Football gets a lashing

MUNSTER secretary Donie Nealon has criticised football on two fronts. In his report to be delivered at next week's Munster Convention in Adare, Nealon expresses unhappiness with both the current standard of football and the awarding of Players' All Stars to a number of footballers who were under suspension after last September's All Ireland final replay.

Under the heading "Discipline/Sportsmanship" he says: "The disgraceful row that took place in Croke Park... was a terrible embarrassment to the whole Association. Croke Park's GAC did their duty in imposing the requisite suspensions on the culprits but it was utterly ridiculous to see some of these players... being the recipients of All Star awards a few weeks later".

He goes on: "This is a major departure from the criteria laid down when the original All Star awards system was first introduced, sportsmanship on the field of play was very much an integral part of the award scheme then and... I don't think anyone could reasonably object now to a player who had incurred just a two week suspension being qualified for consideration for such a prestigious honour, but anything more than that should disqualify a layer".

During the course of the original All Stars scheme, the GAA resisted attempts to qualify or abolish the rule that suspensions should affect a player's availability for an award. However, once the players' scheme was inaugurated, Croke Park performed a speedy volte face which meant that five players serving suspensions longer than a fortnight were honoured in last November's awards.

In his report, Nealon also calls on Croke Park to consider setting up a body similar to the Hurling Development Committee to examine the state of football. "Certainly," he says, "the game is not nearly as attractive to watch as it was in former years and an in depth look at some of its playing rules, the tackle and the solo run, in particular, is necessary because too many football games have taken on a monotonous pattern".