There has been a significant change since last year when we experienced a resurgence after several years of struggle. We have become the team that evokes strong emotions both from supporters and critics above and well beyond the success of the team considering over the past decade, we have had minimal success in college, club, and youth levels, at the start of this season rightly or wrongly we were regarded as contenders on the national stage, this was off the back that last year we played an exhilarating brand of football and our position in Divison one was seen as being secure in fact we were many pundits choice of winning the league, a season is a long time in football.
The big negative for me is the big accomplishment from the previous year, was the team garnered widespread county-wide support, has probably been nullified. Many had high hopes for the success of this management team but this now seems unlikely and a break up is probably imminent. Specifically, their objectives at the start of the year was to secure an Ulster title, reach at least the quarter-finals in the All Ireland series, and maintain their status in division one. If, at the beginning of the year, if it had been predicted that we would be competing against Monaghan for a place in the All Ireland semi-finals, the sentiment among everyone involved would have been an anticipation of victory.
In addition to a change in strategy towards a more defensive approach, there have been notable disparities in the performances of key players between last year and this year. Aidan Nugent, Stefan Campbell, Rory Grugan, and Jarly Og struggled to replicate their previous form, while Jason Duffy and Rian O'Neill, although still solid, did not reach the heights of their previous performances. The introduction of the Mackin brothers last year provided a boost in terms of pace and strength in the midfield and half-forward lines. However, injuries and limited game time affected their impact, along with various injuries in the half-forward, back lines, and midfield, preventing the team from finding stability.
Andrew Murnin stood out as the primary attacking force, but we may not have fully utilized his abilities. Conor Turbitt showed promise initially with his speed and agility, but his role seemed to diminish when Rian O'Neill played, suggesting a lack of clarity in utilizing his strengths effectively.
The team's composition is heavily influenced by the presence of Kieran McGeeney. However, it is worth considering whether his influence may be stifling the players, as his shadow looms over them. Alternatively, one could argue that McGeeney is extracting the maximum potential from a group of individuals who have had limited success at both club and county levels. The attention and pressure that he attracts may indeed have an impact on the players, and it is possible that this added scrutiny contributes to the team's tendency to relinquish winning positions.
To rectify the situation, a fresh approach may be necessary, potentially involving a comprehensive restructuring of the team, especially considering the impending retirements of certain players. A change of management could help rejuvenate the team and allow for the exploration of new tactics and strategies.