Galway 2-18; Kildare 0-17
With the weather playing spoilsport across Ireland at the weekend, all roads led to the newly reopened St Conleth's Park in Newbridge to watch Kildare host Galway in a game designed to give both squads exposure to the new rules under which the upcoming league and championships will be played.
So before we go any further, welcome to some new terminology folks. Galway won by seven points mainly due to their conversion of six two-pointers to their opponents’ zero on that score. To translate that meant that the Connacht champions kicked six successful efforts, four by footballer of the year Paul Conroy from outside the new 40-meter arc, thereby bestowing double value to the successful kicks.
Early days for sure as a bird never flew on one wing but if this is anything to go by, teams with players capable of finding the range from long distance have a much better chance of winning matches under Jim Gavin's new rules than those who persist in working the ball closer to goal and end up kicking a successful shot over the bar for a one-point value - the same as always.
From a spectators point of view, there was some confusion as whistles were blown against Galway for breaking the new rule that insists three players must be kept in the top half, but overall there were more scoring opportunities and the negativity of old didn't seem so prevalent as was the case before the changes.
That was due to the fact that with short kick-outs now impossible as the ball has to travel past the 40m arc, both goalkeepers had no option but to go long more often than not. This led to more mid-air duels which is what the rule was designed to do.
Galway's Conor Flaherty tried to get a few smart ones away but was intercepted and it led to Kildare scores - the result of that is Padraic Joyce will make him kick it long more often to avoid the concession of easy scores. There were almost 50 restarts via kickouts in this game so instead of the majority being to a player nearby as has been the case since Stephen Cluxton perfected that mode of ensuring possession stayed with his team, we can now expect more exciting high catching as a result of the long balls travelling the required 40m mark.
It is likely judging from this game that play will be further out the field as goalkeepers can no longer gain possession of the ball in their own half (unless their own penalty area) and must be attacking-minded enough to burst up past the half way line before they can legally take the ball on to create an extra man situation.
As previously mentioned, the “three-up” rule was a factor in this game though I expect that with a few more run-outs, management teams will see the futility of virtually giving away a score by not keeping three up.
Galway were caught twice and this allowed Alex Beirne to score a one-pointer on both occasions from in front of the opposition goal. Certainly, no one will allow this to happen in competitive games because of the punitive nature of the decision.
Interestingly when Kildare infringed with this rule, Matthew Tierney had the self-confidence to take the resultant free from outside the 40m arc area and thus was rewarded with a two-pointer.
Other new rules didn't really get a chance to show their wares in this less than full-blooded encounter with the solo and go advantage only being used on a handful of occasions. Similarly the attacking mark with Tierney the only player to use it - and got a one-pointer for his effort.
Scorers - Galway: P Conroy 0-8 (4, 2p); M Tierney 1-4 (1m, 1f, 1 2pf); C Ó Curraoin 0-3 (1 2pf, 1m); T Culhane 1-0; D Flaherty, C McDaid, C Costello 0-1 each. Kildare: A Beirne 0-9 (5f); K Feely 0-3; J Hyland 0-2; C Bolton, B McLoughlin, R Sinkey 0-1 each.
Galway: C Flaherty; S Fitzgerald, C Hernon, D Flaherty; K Molloy, J Daly, S Kelly; C Darcy, C McDaid; F Ó Laoi, S O’Neill, J McLoughlin; M Thompson, M Tierney, C Ó Curraoin. Subs used: T Culhane, S McGlinchey, C Sweeney, C Gleeson, J McGrath, P Conroy, S Mulkerrin, C Costello, L Ó Conghaile, J O’Neill.
Kildare: D Cordonnier; H O’Neill, M O’Grady, B Byrne; R Houlihan, J McGrath, K Flynn; K Feely, C Bolton; B McLoughlin, A Beirne, C Dalton; R Sinkey, D Flynn, N Kelly. Subs used: D Hyland, E Lawlor, J Hyland, C Barker, D Mangan, C Hagney, T Gill, T Archbold.
Ref: D Gough (Meath).
