THERE’S BEEN A plea to fix Gaelic football in the wake of the closing chaos for Tyrone and Monaghan’s All-Ireland quarter-final.
But one recent All-Ireland winning manager doesn’t buy this talk of a diving epidemic in the sport and suggests that the black card is working to improve matters.
Dublin boss Jim Gavin has long been an advocate of the sin bin but gives a thumbs up to the black card.
“I don’t think it’s a (diving) epidemic, no. I think the officials, I can see the standards increasing every year with them.
“From players and from managers and supporters and people who follow the game, they just want consistency and I think we’re getting there.
“Referees are volunteers like the rest of us so they’re doing their very best and that’s all we ask them to do.
“The player (Tiernan McCann) made a mistake, I’m sure he realises that as well and I’m sure he’ll play against Kerry.
“I would have been always in favour of the sin bin but it didn’t get there.
“It (black card) was purposely brought in for the body collisions, trips and that part of our game is beginning to be eradicated.
“So I think we’re seeing less and less of it and it’s going in the right direction.
But are players likely to be willing to receive a black card as they try to shut down a game in the last ten minutes?
“Have you seen that many black cards in the last 10 minutes of games?”, queries Gavin.
“I don’t have the stats now myself but it doesn’t appear to me. We saw it in the hurling over the weekend.
“That’s why I think the sin bin is more punitive. Bit I think it was a positive step to bring in the (black card) rule which would try and curb that type of play.
“I think it’ll progress naturally over the coming years.”
How on earth was Gearoid Hegarty overlooked for a nomination? He was one of Limerick’s best players this year ffs!
Agreed Hegarty was a colossus
Diarmuid Cody really?????
HOW on earth did he get a nomination?
He was dropped for the Carlow game and they got hammered by Wexford.
And taken off at half time against Dublin
Not a Cork man in sight. Further proof as if any were needed of how low the standard has fallen in Rebel land. Frank take another bow!
Very true but Limerick will get 11-12 players on the team with McDonald the only cert outside of them of a place.
Foley for Wexford is a cert too, Liam ryan also deserves a spot. De burca of Waterford too.
Bobby Duggan will definitely be on that team as well.
Duggan was roasted in the Munster final. Can’t see him getting selected. He was brilliant against Waterford though.
It mad to say but you can be sure a few the Kilkenny players who didn’t get nominated will end up with a pocket of All Ireland senior medals anyway…
Ha is Galway’s Paul Killeen not nominated? Gave probably the best full-back display of the summer in the semi against Limerick.
What nonsense
Galway come closer than any team all year and get a couple of token nominations. Open draw please
Why isn’t Cathal Mannion named?? Surely he should walk onto that team given he’s 1 of the front runners for young hurler of the year!!!
To be fair Mannion had a quiet game in the semi final and the nominations are taken purely from the U-21 games and not the senior ones.