Forde: Inter-county football today would leave me 'depressed'

The game has become too defensively orientated, according to the former Wexford forward.

FORMER WEXFORD FOOTBALLER Matty Forde has said that he’d hate to play inter-county football nowadays because of the increased defensive nature of the game.

The 2004 All-Star forward told RTÉ’s weekly GAA podcast that he’d be left “depressed” by blanket defences and sweeper systems cancelling out any opportunity for creative attacking play.

“To be honest, I’m absolutely delighted I’m not playing inter-county football anymore. It would be so frustrating.

David Power and Mattie Forde celebrate at the final whistle Forde is currently involved with David Power's side as a selector. Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

“It’s basically down to how well your defensive system plays and how much you can hold out a team. Whoever sets up the best will win the game.

“That’s all you hear now: ‘they have a great defensive system, they work well as a unit in defence’.”

Forde, who helped Wexford to an All-Ireland semi-final appearance in 2008, emphasised his point that talented players be cancelled out as a result at ease.

“Great forwards and teams can now be easily cancelled out. There’s just no room in the game for a James O’Donoghue or Colm Cooper these days. God, I would hate to be them now.

“I can understand a side getting their house in order. It’s six years since I played; I loved going training but I’m involved with Wexford at the moment and I’m struggling to see how lads from other counties are enjoying it.

“We were top scorers across all four divisions this year and we did not do that by playing defensively.

“But I would say that outside of Wexford the lads of my era possibly enjoyed their football a lot more than the current lads.”