Kearns correct on Erne tactics

HOW refreshing was it to hear Liam Kearns, the Tipperary senior football manager, speaking this week about the entertainment value in Gaelic football.

When referring to the Fermanagh style of play he said he wouldn’t use such a strategy as there was no entertainment value in it.

He said that, as a manager, ‘l wouldn’t set my team up that way,’ and, ‘I can only speak for my own teams, we never did that’.

I have great respect for Fermanagh and Rory Gallagher (above). They’re on four points in Division two and unbeaten with their limited resources.

In fairness to them, they don’t hide from how they go about their business with the very defensive system that they rigidly adhere to.

I have absolutely no issue with this but what l really liked was another manager being so open and honest and putting his cards on the table with his opinion and his belief that Gaelic football deserves to be played with a certain entertainment value.

Yes, the game will always evolve but, like Liam Kearns, l believe the game must be played in a certain spirit.