RTÉ panellist Tomás Ó Sé pictured during the 2019 GAA Championship draw at RTÉ Studios in Donnybrook, Dublin.
By John Harrington
Former Kerry star Tomás Ó Sé says he’s looking forward to seeing how the proposed experimental rule changes for football will work in practice.
They’re currently being trialled this month in matches between University teams, then, all going well, will also be tested at the highest level in next year’s Allianz Football League.
After some initial misgivings about the proposed rule changes Ó Sé now believes some of them will have a positive impact on the game and think it’s important they be trialled rigorously throughout the Allianz League next year.
“Do you know, a lot of people are given out that they might be tried in the National League, I think it’s a good thing they might be trialled in the National League,” said Ó Sé, who now works as a football analyst with RTE Sport.
“We gave out that they are being trialled in these Mickey Mouse competitions before the National League starts. At least this way we’ll be able to say after the National League, after seven or eight games, if something has or hasn’t worked.
“We’ll have a better idea at the end if we need to make a change. My initial reaction was ‘No, too much.’ But I think they are after listening here – everybody had a voice, all clubs were asked to put in whatever motions they wanted, they took what they got, put it on a table and I think they have to be commended for trying it.
“I’m actually looking forward to it, I think a couple of them could work. I’m interested to see how the kickout will work, with everybody inside the 45. The mark inside, I’m looking forward to that.
“The hand pass is a double-edged sword to me. Fellas are saying it will only give teams the chance to pack up the defence again. But sure if it does then lads will only start kicking around between them and they will be able to work out the hand passes.
“I think that’s one that mightn’t make it through. I’d be happy enough to give them a chance. I’m not saying they have to change the rules or bring them in, but give them a go anyway and see what happens.”
Michael Darragh Macauley, left, and Bernard Brogan with the Sam Maguire Cup during the Dublin All-Ireland Football Winning team homecoming at Smithfield in Dublin this year.
Regardless of what rules are used in Gaelic Football in the League next year and thereafter from 2020, Ó Sé doesn’t see any other team halting Dublin’s inexorable march towards history in the near future.
They can become the first ever team to win five All-Irelands in a row next year, and Ó Sé doesn’t think even a Kerry team under the new management of Peter Keane will be able to stop them.
“The thing about the five in a row for me is that there’s nobody stepping up,” said Ó Sé.
“When I say stepping up, outside of Mayo who a lot of people are saying now have missed their chance, there isn’t anyone really coming close to the Dubs the last couple of years.
“Kerry, possibly. But are Kerry in a position from what we’ve seen this year? No.
“I think Dublin are that bit ahead of everybody at the moment. The five in a row, it’s not an impossibility like. But it’s a dangerous thing, nobody has done it. The great Kilkenny team, the great Kerry team. It’s very hard.
“A pressure comes with it. There was no talk out of the Dublin camp about four in a row. They’re good at that, that’s a compliment, not a cute, sly comment. It’s good the way they handle it.
“But I don’t think, they’re such a focused group. I don’t think the talk will bother them. I don’t think the talk outside bothered them this year, and I think it’s up to the other teams to step up.
“Are they capable of stepping up? I’m not too sure to be honest with you.”
