the ugliest handpasses of all..like the way you'd see two lads flinging fish to each other in killybegs or some such place.

It's a bad job when you actually start to believe your own bulls**t!!!!!!!!

[Premier Emperor]

Ban the handpass and there would be no confusion!