James Horan: ‘I couldn’t help watching the game through the lens of the new rules’
TOUGH TO TAKE: Kilcoo's Niall Branagan dejected after the match. Pic: INPHO/John McVitty
A second Ulster final defeat in three seasons will be tough to take for Kilcoo, who were the better side for significant periods of Sunday’s decider, according to former Mayo manager James Horan.
Speaking on the Irish Examiner’s Gaelic football podcast, Football Review Committee member Horan lauded Errigal Ciarán’s finish and Peter Óg McCartan’s wonderful winner while stressing Kilcoo will rue their 47% conversion.
“I thought Kilcoo, even after the red card, were probably the better team,” he said.
“They had the most energy, their pace and tempo was there. I thought they were dominant throughout most of the game. With the sending off, over time, as the game went down the stretch Errigal pulled forward and got a couple of great scores. It is funny, I didn’t think it was a good game overall but the drama in the last ten minutes, which is what we have seen a lot over the last while. The last ten minutes is when the game breaks out.
“I couldn’t help watching the game through the lens of the new rules. The amount the goalkeeper was used, Errigal Ciarán got a great score using it. Kilcoo were attacking and a player was hacked down, that would have been a 50-metre free with the new rules and it is a tap over score. The difference it would have made in that game. The three up as well when you see how Kilcoo defend.”
Errigal Ciarán will face Dr Crokes in the All-Ireland club semi-final with Coolera/Strandhill taking on Cuala. Those games will be played under the existing rules.
Otherwise, the 2025 season for club and county will operate under the new rules.
“All of that, what we saw on display, will significantly change. It will be interesting to see how those two teams would play under the new rules.”
