Offaly footballer Cormac Egan pictured at the launch of the Dalata Hotel Group's sponsorship of the All-Ireland U20 Football Championship. To coincide with the sponsorship, Dalata Hotel Group unveiled a campaign entitled 'For Difference Makers', celebrating the shared values deeply embedded within both the GAA and Dalata. The For Difference Makers campaign will run throughout the duration of the U20 Football Championship, shining a light on the exceptional people whose commitment and hard work becomes the difference that makes the difference.
By John Harrington
Offaly footballer, Cormac Egan, is the latest player to lend his voice to the growing chorus of support for the FRC rule enhancements.
The attacking wing-back believes they’ve had a transformative impact on the game and made it a much more enjoyable sporting experience for the players.
“It's made the game more exciting and way more fun to play,” said Egan today at the announcement that the Dalata Hotel Group are the new sponsors of the All-Ireland U20 Football Championship.
“I don't think it's even comparable to what it was before.
“I feel bad even saying this but I remember playing in matches last year at times and you're thinking, 'Jesus, this is a bit of a drag, this is dragging on, this is the longest half ever'.
“I think it's just made the game way mor enjoyable. There's a lot more football being played and there's a lot more space. For the better players in the game it creates a lot more space so they're able to show what they can do.
“I think with the old rules you were quite programmed to not take chances and to be a bit conservative.
“We talked a lot about 70-30 – that it was 70-30 in the opposition defence’s favour when you kicked the ball previously because they had lots of men back, whereas now it's often one v one so the 50-50 pass is on and if you're a good kick-passer of the ball you can get it to them.
“We're three games into what's nearly a new sport. It's going to progress as time goes by and as the weather gets better we're going to see way more free-flowing football.”
Cormac Egan of Offaly during the Allianz Football League Division 3 match between Offaly and Sligo at Glenisk O'Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile.
The players aren’t the only ones deriving more enjoyment from Gaelic football under these new rules, Egan has also sensed a mood-shift in the stands .
Offaly supporters have never been shy about expressing their opinion, and audible frustration has been replaced by vocal encouragement.
“When you're playing that conservative football last year at times and you had to play it safe if you got a lead up and you had to kill the game a little bit, you would feel the crowd on you,” he says.
“You're there to do a job so you're not letting the crowd affect you too much but you do feel the groans when you go back to the goalie and they're telling you to go forward with the ball.
“I'd rarely get a ball playing with Offaly now and not hear everybody shouting, 'Go, go! Go at them! Take them on!'
“I guess with these new rules if you beat a man you're normally running into grass so it does create that extra bit of a buzz. I think Offaly are a crowd like that where they do want to egg you on and they want you to play good football and attractive football and go out and have a cut.
“I think the crowd is a lot more invested now and they know that a game can change so quick. Especially with the two-pointers, if a team gets a bit of momentum and kicks a couple of them, then suddenly the game is back on.
“I think we had a seven or eight point lead against Antrim and then they kicked two or three two-pointers and we went at half-time only two up. It can really ignite the crowd and get everyone involved in the game.”
You can understand why the Offaly supporters want Egan to drive forward whenever he gets the ball because he’s a dynamic player who can make things happen.
Pictured here to announce the Dalata Hotel Group five-year sponsorship of the GAA Under 20 Football Championship is Aisling O'Reilly, presenter, Dermot Crowley (Dalata CEO), Cormac Egan, Offaly, Tomas Ó Sé, Kerry, James Sargent, Derry, Dr. Máire Treasa Ní Cheallaigh, sports psychologist and Jarlath Burns, GAA President. From today, the championship will be titled Dalata Hotel Group GAA Under 20 Football Championship.
A star of the All-Ireland winning U21 team of 2021, his development was stalled for a couple of years by two serious hamstring injuries but he’s now starting to really fulfil his potential.
“I've been back nearly a year and a half without any injuries now,” says Egan. “I'm really enjoying my football now and it's nearly a mental switch.
“You're going out and you're constantly trying to improve whereas before when you're coming back from injury you're in that middle ground before you're half thinking about the injury and you're not going out to improve, you're nearly going out to just get by.
“I think it's not talked about how much the affect injuries can have on you mentally. I was in college during it so I was enjoying myself but you're constantly doing rehab and you're nearly even worried to go out on a night out because you're thinking if I pick up another injury what am I going to do?
“You kind of feel that burden on you. To be injury free and enjoying your football you're constantly looking at trying to get better and how can we get better as a team and on a personal level.
“It’s definitely a mental switch, I’m really enjoying it and hopefully we'll have a good rest of the year with Offaly.”
It’s been a very positive year so far for the Faithful County with three wins from three over Sligo, Laois, and Antrim in Division Three of the Allianz Football League.
The double-act management team of Declan Kelly and Mickey Harte seem to be getting a good tune from a young panel with a lot of potential.
“He's brought so much energy,” says Egan of Harte. “Obviously to get someone like Mickey in, you're trying to get as much out of him as you can, knowledge-wise, because he's done and seen everything in the game.
“He's just brought so much energy and so much positivity around the place. He's constantly looking at ways we can improve and what we can do better and constantly building towards the next game and the next goal. It's been a really positive experience so far and hopefully that will continue.
“I think the whole set-up as a whole has been really good so far. It's a really professional set-up. Declan and Mickey are working really well together. They're two men with similar beliefs and they're trying to get a similar message across. It's working out well so far.”
