COMMENT: Can a brilliant intercounty season be further enhanced?

So here we are, just after creeping into August and the football and hurling season is all done and dusted. Strange or what? God be with the days when the August weekend was Leinster SFC Final Day and the All-Ireland finals popped up in the first few weeks of September.

For now it is all over and it will be interesting to see, from a football point of view, if Jim Gavin and his high-powered Football Review Committee (FRC) are brought back in to take a further look at the playing rules?

There is little doubt that the new rules (not sure how long we can keep calling them new but no matter) have changed the game of Gaelic football.

The game that we know today is miles away from what we had prior to Jim’s Boys getting involved.

Who would have thought a few short seasons ago football would out-shine hurling to the extent that we have seen in 2026. It is really unrecognisable.

No doubt much better to play. No doubt much better to look at. No doubt much more enjoyable.

The game has come from being practically on its knees to a game that now has so much appeal, much more skill, a lot less defensive, and a lot more conducive to talented forwards.

Just look what two-pointers have done to the game.

We have seen, at both club and county level, teams looking all but washed-up getting a run of two-pointers that drag them back into contention, and on many occasions, over the line.

The excitement that rule alone has brought to the game has been amazing.

But is that it? Is what we have now the finished product? The finished article? Good and all as it is can it be enhanced even further?

A lot of discussion still around a few aspects of the football rules that could possibly be looked at. Could be slightly amended. Slightly tweaked.

And the main gripe? Well, two spring to mind.

The first being the necessity to hand the ball to an opponent after a foul has been committed, the ball being advanced 50m. Is there actually a need for that?

If the offending player simply placed the ball on the ground, immediately, and I emphasise immediately, would that not be sufficient?

We have seen on a number of occasions this year, just how costly failing to hand the ball to an opponent can be.

Sallins come to mind immediately in their All-Ireland Club Intermediate semi-final. Very harsh.

The question remains though: Does the penalty fit the crime?

The second rule that sees the ball being brought forward for a breach of the 3x4 or 3x3, or whatever one wants to call it, remains very contentious, very harsh, again.

Would just advancing the free some 30m or so suffice?

Talk is Jim and the Boys are taking another look at whether a goal should be the equivalent of four points. Opinion is certainly divided on that one.

But could making a goal worth four points do for the game what long range scoring (two-pointers) has achieved in recent times?

So even after a magnificent Season of Sundays (and Saturdays) there could be even room for further improvement. Bring it on!

Meanwhile most would probably agree that All-Ireland finals, both football and hurling, going into September is too late, but there is little doubt that the end of July is too early.

Should those in authority take another look at those dates?

Possibly they will but don’t expect any major changes, maybe pushing on the finals a week or two at the very most even. Maybe even ask Jim & the Boys for their views.

There is no doubt that fixtures are a real problem. And it is very difficult to see, with so many games, how it could be resolved and suit everyone at the same time.

But, for example, when you see Kildare minor county footballers, being asked (being told) to travel to Cavan to take on Tyrone for an 8pm throw-in for an All-Ireland semi-final, on a Friday evening, well that really beggars belief.

Anyone that knows anything about travelling knows that asking Kildare fans, let they be from north Kildare or the likes of Castledermot in the deep south of the county, to make such a journey on the busiest motorway in the country on a Friday at that time, any Friday, every Friday, is horrendous.

But who cares about that? No one it would seem.

Enquiring from a county board official if something could be done about that when the fixture was announced, the reply was along the lines: we let our feelings be known about the day, the time, and the venue, but we did not want to kick up too much of a fuss as it would be a distraction for the young players.

Codswallop!

And when you see the second semi-final was scheduled for the following afternoon, a Saturday at a prime time of 5 pm, if memory serves me correct, one can only scratch one’s head in bewilderment.

Was it, is it, a case of television dictating? Probably had a lot to do with it but that is hardly fair to players, to their families, to supporters and remember the attendance at that particular game was way below what one would expect for an All-Ireland semi-final.

Maybe the income from live TV makes up for the drop-off in the gate receipts, which is grand for those in authority, but does very little for those involved.

Will it change? I wouldn’t be holding my breath on that particular one!