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The aim of the current study was to compare positional differences in running demands and technical performance variables among elite Gaelic football teams from separate Divisions. Data were obtained from a Division 1 (26.7 ± 2.9 years, 179.2 ± 21.3 cm, 89.9 ± 21.2 kg) and a Division 3 (25.7 ± 3.5 years, 183.0 ± 4.7 cm, 84.4 ± 6.5 kg) team. Match-play running variables were collected using 4-Hz global positioning system (GPS) units (VX Sport, New-Zealand) (Match data sets; Division 1: n = 107, Division 3: n = 97). Selected variables assessed were high speed running distance (HSR) (≥17 km·h), number of high-speed efforts (HSE) (≥ 17 km·h), relative high-speed distance (RHSD) (≥ 17 km·h; m·min) and percentage of time at high speed (%HS). Each variable was analysed across the 5 positional groups in Gaelic football (full-back, half-back, midfield, half-forward, full-forward). The same 25 competitive games were analysed using GPS and the Sports Code video analysis system (Sports Code Elite V9, Sportstec, NSW, Australia). Technical performance variables selected for analysis were total kick/hand passes, tackles, shots and percentage of time in possession. HSR running demands were differentiated between the divisions; the Division 3 team demonstrated significantly greater HSR, HSE, RHSD and %HS than the Division 1 team (p <0.05). Positional-specific analysis found that the Division 3 fullback and midfield positional lines had significantly greater HSR, RHSD and %HS than their Division 1 counterparts. The Division 1 team made a greater number of total tackles, with significantly more tackles in the middle third (p <0.05). The Division 3 team performed a significantly greater number of hand passes and unsuccessful shots per game (p <0.01). The results of the present study indicate that overall technical proficiency, rather than high-speed running profiles, differentiate Division 1 and 3 Gaelic football teams.

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Mangan, S, Ryan, M, Shovlin, A, McGahan, J, Malone, S, O'Neill, C, Burns, C, and Collins, K. Seasonal changes in Gaelic football match-play running performance. J Strength Cond Res 33(6): 1686–1692, 2019—Time of season influences performance in many team sports; however, the anomaly has not yet been examined with regards to elite Gaelic football. Global positioning systems (4 Hz; VX Sport, Lower Hutt, New Zealand) were used to monitor 5 elite Gaelic football teams over a period of 5 years (2012–2016). In total, 95 matches equated to 780 full player data sets. Running performance was characterized by total distance (m) and high-speed distance (≥17 km·h−1; m). High-speed distance was further categorized into 4 match quarters. Time of season was determined by month of the year. Time of season had a significant effect on total distance (p ≤ 0.001 partial η2 = 0.148) and high-speed distance (p ≤ 0.001 partial η2 = 0.105). August and September were significantly different from every other month for total distance (p ≤ 0.001) and high-speed distance (p ≤ 0.002). Month of season and match quarter had a significant interaction with high-speed distance (p ≤ 0.001 partial η2 = 0.106). High-speed distances run in the fourth quarter in August (478 ± 237 m) and in September (500 ± 219 m) were higher than any other quarter in any other month. This is the first study to show that time of season influences running performance in Gaelic football. The findings have major implications for training practices in Gaelic football.

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