Square Ball - 20th January 2010

Written by Frank Kearney

Wednesday, 20 January 2010

The legend lives on

The biggest cheer of the day at Tuam Stadium on Sunday last was not for Joe Kernan on his first official outing as manager of Galway, but to Galway longest serving player Declan Meehan. The Caltra dynamo who started on the Galway panel as a wing-forward before making an outstanding defender and has been on the Galway panel since 1996, came forward to score a super point in the second-half.

The large crowd at Tuam Stadium reacted in a very positive manner with a huge applause for the Caltra veteran who has given Trojan service to the Galway jersey during a long and fruitful career. The response from the crowd displayed the tremendous respect that the Galway wing back has from the football fraternity of the county. We wish Declan many more days of success in the Galway jersey.

Clubs please

There were new faces at the gates of Tuam stadium on Sunday last and even members of the press had a job to get in. The gate men insisted that press passes were displayed before they gave out the sheets that contained the teams. Sometimes officialdom can go too far, but if the authorities that insist on such rulings, delivered a sheet of named players that also included the clubs of the players, particularly in competitions like the FBD when emerging players are brought to the fore, they might be doing a greater favour to the general public at large. There is now enough full time staff in GAA offices around the country that typing the names of clubs as well as players, wouldn't require that much of an extra effort.

New rules

It took until the second half of the game at Tuam Stadium, before a mark was given. A mark can be awarded when a player collects a kick out between both 45s. The whistle is sounded by the referee, but the player does not have to take the free and can continue with a solo run or pass the ball if he wishes. Confused? Well the players and referee were on Sunday but it might come right yet. For the record Galway were awarded three marks.

Risk of playing

Last Sunday Naomh Anna/Leitir Moir players played a major role in a competitive Connacht FBD game, just a week before the clubs biggest ever game when they play in the All-Ireland semi-final in Longford. Surely the decision to play Fiachra Breathnach, Eoin O Conghaile and Antaine 'Toto' O Griofa displayed little respect for the Connemara club. Somebody at county board level should be in a position to explain to this new team management, that these club players should not be used a week before an All-Ireland semi-final. Are we going to see the same happen to the Corofin players next month. Wait and see.

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