Paul Rouse and Mario Rosenstock were the guests for the Sunday Paper Review on Off the Ball at the weekend.
Ireland's failed bid to host the 2023RWC was one of the main talking points over the weekend but an article by former Kerry footballer, Marc Ó Sé, focused on how a lack of infrastructure in rural Ireland is slowly beginning to affect the GAA at grassroots level.
"It's a great piece by Marc Ó Sé," Rouse told Joe Molloy, "when he talks about infrastructure and he kicks off from the fact that Fitzgerald Stadium, being such a fine stadium for a rugby match, and he notes the fact that broadband - there was a broadband issue around Fitzgerald Stadium and then he talks about the absolute disgrace this first world economy has overseen third world provision for large swaths of rural Ireland.
Kerry's Paul Geaney scores their second goal at Fitzgerald Stadium. Image: ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan
"'This is an issue that goes right to the heart of the GAA - no jobs, no people, no children and eventually, no club. This is happening all over rural Ireland and I see it on my doorstep' - so this is Marc ó Sé (and he) talks about south Kerry and there's ten clubs competing in the minor championship and this time, six of those ten clubs have been united and were playing each other in the final.
"So, on one side, you had Renard and Cahirciveen playing on one team and then you have, on the other team - Valentia, Portmagee, Derrynane and Sneem - the fact is, brilliant line: 'Valentia island to Sneem takes well over an hour to drive and that's the distance they went to construct a minor team' which tells you everything you need to know about rural depopulation.
"It's an extremely stark read," he added.
The full discussion can be heard here:
