Why games are often won before the throw-in

IT WAS interesting to reflect this week on the amount of tactical debate that’s been generated by last Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling semi-final between Waterford and Kilkenny.

The general consensus is that hurling has now become as tactical a game as football and all other participants in the hurling competition are frantically trying to solve the conundrum that is Kilkenny’s game plan in order to deny them the outstanding achievement of four-in-a-row.

Many people bemoan the amount of tactics being used in both codes but whether you agree with it or not, tactics have a huge part to play in deciding hurling and football games in the present era.