Pa Ranahan: We are now living in a time of attacking, high scoring football

What’s trending has a huge influence these days. In social media circles, it could be a tweet that goes viral or a TikTok dance that catches fire. In fashion, it goes from skinny to torn jeans, from ankle socks to no socks at all. And the majority of people will follow the lead of the influencers. Maybe not always with the best results, as shown with the recent return of the mullet hairstyle. Lockdown can take some of the blame for that though. Needs must.

The sporting world is no different. Winning teams are put on a pedestal. And the style that helps them reach that pinnacle often permeates down through every level, no matter the ability, grade or the age profile. They are the trendsetters. And can often change the way the game is played. Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors revolutionised the way basketball teams now approach 3-pointers. Johan Cruyff and his Barca sides laid the foundations for the tiki-taka phenomenon. And in Gaelic Football at present, the attacking play of kingpins Dublin and Corofin is definitely having a positive influence on teams up and down the country.

No disrespect to the great Donegal team of recent times – their run to lifting the Sam Maguire in 2012 brought with it some brilliant football and captured the hearts and minds of so many – but their success definitely led to coaches all over Ireland embracing the blanket defence. Training sessions would be built around trying to stop teams, and I vividly remember playing in games that just weren’t enjoyable to be involved in. It wasn’t like I had a big issue with that style mind. Or that I rowed against it. It delivered a certain level of success for teams. And as the saying goes “it is much easier to destroy than it is to create”. But it was so limited and lacking imagination.

What I’m seeing nowadays as a player and supporter, and attempting to deliver as a would-be coach, is much more enjoyable. And entertaining. Attempting to create space rather than focusing on just denying it. Terms like “sweepers” and “blankets” have been replaced by “loops”, “freeing the D” and “backdoor cuts”. There has been a complete change of approach. And I do think the teams at the top have led the way.

There is a real belief now that you can win while playing good football. That’s not to say you throw absolute caution to the wind and it’s lovely free flowing stuff at all times. Watch the Dubs when they are defending or protecting a lead late on and you will see plenty dark arts on show.

But we are now living in a time of attacking, high scoring football. Gone for the most part are teams setting up with backs being named in the forwards in order to protect. And in it’s place an era where goalkeepers are now joining the attack as an option.

Not only does it pass the eye test, but the numbers also back it up. Take the promotion/relegation games in the Allianz Leagues last week. With so much on the line for most of the counties involved, it would have been almost understandable to see teams revert to defence as a means to an end.

What took place – not that you’d know it from the paltry RTE coverage that night – was an absolute bonanza of scores! So here comes the science bit. In the fifteen games that took place, there were over 500 flags raised. An average of over thirty-three scores per game, with two out of every three coming from play. Which meant the ball was constantly moving. And they were coming from all angles. In multiple games, more than twenty players added their names to the ever-growing scoresheets.

Five of the starting six Mayo backs had the umpires reaching for their flags against Clare. Oisin Mullins goal was a combination of the much-maligned three-man weave with The Mighty Ducks “Flying V”. And with pink boots on no less. If ever there was a score to symbolise where Gaelic football is at the moment then this was it. Of course the lazy analysis points to a decay in the art of defending, when in reality I think it is down to a renaissance in the art of attacking. But there is no pleasing some people.

On the cusp of this years Football Championship, the game is in a great place. The pity is that the structures and format of the championship haven’t moved with the times in the same respect.

But we can still look forward to more big scores and open games, at a time of year that lends itself to the type of football that is being championed by all. The first gladiators into battle will be Limerick and Waterford this Saturday in the Gaelic Grounds.

No strangers to each other over recent times, both are coming off league campaigns that they can be happy with.

While extending their respective seasons by another two weeks and thus setting up a Munster semi-final against Cork will be the ultimate goal, you get the sense that how that goal is now achieved will involve an attempt to outscore the opponent rather than worrying unduly about stopping each other. And long may it continue.