O’Donovan: Football needs reform – and soon

Ambrose O’Donovan was Kerry captain in the landmark season of 1984, the GAA’s centenary year, and he has welcomed another potential milestone with the proposals under consideration by Jim Gavin’s Football Review Committee.

The FRC recently presented a series of proposed trialled rules to Central Council following a comprehensive public survey and months of research and data collection.

Two points for a ‘point’ from the new 40-metre arc and four points for a goal are the marquee proposals and Kerry legend O’Donovan says change needs to come – and soon.

“I’ve been disappointed with the football this year, the championship but especially the league,” he said.

“The kick pass over 35 to 40 yards is diminishing all the time, teams are still getting 15 behind the ball and to be honest, putting 15 behind the ball doesn’t take much coaching, does it?

“You’re left then to try to break down the opposition team and wait for moments of magic from special players.”

“The supporters are disappointed with the overall fare from the championship too,” he added.

“For the public right across the country, it is expensive to go to matches all the time. Then it gets very repetitive to see matches and see teams putting 15 behind the ball with catching and kicking not as prominent anymore.

“So, I would go along with Jim Gavin’s group and their proposals. There is a problem with Gaelic football, Jim has an onerous task to improve it and it is important we address everything he says and get an identity back. Comparable to hurling, football is a hard watch. You watch the ball go over and back for five or 10 minutes and wait for those moments of magic.

“I do believe Dublin are great for football, they have played football every way and I can watch Dublin.”

The three-time All-Ireland winner was speaking at the launch of the 23rd annual Circet All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club in Mahony’s Point.

Forty years after they captained their respective counties to All-Ireland senior titles in the GAA’s centenary year, Kerry and Cork greats O’Donovan and John Fenton, along with Kilkenny legend and Challenge patron Eddie Keher, were on hand to lend their support to the charity four-person team event, which will take place at Killarney GC on 17 and 18 October.

Kerry and Glenflesk legends Seamus Moynihan and Johnny Crowley were also in attendance to promote this year’s beneficiary, their friend and fellow clubman Jerry O’Leary.

Twelve months ago, O’Leary suffered serious spinal injuries in a devastating accident while walking home. He is wheelchair-bound and requires intensive physiotherapy as well as other medical support.

As for the Kerry team of ’24, O’Donovan feels they have done everything asked of them so far.

“They came through Munster, got a good test from Cork and I thought that Cork were coming again,” he said.

“But they need to hit fifth gear against Derry this weekend and that will be the highest we have hit all year.

“You can’t blame Jack (O’Connor). You must beat what is in front of you.

“Against Louth, we moved the ball quickly at times and opened up their defence, but I would feel that Kerry have to improve to 85% for this game.

“The one advantage is that Derry are coming off a very tough game, with extra time, against Mayo and that was energy sapping.

“A week is not much recovery time. Kerry, in contrast, have gone through qualifiers comfortably and are going in fresh with two weeks off.

“But Derry look to have turned a corner and we were very fortunate to beat them last year. Only for the brilliance of Shane Ryan and David Clifford we were in trouble. Hand on heart, Derry possibly should have won the game.

“It’s a quarter-final and there are no easy games. Mickey Harte knows Kerry well and I think there are times we overdo the bombing forward from defence.

“Teams will target you and hit you on the break in that instance. It’s fine to have fellas bombing up the field but first up defenders have to defend against a team like Derry and let our forwards do business at the other end.

“Derry have in their ranks some very good forwards and they can hit you very fast on the counter. Our full-back line tends to go forward a lot – for my liking – and I think defence will have to be their main focus at the weekend.”

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