McShea's Say: GAA should be very concerned at rate of departures to Oz

Finnbarr's grace and skill were captivating every time he pulled on his Donegal or Glenties jersey.

Finnbarr's ability to bend a game to his will, or to forge a victory when all seemed lost or at least uncertain, has been an essential element of his game since he made his senior debut a few short years ago.

A key measure of football greatness lies not just in a spectacular act, but in the timing of that act. For one so young, Finnbarr had a unique ability to lift Donegal when his team needed him most.

The wider picture, the bigger one that should worry the GAA, is that the numbers now going over to Australia and being a success are accelerating.

The high-performance environment that inter-county GAA now operates at leaves our youngest and brightest talents ripe for picking.

Look at the LGFA’s plight right now. The top 50 ladies footballers are all in Australia. And so much of the progress made in the last decade in ladies football has been undermined.

The product, because of those absences, is not at the level it once was. The GAA could be feeling a similar pinch in the next few years if the pace of departures doesn’t slow down.

Last week, before Finnbarr's decision to play in Australia was announced, Donegal were second favourites to win next year's All-Ireland title at odds of 9/2. This week, Donegal's odds have gone out to 10/1. That is a clear indication of the esteem in which Finbarr is held.

Parking those concerns though, it’s a great opportunity for Finnbarr and I wish him the very best of luck in his career Down Under. I have no doubt he’ll be a huge success.

Identity

People choose sport because of the happiness it brings, and often this overwhelms everything else as a reason for sporting choice.

The elemental joy of kicking a football is something that extends back through history. There is nothing in this world to replace that fundamental pleasure.

That is not to say that there are not other great pleasures. It is merely to point out the particular nature of the pure fun of playing and the difference it can make to one's life.

Sport is also shaped by the influence of where people live, where they went to school, or what games their family or friends played.

On a beautiful day in Ballybofey on Sunday, MacCumhaill Park looked resplendent, the atmosphere was terrific, and once again the county executive excelled in ensuring that everything went very smoothly.

Both the St Eunan's and Naomh Conaill teams gave everything in their quest for the honour and glory of becoming Donegal champions, but there could be only one winner.

The Letterkenny team played with a desire so often associated with Glenties teams, performing with outstanding determination and no little skill in the closing seconds of a game that went down to the wire.

Eunan's led early in this final, and Naomh Conaill had difficulty finding any rhythm. However, to their credit, a good two-pointer from Ciaran Thompson gave them a lift, and by half-time they had reduced the deficit to a manageable two-point margin.

That first half was not one to remember, but after the break the intensity went up several gears, while the tit-for-tat exchanges made for a much more interesting spectacle.

When Glenties went two points up with three minutes left on the clock, it seemed that the title was bound for Glenties for another year. But, to their credit, Eunan's showed commendable desire, and Niall O'Donnell's two-pointer was followed by the winning point from Ciaran Moore.

It was fitting that Moore hit the winner, as he had a very fine game and his class and athleticism shone through when his team needed him most. Niall O'Donnell made a big impression when introduced, while Eoin Dowling won some great ball in the middle of the park for the winners.

Glenties will have great regret about this defeat, but with the match up for grabs, some of their forwards tried to rescue the game on their own rather than maintaining the systematic approach that had served them well earlier.

Meanwhile, defenders became so desperate to clear the ball that they forgot about basic marking duties. That combination of errors was critical to the outcome.

Ciaran Thompson, as usual, worked hard for Glenties, even if some of his long-range shooting was not as accurate as usual. Max Campbell also impressed, and Shea Malone was very good in the second half.

Eunan's had a good day, also winning the Senior B final in the curtain-raiser against Four Masters.

One incident late in this game I found difficult to accept. As two opposing players engaged in half-hearted shoving, the Letterkenny forward threw himself to the ground as if hit by a bus, and his seriously unsporting act resulted in his innocent opponent receiving a red card.

That was a very wrong refereeing decision, while the culprit, when his management decided to withdraw him, was left in no doubt about his behaviour by the response he received from the capacity crowd in the packed stand. Such unsporting behaviour has no place in our great games.