Former Roscommon Senior Footballer Paul Earley doesn’t think hurling is going the route of Football with it’s sweeper process.
The subject of sweeper systems in hurling is generating plenty of discussion in recent times, and speaking to KCLR, Paul says that teams that won’t take risks won’t succeed.
“You only have probably a couple of teams in hurling that are employing the sweeper. Most of them go orthodox so I think some of the coaches have looked at what’s happening in football and are trying to mirror to some extent or prepare their team based on the personnel that they have.
“If you want to win the All-Ireland like Dublin have and like Kerry have over the last few years, the orthodox approach is generally the best one.
“You can prevent teams from scoring by employing a sweeper or two sweepers but the problems is you are going to limit opportunities yourself at the other end and teams that don’t take risks will not succeed,” he said.
Earley also says that Carlow need to develop an attacking focus if they are to continue to progress.
Speaking to KCLR, Paul says the game plan which they applied against Dublin and Monaghan won’t work long-term.
“It’s fine to hold teams to a limited number of scores but again, if your playing 12 or 13 men behind the ball, you are not going to create the chances upfront.
It’s going to be too difficult so I think having that balance and having a bit more of an attacking focus next year might be the next stage of the evolution in the development of the team under Turlough O’Brien who has done a great job so far.
“But again if you want to progress you do have to look to be more attack minded,” he concluded.
