Miscellaneous

Changing game might regret dropping the properly defined Hand Pass

April 26th, 2005
by Weeshie Fogarty

It seemed as if the whole country was deeply engrossed in what was happening in Croke Park two weeks ago as Rule 42 was put into cold storage for the duration of the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road. The media really went to town and thousands of words were printed in local and national press, while the national and local radio stations had hours of coverage on the affair, not to mention the TV. Indeed, I must hold up my hands and admit that I went to town on Terrace Talk as I devoted two hours to the then upcoming debate, and having Nicky Brennan the since elected incoming president on the show for close to 30 minutes was a revelation in itself. 

The Kilkenny man was so open and honest in his interview and indeed I got the distinct impression that he will be of the same mind set as our own Sean Kelly, up to date with the modern thinking and willing to incorporate change where and when necessary. Of course, his good wife comes from Scartaglin so there¹s a strong Kerry connection. So watch the stands in Croke Park on the day of the big matches, you are sure to see a fair sprinkling of men and women from Scartaglin sitting among the elite.

Undeniably events such as this where a connection can be drawn with a club, big or small and a figure of national prominence in the GAA is a great boost, especially to a small rural club such as Scartaglin.

On that same night when I had Nicky Brennan on the programme I was disappointed that the Cork candidate Christy Cooney was unable to take part in the debate. A number of e-mails, some from America, questioned me as to why Christy did not get the same air time as his opponent. I did try but events were outside my control in this instance. As the torrent of words were being lashed out in relation to lifting the ban on foreign games being played in Croke Park I was more interested in another motion, the serious consequences of which were more or less lost to the delegates and the man in the street. I refer to the motion in relation to the hand pass in football.

Mayo submitted a motion to Congress asking that the open hand pass as we know it today be abolished and the old fisted pass be re-introduced. It very nearly passed and failed by only 12 votes despite needing a two-thirds majority to get through.

The consequences of this had it been passed would have been immense to today¹s footballers, most of whom had never used a fisted pass in their lives. It would have come into law immediately and visualise the scene as Jack O'Connor brought his men together explaining just how the lightning fast palmed ­ or should I say thrown ­ pass could no longer be used. I must admit that I am not a great lover of the hand pass as we know it today, which would be just about acceptable if referees insisted on a clear striking action as per rule, and cut out the basketball-style throw that in my opinion is ruining the game.

However, the more games I see the more the referees are ignoring the stated rules. One day you see a player being pulled, the following day you see the ball being thrown left, right and centre and no free is called. It is a pity that the fisted passed was not at least experimented with during the National League. I have never done a count in a game ­ I am not big into statistics ­ but in many games I would bet that the ball is passed/ thrown a lot more often than it is kicked.

What occurred at Congress bears out my belief that many people are weary of all the basketball-type antics creeping into football because, and this is a statistic I read somewhere, 63 per cent of delegates voted for a change to the style of hand pass. It failed because it needed a two-thirds majority, but it was a close call for players, managers and trainers.

Meanwhile, as all the top business of the GAA was going on in the plush surrounds of Croke Park, in The Lansdowne Arms Hotel in Kenmare the grassroots of the GAA were having their day too, as the Mid Kerry District Board nominated their recipient for our Unsung Heroes of Kerry GAA for March.

Like the two previous recipients, Sean McCarthy of Kilcummin and Kenmare's Tom O'Connor, Michael O¹Riordan is richly deserving of this honour. A lovely, quiet and humble person Mike has been working for his club Cromane since 1982 when that great bunch of men, under Pat O'Shea, Pat Casey and others bought their field and began developments in the seaside parish.

Mike played as a young man with Glenbeigh and Killorglin, but when Cromane was founded he threw himself body and soul into his beloved club and has worked tirelessly, unseen and unheard during all those years. Pat Casey and Pat O'Shea, who were at the presentation ceremony, spoke in glowing terms of Mike O'Riordan and his dedication to Cromane GAA club. He can be seen morning, noon and night labouring away in the pitch, at club meetings, church gate collections and fund raising. Mike is first to open the gates for the matches and always last to leave, and always behind the scenes, quite, unobtrusive, never complaining and probably lucky to get ticket for the All-Ireland finals (no reflection on his club, of course).

The story was told at the reception that Mike's garden of spuds was on one occasion completely neglected and went to ruin because of the vast amount of time he spent at the pitch. Without his likes the GAA would wither and die, and people like Mike O'Riordan are just as important as Rule 42 or any other rule and to meet such exemplary men is one of the great joys of the Association.

Mike was accompanied to the presentation by his wife Hanna and daughters Ann Marie and Susan, daughter Vera and son Michael were unable to be attend. He expressed his great delight at being singled out for the honour and thanked his club and the Mid Kerry Board for nominating him.

These awards are sponsored by The Kingdom newspaper, The Lansdowne Arms Hotel, Kenmare and Radio Kerry and are a Terrace Talk initiative.

Next up will be the North Kerry and West Kerry boards as chairmen Derry Murphy and Der O'Connor nominate their Unsung Heroes of Kerry GAA.



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