James Horan says teams still not exploiting full attacking scope of new rules

Horan believes a "herd mentality" exists when it comes to tactics in Gaelic football

James Horan thought Galway lacked dynamism in how they attacked against Dublin. Pic:  ©INPHO/James Crombie22

Teams have still not explored all the attacking possibilities of the new rules, according to Football Review Committee member James Horan.

Speaking on the Irish Examiner’s Gaelic Football Show after Galway’s victory over Dublin in Pearse Stadium, the former Mayo player and manager felt both teams in the relegation showdown were limited in their attacking play.

“It was a game where I thought both teams were conservative in how they attacked,” said Horan.

“A lot of lateral, a lot of structured, very little dynamic. I was disappointed with Galway in that regard. I thought some of their forwards had a lot of chances where there was daylight to go for it and didn’t. They cut back and took the safe option.” 

Speaking after the game, Galway manager Pádraic Joyce was critical of how “pedestrian” they were in attack. He also referenced having identified it as an issue after the Monaghan win last weekend. The home outfit only scored seven points in the first half on Sunday.

Horan’s hope is that more teams will start to evolve in the same way they did with kickouts.

“It is mad how different things take shape. The kickout, the idea that there would be no short ones anymore, or no more long kicking. You can do what you like. There are rules obviously, but in the 11v11, you can do whatever you like. There is nearly a herd mentality that it has to be this way. ‘You can’t do anything else.’ Over time it evolves.

“The rules promote risk-taking. How many long kicks inside with the offensive mark have we seen? That is something that gives the option of going for goal. Today, there was one occasion when I counted seven or eight Galway players on there with a one v one inside. Even a long handpass, the Alan Brogan handpass, would have bypassed so many players.

“There are so many different things. It is predictable the way Galway attacked; if they added that bit of variety, they would become a different beast.”