Castlehaven back on top but football is in need of change
Castlehaven supporters celebrate after defeating Nemo Rangers. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
CASTLEHAVEN’S two-point win over Nemo in the Bon Secours Premier Senior Football Championship final was a historic one for the west Cork club, as they forged a near repeat of their 2013 title win – a two-point victory over Nemo.
Ultimately, Castlehaven deserved to win. They were exceptionally patient in their build up play, and were careful not to give the ball away going forward, something their opponents were guilty of one too many times.
Even though the Haven had one wide more than Rangers – nine to eight, it wasn’t enough to influence the result, as the team in blue and white continued to pressure Nemo, and were able to pass around Rangers’ press.
The Haven were clinical when it mattered most. When they were on the back foot with 15 men behind the ball in injury time, they were patient and cautious not to foul. When they did eventually force the turnover, they raced forward with an opportunity to seal the tie.
They could have taken a wild swing at the open Nemo goal, but instead, they worked it forward, and Michael Hurley took his time, ending the game with an excellent kicked point.
The win was a big one for Castlehaven, they secured their sixth title overall, but it also marked the end of the dominance enjoyed by St Finbarr’s and Nemo Rangers, who had been the only PSFC title winners since Carbery Rangers’ triumph in 2016.
While we may see the Barrs or Nemo retake the crown next season, the Haven managed to knock out the two giants of Cork football on their way to glory this season, and it will certainly provide a boost for a team with a strong blend of youth and experience as they look to build on this one in future seasons.
St Finbarr’s and Nemo came into this championship as hot favourites, but they both struggled to match the pace of Castlehaven in the semi-final and final respectively, and now they’ve paid the price.
The state of Gaelic football has been a hot topic all season long, but this game surely puts the final nail in the coffin for many fans across the county.
Compared to the stunning, free-flowing attacking show put on by Cill na Martra and Bantry Blues in the Premier Intermediate final just before, the Premier Senior final was stale to say the least. Haven and Nemo would have been better as the curtain-raiser for the PIFC final.
Both teams were passing the ball back like it was a rugby game, and you could count on one hand the number of times we saw a kick pass deep into the opposition third in the first half. 0-4 each at half time, with neither side showing any sort of attacking intent. Pathetic.
The second half certainly started with a bit more life, but within 10 minutes the intensity died down, and we were back to watching a glorified challenge game.
It’s time we experiment with the rules. Whether it’s implementing a shot clock like in basketball or a rule that you cannot return to your own half with the ball once you have travelled beyond it, or even by placing a cap on the number of consecutive handpasses a team can make – it has to change.
This is supposed to be the pinnacle of Cork football – but that, simply put, was a forgettable county final.
At the end of the day, sport is entertainment. It’s supposed to be enjoyable. That was not enjoyable.
When you’re playing at a high level in any sport, winning is paramount, and it always will be. That’s no secret to anyone.
The teams go out there to win a trophy, not to entertain.
It’s up to the governing bodies of the sports we watch to ensure they are enjoyable, and the GAA must do something about football.
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