Diarmuid Murphy: It pays for keepers to go long

It was just last month that Ciaran Whelan highlighted the ‘new’ kick-out phenomenon. Well, not all that new.

“I think we’re seeing a lot more long kick-outs,” he said. “If you were to analyse this year’s championship to last year and weigh up the stats, we’re seeing a lot more long kick-outs. Primarily, because it’s one way of taking four or five players out of it and beating the blanket defence.

“You see teams will step off, they’ll concede the short kick-out and they’ll retreat back. Whereas if you have a long kick-out and you win that breaking ball, and you’re in an attacking position you have less defenders. The long kick-out has become more effective. (Paul) Durcan shows Donegal are very, very good and very effective at booming it beyond midfield. (Stephen) Cluxton can do it, saw him doing it against Mayo in the All-Ireland. He can boom it.”