“I think the GAA should tidy that up” – O’Connor calls for GAA rule-change after Kerry-Derry clash

And yet the place was only half-full.

Kerry manager Jack O'Connor found it hard, given the noise of the crowd, to get crucial messages into his players during their narrow All-Ireland semi-final victory over Derry on Sunday. The reigning champions were up against it in the dying stages of the game, two points down with ten minutes to go, and that led to a raucous atmosphere, despite there being a paltry crowd of just 43, 192 at the game. The Maor Foirne role previously allowed teams to use a 'runner' to give instructions onto the pitch but that was done away with in 2021, as certain counties abused the role by taking up space on the pitch during games. But O'Connor found it hard to get messages into the Kerry players on Sunday, particularly in those closing stages, and that's why he feels something must be done.

"You can’t get a word in out there," he said.

"It’s a desperate situation trying to get messages in, you’re wasting your time.

"Then you’ve linesmen yahooing at you if you put a toe over the line, you know. It’s something that has to be tidied up long-term because that can’t go on.

"Jesus, you should be able to get a message on to the field. I mean, Christ, you’re helpless. If you’re trying to make a switch it’s very very difficult, and then you have to try to think of other clandestine plans to get messages in, you know.

[caption id="attachment_290380" align="alignnone" width="1000"] 16 July 2023; Kerry manager Jack O'Connor is congratulated by Tommy and Anne Marie Lynch from Dooneen, Kerry after the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final match between Derry and Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile[/caption]

"I think the GAA should tidy that up [and allow] a certain amount of incursions on to the field in each each half.

"Two or three per half, surely to God they can allow that. It’s not fair with the effort that’s being put in nowadays. In front of that crowd you can’t hear someone from here to the door.

"Coaches should be able to get messages in, and I know it was abused in the past but allow three to four per half, that wouldn’t be any stain on the game.”

The message O'Connor wanted to get into his team at that stage, as they trailed late on, was for them to attack the Derry kick-out.