A second half comeback saw Cork claim their third straight GAA Football League title. Guest blogger Emmet Ryan examines the factors that led to the Rebels completing the threepeat. Mayo press high, create chances The wind advantage in the first half saw Mayo adjust their approach from previous games. While still playing behind the ball, James Horan’s side pressed much higher in the opening 35 minutes. Defensively this hurt them as it prevented theball-carrier isolation tactics that had defined their resurgence in the latter stages of the league campaign. The move however made sense in the context of the first half

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With the Division 1 GAA Football League  Final taking place this Sunday, guest blogger Emmet Ryan breaks down the tactical battles we can expect to see when Cork and Mayo clash in Croke Park. Mayo aren’t Down but… The fundamental approaches of Down and Mayo to defence aren’t all that different. Both look to build their games from behind the ball. Cork showed in the semi-final that they have a rather direct approach to dealing with hordes of bodies. They either try to go through them or go over them both. The route-one approach worked with great success for the Rebels

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