FUTURE IS BRIGHT IF WE STOP GOING BACKWARDS

BACKPASSES to goalkeepers in Gaelic football should be banned, says Paddy Cullen.

The Dublin legend believes backwards passing has become a blight on the game and taking the goalkeeper out of the loop would help to eliminate it.

He only believes that it should apply in certain areas of the field, however, which would still allow spectacular points such as that scored by Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan (above) against Roscommon last Sunday.

Cullen said: “I’d do it immediately because it is creating the extra man for this little circle they have at the back and if everyone marks everyone and they can’t put it back to the keeper, they have to kick it or get rid of it.”

The former Dublin netminder believes there is little else wrong with the game provided it’s played in what he believes is the right manner, with Saturday’s Kerrydublin game a case in point.

“That game on Saturday night epitomises the way it should be played.

“What is this thing about going backwards? Saturday night tears up the backwards blueprint.

“That is what we know as Gaelic football and there’s nothing wrong with it.”