Attacking football pleases president

Just three months have passed since Liam O’Neill used the word “boring” while bemoaning the defensive nature of football and the over-reliance on hand passing, but the GAA president sounded a far more upbeat note about the code yesterday.

“We have had a step up in the attacking nature of our football and we are very pleased by that,” said the Laois official who was at the Castlebar Mitchells club to launch the All-Ireland football championship series.

He added: “If you remember, I never criticised football. I said certain tactics in football were making the game... that dreadful (boring) word which I was quoted (using)... but I am not going to repeat here.

“I did say at that time that the All-Ireland colleges final and the U21 final in football this year were examples when Gaelic football is played in an offensive manner by skilful teams, there is no better spectacle.

“Given that the games have been so competitive, it is laudable that teams have gone on the offensive and we are seeing the results. 2-18 was a fantastic score by Donegal last Sunday.”