A TEMPLATE FOR CHANGE

Ladies final proved innovation that revitalised men's product is needed

- BY KARL O'KANE

IN THE build-up to the All-Ireland final it was offered up to Vikki Wall in an interview that the two-point arc might be a welcome addition to ladies football.

The Meath star was wholly in favour of it, in terms of rewarding the skills of the game and shooting.

After the All-Ireland final at the weekend, the clamour for change in the ladies game will only increase.

Only the most ardent Dublin fan could argue that the Dublin/Meath game was a good spectacle to watch.

In the stadium it felt like it was over after the second goal went in.

Dublin were ruthless and efficient, doing exactly what they had to do, but the game is bigger than any one county.

The short kick-out and how you can pack the defence made it too easy for Dublin to control the game once they established a big lead.

The recent changes to the men's game are an example of how you take the control away.

The two-point arc, not allowing back-passes to the goalkeeper and the kick-out having to be outside the arc have transformed the game.