When tactics go out the window

As last Sunday’s epic Munster club SHC quarter-final turned into extra-time, the TG4 cameras zoomed in on Ballygunner boss Fergal Hartley addressing his players, huddled together in the middle of Walsh Park, before they faced Thurles Sarsfields for another 20 minutes.

“Not much talk about tactics there,” said TG4 co-commentator Donal O’Grady. “At this point it’s about the players having the heart for it.” A few days later, with that dramatic two-point win in the bag, Hartley agrees.

“Absolutely, it’s less about tactics at that stage than getting them to focus and to be positive, and that’s always the fall-back position.