KEVIN CASSIDY: Poor kickpassing is embolding defensive coaches

AND just like that, once club championship football comes along, the wind and the rain come to join it.

We are getting deep into the rounds of the Donegal Senior Championship here with round three of the group games taking place this weekend.

Hopefully after the next round or so then we will see some real championship clashes.

I don’t want to sound like a broken record here but having watched a number of games over the last few weeks, I’m even more convinced the rules need to change before it’s too late.

“Football” is actually being coached out of the game and I mean that in the nicest possible way.

I have watched a number of teams here in Donegal over the summer months ranging from u-16 to senior level and everything is about possession based football and non risk approach.

Every club in the county has the same sort of tactics at all age groups. A goalkeeper chips the ball out and the opposition team drop off.

The team in possession solo the ball up to the opposition 45 where they are meet with a wall of jerseys and as soon as anyone comes within five feet of them the ball is hand passed back across the half way line.

This will then continue for three of four minutes until someone makes a mistake and then the merry go round starts again.

Kicking the ball just isn’t on anyone’s radar these days. I watched our game last week along with probably the best club player I have ever played with.

I turned to him half way into the second half and said “you would have at least seven points by now” and both of us started to laugh.

My analysis was based on how the opposing team set up against us. They pulled all their players back inside the ‘45 and they were happy to let us have the ball on the 45-metre line.

Back in his day, James Gallagher – the player in question – could win his own ball with two men hanging off him and swing it over left or right from anything up to 50 metres. If he was playing nowadays, he would be in his element.

My point being is that that sort of shooting or ability to shoot like that just isn’t in anyone’s locker anymore so teams can set up like that.

Likewise, as a half back, I’d absolutely love to play in today’s game. There is no need to really man mark anyone and you have the freedom of the park to run into.

During the course of games nowadays, we see such tactic as bringing your three or four defenders and placing them on the end line close to the opposing goal line when on the attack with the hope of opening up space out the park.

This is fine in theory but what we don’t have nowadays are players who can see a pass if it’s on when that space is opened up.

Most of the teams I have seen to date try this approach but with very little joy it has to be said.

I’d rather have an approach where my three best scoring forwards where in an advanced area and get the rest of my team to get the ball to them.

Anyway, let’s hope Jim Gavin and his lads will sort it out and we will be forced back into coaching lads who to kick from 40 metres out.

Before I sign off this week, I’d like to give a special mention to St Eunan’s and note their card.

To date they have played and beaten Kilcar and Naomh Conaill. Next up, on Saturday, they will face off against Gaoth Dobhair. They have answered all of the questions asked if them to date so should they win on Saturday that’s a clean sweep against the rest of the teams in the top four. Now, the question will arise. Can anyone beat them this year?