In an opinion piece Oakleafers Blog evaluates Derry's NFL Division 2 defeat to Galway.
Read the blog at the following: http://www.oakleafers.com. Follow on Twitter @oakleafers
Journalist Declan Bogue, writing in his Belfast Telegraph column at the end of last month carved Pat Spillane into two. 'Player Pat' and 'Pundit Pat' emerged in an analysis which cut to the chase. In Derry, 'Pundit Pat' is mutating at an alarming rate.
The story is well told at this point. Like many stories in this land of ours they are passed orally with poetic license, and a fair degree of golden oldie haze of memory mashed in.
Here goes:
'Brutal game. Jasus, there's not a forward on the pitch. The players can't kick the ball. The GAA needs to make a rule to fix this'
Ask the army of 'Pundit Pats' what it is they would like to see and your answer will be along the lines of: 'free flowing football, forwards on top, goals and points galore'.
People, if you want scripted enterainment, go to a circus.
Field games evolve and ours are evolving rapidly, and in the right direction.
'Pundit Pat' hates the blanket defence – whatever that is. As an aside, Bogue points out, correctly, that it was 'Player Pat' who helped create it.
In the hayday of the green and gold in the 70?s and 80?s, 'Player Pat' was often found inside his own 45m line grafting and helping out his named six defenders. When he won the ball, 'Player Pat' would have set in motion a series of a dozen handpasses and perhaps even gotten on the end of the move to finish the score.
Most memorably perhaps was the 1986 All-Ireland final when he put the final nail in the coffin of the Red Hands bid for Sam. However, we digress with that one indulgence.
As good a score as that was, it wasn't any better than Sammy Bradley's for Slaughtneil in the Derry senior championship at Glen last night.
After the Emmet's worked the ball swiftly from defence, Jim Kelly finds himself on the right wing about 60 yards from the end line. Jim looks up, and out of the corner of his eye must see half the parish of Ballinascreen retreating en masse to protect their posts.
Time is now short.
Inside are Sammy Bradley and young Gerald Bradley just out the door of the nearby St Pat's Maghera. The two circle and dance with their markers until Kelly fires a pin point kick pass towards the 20m line dead centre in front of the goals; the scoring zone in modern day speak.
Bradley wriggles free to collect the pass assuredly. In an instant, Sammy comes on the loop, the transfer made and the ball sails over Danny Devlin's head for a sublime score.
Sound enteraining?
Yes, there were 13 scores in 60mins of football. Yes, defences were on top. Defenders have feelings too you know.
Think of Dermot McBride. Still hurting from Derry's traumatic loss to Cavan, the county's vice captain delivers one of the finest performances you will see. If you know how to look that is.
Paul Bradley is play maker in chief for Slaughtneil. Leech-like, McBride completely and totally snuffed him out without handling the ball. And completely fairly and in the spirit of the game. Dermot's performance probably won the game.
If it didn't, then coming up on the rails at a rate of knots was Benny Heron. Left foot. Top corner. One of the best penalties you will ever see. 40 yard cross field sprints to collect Devlin's superb kick-outs – no doubt attributed to poor marking by 'Pundit Pat' under the Watty Graham Park stand.
The McKaigue brothers. A pair of imperious menances to whatever poor unfortunate soul happens to have to occupy their zone. And be in no doubt, it is theirs. Chrissy is among the best in the business at present and the young sibling is catching up. It's worth £4 just to watch them block, harrass and dominate like a pair of Fox Terriers.
But is it enterainment?
Our games are evolving almost as fast as Ciaran Conway can run. Supporters need to catch up in their levels of appreciation for what these players are now delivering.
If you look, you will see.
The bygone golden era of football never existed. It's in human nature to believe it did.
Truth be told, it's was probably a combination of tactical naivety and lesser levels of fitness which made games more 'entertaining'.
You can thank 'Player Pat' for pioneering an end to that.
DerryGAA.ie invites all interested in GAA sports writing to submit a regular opinion piece or blog-style posts. Interested parties should email website@derrygaa.ie for more information.
All opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily state or reflect the views of Derry GAA.
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