Mac's View: Limiting hand pass could be a game-changer

The proposed new rules for Gaelic football got the thumbs up from Central Council at the weekend with a few tweaks which I would be in favour of including the retention of three points for a goal and the ‘45’ being worth just one point.

But during my conversation with Peter Campbell this week, he was telling me that he met a very wise man from Legaltion, Ballyshannon last week who felt that there was only one change necessary to put Gaelic football back on track - ban the backward or sideward hand pass.

And when you think about it, that one change would be much easier to referee because the referee is always looking at the play as it happens. At club level how can a referee keep an eye on play and also on how many players are in each half. 

Limiting the hand pass to a forward motion would change the culture of coaching overnight. Maybe it is not too late to have it included in the list of options which are going to be put to the Special Congress at the end of the month.

BUSY WEEKEND

It was a busy weekend on the club front in our neighbouring counties and both St Molaise Gaels (Grange-Cliffoney) and Erne Gaels (Belleek) were very close to lifting the Sligo and Fermanagh titles respectively. 

St Molaise Gaels had the ball over the bar after taking a short free but the referee deemed that the game was over after the free was hit. He should have told the freetaker and it was very disappointing for the Cliffoney-Grange men. I would know them very well with one of their former stalwarts, Joe Keaney, a club member here in Bundoran. A number of their team would also have gone to school in Bundoran.

In Enniskillen Erne Gaels, under Declan Bonner, had a great chance in the final minutes from a free but dropped it short.

Both will have another chance this weekend and they are wished well.

The level of competition in Derry is strong with the All-Ireland champions, Glen, going out against Newbridge in the final. I remember playing Newbridge in the Ulster club championship in 1970. The game was  fixed for Bundoran and Edward Quinn would not budge in changing it to Ballyshannon despite the pitch being like a bog. It cost us and I remember the Ballyshannon element giving me a lot of stick.

The defeat of Glen in Derry underlines how hard it is to stay at the top. But it is good for football to see new teams.

Now this weekend we have a big number of Donegal teams in Ulster action in mens and ladies football.

The big one is St Eunan’s against Errigal Ciaran on Saturday evening in Omagh. The game is  on RTE television and I might watch it and save myself a trip.

St Eunan’s have the wherewithal and the players to do well. I would be a little concerned that the big pitch in Omagh might not suit the St Eunan’s defence. Those Canavan lads will not be easy to hold.

St Eunan’s should be looking at this level. They have the depth in talent, more so than any other club in the county.

It would be nice to a Donegal team progressing. I remember the great excitement with Gaoth Dobhair winning Ulster and then going to the All-Ireland semi-final against Corofin in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Good luck also to Termon, who play Derrylaughan of Tyrone in the curtain-raiser in Omagh in the Intermediate club championship. I would give them a good chance as they are a useful side. But they will have to be on their guard as Tyrone football is strong at the minute.

Good luck also to Naomh Padraig, Muff, who are in action in the Ulster Junior club on Sunday against St Comghalls of Antrim. It will be a big day for them and it would be great to see them going through to the semi-final.

Good luck to the Termon and Downings Ladies teams, who are also out this weekend and commiserations to Dungloe, who went down fighting last weekend in Ulster.

Good luck to our All-Star nominees with the announcement this week. I would be very hopeful that we will get two at least. Peadar Mogan is a big favourite and fingers are crossed also for our other nominees.

SYMPATHY

My sympathies this week to the Coughlan and Gallagher families of St Naul’s on the deaths of Anthony Coughlan and Clement Gallagher. The Coughlan family is very strongly linked to St Naul’s. Anthony’s late grandfather, Austin, was involved in the GAA throughout his life with St Naul’s and Donegal and his cousin, Mary, is now Co chairman.

I had the late Clement Gallagher as a county minor in 1969 and he went on to captain St Naul’s to win the Junior Championship in 1972.

Ar dheis De go raibh a n-anamacha.

Brian McEniff was in conversation with Peter Campbell