JOE BROLLY HAS been highly-critical of the trend of ultra-defensive tactics in Gaelic football, saying it is “a race to the bottom”.
Dublin’s 0-8 to 0-4 victory over Derry in Division 1 of the Allianz Football League made for difficult viewing on Saturday as the Oak Leaf men adopted a negative gameplan and RTÉ GAA analyst believes it is destroying the sport.
“I was there,” Brolly said on 2fm’s Game On. “Everybody started booing after about 15 minutes.
“We’ve been here. I call it footballing myxomatosis. Jim McGuinness introduced it in 2011 and we saw it in the Dublin-Donegal semi-final that year
“Croke Park was booing then but that was because both teams decided to play the blanket defence that day. Pat Gilroy decided to match Donegal’s tactics.
“For a while Donegal could say it was still quite a good spectacle because they were coming up against teams that were playing man-to-man football and the games were quite exciting. Last year the Dubs just pushed everybody forward.
“But what’s happening now increasingly is that the myxomatosis is spreading throughout the land. In Connacht there’s only one team, Mayo, who are still trying to play football as we understand it. In Ulster there are no teams. In Leinster there are very few and in Munster all of them are now playing the blanket defence, including Kerry.
“It culminated in last year’s All-Ireland final and the reality is that people are becoming increasingly disconsolate about the game.
“I was at a charity event today and there were six or seven current county footballers who played yesterday and all are disconsolate about the way they’re being trained to play now.
It’s a race to the bottom, it’s dispiriting to the individual and it’s destroying the ethos of the game.
Some inter-county managers have responded to criticism by insisting that results are more important than the spectacle, but Brolly claims it is their obligation to refrain from ‘footballing myxomatosis’.
“Mickey Harte said ‘we’re not in the business of entertainment’,” he added. “Well then f*** off and play behind closed doors if you’re not in the business of entertainment. Have you ever heard such a perverse thing?
“Brian McIver, the Derry manager, after the game on Saturday night, he was apologising, he said ‘well we don’t want to play this way, I know it’s awful to watch’. Well then don’t play that way!
“Really the thing has become abysmal now. It’s a race to the bottom and there’s no end in sight.”
Listen to the full Game On interview here
How was Porter not nominated. The stand out scrummager and ball carrier.
Because there are only 5 places and they seem to be spreading the nomination across 5 different Countries. He has been excellent too, though.
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Deegan has been brilliant all tournament and scored one of the tries of the competition in the semis. Let’s make sure to get our votes in while they’re all asleep in New Zealand.
I think having the public vote is unfair, it means England will probably win it on the basis of having a bigger population and just a case of blind voting.
You should probably click the link Cathal; it’s a wall of votes for Deegan.
I have clicked it ( Im one of the voters on that wall) great to see! If Malinder wins it it will be a disgrace, for me Deegan is the clear winner and if anyone wins then the IRFU should complain tbh.
Good man Cathal. Hopefully we will have plenty to celebrate come Saturday night.
God yes, i’d actually prefer us win this match than the series in SA (Although I would prefer we win both!)
I know World rugby like to spread the candidates by nation but I feel 1 player isn’t enough, Porter and Ryan had to also been in the running and I’m only naming a few!
He may have shine in a few games but he’s far from our best player.. Was terrible during the 6 nations, in fact was dropped and very average for Lansdowne 20s this season
The 6 nations isn’t relevant in a player of the tournament poll.
It’s an award for player of the tournament , therefore how he played during the 6 nations or for Lansdowne is irrelevant
I don’t get what the 6 Nations has to do with his brilliant performances in the under 20 World Rugby championship?? But maybe you can fill us in.
But he’s not been nominated for his six nations performances…This is for the world championship….where he’s been ireland stand out player.if you say he hasn’t had a great season does that not make his performances all the better?
Marc. That is a very interesting comment. Did he play 20s all season without playing AIL?
Christiaan he played both AIL and 20s , won the 20s cup with Landsdowne, delighted he’s playing well and nominated, just stating the facts on his 6 Nations and club form.. How Porter and Stockdale aren’t nominated beggars belief.. Constantly brilliant
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