While this summer's Gaelic football championship featured some very exciting games, that were also a number of high profile fixtures that were not all that entertaining to watch.
For a number of years it seemed that the game was trending towards more attacking play, but that is something that has now been reversed somewhat. A number of teams are using defensive systems that make for a rather dull spectacle.
It remains to be seen if the GAA will intervene to stop such a movement, with many supporters becoming increasingly frustrated with what is being offered up at inter-county level.
Liam Kearns calls on GAA to end 'boring' play
Liam Kearns certainly falls into that category.
The Kerry native has recently been appointed as Offaly manager, and while he still loves the game, he has admitted that he finds much of it quite 'boring' to watch.
We need more than three or four good games. You can nearly list them off — Galway-Armagh was a good game, obviously the All-Ireland final was a good game and Kerry-Dublin was a good game — that was it.
You had really ordinary games and I suppose the style of football that is being played at the moment is just not conducive to entertaining the public...
I don’t like the way the game has gone at the moment, to be honest.
I find I watch a football match now and it’s boring, long stages of it are boring — passing it backwards, passing it laterally, protecting possession, no 50-50 balls in, challenges being limited. That’s all stuff I’m not enjoying as a spectator, not to mind a coach.
The GAA have been willing to change the rules of the game over the last number of years, often in an attempt to encourage attacking play. The forward mark was one such example, although that has not proven to be a popular addition.
Other alterations have been suggested recently, including changes to kick-outs and limiting the amount of players that can be used in defensive situations.
Liam Kearns feels that the current format is stifling the impact of the biggest stars in the sport, suggesting a couple of changes the GAA should look to make.
The likes of David Clifford and these guys are what the public want to see and the way the game is at the moment, we’re killing those people.
We’re denying them room to express their talents and I just think we have to bring the game to a more entertaining place. It’s as simple as that...
I’m like most football people, I’d like to see the forward mark gone.
I don’t think it serves the game at all. It’s an Australian rule that was brought in and I presume they were trying to bring back high fielding but you kick it into somebody’s chest, a man is right up his behind, doing his job, and because the pass is accurate he gets a free shot at goals.
I would just get rid of that and most football people are of the same opinion. Also, I think all kickouts should be kicked to (at least) the 45.
It remains to be seen if the GAA will agree.
Kearns will be hoping to improve Offaly's fortunes in 2023, with the county relegated from Division 2 of the league and falling short in Leinster and the Tailteann Cup this year.
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