Footballing up a storm

A senior hurling coach writes: What can I learn from football training methods and tactics?

We got in touch with Anthony Cunnigham, a man in a perfect position to tackle your question. Cunnigham is well known as a Galway hurler from their golden generation of the 1980s, where he usually operated in the half-forward line.

However it is in football that he has come to prominence as a coach, particularly with St Brigid's in Roscommon, who he has led to a provincial title, as well as county championships.

Cunningham points to Kilkenny as an example of a team that has allied football techniques to their hurling mastery, to make them even more of a daunting prospect than in 2004 – the last time they were chasing three-in-a-row.

"First of all, they are all well-built, good in the air and very hard to knock off the ball. Also, they put in a tremendous amount of hits – both backs and forwards – but don't step across the line and foul their opponents. They are not a dirty team," said Anthony.

"Like in football, they pull players into areas where there will be more breaks, and if they don't win primary possession they are excellent at clustering around the man with the ball, which invariably leads to a turnover or a free for over-carrying.

"They like to isolate inside forwards and exploit the space inside. Keeping possession of the ball is also vital. Kilkenny vary it more than Cork, but, as with a good football team, you will never see their full-back line hit an aimless clearance."

Cunningham also points towards the extraordinary levels of fitness of Kilkenny.

To try and break down the black and amber's swarm defence he feels the opposition need to be "as strong as them in the air" and also look at playing the running game more.

"The one thing defenders – be it in football or hurling – don't like is someone running at them. It leads to scoring chances or at the very least, frees," he added.

"Also, teams might work on creating space in the full forward line. Leave two men inside and play in fast low ball. Leaving three men inside and playing in high ball is not going to work – as we saw against Cork. To have any chance against Kilkenny you have to put them on the back foot."

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