There seem to be three main issues at play: first, a lot of rivalries have built up a degree of nastiness in them and that needs stamping out. We have a big problem with referees and the lack of respect being shown to them. Following on from that, a lot of onus is now on the players to clean up their act and their attitudes.
Looking at the way some rivalries have bubbled over, you’d have to wonder what role the extra games triggered by the qualifiers have played. Teams are meeting more regularly than before in high-pressure matches. More games have brought more pressure but not necessarily improved the football.
It might be time simply to disband the provincial championships for a few years to try to defuse some of the tension. Perhaps four pools of eight teams could be formed to play off for the All-Ireland title. It could lessen the amount of niggle in games and produce some better football.
Respect for referees has to be built again. Comments such as those made by Brian McEniff calling for Ulster referees to control Ulster championship games do not help, particularly when it’s the players who need to address their attitudes towards officials.
Over the past few years welfare and the GPA have been a major issue among players. Now that they’re being well looked after, it’s time for the payback. The standard of football is poor. There’s been a serious drop in the levels of good kicking, catching and the other basic skills. Players have a more negative approach. That attitude must change.
Advertisement
The bitterness needs to be rooted out of football. All of us want to see good, clean open games. If we want to see a row we’ll stand outside the pub at night. Players must be shown there’s nothing to be gained from foul play, which is where the officials come in.
While respect for referees need to be fostered, they have to earn some, too. Aside from the 17 red cards last weekend, there have been instances this year where referees have bottled the big decisions. I don’t mean to pick on Ciaran Whelan but for two games in succession referees failed to issue him with straight red cards when his fouls clearly warranted them.
Escaping with a yellow, having blatantly punched Nigel Crawford against Meath, was amazing. Last weekend against Wexford he received another yellow for kicking out when a player had his hands on the ball. The second yellow sent him off but what good is this rash of yellow cards if the player doesn’t receive a punishment that will make him think twice the next time?
All Whelan missed was the rest of the game. It should have been a lot more. We need a system, as in soccer, where an accumulation of yellow cards results in a suspension. Similarly, what is achieved by banning Joe Kernan from the line for this afternoon’s game against Derry? Nothing. It doesn’t help clean up the game and it certainly won’t hurt Armagh’s chances. You need to make the players suffer. Suspensions can force them out of the reckoning and, by extension, have a far greater impact on the manager and his team.
Once again last weekend, Armagh proved themselves a team almost impossible to knock from their stride. In the drawn game against Donegal they were caught for pace so they simply altered their tactics, pulling back their half-forward line and playing with two inside forwards. It worked perfectly and Donegal had no answer.
Advertisement
When Donegal tried to impose themselves physically on Armagh there was no contest. They’re a tough team, not a dirty one, and they’ll take the hits all day. They could have done without last weekend’s replay and on their third weekend in a row Armagh are certain to be tired, which should give Derry a small advantage in freshness.
They still won’t have the confidence that Armagh will carry after the past few games. If they wish to trouble Armagh they need to accomplish all the things Donegal failed to do. Derry will have to try to attack them down the flanks, play the game wide and hit Armagh at a high pace.
Putting a sweeper in front of Steven McDonnell and Ronan Clarke to stop the flow of ball to them is also essential but, aside from tactics, Derry will simply have to produce the perfect game.
Their workrate has to be high. They’ll have to find a way to secure possession against a heavier, taller team and make full use of what ball they do win. Derry’s team has experienced a lot of changes in the past few years and this is probably the best Mickey Moran has produced over the last couple of seasons.
He must believe this is one of the best chances Derry have had to pull off a big win in recent times. They have Enda Muldoon and Paddy Bradley up front but consistency has been a problem throughout the rest of the team. They will struggle to win ball as well, which is probably the element that will do them in the end. Armagh might have just enough left to pull through.
Advertisement
The big test for Donegal today is to try to get back to playing some football against Wicklow. They can’t be feeling good after last weekend’s performance. They have an awful lot to put right.
Their pride must be hurt and that will drive Donegal on but if there’s any more indiscipline or gaps in their play Wicklow can punish them. They looked really good against Kildare in the Leinster championship. Playing in Aughrim is a huge bonus for them and, if Brian McEniff has not put Donegal in the right frame of mind, Wicklow have the forwards to trouble them. But if Donegal do cop themselves on, they should get back on track.