Éamonn Fitzmaurice: Football's finest minds are now exploring smart tactical possibilities

Cork are finding Colm O'Callaghan, challenged here by Ciaran Brady of Cavan. Pic: Credit ©INPHO/Tom Maher

Last year the new Gaelic football rules forced the game to move on. There was so much thrown at the players and managers simultaneously that the first campaign of the rules was always going to be about growing accustomed to them, finding a way that worked for your group and largely sticking with that, with little adjustments as they went. 

A full season of club football in the meantime has given the top minds in inter-county football the time and space they needed to really start thinking about the possibilities that lie within the rules and about coaching and exploring them. While it will take a few years to maximise the possibilities, it was clear already last weekend that teams are innovating and successfully adding to their tactical repertoire. Here are short takes on some of these, with one initial longer take on one evolution that hasn’t materialised properly yet - but will.