Confusion around tackle guaranteed to spark mayhem

Anyone whose playing career bridged the gap from the 90s to the mid-00s will be able to testify how training sessions changed beyond all recognition.

I witnessed the revolution at first hand. An ordinary footballer, I had the privilege of training under some first class managers. In that respect my CV is quite impressive as it includes Adrian McGuckin (11 MacRory Cup and four Hogan Cups), Brian McIver (All-Ireland club title with Ballinderry and league title with Donegal) and Charlie Sweeney (two Sigerson Cups).

In the 90s the aforementioned trio were among the best-informed managers in the game. And, like the vast bulk of their peers, they placed a huge emphasis on fitness and the basic skills. Tackling drills were extremely rare, but a glance at the honours won by those men proves their methods were highly effective. Work commitments forced me to quit playing in 1999 but I returned in 2003. A few years later ex-Tyrone midfielder Jody Gormley (former Antrim manager who led Abbey CBS to the Hogan title in 2006) was training us.