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Enda McGinley: Fly goalkeeper now critical in beating high press

Derry keeper Odhran Lynch away from the posts during last year's All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry
Derry keeper Odhran Lynch away from the posts during last year's All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry

The licence to wander. Now a modern-day phenomenon in Gaelic football when it comes to the role of the goalkeeper.

Ball-playing goalies, perhaps more prevelant in Ulster, with the likes of Niall Morgan, Rory Beggan and Odhran Lynch showing the way. It is, of course, a risky strategy, with the latter not at home as Kerry won back possession, allowing Conor Geaney to find the net against Derry in the league game between the sides on Saturday evening.

That said, Enda McGinley, speaking to RTÉ Sport ahead of last year's Derry-Monaghan Ulster semi-final, referenced the "good joy" that the Oak Leafers get from pushing Lynch so high up the pitch on kick-outs.

For McGinley, a greater deployment of the wandering 'keeper is something we are going to see more off as a means of nullifying the opposition threat.

"I think it's going to become a more counter-move to the high press," he told the latest edition of the RTÉ GAA Podcast.

"Keepers were coming out even when teams were dropping off, giving an overlap between the midfield and the '45 by creating a wee opening there.

"If a team is pressed up and is gambling to come up the pitch and go after you, then getting that plus one coming out through defence means you've got out through the high press. It means you are then attacking through a more open defence."

The Tyrone All-Ireland winner also feels that the opposition could be lured into "kamikaze" tactics in trying to deal with the roving goalie.

"The value of having that keeper will be critical, teams will want to defeat the high press. They don't want to cough up turnovers, so your keeper being a plus one back there can only be countered completely if the opposition put up another player, which is really kamikaze stuff.

"I think the keeper being comfortable on the ball and been able to support his defenders when the opposition is trying to execute a high press will be critical."

Watch Mayo v Dublin in the Allianz Football League on Saturday from 7.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to updates on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1

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