“It’s not the sensible option, it’s the safe option”
You’re on the edge of your sofa, willing your county forward on the TV and suddenly the star man is on the break, he’s clean through on goal, just the keeper to beat, your heart is palpitating, you’re holding back the inevitable ecstasy of relief when this ball surely hits the net, but no… he’s gone for the fisted point.
Glass half-full viewers groan about the missed goal chance while glass half-fullers, see the benefit of keeping the scoreline ticking. However, even the most positive of GAA fans will admit that it’s at best, an anti-climax.
Discussing the matter on the GAA Hour, Colm Parkinson believes that there are only certain times that it’s acceptable: “Con did it at the weekend and he’s an assassin, Ciarán Kilkenny did one and it was one of the worst. It was a throw, it just landed on the roof of the net, it’s like he threw a rock.
“Fenton did it too, straight through on goal – I never thought he would stoop so low. When is it acceptable to fist a point in a game? For me it’s when you’re a point up to put two points up, I’ll take it at that stage.”
Former Dublin centre-back, Ger Brennan was also on the show and he agreed that the much more exciting option, from a fan’s point of view especially would be to go for the jugular and stick it in the back of the net.
“If the goal is on, I’m all for going for goal,” said the former All-Ireland winner. “Keep the pressure on, because you don’t get too may goal chances in a game and players with that sort of quality should find the corner.
“Sometimes if you’re under pressure, the game is potentially going against you and you missed a few easy scores, that’s nearly a psychological impact on the squad and the oxygen can be taken out of your momentum.
“You just want to get the ball over the bar, get back into the game and put a squeeze on the opposition kick-out. I’m all for going for goal when it’s on but the last couple of minutes of a game and you just want to kill any hope that the opposition have, pop it over and go four or five points in the lead.”
Parkinson also allowed one other circumstance: “I also accept the coming in at an angle, I’ve fist passed plenty of points coming at an angle but Fenton’s was straight down the middle.
“Would the game be losing anything from losing the fist passed point?”
That would be a game-changer. Knowing that every time a forward is close to goal and the fisted option isn’t allowed, could result in some wonder goals. The likes of Michael Langan and Peter Harte showed last weekend that the reward can certainly be worth the risk.
“I think it would add much more excitement,” agreed Brennan. “Here’s a guy coming through, is he going to get it, if it’s a Michael Darragh McCauley, who would fist it over because that’s what Michael does, he’s not known for his kick-passing – would he score it?
“It adds a whole new element of excitement to the game.”
Listen to the full discussion on the GAA Hour now
