THE GAA’S ATTEMPT to remedy an apparent “obsession with possession” has been hit with some strong opposition.
On Saturday, GAA chiefs voted to introduce the ‘mark’ into gaelic football.
Playing rules chairman Jarlath Burns, whose committee proposed the motion, stressed that the spectacle of the high catch was in danger of the skill becoming obsolete – like the dropkick.
Dublin midfielder Michael Darragh Macauley is the latest high profile name to speak out against the new ruling.
Michael D Macauley / Twitter
Michael D Macauley / Twitter / Twitter
Aidan O’Shea and Eamon McGee voiced their concern at the introduction of the mark without a recent trial, while plenty of others argued it will only slow down the game further.
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Carlow star Brendan Murphy, who spent two years playing Australian Rules with the Sydney Swans, said teams in the AFL often utilize the ‘mark’ as a time-wasting ploy.
Dick Clerkin, the longest serving gaelic footballer in the country, took a different view.
Interestingly, former midfielders Burns and Darragh O Se were part of the five man committee that pushed the mark through.
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The mind boggles why they don’t just extend the net the whole way along the foul line, average ball leaves the bat at 110 mph, that ball is heavier than a sliotar, this incident could change the safety nets at all stadiums now,
@Roy Ska Butler: yeah it’s the American game and in such a lawsuit culture the only way to solve it is putting in protection .
@Limón Madrugada: I read somewhere that there is a ballpark clause, where the grounds can not be sued as you know the risks going. Something stupid like that
@Eoin Byrne: where there is a lawyer there is a way , the mother could sue the father or whoever brought her there . The poor girl didn’t sign away her safety herself she’s underage .
@Limón Madrugada: this is totally different, it’s not like it’s an unsupervised swing we are talking about
There we go, A girl got hit by a ball. Headline stuff.
@Barry Teehan:
You are a complete Tit.