It’s a real sin.. time wasting and keep ball are the result of black cards
DIVISION ONE
Kerry v Monaghan
Jack O’connor (below) fielded an almost unrecognisable team in the opening round and despite the defeat I expect to see a similar team line up against Monaghan. If that’s the case then this might be an opportunity for Monaghan to cause an upset.
This is almost a must-win game for them already with relegation a huge threat this year. Despite the personnel, Kerry are extremely hard to beat at home and that advantage might be enough to swing the two points their way.
Armagh v Mayo
Could be the game of the weekend. How Mayo deal with Ethan Rafferty’s (left) quarterback role for Armagh will be fascinating. Rian O’neill and Stefan Campbell were also hugely impressive last week and will test out that new-look Mayo defence. This is a big test for Mayo, who did well to find the scores to come back against Galway. Kevin Mcstay will look for better cohesion from his forward line this time.
There is very little between these teams and it could be another stalemate for Mayo. Tyrone v Donegal If there isn’t a kick in Tyrone this weekend then it certainly will be time for their supporters to push the panic button. But if there is any game that could get them going then surely it’s Donegal coming to Omagh. This is simply a must-win game for them.
Paddy Carr (above) and his team will be buoyed by the win against a weak Kerry but any other result would have been a poor one. Tyrone may just nick this one.
Galway v Roscommon Roscommon will travel with great confidence after they showed great intensity and moments of brilliance in their win last weekend. Galway and Padraig Joyce (left) will be frustrated that they let a point slip in Castlebar and they will see this as a must-win game. But I fancy the Rossies to win.
WE’RE now into the tenth season since the black card was introduced to Gaelic football and I wouldn’t be as quick to hail its ‘success’ as others might.
The change to the rule since 2020, whereby a player is sin-binned for 10 minutes instead of being replaced as before, has arguably been a hindrance to the game as a spectacle.
A game that can be fast flowing, entertaining and end-to-end can suddenly change dramatically when a team opts to kill the clock on the back of getting a black card.
Last Saturday night’s game in Castlebar started with a real bang and intensity. Then, in the 15th minute, Galway’s Eoghan Kelly receives a black card and the dynamics of the game change.
Galway reverted to maintaining possession, the majority of which is in their own half. Interestingly, they only threatened the Mayo goal once in the 10-minute period.
Galway had three long bouts of possession in that 10-minute period lasting approximately five minutes in total. Sean Kelly was on the end of a very innocuous challenge which stopped the play for a minute and 20 seconds. I’ve watched the challenge back numerous times and I can’t see contact with the part of his body that Kelly is holding.
So, close to six and a half minutes of the 10 was holding possession and an ‘injury’. Both teams scored just one point apiece during this period – job done from a Galway point of view!
This incident is far from isolated. Go back to last year’s All-ireland semi-final between Dublin and Kerry. The game starts at 100mph and looks like it could be one for the ages.
Then, John Small is issued with a black card in the 21st minute and, again, the dynamic of the game changes. In Dublin’s next possession Jonny Cooper puts up his hand to signal to his teammates to play keep ball.
That they do for the next 60 seconds, before receiving a free in for an off the ball incident close to the Kerry goal. Kerry responded immediately with a Sean O’shea point.
From the restart Dublin held the ball for two minutes and 45 seconds before Kerry eventually turned them over and counter-attacked, earning a penalty in the process.
Then we had the farce of Evan Comerford’s
‘head injury’, resulting in a play stoppage of two minutes and 25 seconds.
These two long bouts of Dublin possession and the Comerford stoppage accounted for over six minutes. Comerford saved the penalty and Small returned to the pitch. Both teams only scored one point each in the 10-minute period and, again, it’s job done from a Dublin perspective.
But, like last Saturday, it resulted in the game suffering as a spectacle.
An obvious solution is that the clock stops for any injuries, but referees also need to be far smarter on judging when a player needs actual attention or when he is just wasting time.
The onus is also on the opposing team to be braver and hunt down the team in possession and turn them over to prevent them killing the clock.
Otherwise, there is no advantage to having the extra man.
Johnny Cooper signalled and
Dublin just kept possession