Replying To Lockjaw:  "Been away for a few days and had some time to digest.

I think if I'm honest, in my heart of hearts, I thought we looked a beaten docket after watching the Cork game.
Our usual slick running game wasn't there, and we made more sloppy mistakes in that one game than we probably had all year up to then. It all looked to me like a team suffering from mental and physical fatigue.

It was a similar story last Sunday. I would still give the lads huge credit though, for the way they stubbornly refused to accept defeat and forced ET. It was a tall order from there however, especially compounded by the fact that we lost McGee and Murphy for the first period of ET.

No doubt that a serious review of the year as a whole is needed. The League win is not to be sniffed at, but truth be told, we all know that not many people recall who wins the league as time moves on. It's all about the Championship, and it was ever thus.

Off the top of my head, these are things I'd like to see in 2027....

1. Less emphasis on established players playing in the League. We need to give young players their chance. If that means an inconsistent league campaign (even to the point that we're releaged) so be it.

2. Squad players should play league games for their clubs

3. Alternative tactical approach where early, direct kick-passed balls into our forwards is emphasised. I know we're a traditional hand-passing team. But I simply do not accept that we don't have the footballers who are incapable of kickpassing a ball 40 or 50 yards into space for a forward to run on to. I can recall one brilliant move in the Down game where a peach of a long diagonal ball was played into Murphy (by Mogan i think). He laid it off to an onrushing Gallen whose goal bound effort was unfortunately saved."