Aidan O'Rourke

Former Armagh footballer, All Star and 2002 All-Ireland winner and current GAA Performance Manager with Queen's University

'Unfortunately, tactical evolutions in any sport always come with trickle-down consequences due to a lack of fundamental understanding of why a particular approach is taken'

If not Slaughtneil-Magherafelt, what's football to be?

If an association made up of players, coaches, managers, administrators and volunteers, don't have a consensus vision for Gaelic football's future then we cannot move it anywhere, writes Aidan O'Rourke

GAA • 12 Sep 18

'Dublin trust each player to bring their maximum work-rate and intensity to the job. Paul Mannion regularly epitomises this as he tracks breaking defenders the length of the field before making interventions that most quality defenders would be proud of'

Gutsy Tyrone couldn't stop Dublin's dynamic trio

When the dust settles Tyrone will realise there was very little they could have done differently. No team has figured out how to curtail influence of Brian Fenton, Ciarán Kilkenny and Jack McCaffrey.

GAA • 03 Sep 18

'Crucial to Tyrone's possible success is making Dublin uncomfortable psychologically – and that includes fundamentally interfering with how they want to play when they have the ball'

Tyrone must spit fire and not wait for Dublin mistakes

Surpassing Dublin's desire and physicality must be a given for Tyrone against Dublin, and they must do so spitting fire, writes Aidan O'Rourke.

GAA • 02 Sep 18

'Master tactician Mickey Harte has another opportunity to find answers that no one expects ahead of the All-Ireland final.'

Three key areas for Tyrone to beat Dublin in final

Aidan O'Rourke looks at the areas Tyrone need to focus on if they are to have any chance of toppling Dublin in the All-Ireland Football Championship final.

GAA • 14 Aug 18

Galway's flaws exposed - and there's no quick fix

A week may be a long time in politics but it is a heartbeat in the evolution of a team and the All-Ireland semi-final has come too soon for Galway.

GAA • 06 Aug 18

'When the moment arrives, the difference maker knows he's the man to execute and everyone else knows it too'

Summer hinges on a rare breed: the 'difference makers'

David Clifford's goal against Monaghan proved that it's not just how you do it that matters - it's when you do it.

GAA • 30 Jul 18

'Monaghan beat Kerry up in every way possible on Sunday, except where it matters on the scoreboard'

Kerry have been caught in their own web of naivety

Aidan O'Rourke dissects the thrilling encounter between Kerry and Monaghan.

GAA • 23 Jul 18

'What they do though is also now predictable and they will face the same problem that overtly structured teams do eventually'

Mickey Harte remains the master of improvisation

Tyrone are the best drilled side left in the hunt for Sam, but they must learn to evolve.

GAA • 16 Jul 18

'The reality of the last eight of the football championship is that the teams with the best players moulded through coherent game plans are those that remain'

Nature Vs Nurture: Super 8s reveal best evolved teams

The best teams bring their own gameplans to the Super 8s and some, like Kildare, have been stress-tested and altered, while Kerry and Roscommon enter the quarter-finals without any need for serious examination. Yet.

GAA • 09 Jul 18

'If Mayo are to return seriously with another challenge then they have to develop a defensive approach that allows them to absorb attacks more efficiently'

Mayo must revise high octane style or face burnout

Their season over in June, Mayo must examine how they approach the game as the reliance on runners from deep and man-for-man defending is not sustainable

GAA • 02 Jul 18