Replying To tearintom: "For what its worth I don't think the issue lies with handpassing, blanket defences or anything of the sort. My issue is with the approach taken by teams influenced by the current competition structures.
At the moment an awful lot of teams are setting up with 2 objectives, the first one is to go and win the game and the second is to make sure if they are beat its not by a demoralising amount that affects the team. Whats better, losing by a point or two by not really going full belt to win it or losing by 8 plus point but having a real cut at winning it. The issue is the current structures making the first option the more reasonable approach.
That's why we see better games from this stage on every year in the football. It's a case of nothing to lose lets go for this, look at Westmeath this weekend in the 2nd half when they went for it with nothing to lose, different team altogether as an example.
The structures are the issues. We have to find some way to further reward attacking football. Theres nothing wrong with handpassing in my book, its an essential skill of the game, a team attacking and working the ball up the pitch utilising slick handpassing moves is a joy to watch. Running unopposed to the half way line and passing the ball backwards and sideways for the next 5 minutes isn't a joy to watch.
League football tends to be more enjoyable than championship. One reason being is score difference counts. A few more scores in a game could mean the difference between relegation play off or promotion play off for example. A 1 point win is the same as a 10 point win in Championship.
Imagine a championship played on a league/knockout basis with bonus points handed out for teams who score more than 20 points in a game for example.
Improve the structures and reward teams for attacking football and we would see a far more entertaining game in my opinion."
make a lot of good points there, teams need to have a realistic aim and exciting and fresh structure
As the person who originally started this post I am glad to say we have had 5 excellent/decent matches between the 2 codes since the Tipperary Galway football Quarter Finals. Tyrone/Mayo, Donegal/Dublin, both Tipp/Waterford matches and the Tipperary/Galway hurling match. Defensive systems are totally absent in the hurling and less evident in the football matches. Great to see.
Replying To Wicklowman: "As the person who originally started this post I am glad to say we have had 5 excellent/decent matches between the 2 codes since the Tipperary Galway football Quarter Finals. Tyrone/Mayo, Donegal/Dublin, both Tipp/Waterford matches and the Tipperary/Galway hurling match. Defensive systems are totally absent in the hurling and less evident in the football matches. Great to see."
Defensive systems absent in hurling? Kilkenny and Waterford????