While the strength and conditioning of inter-county players has never been more impressive, there has been some debate as to the direction the game has travelled in over the last number of years.
Apart from some obvious exceptions each summer, it could be said that the level of entertainment on offer in the Gaelic football championship has dropped off. Many counties employ a risk averse approach, one that sees them prioritise handpassing and moving the ball up the pitch via a running game as opposed to a kicking one.
There have been a number of suggestions as to how this trend could be reversed, although the likes of the advanced mark seem to have had little impact so far.
Joe Brolly praises Meath approach under Colm O'Rourke
Joe Brolly has been one of the most prominent voices when it comes to criticising the direction that Gaelic football has travelled in, although he was impressed with one team over the weekend.
He took to social media compliment Meath's approach under Colm O'Rourke during their Division 2 victory over Cork.
Cork suffer from solo running disease. Head down, solo hard, handpass, head down, solo hard, handpass, repeat. Meanwhile, Meath played with freedom, kicking long & not worried if the ball was lost now and again. Colm treats them like adults. Not robots. A revolutionary act.
— Joe Brolly (@JoeBrolly1993) January 30, 2023
Cork suffer from solo running disease. Head down, solo hard, handpass, head down, solo hard, handpass, repeat.
Meanwhile, Meath played with freedom, kicking long & not worried if the ball was lost now and again.
Colm treats them like adults. Not robots. A revolutionary act.
Of course, Brolly knows O'Rourke well with the pair having been longtime colleagues on The Sunday Game before the former's departure.
However, the Derry man was far less impressed with the spectacle on show during Dublin's victory over Kildare at Croke Park the previous night.
I was at it. Terribly boring
— Joe Brolly (@JoeBrolly1993) January 30, 2023
Joe Brolly has come up with a number of suggestions in recent years to improve the entertainment on offer in Gaelic football, including limiting passes to the goalkeeper, a 'backcourt' rule similar to basketball, and eliminating sweepers from the sport.
It will be interesting to see how Meath get on with a more attacking approach in 2023.
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