Brolly explains final Downfall

ALMOST six months after the act, James McCartan was still shaking his head this week. Blasted midfield. Cursed kick-out strategy. Gone and lost him an All-Ireland title. Won him the unwelcome crown of the first Down manager to lose a championship decider too. Thanks for nothing.

“Plan A had served us well all year and I suppose we just stuck with it,” said McCartan about his September regrets this past week. “Whenever Plan B was required, we hadn’t done it all year, I suppose, so that’s something I’ve looked at. In other words, I’m taking the blame too.

“There was a lack of movement because I spent 10 minutes standing beside (goalkeeper) Brendan McVeigh and I was looking at what he was looking at. I didn’t think we were giving him too many options other than to kick it down the middle. All we’re trying to do is vary things. Bombing the ball down the middle is not the only tactic.”