Éamonn Fitzmaurice: 'We're going to have a new game, it's going to be faster, it's going to be more direct'
EXCITED: Special Congress’ decision to pass all of the Football Review Committee’s rule changes will put the enjoyment of playing back into the game, says FRC member Éamonn Fitzmaurice. Picture:
Special Congress’ decision to pass all of the Football Review Committee’s rule changes will put the enjoyment of playing back into the game, says FRC member Éamonn Fitzmaurice.
The longest debate in Croke Park centred around whether the rules would come into play for club games in 2025 but only Longford and Sligo spoke against the motion and it exceeded the simple majority backing that was required with ease.
At the post-Congress press conference, former Kerry manager Fitzmaurice was asked about Kerry chairman Patrick O’Sullivan’s comments during the discussion that the game was dying.
"I think maybe what Patrick was talking about was, in terms of attendance, in terms of interest, it certainly had declined dramatically over the last couple of years,” said Fitzmaurice. “There still were good games, but there was a lot of the same game.
“I'd be very excited in general, both for club and county next year. We're going to have a new game, it's going to be faster, it's going to be more direct.
“It's going to allow our players who've never been as skilful or as well conditioned to express themselves in a manner that's going to be entertaining for the crowds that are going to be there.”
Fitzmaurice continued: “I think that will transfer down to club level as well. Possibly as a player, talking to some of the lads, some of the enjoyment of just playing had gone out of it. I think the enjoyment was in the competing, the trying to win. But the actual joy of just playing football, which certainly all of us would have had a lot of, I think that was gone and I think that will be back.
“I think that players are just going to enjoy the act of playing again, as well as competing on top of it. I'd be very excited, for Kerry and club football in Kerry but also nationally.
“I can't wait for the games to start, I can't wait for the bright coaches and managers to get stuck into it and to bring their own nuances and to see the best version of all of our players now, rather than maybe the way that a lot of their talents have been limited over the last couple of years.”
