Micko Connell: Concept of Gaelic "football" gone

[kerrygold]

Mick O'Connell: Concept of Gaelic 'football' gone
By Micil Glennon | Updated: Monday, 13 Jul 2015 21:00
Mick O'Connell says he doesn't enjoy watching the game as it is played today
Mick O'Connell says he doesn't enjoy watching the game as it is played today
Two weeks ago, Cavan scored a goal within 25 seconds of the throw-in against Roscommon when Martin Reilly jinked inside his marker and slotted the ball home from eight yards. Reilly’s marker? Roscommon full-forward Donie Shine.
When Dublin’s marksmen struggled to find their range against Westmeath in the Leinster final, up stepped corner-back Philly McMahon to remind them how it’s done.
And when Donegal and Tyrone clashed at the start of the summer, the referee was the busiest man on the pitch, dishing out black, yellow and red cards to numerous offenders on both sides.
The game of Gaelic football has changed, changed utterly since Mick O’Connell’s time.
Contributors to a 1975 RTÉ documentary on the Kerry legend say the player was a “purist”, “a classical exponent of the pin-pointed kick,” and that “for style, nothing could ever equal O’Connell ”.
High praise. Incontrovertible truth.
O’Connell has four All-Ireland medals, won between 1959 and 1970, but plays down their significance.
“I just played because I liked playing,” he says. “I don’t rate my football time [by] medals at all.”

In an interview with Darren Frehill on Sunday Sport, the 78-year-old recalled how he first started playing with a ball, a universally identifiable story.
“Kicking,” he calls it. “We just went kicking with each other, as youngsters in the local fields, a few of us after school, kicking together.
"I think that is something that stood to us, that we were just practising the skills."
“I grew up in a fishing, sea-going family [that] was not involved in sport but there was a team here in Valentia Island always and we used to follow it locally and sometimes [go] up the river to Cahirciveen watching local teams playing.”
That “kicking” eventually led to a Kerry senior call-up and numerous NFL, Munster and All-Ireland wins.
"I saw Kerry playing last year in one game: there was 13 handpasses to one kick."
O'Connell is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time. He knows what he’s talking about. It comes from the heart and the head. He now refuses to call the game he once excelled at ‘football’.
“When I’m watching the game now I don’t mention football,” the islander says.
“I call it ‘Gaelic’ because of the preponderance of handpassing. To me it is a delusion but others think it’s great.
“When I was playing it I just played it as it was supposed to be played that time. I think it has been diluted down by the introduction of the handpass.
“I saw Kerry playing last year in one game: there were 13 handpasses to one kick.
“Look, the players are doing what the game allows and some people would think that I am an old player criticising players – they put a lot of practice in, in fact they put a lot more practice in than in my day. They probably have more facilities available to them.
“But generally, I think the game as it is being presented to them is something that doesn’t please me anyway, and that’s just a very personal opinion.
“They talk a lot about speeding up. There was a friend of ours here, he was a great sprinter, I don’t think he was a good footballer.
“Sonia O’Sullivan, she could run as good as anyone around the field, but would she be a footballer?
“I think the skills should come first, being able to field, kick well with both legs, [out] of the hands and off the ground.
“But there is another thing that has gone as well: kicking off the ground.
“The game now is different. I’m not saying that it’s better or worse, it’s what people want but it’s not my preference anyway.”
One of modern-day football’s notable characteristics is negativity: stop your opponents, swamp the defence, foul cynically, deny space, limit the damage.

Westmeath’s 13-point loss to Dublin was seen as some sort of victory as it was still a contest until the 40th minute.
Who enjoys the game as it is played now? How much fun is it for an inter-county player to train through the winter months with the aim of keeping the score respectable when they meet one of the top sides?
Do Dublin players get a buzz out of putting 20 or 30 points on a provincial rival? Do children in Derry dream of winning a game by the odd point in nine?
Apart from arguably Dublin, Kerry or Mayo in full flow, it’s those sort of scenarios that are turning many off the sport. O’Connell is among them.
Asked if he can watch and enjoy a match in these times, he has an answer that must resonate with many who grew up watching the games he played in.
“That’s a question, which to answer honestly, I don’t,” he says with regret.
“I have Sky television now. I follow all sports: soccer, rugby and hurling, the team sports, in particular.
“But I think of all the team sports that I know, it’s the least attractive to me.”
He blames neither players nor officials for the current state of the game but has a strong view on how we’ve reached this stage.
“There’s no concept of what was Gaelic football," he says.
"Any person with a good vision of the game would know what is practicable and what is not practicable"
“I’m following it now since the 1940s. They introduced a handpass. They put something in hoping that it might work.
"Sure any person with a good vision of the game would know what is practicable and what is not practicable.
“I think it’s an almost impossible game to referee. There’s a word introduced in the game now that was not in it all in my time. The word ‘tackle’.
“It’s often asked of me, ‘what do you think of the tackle?’ Are you talking about tackling the ball or the man? I says tackling the ball is what Gaelic football should be, not tackling the man.
“If you want to play tackling the man, play rugby and you can decently pull him down.
“Take the rules of Gaelic football now, I mentioned about the tackle, tackle the ball, it should be.
“I read in the papers ‘there was a black card’. I think they’ve gone tail-end ways to the game. The idea of the game should be a good game where there’s no fouls, that’s the ideal. To have a clear set of rules, which Gaelic does not have.
“And also the red and the yellow and now the black card, which is making it more difficult for the referee again.
“I think to referee a game, this might be a harsh statement here: a referee in Gaelic football is a martyr to the cause, I think.
"Because the players themselves have no clear set of rules and the referee is being loaded now with a pocketful of cards to show them and to take time and so on.
“That’s my answer about the black card anyway but it will be there and if there was another colour card come in from other codes I think they would introduce it as well.
"‘Tis the tail-end way of doing it instead of going for the ideal of having a minimum amount of fouls and less pressure on the referee to try and administer it.”
Wise words from one of the greats.

[keane]

I reckon this must be the fifth or sixth time Mick O'Connell has been wheeled out to tell us he doesn't like 'modern' football during my adult life. I think we get it.

[kerrygold]

There wasn't much wrong with the recent drawn Munster final. Still, it would take serious legislation to redefine the game back to a more traditional version of the game. I think he has a valid point about the tackle all the same.

[Mickmack]

and only the 4 midfielders should be between the two 45s for a kickout. That would be easy enough to enforce and high fielding would be back in vogue

[Annascaultilidie]

Jul 13, 2015 22:44:36 GMT Mickmack said:

and only the 4 midfielders should be between the two 45s for a kickout. That would be easy enough to enforce and high fielding would be back in vogue

High fielding is back in vogue.

[Mickmack]

The high fielding as practised by Mick OConnell where the highest jumper fetched the ball. There would be no "welcoming party" for him either when he returned to earth. Ah ..I think you know what I meant anyway..........

[valyn]

A few facts can be gleaned from google or youtube about the O Connell era. !959 all ireland final Kerry 3-7 Galway 1-4. Galway scored only 2 pts in the second half This was according to the great man in an era when teams were not defensive. Three teams Donegal, Clare and Leitrim in following three years of championship football scored 3 times between them [1 goal each in 1960,1961 and 1962]. Micko played in that game v Clare Kerry 1-13 Clare 1-0. I had the pleasure of playing with the great man and he was good but his memory seems to play tricks with him. I invite those of you of my vintage to imagine the carnage if our great fullback of of the O Connell era Paudie O Donoghue had to mark mark Michael Murphy or Aidan O Shea. I do not wish to disrespect any man who layed in any time but he would be already traumatised from marking Donaghy or Gooch in training. BTW it was in the end of the great O Connell's era when the GAA introduced the large square to discourage the practice of pulling down any forward who dared pass a back.These were good honest men in their day but it does nobody any good to paint them as supermen versus the 'poor' footballers of today.I am not very proficient on this thing but youtube and google are interesting tools to help us to ignore the negative dross of Brolly and co. and remind us to take joy in watching the super footballers of this era.

[piggott]

Happy 80th birthday to the great Mick O'Connell.

[buck02]

Very good interview here from Off the Ball last night:

www.newstalk.com/podcasts/Off_The_Ball/GAA_on_Off_The_Ball/173703/The_Legendary_Mick_OConnell_at_80__The_Interview


I laughed and laughed when he asked Molloy - 'What age are you, 23?' and 'I'd say you know nothing about the game'

[MrRasherstoyou]

Some of the Dublin-Meath games in the great Leinster era were awful

[kerrygold]

www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/legend-mick-oconnell-takes-a-look-down-memory-lane-at-80-437759.html

[Jigz84]

Heard the interview last night, didn't know whether to laugh or cry!

[Ballyfireside]

If you can see beyond the funny side, and in a way the gap got Micko going, and which meant that it was us that got a present on his birthday, of a brilliant insight into a man, the GAA, life in general, life of a genaral - and ah yes, a good auld bit of Kerry stubbornness, South Kerry stubbornness, Valentia Islandman stubbornness - I love it!

Everything about him (i.e. Micko) is to be adored, a straight talker and he is such an inspiration, I can even pick up on things from his attitude that I will try to fuse into my poetry technique.

A true genius, happy birthday and many of them auld stock and thanks for everything, and above all for your immunity to nonsense.

And one thing I learned here was that he may well have complimented his magic ball touch from the soccer with the Spanish fishermen. Remember him solo running, well tapping the ball from his foot repeatedly on the field of play, there is a notable clip of him in a blue jersey, i.e. not handling it as he made opponents as peripheral as he did that Newstalk laddo, the benchmark of humanity, made my day!

And a few days after listening to the interview, I would nominate it for the best ever interview of any human being, it is pure class, but it is only after a while you really understood what is going on. The classic line was his denial of passion, and what is ironic is that he is of course being truthful, a normal person would have to have a passion to perform like him but Micko is not normal, more paranormal, supernatural, The Kerry Ingredient personified, I had to pullover today as we chatted talking about it, everyone's eyes needed drying!

[piggott]

Most of the footage in the 1975 production is from post 1968 era when he was in his thirties. His best was in the 1958- 1962 years, a joy to witness.

[fitz]

Jan 5, 2017 16:23:18 GMT Jigz84 said:

Heard the interview last night, didn't know whether to laugh or cry!

To be honest and to be as polite as possible, I thought he was a very difficult interviewee, very snappy and curt. That said, extremely articulate and crisp in speech. I couldn't relate to the dismissal of passion, and the apathy toward winning or losing. That's the man though, and a great man he is and footballer he was, and the different times of course. Quite paradoxical these viewpoints of a man who has very detailed knowledge of players and teams in Premiership, but baulking at the notion he had a coach. I definitely can't see him indulging a lot of us distraught over losing Championship nevermind the disappointment losing league games The reaction of Gilroy and Molloy was funny afterwards, dusting themselves down after their ass whooping.

[ballynamona]

I thought Gilroy in particular was poorly prepared. Mick O'Connell gave a very similar interview to Newstalk many years back, perhaps for his 70th. It was Eoin McDevitt then I would think. It ran along the same lines, though less awkward.

It is frustrating to hear the same old interview with Mick. It would be good if someone prepared properly, and engaged with him in a proper discussion on what he would be drawn on. It is clear that he doesn't value medals or self-glorification. The increased pomp and hype on the day of the All-Ireland must dismay him.

It would have been great to ask him about a particular memory, opponent or game that stood out. It seemed like they were only prepared to ask him very high level and rudimentary questions. I think if they had done some prep they would have found it much less difficult.

I am loathe to quote Brolly but he said it was like Ant and Dec interviewing Seamus Heaney and he wasn't far wrong.

O'Connell certainly has a great mystique. I'm took young to have seen him play. His attitude to the game is very healthy in many ways. It is at odds with the way the game has gone though.

[Ballyfireside]

Jan 9, 2017 19:17:27 GMT ballynamona said:

I thought Gilroy in particular was poorly prepared. Mick O'Connell gave a very similar interview to Newstalk many years back, perhaps for his 70th. It was Eoin McDevitt then I would think. It ran along the same lines, though less awkward.

It is frustrating to hear the same old interview with Mick. It would be good if someone prepared properly, and engaged with him in a proper discussion on what he would be drawn on. It is clear that he doesn't value medals or self-glorification. The increased pomp and hype on the day of the All-Ireland must dismay him.

It would have been great to ask him about a particular memory, opponent or game that stood out. It seemed like they were only prepared to ask him very high level and rudimentary questions. I think if they had done some prep they would have found it much less difficult.

I am loathe to quote Brolly but he said it was like Ant and Dec interviewing Seamus Heaney and he wasn't far wrong.

O'Connell certainly has a great mystique. I'm took young to have seen him play. His attitude to the game is very healthy in many ways. It is at odds with the way the game has gone though.

This is one of the more sensible takes on the interview and which as I said I found humorous, if only because it was a man versus boys, as you rightly imply.

And it is an interesting suggestion that someone should get a proper interview. Key would be to get the right interviewer and Spillane as a purist springs to mind. MickO might respect him and if the prep was done then the GAA world would be a better place for it.

What I find amazing is that while I am a man for change, I don't believe in change for change sake and we have certainly lost a lot of the good things. If I have a criticism of MickO it is that he is unable and/or refuses to empathise with the less gifted and which incidentally is probably everyone else. Spillane could be similarly accused and I often think it is why Ulster folk resent him a bit at times. The likes of Brolly wouldn't have that problem, if only because they wouldn't have been as formidable in their day. Maybe a few pundits could do the 'interrogation', O'Rourke and yes, wee Joe might land a trademark punch out of the blue as is his form. Maybe invite questions from the public and then moderate them into a logical sequence, presented in a TSG like format. Now there's an idea for our County Board to make money from a video and I'd imagine that MickO would cooperate given his openness last week.

Contrary to what some may believe, he is not a crank, just a straight talking genius standard of sports intelligence. Similar characteristics could be identified in other notable sports people, local and not so local to Kerry GAAA. Ballydonogue's Polo era three of Finnucane, Dowling and Cremin come to mind as do Eamon Breen and John Egan, and that's just off the top of my head.

[kot]

Jan 9, 2017 19:17:27 GMT ballynamona said:

I thought Gilroy in particular was poorly prepared. Mick O'Connell gave a very similar interview to Newstalk many years back, perhaps for his 70th. It was Eoin McDevitt then I would think. It ran along the same lines, though less awkward.

It is frustrating to hear the same old interview with Mick. It would be good if someone prepared properly, and engaged with him in a proper discussion on what he would be drawn on. It is clear that he doesn't value medals or self-glorification. The increased pomp and hype on the day of the All-Ireland must dismay him.

It would have been great to ask him about a particular memory, opponent or game that stood out. It seemed like they were only prepared to ask him very high level and rudimentary questions. I think if they had done some prep they would have found it much less difficult.

I am loathe to quote Brolly but he said it was like Ant and Dec interviewing Seamus Heaney and he wasn't far wrong.

O'Connell certainly has a great mystique. I'm took young to have seen him play. His attitude to the game is very healthy in many ways. It is at odds with the way the game has gone though.

Brolly's article now is hardly an example of a good analysis of the interview. As they pointed out on Sunday he fabricated what happened in lots of the interview, fiddled around with the minutes of the meeting and added his own spin..... as he nearly always does.

I do find it funny that it is the same Brolly they often give airtime to on that show is now the fella they are at loggerheads with. Maybe the best thing out of this whole episode is that it is one less medium the little runt has to spew on!

I don't know if there was much more they could do to draw Mick into a discussion on something as they asked him if he had any other passion in life - "No passion whatsoever". What more do can you do? He just doesn't have time for chit chat it seems so rather than being ill prepared, was the error bringing Mick on in the first place when he doesn't really care for all the hoopla around memories or interviews?

[falveyb2k]

Given how low key the great Micko is, it's hard to see him walking on to a field during a match to tell a corner back to stop that carry on son. Brolly telling a lie again perhaps to make a point? Surely not!!!!!

[ballynamona]

Jan 10, 2017 9:24:21 GMT Ballyfireside said:

Jan 9, 2017 19:17:27 GMT ballynamona said:

I thought Gilroy in particular was poorly prepared. Mick O'Connell gave a very similar interview to Newstalk many years back, perhaps for his 70th. It was Eoin McDevitt then I would think. It ran along the same lines, though less awkward.

It is frustrating to hear the same old interview with Mick. It would be good if someone prepared properly, and engaged with him in a proper discussion on what he would be drawn on. It is clear that he doesn't value medals or self-glorification. The increased pomp and hype on the day of the All-Ireland must dismay him.

It would have been great to ask him about a particular memory, opponent or game that stood out. It seemed like they were only prepared to ask him very high level and rudimentary questions. I think if they had done some prep they would have found it much less difficult.

I am loathe to quote Brolly but he said it was like Ant and Dec interviewing Seamus Heaney and he wasn't far wrong.

O'Connell certainly has a great mystique. I'm took young to have seen him play. His attitude to the game is very healthy in many ways. It is at odds with the way the game has gone though.

This is one of the more sensible takes on the interview and which as I said I found humorous, if only because it was a man versus boys, as you rightly imply.

And it is an interesting suggestion that someone should get a proper interview. Key would be to get the right interviewer and Spillane as a purist springs to mind. MickO might respect him and if the prep was done then the GAA world would be a better place for it.

What I find amazing is that while I am a man for change, I don't believe in change for change sake and we have certainly lost a lot of the good things. If I have a criticism of MickO it is that he is unable and/or refuses to empathise with the less gifted and which incidentally is probably everyone else. Spillane could be similarly accused and I often think it is why Ulster folk resent him a bit at times. The likes of Brolly wouldn't have that problem, if only because they wouldn't have been as formidable in their day. Maybe a few pundits could do the 'interrogation', O'Rourke and yes, wee Joe might land a trademark punch out of the blue as is his form. Maybe invite questions from the public and then moderate them into a logical sequence, presented in a TSG like format. Now there's an idea for our County Board to make money from a video and I'd imagine that MickO would cooperate given his openness last week.

Contrary to what some may believe, he is not a crank, just a straight talking genius standard of sports intelligence. Similar characteristics could be identified in other notable sports people, local and not so local to Kerry GAAA. Ballydonogue's Polo era three of Finnucane, Dowling and Cremin come to mind as do Eamon Breen and John Egan, and that's just off the top of my head.

I expect Dara O Cinneide could do an excellent interview with Mick O'Connell.

[kerrygold]

Jan 10, 2017 22:43:18 GMT ballynamona said:

Jan 10, 2017 9:24:21 GMT Ballyfireside said:

This is one of the more sensible takes on the interview and which as I said I found humorous, if only because it was a man versus boys, as you rightly imply.

And it is an interesting suggestion that someone should get a proper interview. Key would be to get the right interviewer and Spillane as a purist springs to mind. MickO might respect him and if the prep was done then the GAA world would be a better place for it.

What I find amazing is that while I am a man for change, I don't believe in change for change sake and we have certainly lost a lot of the good things. If I have a criticism of MickO it is that he is unable and/or refuses to empathise with the less gifted and which incidentally is probably everyone else. Spillane could be similarly accused and I often think it is why Ulster folk resent him a bit at times. The likes of Brolly wouldn't have that problem, if only because they wouldn't have been as formidable in their day. Maybe a few pundits could do the 'interrogation', O'Rourke and yes, wee Joe might land a trademark punch out of the blue as is his form. Maybe invite questions from the public and then moderate them into a logical sequence, presented in a TSG like format. Now there's an idea for our County Board to make money from a video and I'd imagine that MickO would cooperate given his openness last week.

Contrary to what some may believe, he is not a crank, just a straight talking genius standard of sports intelligence. Similar characteristics could be identified in other notable sports people, local and not so local to Kerry GAAA. Ballydonogue's Polo era three of Finnucane, Dowling and Cremin come to mind as do Eamon Breen and John Egan, and that's just off the top of my head.

I expect Dara O Cinneide could do an excellent interview with Mick O'Connell.

That would be interesting and might work ballynamona. It is very difficult to get Micko to talk about football when out and about.

[glengael]

To remain on the theme of South Kerry genius for a moment, I think it was 2015 before Maurice Fitz gave a print interview of any substance. I would still recommend it be read and if he never gave another interview about football of the rest of his days, I for one wouldn't be too bothered.

Many of today's radio interviewers are trained for the diet of the usual 'GAA speak pre-prepared replies' that are in the communication strategy of modern day players and managers. As a consequence, they wouldn't have much experience in dealing with anyone who is even slightly different.

[Ballyfireside]

Jan 10, 2017 22:43:18 GMT ballynamona said:

Jan 10, 2017 9:24:21 GMT Ballyfireside said:

This is one of the more sensible takes on the interview and which as I said I found humorous, if only because it was a man versus boys, as you rightly imply.

And it is an interesting suggestion that someone should get a proper interview. Key would be to get the right interviewer and Spillane as a purist springs to mind. MickO might respect him and if the prep was done then the GAA world would be a better place for it.

What I find amazing is that while I am a man for change, I don't believe in change for change sake and we have certainly lost a lot of the good things. If I have a criticism of MickO it is that he is unable and/or refuses to empathise with the less gifted and which incidentally is probably everyone else. Spillane could be similarly accused and I often think it is why Ulster folk resent him a bit at times. The likes of Brolly wouldn't have that problem, if only because they wouldn't have been as formidable in their day. Maybe a few pundits could do the 'interrogation', O'Rourke and yes, wee Joe might land a trademark punch out of the blue as is his form. Maybe invite questions from the public and then moderate them into a logical sequence, presented in a TSG like format. Now there's an idea for our County Board to make money from a video and I'd imagine that MickO would cooperate given his openness last week.

Contrary to what some may believe, he is not a crank, just a straight talking genius standard of sports intelligence. Similar characteristics could be identified in other notable sports people, local and not so local to Kerry GAAA. Ballydonogue's Polo era three of Finnucane, Dowling and Cremin come to mind as do Eamon Breen and John Egan, and that's just off the top of my head.

I expect Dara O Cinneide could do an excellent interview with Mick O'Connell.

He' be good and MickO would respect him. Still I'd be thinking that there should be input from other geniuses, those who have achieved at the highest level of endeavour, be it in sport or business and they would also need be have a bit of GAA in the blood, also nearer MickO's years.

On a similar note I was chatting to a stalwart today and we were thinking that the modern game works against special players. Now it is not clear cut but players today work more to a prescription as part of a system as opposed to free roaming of old.

[MrRasherstoyou]

Off The Ball, and all that stuff, epitomises for me the gaping chasm between my generation, and before it, and the next one after mine. I would call a full generation gap in time terms about 20-25 years.

To us they seem flippant, superficial, and either in a big hurry to not take time to explore things, or spending ages talking waffle that to them is entertainment. Of course, thats just like...... my opinion man.

I don't really agree with the previous post's conclusion. In the past more 'individual' players often got 'taken out' physically, and through cynical fouling etc. These days there is a bit more protection.

[mafi97]

#Reference - that post of Kerrygold's on Jan 5th, giving the link to Micko's interview in the Irish Examiner.

He says that a lot of his playing contemporaries are now no longer with us. He refers to his first Munster Final in Killarney in 1956 and says that of that team only Tom Long and Sean Murphy remain. Am I not right in thinking that Jerome O'Shea was playing that day and is still to the good?

Micko seems to have forgotten (unlikely) that his first Munster Final was the drawn game that year in the old mud field by the Lee. Although, given the dreadfulness of everything about that game, it is probably no surprise that he appears to have wiped it from memory.

I'm sure Kerrygold will be able to set the record straight about the Jerome O'Shea thing.

[piggott]

www.terracetalk.com/kerry-football/game/692/1956-Kerry-Vs-Cork

Jerome O Shea was at No2