It may only be March but Joe Brolly has already made a big claim by saying football is entering a golden era and is at least on par with hurling.
The RTÉ analyst wrote in his Gaelic Life column this week that, thanks to the introduction of the black card, 'A game that was being submerged in a quicksand of cynicism and bad footballers is already being transformed.'
Brolly compared the All Ireland hurling and football club finals from last week, saying that it typified the difference in the two sports nowadays.
The St Patrick's Day club finals were a classic illustration of this. First up, the hurling final, a game that was mired in cynicism, deliberate pulling, tripping and negative play. It was woeful stuff and the neutrals around me were as bored as I was.
Speaking about the football final, he said:
Castlebar played with adventure and absolute determination. Vincent's played with adventure and a number 11 who gave a performance that will never be forgotten.
Diarmuid Connolly has spent his short career being pulled down, body checked and spoiled. But opponents can't do that anymore.
Brolly also noted that not one goal scoring chance was created during the hurling final, whereas there were six goals scored in the football, with 11 goal scoring chances created in total.
So for anyone who tries to tell him that hurling is a superior sport, he has this warning: 'A golden era for football is upon us. The next time someone repeats the cliche that hurling is a better game that football. I will be ready for them. At last ...'
hat-tip: Gaelic Life
