Éamonn Fitzmaurice: Division 4 in Rathkeale, but the rules of engagement are the same

On the journey up I tuned in to an upbeat and positive Tim Moynihan and Ambrose O’Donovan on Radio Kerry for the Kerry and Derry thriller from the banks of the Foyle. The frantic nature of the match, the resulting entertainment and the madcap endgame was clear regardless of the medium of communication. It is only the second weekend of competitive action, but everyone is starting to see the potential of the rules, especially when the invitation to play is accepted by both teams. It was in stark contrast to last years All-Ireland quarter final featuring the same counties, a nadir for many people in terms of what the game had become, and will be a Bank Holiday Monday watch back for me. While it is far too simplistic to draw a straight line between those two matches, it is a clear signal that we as a Gaelic football fraternity are on the right track.

Anyway, to Rathkeale. The stand in Mick Neville Park was nicely full with supporters from both counties, but there was also a healthy curiosity about the rules. I got some good-natured advice and a few queries on different details as the game went on but, in general, people were positive. The Limerick sideline and players also got more forceful advice at times which is a lot easier to hear on the sideline of a Division 4 encounter I imagine. 

Speaking of the Limerick sideline, it was fascinating to watch their team doctor in action. Dr Stephen Lucey knows a thing or two about playing at the top level. He was centre back on that excellent Limerick team that went toe-to-toe with us in 2003, 2004 and 2005, pushing us to the hilt, in 2004 in particular. On Sunday, he was as much a coach as medic at times. Early on, his own management team encouraged him to calm down and keep his instructions to himself, which he did. For a while. He got going again as the game entered the closing stages with the two points up for grabs. It was great to see his passion which must be infectious to the Limerick players. While the game itself was the lowest scoring game of the weekend, with Wexford winning by 0-17 to 0-13, there was still plenty to admire. There is obviously a difference in standard from Division 1 to Division 4. However, both Limerick and Wexford were trying to do the right things. Execution and decision-making let them down at times, but this only added to the entertainment with turnovers aplenty and a willingness to attack from both sides. Both teams had good forward shape and were willing to kick in the final third.

In terms of the new rules, both embraced them and clearly have a good understanding of same. The solo and go was used regularly and with effect. Kick-outs went long and there was fierce aerial and breaking ball contests. Teams are still figuring out the battle for carpet ball as Páidí Ó Sé called it. Players are getting caught on their heels rather than reacting to the break and springing towards it a lá Paul Galvin or Séamus Moynihan. I can see already though how players have figured out that they need to move the ball away from the breaking ball zone quickly having won it. Last weekend players were being gobbled up but in one week there was a clear progression across all of the divisions. Both sides benefitted from two point efforts with Limericks Emmet Rigter kicking two beauties in the first half and with Páiric Hughes and Seán Nolan responding for Wexford in the second.

Credit to John Hegarty as Wexford - more so than any other team I have seen so far - really impressed me with their high up pressing in the second half. As teams can’t use their goalkeeper in their own half, a team that presses in a co-ordinated manner can be highly effective. Wexford put Limerick under severe pressure coming out and forced turnovers. They didn’t convert enough of those turnovers to scores, but that will be the next step for them, and something they will be working on this week.

The goalkeepers didn’t come out as much as they have in some of the other games to create the 12 v 11 scenario. Colum Feeney was caught way up the field in the first half when Limerick turned them over and countered quickly. They didn’t get a goal but Feeney appeared to heed the warning and didn’t go walkabout as much after that. Similarly Josh Ryan only joined Limerick’s attack on occasion. 

Each team had one 'three up' breach. Both the crowd and players were quick to draw the officials' attention to this. It was also clear that the match officials were really working as a team, which is vital and great to see. And it might not have always been true in the past. Christopher Ryan was in regular contact with his sideline officials and Conor Lane, in particular, seemed to be in frequent communication with Ryan. There were only a couple of examples of dissent and delay fouling as players and team officials are learning fast. The one that is really costing teams is when a ball is brought forward 50 metres and it ends up inside the two point arc. Naturally enough most sides with a decent free-taker are bringing that kick back outside the arc for a two point effort that the majority are converting. It is a costly punishment. Simply put, teams have to stop giving away 50 metre advancements that bring the ball to the two point arc. As the league goes on I expect to see less and less of this.

All in all it was an enjoyable day out. As I was leaving the ground there was some grumbling about what could have been done by the players on the pitch and by Jimmy Lee and his management team on the line to have reversed the result in the home side's favour. I smiled to myself. Whether you are in Croke Park in July or Mick Neville Park in February, regardless of experimental rules or not, the real rules of engagement are the same. 

Win or well you know the rest of the story.