Ireland V Austrailia International Rules Official Thread 2008

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

...Perhaps an even better question would be the ask the many series' detractors just what is being done besides the International Rules series to promote the gaelic football code in any real way? Not a lot that has as much impact as the IR series I'll wager, despite the fact it admittedly achieves little in that respect. That's not belittling the various pockets of GAA around the world, I'm just saying that the IR in one fell swoop garners way more attraction and profile for the GAA than anything else. It at least exposes our top players to a large audience in Australia and keeps the game in the public eye at a dead time of the year and I think there's alot to be learned from the Aussies as well.

Perhaps it would be best of all to ask the powers-that-be in the GAA why they're so hell bent on forcing square pegs into round holes instead of promoting our own great games on as global a stage as possible?... That would be your best bet, or at least ask them why they're not expending 10% of the effort on Gaelic Games internationally, or even nationally (witness the Inter-Pros), as they are on this hybrid.

Look, I'm delighted for the lads that get to represent their country; but it's a damned pity it's not representing their country at the game they've made their name at, instead of this bastardisation that we call 'International Rules'. I'm especially happy for the likes of Leighton Glynn, but I'd be a whole lot more delighted if he were representing Ireland in Gaelic Football, which he's very capable of doing too. We shouldn't settle for second best.

[orangeman]

[What has this game done to promote gaelic football in 30 years???    ...

Probably a lot more than hurling (or Kilkenny) has . Yet no one wants hurling abolished.

Bullshit

You're probably not a proper Irishman if you don't like the compromise rules.

That's my excuse anyway and I'm sticking to it. 

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

...Perhaps an even better question would be the ask the many series' detractors just what is being done besides the International Rules series to promote the gaelic football code in any real way? Not a lot that has as much impact as the IR series I'll wager, despite the fact it admittedly achieves little in that respect. That's not belittling the various pockets of GAA around the world, I'm just saying that the IR in one fell swoop garners way more attraction and profile for the GAA than anything else. It at least exposes our top players to a large audience in Australia and keeps the game in the public eye at a dead time of the year and I think there's alot to be learned from the Aussies as well.

Perhaps it would be best of all to ask the powers-that-be in the GAA why they're so hell bent on forcing square pegs into round holes instead of promoting our own great games on as global a stage as possible?... That would be your best bet, or at least ask them why they're not expending 10% of the effort on Gaelic Games internationally, or even nationally (witness the Inter-Pros), as they are on this hybrid.

Look, I'm delighted for the lads that get to represent their country; but it's a damned pity it's not representing their country at the game they've made their name at, instead of this bastardisation that we call 'International Rules'. I'm especially happy for the likes of Leighton Glynn, but I'd be a whole lot more delighted if he were representing Ireland in Gaelic Football, which he's very capable of doing too. We shouldn't settle for second best.

Whats the alternative? The reason the IR exists is because there isn't another nation in the world where Gaelic football is played in any reasonable numbers. Your attitude is very idealist but is nowhere near the real world. 

The first thing we'd need to do is to actually capture the numbers that are playing Gaelic Games seriously in other places -- that little piece of work hasn't even been attempted (to the best of my knowledge). Yet, there are officials regularly going abroad to officiate, until such times as those areas are self-sufficient. You, and your ilk  , are very fond of throwing out these statements in certitude, yet no supporting facts (no alternative, it'll result in professionalism, we don't have the numbers, etc., etc.). I don't know the answer either, but what I am saying is let's be proactive about it and capture the details, and measure the viability. And when the body in whom we place our trust (the GAA) treats the Inter-Provincials with such contempt as they've shown recently, perhaps we can be forgiven for a degree of scepticism.

Don't come crying to me if next Fridays game degenerates into another thugathon... and if it doesn't, give it time, it will.

[Tyrone Dreamer]

I think for next weeks game there should be 2 threads open. One for people who are watching the game because they are interested and want to support the best players in Ireland representing their country. A second thread called the moaners thread for the moaners who are only watching/half watching the game so they can MOAN about how bad it is and talk about free trips etc. The thing is the people who are complaining about the games being rubbish will be the same people on moaning about it being rubbish next week. It would be like someone who doesnt like bread eating it over and over again so they can complain how bad it is - doesnt make any sense.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

Or maybe it's like someone eating bread because no one has bothered their arse to make (vitamin fortified) cake, even though they'd all the ingredients to hand?

[cavanmaniac]

Whats the alternative? The reason the IR exists is because there isn't another nation in the world where Gaelic football is played in any reasonable numbers. Your attitude is very idealist but is nowhere near the real world. 

Is the correct answer. Even if there was an agenda or a will within the GAA to globalise the game - and assuredly, there is not - then it's difficult to see how an association in so much bother with disciplinary structures, championship structures, refereeing etc. right here at home, could ever hope to go global with a game when the housekeeping at home keeps them quite busy enough thank you very much.

Fear, you infer a somehwat mischievious scenario of the GAA actively pouring their heart and soul into IR when a viable alternative of globalising the game exists. That's a total folly as AFS points out. The IR takes minimal effort on the GAA's part and maximum return when it's at home in terms of € so it's hardly labour intensive or resources-heavy (nowhere near what a globalisation effort would take), or in any way detrimental to any part of its normal games if it's played fairly. The IR is probably not the best, but remains the only real way of giving the GAA a large audience outside Ireland. So despite its flaws, it's all there is.

The current extent of how and where GAA is played abroad is as far as it will go, and even that is left largely up to ex-pat volunteers because the GAA does not have the will or the resources to take it further. Too many other sports are too deeply rooted for an unpaid game like GAA to ever take hold to anything a million miles near the romantic extent you envisage.

[Zulu]

The first thing we'd need to do is to actually capture the numbers that are playing Gaelic Games seriously in other places -- that little piece of work hasn't even been attempted (to the best of my knowledge). Yet, there are officials regularly going abroad to officiate, until such times as those areas are self-sufficient. You, and your ilk  , are very fond of throwing out these statements in certitude, yet no supporting facts (no alternative, it'll result in professionalism, we don't have the numbers, etc., etc.). I don't know the answer either, but what I am saying is let's be proactive about it and capture the details, and measure the viability. And when the body in whom we place our trust (the GAA) treats the Inter-Provincials with such contempt as they've shown recently, perhaps we can be forgiven for a degree of scepticism.

Don't come crying to me if next Fridays game degenerates into another thugathon... and if it doesn't, give it time, it will.

FoSB I'm sure everyone on this board would like to see other countries being able to field truely competitive football teams but the reality is, that day is decades away (at least!!). Another reality is we don't have the money to develop the GAA to any great degree in other countries and can you imagine the fuss if the GAA announced a €10 million development of the GAA in lets say Germany? How many GAA officials would cry this money should be spent on hurling in this country?

Is the IR perfect? No, but it is the best we've got and as many of us have pointed out it isn't causing any harm.

[DoYerJob Linesman]

The violence within the IR series is unfortunate and potential fatal, but it shouldn't cloud judgments over the reasons for the series' existence in the first place.

Tabloid esque?

[ONeill]

Jaysus it's only a bit of craic. The Irish players love the chance to represent Ireland. Neither nation takes it too seriously. A bit of football, a bit of thumping - sure it has been the same since the days of McGilligan, O'Hagan and Rock. A glorified end-of-county-season piss-up.

[Rossfan]

[What has this game done to promote gaelic football in 30 years???    ...

Probably a lot more than hurling (or Kilkenny) has . Yet no one wants hurling abolished.

Bullshit

You're probably not a proper Irishman if you don't like the compromise rules.

That's my excuse anyway and I'm sticking to it. 

Usual high standard of debate from the backward looking insular Orangeman while th'other lad has to be on message too.

No doubt ye're on ye're way to Fermoy to see Ulster in the ultra competitive exciting Inter provincial games.

As for me I believe the IR highlights are on in a few minutes so I'll feast my eyes on many of Ulster's finest footballers playing for their Country.

[Main Street]

It's always the same after an Ulster teams wins the All Ireland, people bemoan the general standards of Gaelic football

The Aussie footwork is streets ahead, then again they have to dodge the tackle in their game. It is a bit of a mindbender that you can get dragged down to the ground and the foul goes against you.

[DoYerJob Linesman]

The violence within the IR series is unfortunate and potential fatal, but it shouldn't cloud judgments over the reasons for the series' existence in the first place.

Tabloid esque?

Didn't mean it like that, I meant potential fatal to the continued existence of the series

Got ye now.

[Zulu]

It's always the same after an Ulster teams wins the All Ireland, people bemoan the general standards of Gaelic football

And it's always the same with some Ulster posters around here who think the world revolves around them. Take your head out of your ass for feck sake, those of us bemoaning the standard of football skills aren't referring to any particular county or any particular year.

[thebuzz]

The biggest lesson I think we can take from these type series is not that we must get more physical or more fit than the Aussies, they are full time pros. There is a limit a team can reach in an amateur scenario which is less than a pro.

The lesson I see is that we are enhancing the physical side of our games, the mental and physical preparation necessary to operate at a high level fitness and focus wise, but we are neglecting the skills of the games.

In our own games last year, we saw any amount of very very bad foot passing, and kicking for scores. I think what this series emphasises is that we have really gone back in that area, apart from a few honourable exceptions.

This is repeated over and over in every inter county game you watch, again, with some notable exceptions like Kerry Galway last year. But there are many 'forwards' playing inter county football who simply cannot be expected to score more than 70% of their chances within 30-40 yards. The Aussies are as good as ourselves at kicking scores, and were last time around as well.

I would love to see the happy balance where our players would be very fit, but not super fit (in an amateur context), but would be able to master the skills. I think what this series reinforces is that our physical levels will never reach the Aussies, but what we have sacrificed skills wise in the modern era is quite stark.

Couldn't agree more AZ, this is what I posted immediately after the game on the 'Score 1' thread..."the compromise rules game again highlighted the poor footwork, movement, thinking and worst of all shooting of our lads". I should have included foot passing and control of the ball, I also pointed this out after the last series but many on here disagreed, believing that our poor technique was a consequence of the Aussies overly physical approach, it is not. The reality is this game punishes poor technique, slow play and poor support running more than our own game. As a coach I'm fascinated by the way we play IR as opposed to the Aussies and I really believe that IR is underlining the fact that we have only scratched at the surface of what teams are capable of in football. The fact of the matter as far as I'm concerned is we don't play football particularly well and this is being shown up in the IR series.

We only got six points over the whole game while the Aussies got twelve. We were lucky to hold on in the end and I'd say the Aussies will improve a lot more than us over the next week. If we only learn one thing before the next game I hope it is to take every possible over and forget about the bloody goals. Paddy Bradley should have got a penalty but he should never have been in that position. The ball should have been over the bar.

[DoYerJob Linesman]

The Aussie 'keeper should be put under more pressure. He's a bit of a dungbag (which is understandable).

Surely you mean Irish.  He looks like he has been plucked from the crowd 5 minutes before the throw in.