Most GAA fans have come to the realisation that team-sheets should be taken with a pinch of salt.
The rising prominence of ‘dummy-teams’ in the GAA world is marked, and a huge frustration to supporters and to players themselves.
Many GAA teams have adopted the policy of naming their teams on the Friday night before their game and going on to make a series of changes to these teams on game day.
Certain managers see it as a way of giving nothing away to their opponents. They see it as a way of gaining that critical advantage over their rivals who won’t be able to plan for their line-ups.
In fairness, it must be tough on the players involved too, who may be named to start, but have been told in training that they won’t be started. In order not to break the team ethic, these players might have to lie to their families and close friends to not give anything away.
Derry manager Damian Barton took the ‘not giving anything away’ approach to new levels before Derry’s clash with Mayo on Saturday in McHale Park.
Barton was asked by RTÉ’s reporter on The Saturday Game Live whether he had any late changes to his line-up.
“No, but the likelihood is, of course, it’s a 21-man game so, down the stretch, if we’re in the game, we’d like to think we’ve people that can go in and win us the game,” replied Barton.
Less than two minutes later, the teams were being named prior to the throw in and Ger Canning announced a ‘late change’ on the Derry team. Full forward Emmett McGuckin was being replaced by Michael McEvoy.
Now, it’s unclear if McGuckin got injured in the meantime but there were no such ensuing reports.
It just goes to show you, don’t believe everything you’re told.
