The lazy corner-forward is in danger of extinction and the career of Daniel Goulding proves it

“It is the right decision for me at this point in time. The demands of the inter-county game are massive and I’m not getting as much enjoyment out of it now as I did before. Over the last few years, the role of a forward has changed a lot. I was best suited to a corner-forward position and that role got more difficult to play in over the years. That was frustrating at times.If you’re not enjoying it and if you’re not 100% up for the challenge of putting it in for the full season, you’re better off not being there.”

That was Daniel Goulding speaking to the42.ie on Monday after announcing his retirement from Gaelic football. Daniel is only 30-years-old.

He was your typical, traditional number 13 – only used his right leg for standing on but his left was so good that he didn’t really need a right. He couldn’t really play anywhere else other than his favourite number 13 position and the game has passed him out in the last 4 or 5 years. He leaves with an All-Ireland, All Star, 4 national league medals and a man of the match in an All-Ireland final, so we shouldn’t feel too bad for him.

Some fellas love the lifestyle and the demands of being a modern inter-county footballer. They love the early morning training sessions, they love the gym sessions and they love staying in at the weekends, recovering (or saving money). If they weren’t inter-county footballers they’d be doing some iron man competitions, marathons or some sport that requires incredible discipline and commitment. That’s the lifestyle they enjoy.

Often quieter family men, these are the players that usually pipe up and say there is nothing wrong with the required commitment levels nowadays. I’m sure their managers are delighted with them for going public with their love of their schedule. The ones that find it difficult can hardly admit it publicly, they have to wait until retirement to voice their concerns.

GAA panels are made up of 30 different personalities who look at life in different ways. Many players on a panel struggle with the commitment required but love playing Gaelic football so much they put up with the modern demands so they can showcase their ability on the pitch. They make a deal with themselves: “Okay, I’ll put up with this side of it because the thrill of playing and performing well at inter-county level is so rewarding”. When they find themselves on the bench and their ability to enjoy playing is gone, it can be very difficult to cope.

Daniel wasn’t prepared to give that level of commitment – the meetings, the training, the gym, the diet, the quiet weekends in, the sports psychologists – when he wasn’t doing enough of what is really important… playing. Because he was only suited to the corner, he was in trouble. A shift towards defensive tactics in recent years has meant a certain type of traditional corner-forward is becoming redundant.

Towards the end of my career, a shift in tactics meant playing in my best position became impossible. Wing forwards were asked to work like dogs up and down the field. Often converted wing backs played there, sometimes fellas that could never make the team were promoted because of their ability to cover ground. I scored 0-8 in three championship games against Wexford, Dublin and Derry from wing forward in 2007, but by the time ’08 rolled around I was stuck in the corner where I struggled. Ross Munnelly, a brilliant scoring wing-forward, had to reinvent himself as a corner-forward to fit into the team too.

Smaller, specialist corner-forwards are a dying breed in the GAA. You need to be adaptable now. You also need to be good in the air and have both feet. But most importantly, it seems, you need to be physically commanding. Two-man full forward lines are in vogue and they both need to be able to win their own ball. Paul Geaney is a perfect example.

Think of Michael Quinlivan, Damien Comer, Dean Rock, Niall McNamee, Donie Kingston, John Heslin, Sean Quigley, Kevin McManamon, Michael Murphy and Conor McManus – all natural inside forwards, all big men with massive levels of skill. They are the new prototypes for full-forward lines.

The players in danger of extinction are smaller or slower players usually on the team for their finishing. Traditionally corner forwards were finishers: players who could get five chances in a game and score 1-4. They usually hated tackling, tracking back or anything that didn’t involve the umpire waving a flag. I could never perform well in the position because I wasn’t accurate enough. Nowadays, in the big games, sweepers have dried up the supply lines so forwards need to be able to go looking for it or be available for a different type of ball. They also need to tackle and track and be more athletic than ever before.

The brilliant James O’Donoghue was dropped for the All-Ireland semi-final against Dublin this year even though he was fully fit to play. James isn’t an option for a high ball. He’s not physically imposing either. Against Donegal, in the All-Ireland final in 2014, he had to drift outfield in search of ball and was held scoreless. In the same game Geaney got a goal out of nothing from a long ball.

The classy Jamie Clarke struggled for scores in the modern game. So much so he was tried at win-back. Wing-back! Unfortunately he’s playing soccer in New York now. Seanie Johnston didn’t get a kick against Tyrone this year in either Ulster championship game. Ronan O’Neill didn’t get a kick against Donegal or Mayo. Darren McCurry doesn’t start anymore.

Traditional shape in Gaelic football is a thing of the past and the traditional type of players that fit into that shape are disappearing too. Midfielders don’t need to be fetchers, half forwards don’t need to score and it seems the lethal, sometimes lazy corner-forward who hates tackling is gone too. I’m not complaining about the modern game, I still enjoy it, but as a traditionalist it makes me sad.

And don’t get me started on attacking corner backs. No wonder Daniel Goulding couldn’t take it anymore.