James Horan: ‘I just don’t believe 15 players think that is the right way to go’

PODCAST: The approach adopted by Glenullin in Sunday's All-Ireland Club Intermediate football final does not work under the new rules, according to former Mayo manager James Horan.

The approach adopted by Glenullin in Sunday's All-Ireland Club Intermediate football final does not work under the new rules, according to former Mayo manager James Horan.

Speaking on the Irish Examiner’s Gaelic football podcast, Football Review Committee member Horan praised An Ghaeltacht’s composed performance in Croke Park.

“An Ghaeltacht did everything that they should have done. If a team are going to be that defensive, when they come down, go behind, it absolutely makes perfect sense for An Ghaeltacht to do what they did. They were in the lead, a couple of points and the opposition sat in deep and stayed there. Remember it was 0-9 to 0-1 at half-time.” 

While the Kerry club were in possession for long periods in the opening half, Glenullin sat extremely deep. After the game, their manager Michael O’Kane felt it was their attack rather than defence that underperformed.

“To me, it just doesn’t add up,” said Horan.

“In the second half, An Ghaeltacht didn’t need to do much. They just needed to play a higher percentage game than what they would of. That was exactly the right thing to do. I find it a bizarre setup and structure that Glenullin came with and it is hard to break that mindset if you are trying to chase a game.

“To me, a team that comes out that conservative, you are planning conservative and thinking conservative all week. When you come to the game, it is very hard to get out of that frame of mind.

“It doesn’t add up if you are trying to win a big game like that.” 

He continued: "I always think, if you were with certain teams and as management that is the way you are trying to play there are going to be players saying this is a load of absolute tosh. I just don’t believe 15 or 20 players think that is the right way to go. That in itself is complicated. It is just a disappointing way to set up and play.”