Revelling in that Omagh Ballroom Blitz and the return of the backdoor cut
They say necessity is the mother of invention. Or maybe boredom is. I often think of our modern football stars, particularly those of the attacking variety. They would have been around 7-8 years of age when the likes of Peter Canavan, Gooch Cooper, Stevie McDonnell, Padraig Joyce and Stevie O'Neill were in their pomp.
How their heroes' feats of attacking play would have fuelled the dreams of those future stars as they reenacted them in the back yard.
Trouble is, since those children grew into men the game has turned on its head. Blanket defences have conquered the space in which the stars of their childhood weaved their magic. I would argue that in terms of sheer ability, the current generation are the most skilful to have ever played the game.
Yet, left standing behind a wall of men what can their skills count for? A helping of single, double, or triple sweeper - what’s your choice today young sir?
Fed up, they drop deeper to get their hands on leather. Heading out around the arc, hand passing backwards and sideways, keeping possession, avoiding contact and wait for the easiest shooting opportunity.
I made it 3-21 from play. Play. In an Ulster Championship game. Between Tyrone and Monaghan
It is the paint by numbers playbook we all recognise but it isn’t what dreams are made of.
Given this background it's maybe understandable the giddiness us from the big-ball side of things have greeted the first few weeks of provincial action. Some big results yes, but it’s the manner of the attacking play that is something else.
Our games leading men are standing up and having fun. Think of Keelan Sexton, Conor Turbitt, Diarmuid Murtagh and Shane McGuigan. Stunning performances from our star men.
Then came that ballroom blitz of a game in