Pat Spillane Reveals Why He Is Falling Back In Love With Gaelic Football | Balls.ie

Pat Spillane remains one of the biggest names in the world of GAA punditry but he has never been one to hide his disillusionment with the modern game.

Having forged his reputation as a top GAA pundit on RTÉ’s The Sunday Game for decades after a successful playing career with Kerry, Spillane typically never held back.

He famously brandished Tyrone’s blanket defence system ‘puke football’ in the mid noughties while he has shared his disdain for some more modern methods like the roaming goalkeeper in recent seasons.

A few years have passed since the Kerry GAA legend parted ways with the national broadcaster, although he remains a prominent voice in the sport.

Now a columnist, Spillane has regularly shared his qualms with the sport he loves but appears his perspective is changing for the better.

Pat Spillane falling in love with Gaelic football again

Writing in his column for The Sunday World, Spillane stressed the positive tactical changes he has seen in recent weeks with the likes of Donegal and Cork leading the charge.

The Kerry legend shared his celebratory sentiments as he noted a reversion back to old school tactics, with teams prioritising point-scoring in spite of the risk instead of an emphasis on recycling possession.

In recent weeks, I detected signs of a change in attitude,” Spillane observed.

“Of course, ingrained habits die hard, but more teams are playing to their own strengths.

“They are challenging for more primary possession and transition play is done at speed – I’m thinking of Donegal and Cork.

“Kicking now plays an important role in transition, think Dublin in every match and Armagh from two weekends back.

“Teams are gambling more. The long kick-out is back in vogue.”

Armagh offered the prime example in their play against Derry, thriving under the high ball and pressing their opposition high to great effect.

It has not been a perfect Championship, some other fixtures have been slower paced but there are definitely positive signs from Spillane’s perspective.

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