McShea's Say: Weekend's action showed that the new rules are here to stay

When Roscommon beat Down in Dr Hyde Park on Sunday in both sides’ first introduction to the new rules designed by Jim Gavin and the FRC, it’s amazing to say that both teams scored a total of 51 points between them.  

Roscommon won the game by 3-21 to 1-20 with the Rossies hitting three two-point scores, while Down recorded six.  

In the three Division 1 matches played, the six teams scored a total of 6 goals and 75 points. This is a most positive development because scores are what we all want to see. It’s what makes the game exciting, and the initial indicators from the weekend are extremely positive.  

Another very positive aspect of the weekend’s games was the fact that the short kick-out will be a thing of the past. It was great to see teams contesting the traditional long kick out, where good fielding of the ball should once again become an art.

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It was once said that ‘repetition is the mother of learning and the father of action which makes it the architect of accomplishment’. So, I do hope and believe that we will see much repetition and an abundance of scores as the league progresses and teams become even more familiar with Jim Gavin’s blueprint.  

There was an understandable degree of apprehension about how the new rules would be managed by our referees, but to their credit, there were very few controversial issues, and common sense was a feature of the performance of the men in black.  

One of the reasons for the increased scoring levels was the rule regarding the three men up, and that will ensure that defenders will now become responsible for man-to-man marking.  

This was once regarded as a thing of the past as most teams played with 12 or 13 defenders back when the opposition attacked, so defenders were getting much support and help from their friends further afield.  

The first half of the Galway and Armagh game was the poorest game of the weekend as Padraic Joyce’s side played as if they learned nothing from their All-Ireland football final loss.  

Again, their lateral football and attacking play was awful, as they scored one point in the first 27 minutes, but to their credit, they were a transformed outfit in the second half and won with a bit to spare against Armagh.  

It is a pity to see Rian O’Neill, one of Armagh’s best players, take time out from the game currently. He is a real talent and he will be a real loss to this Armagh outfit. 

Heartbreak for Naomh Padraig in All Ireland Junior Final 

There is no tougher way to lose any game than to concede a last-minute score, but to do it in an All-Ireland final is especially tough.  

This is how the Naomh Padraig men lost to An Cheathru Rua in Croke Park on Sunday. While in Donegal we are not in the business of having an issue with referees, it did look like a clear-cut free when Dermot Keaveney was pulled down in a gilt-edged scoring position in the closing seconds. 

This was clearly not one of referee Jonathan Hayes’s most inspired calls but great credit has to go to the Inishowen men creating history last weekend and making the entire GAA community in Donegal so proud. 

The Abbey Vocational School’s MacRory win 

I was at the MacRory Cup semi-final in the Fr Tierney Park on Saturday where the Abbey Vocational School team overcame Donegal Southwest in the Ulster A contest.  

This was an enjoyable game between two talented teams and the Abbey created history by reaching their first MacRory Cup final, a magnificent achievement by the Donegal Town school.  

From a Donegal perspective it was very encouraging to see quite a few players on both sides show an ability that will no doubt see them perform on a bigger stage over the next few years.  

Amongst a talented Abbey outfit, Oisin Doherty and Conor Mc Cahill were brilliant in the first half, while Tiarnan McBride, Kevin Muldoon, and Turlough Carr were fantastic throughout.  

For the losing side, who kicked too many wides in the first half, Alex Cunnea, Aaron Neely, and Jordi Gribben played very well.

This was a good display by the Abbey Vocational School, but I do believe that there is even more football in this side and their manager Stuart McFadden deserves much credit for his team’s brilliant run to this final. 

Just a word of caution, I feel some of his side’s short passing was laboured and the player receiving the ball must attack it quickly and not wait for the ball to land in his arms, but this is something that can be worked on and eradicated in training over the next two weeks before the final.  

Donegal Ready to Face the Dubs 

This week Dublin are the visitors to Ballybofey for what will be Donegal’s opening game in the league after their game with Kerry was postponed.  

Dublin, with several debutants on board, looked most impressive in getting their league campaign off to a winning start in a most enjoyable encounter against Mayo last Saturday.  

Dublin v Mayo games seem to have a unique ability to throw up attractive and close games for many years now, and last week's match was also in that enjoyable category.  

Dublin will be pleased to have James Madden back after almost seven years with the Brisbane Lyons in the AFL, while the big news this week is that Stephen Cluxton will also be back in pursuit of that elusive tenth All-Ireland medal.  

Looking at Mick Fitzsimons winning his All-Ireland medal with Cuala two weeks ago, I believe that he will join Cluxton in pursuit of their incredible objective.  

Talk of Dublin players retiring and causing them to be vulnerable should be taken with a pinch of salt. It was often stated that after DJ Carey retired Kilkenny would not win another All-Ireland for years, but after he left the Cats, Kilkenny won the next four All-Irelands in-a-row.  

While there will be a great atmosphere in MacCumhaill Park on Saturday night, it will take a lot of work to beat the Dubs.