Football

Damian Barton backs the introduction of mark in football

Derry manager Damian Barton has backed the introduction of a mark to reward high fielding in Gaelic football <br />Picture by Philip Walsh
Derry manager Damian Barton has backed the introduction of a mark to reward high fielding in Gaelic football
Picture by Philip Walsh
Derry manager Damian Barton has backed the introduction of a mark to reward high fielding in Gaelic football
Picture by Philip Walsh

THE art of high fielding has “never” been properly rewarded in Gaelic football, according to Derry manager Damian Barton.

The GAA are again set to debate the idea of introducing a ‘mark’ to the sport at this weekend’s annual congress. Motion 41, submitted by Central Council after the idea had been put forward by the standing committee on playing rules, proposed the idea be introduced from kickouts that go beyond the 45-metre line. The player would be rewarded with the option of a free-kick or playing on when taking a clean catch from a kickout.

However, reports on Tuesday suggested the motion may be withdrawn ahead of the weekend due to the lack of a proper trial period. The mark has been trialled in this year’s Leinster Minor Football League, but hasn’t been looked at at senior level since the 2010 season. Back then, it was trialled during the McKenna Cup, but the idea failed to get the necessary two-thirds majority when put before congress that April.

If the motion were to fail this weekend, it would be five years before it could be brought back to congress, which has sparked the suggestion it will be withdrawn. Barton, who was centre-forward on the Derry team which won Sam Maguire in 1993, believes the sport has never truly rewarded one of its oldest skills - and that the modern game is heavily weighted against high fielding.

“Someone rises and catches a ball, that’s a skill which is almost out of the game now," the Derry man said.

“The acceptance of kicking a ball out and four people, ie midfielders, competing for the ball is almost a thing of the past. People have been trying different strategies to work around that and retain possession.”

The Newbridge man, whose native club celebrate their 90th anniversary with a gala dinner on Friday night, believes the skill should be more amply rewarded: “I think it was something that should have been looked at in a more serious light, rather than just ticking a box and saying ‘we’ll try it’," he added.

“If a guy can rise amongst others and secure possession, I can’t see the logic in him being smothered, as can and does happen. If he’s being smothered by three or four people on his way down, he can lose his balance, he’s maybe suffocated and blown up. So he’s penalised for the art and skill of the high catch.

“It’s always been a component of the game that spectators, managers and everyone appreciates. It’s coached from an early age, the ability to secure ball, yet I don’t think that particular skill has ever been rewarded in a positive way.

“That can be backed up statistically, if you look at the number of people who secure possession in the middle third of the pitch, or on the edge of the square and get blown up for charging or overcarrying. There’s an element of fairness in the spirit of the game which has not been seriously looked at. Personally, I think it’s something that should be rewarded.”

It is not just from kickouts, however, that Barton would like to see players making a clean catch given a reward. He believes introducing a rule that offers the mark for clean catches made inside the 21-metre line would also encourage teams to revert to a longer kicking game.

“The ability, whether it’s a full-back or a full-forward, to rise and take that critical ball in a critical area of the pitch, that should be rewarded rather than having a guy come down and, invariably, be suffocated by packed defences and there’s absolutely no reward for it," he said.

“It may encourage the longer game, which is something that most people want to see anyway.”