Conor McManus Reveals Unexpected 'Dilemma' Faced By GAA Players At Croke Park

With the GAA season having reached the latter stages of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, it's fair to say that we have been treated to some top class games in recent weeks.

The new rules introduced to Gaelic football at the start of 2025 have certainly improved the sport as a spectacle. In fact, the games played in peak conditions at the height of summer have only hammered home impact they have had.

The All-Ireland quarter-final weekend provided supporters with a hue amount of excitement. We were treated to some top class football across the four fixtures in Croke Park.

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The new iteration of Gaelic football has certainly thrived at GAA headquarters, with the faster pace of play ideally suited to the expansive surroundings on Jones' Road.

In saying that, it has also brought up one issue that can prove to be difficult to solve for players.

Writing in the Irish Times, Conor McManus said that games being played in Croke Park can result in players struggling to choose the right type of footwear, as evidenced by the most recent round of games.

The big dilemma for players with a hard surface such as Croke Park is usually what studs to wear.

Again, as a general rule, backs tend to prefer studs because they can’t afford to slip whereas forwards choose firm-ground boots. When it’s wet, though, there are problems...

Tom Lahiff came on for Dublin and the ball was played towards him. It was a fairly vital ball at the time, but there was no pressure on him and he was going to win it.

Next thing he slipped and ends up touching the ball on the ground: a significant momentum swing from small details.

A slick surface with a rock hard pitch underneath can certainly be difficult to adapt to, resulting in unexpected slips in the heat of action.

The incredible conditions in Croke Park are certainly enjoyed by the top level GAA players, although this insight from McManus does show how it can also impact the game in unexpected ways.

With two massive fixtures set to take place at the venue this weekend, this will be something to keep an eye out for.