WESTMEATH BOSS PAT Flanagan has warned that the GAA need to seriously revamp the All-Ireland senior football championship structures or else the gulf between the elite and weak counties will continue to grow.
Flanagan saw his Westmeath side convincingly beaten by 16 points by Dublin in last night’s Leinster quarter-final in Croke Park.
The result was the latest in a series of one-sided games that have developed to date in this season’s championship.
“I’m really getting worried about the gulf that’s starting to develop,” admitted Flanagan. “If we don’t do something about it in the near future, we’re going to struggle to have any sort of competition whatsoever.
“I think the GAA need to seriously look at how it’s progressing. There’s an awful lot of individuals putting in a serious amount of time. They need something different than coming up here as no-hopers.
“We don’t have the financial resources in Westmeath or the small counties. We need to seriously have a look at it. If we don’t Dublin, Kerry and all the rest are just going to sail ahead and the rest are just going to get weaker.”
“What I’d do is have four groups of eight in provincials. Split them up into two groups of four. The two top teams of those groups would go into your Leinster semi-finals and finals. The other four teams would play off provincial semi-finals and finals as well. I’d develop a second meaningful championship.
“We were just blown away by the sheer power, speed and strength of Dublin. It’s totally an eye opener for us. We go into qualifiers and let’s be totally honest, the pressure is going to be on players to go back to clubs, the pressure is going to be on players to go to America.”
Dublin’s Paddy Andrews celebrates scoring the first goal of the game
Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Flanagan also pointed out the advantage that Dublin have in being accustomed to playing in Croke Park.
“Dublin played eight games here this year, this is our third game in about four years here. It’s got to be a huge advantage. That’s not Dublin’s fault by any means or manner. It is a huge opportunity for Dublin.
“I would say if we had all our games in Cusack Park for the next two years, we would win a Leinster championship. It is a bonus to them. But it is something every other county needs to overcome because the games are not going to be shifted out of it.”
Flanagan revealed that star forward Dessie Dolan was unable to start last night due to a hamstring injury.
Frawley deserves to keep his spot in the squad. Would go for 6/2 split with Frawley covering. Tough on Ringrose, but shows the depth of the squad at the moment. The impact of the 6 forward has been massive each time.
@Luke Guerin: Agree. This makes sense
@Luke Guerin: I think it can go either way Ringrose or Frawley in a 6:2 split. Ringrose kicked for Blackrock, while still a centre, during his early years.
@Luke Guerin: It’s a very fair shout but you could definitely argue the toss. I would guess Farrell will go 5:3 on the bench for England. The bench we had the last day in the forwards was immense and made a huge impact but we were definitely treading water out the backs in the final quarter. We could end up, like we did against Wales, with a centre on the wing, and we are then just one more incident away from a patchwork back line. Probably too big a risk for such a big game. For me I’d be more comfortable with a 5:3 with Murray, Frawley, Ringrose.
@Mark Murphy: agreed, AF will drop Baird for Ringrose and play it safe . We’d have huge problems if one of our centres or wings went down injured early on v England
@Mark Murphy: yeah, fair point. No reason to take such a risk I suppose. Have loved our version of the bomb squad though
@Luke Guerin: Keenan not back in training today, so discussion may be academic. If he’s not back, I guess it will be 6/2 and Ringrose will get 23. And is there a hint that Tadhg F is out? Only reason why Bealham would not be risked for the Connacht game.
@Luke Guerin: This is the challenge Farrell faces… it’s a tough one, but much better to have to choose from too many good players than not enough. As brilliant as Frawley was on Saturday, Ringrose is a 50 cap player, 2nd only to BOD in the 13 jersey. The question is not whether or not Ringrose is in the 23, its who drops out for him – Henshaw or Frawley?
Henshaw went v well indeed in the first 2 games. That said, he looked very slow against wales (I thought that ‘burst’ down the line where he kicked ahead was POM as Henshaw looked like a forward. Add to that 2 things :
1. Ireland rarely got outside Wales outside of kick passes (bravo to the 2 young lads) & Henshaw a primary reason here in terms of his style of play, & lack of pace
2. Whilst Aki & Henshaw are not the Danae player, they have a lot more in common with each other than either do with Ringrose. Ringrose offers so much more in attack, better lines, better play making, and this spread of playmsking amongst Crowley / Sexton, Ringrose, Keenan and Hansen has been critical for Ireland the past 3 years. Ringrose has to start, we will not maul England as much as in the first 2 games.
@Andrew Hurley: just checking, are you Ringrose agent, the missed tackle count is well down, with Ringrose not playing.
@Michael Colleary: ‘missed’ tackles dont tell the whole story as regards defensive nous. U can ‘miss’ a rush up tackle but still be very effective to the defensive line’s integrity oddly enough
So 5/3 split, we lose Conan or Baird?
6/2 split we lose Frawley or Ringrose?
Bealham is miles ahead of Jager so that’s an easy one.
The other decisions ain’t easy but I’d go with Conan & Frawley as those 2 sit better in Faz’s framework to date
I would reinstate Keenan and Ringrose, Henshaw no 23 with Byrne 22 in a 5/3 split. Can someone let Andy know, I dont have his number oddly enough. Ringrose is our outstanding and natural 13 imo, no disrespect to Henshaw who has been excellent in first 2 games
@Arjuna: Byrne? whaa?
Farrell needs to have a good think before selecting the team. England and Scotland have world class place kickers and they will kick Ireland off the park if they continue to give away stupid penalties. I suspect James Ryan might be reinstated over McCarthy for that reason (although the McCarthy Itoje battle
Might be epic). Regardless I think Ireland need to be much more direct with England as the pretty rugby in the first half last week didn’t translate into a decent points margin.