ON Sunday past, we witnessed the culmination of the provincial championships with Kerry, Dublin and Galway all winning their respective titles as expected. Both Kerry and Dublin won at a canter, again, without any realistic provincial challenger. What I found surprising was how Kerry played thirteen men behind the ball even though they were beating Limerick by double figures. For me this was a chance for them to implement a system they may want to use in a “competitive setting” before using it in future games that may require a more defensive approach.

Dublin dispatched all and sundry without even warming up and the way in which they clinically dismantled a naïve Kildare in the Leinster decider was emphatic. Kildare playing man-to-man against the Dubs in Coke Park was admirable but ultimately proved to be suicidal in their quest for the provincial crown.

Galway and Roscommon served up a closer affair than the two games that had been completed the day before. That being said, after Galway scored their second goal, the game did not look as if it was ever going to be turned on its head in favour of Roscommon. They rallied with a very late goal but by that stage Galway knew they had done enough to gain the win.

Derry was the only newcomer to the provincial table and before they won their Ulster title the game between themselves and Donegal was a bit of a coin toss to call. Derry captured their first Ulster crown since 1998, their eighth in total, after extra time and the game was a complete tactical battle throughout.

Since the weekend, there has been much debate about the provincial championships. Should they be kept or do they serve a purpose anymore? Those were some of the questions being asked. Another question being asked, especially about the Ulster final, was if the game was becoming lost as a spectacle?

Many people on social media and media commentators have lambasted the way in which both Derry and Donegal played in Sunday’s Ulster decider. Well, for a start Derry and Donegal both played two previous games before reaching the final, so everyone could see how both teams were going to set up and how they intended to play.

I watched all four provincial finals and the Ulster final was the only final that I did not turn over at any stage. It was the only that I watched from start to finish, extra time included. It may not have been the swashbuckling extravaganza that GAA spectators hope and pray for, so they feel they at least gained some entertainment value, but, for me anyway, it was an absorbing battle of tactical gameplay.

For those who may have found the game to have been dull, boring, unexciting, or even as Colm O’Rouke put it ‘what’s wrong with the game,’ I would like to suggest that you may be watching the game within a differing context. The modern game is ever-evolving at breakneck speed year in and year out as teams annually reinvent themselves in an attempt to improve their fortunes from the year previous.

The game is evolving at such a speed that the very DNA of the game has changed. The first DNA change of real relevance was the evolution from player positions (Full Back, Midfield, Full Forward etc.) to a more player role-based format (Line Breaker, Scorer, Loop Runner, Link Man, Guards etc.). The next evolution has been the modern day ‘Fly Goalie’ who now regularly joins the play as well as executing their goalkeeping duties.

The newest change which has not been discussed much (maybe because not many have realised), is that there is no more defending in Gaelic football. The old norm of you’re either defending your own goal or attacking the opponent’s goal has ceased to exist. What the game has now evolved into is a totally Attacking game. Always Attacking!

Teams are no longer attacking or defending but are always attacking and for me this is exactly how both Derry and Donegal were playing on Sunday. Whenever both teams had the ball, they were attacking the other team’s goal looking for the score. So, the question is ‘what are they attacking when they aren’t attacking the opponent’s goal?’ Simple. They were attacking the ball!

This new evolution of always attacking has two main characteristics:

1.  Out of Possession Into Position Attacking the Ball Aiming to Regain Possession.

2. In Possession Out of Position Attacking the Goal Aiming to Score.

Out of Possession Into Position Attacking the Ball to Regain Possession.

Simply put a team is Attacking the Ball in this instance and this is the new phrase for ‘Defending your Goal.’ Playing with this mindset ensures that your team is always playing on the front foot and resists the urge to sit back deeper and deeper inviting teams onto themselves.

The team is out of possession and therefore moves into their attacking the ball systemshape that they have trained during their sessions to enable them to maximise their efforts to regain possession of the football and then change their attacking focus to the goal.

In Possession Out of Position Attacking the Goal Aiming to Score.

Here the team has gainedregained possession of the ball and their attacking focus has now changed from the ball to Attacking the Goal. Now in possession the team moves out of their attacking the ball (defensive) positions, making space for the ball carrier attacking the opposition goal who is purposefully looking for scores.

Watching the Ulster final on Sunday, both of these new evolutions in Gaelic football were clearly evident for me. And watching the game within this context allowed me to enjoy the game and have a fuller experience of what was unfolding. While Derry attacked the Donegal goal, Donegal were attacking the Derry ball meaning no matter who had the ball, both teams were on the attack. Watching the game within this context gives you a more complete understanding of how the game is being played. Just remember teams nowadays are ‘Always Attacking!’

Email: pmgoalkeeping@hotmail.com

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Twitter: @MorSchGk