You can’t beat a good set of tactics.
We all expect a game to go one way, you think you know something and then one team comes out with a genius master plan.
Donegal in 2012 with the blanket defence, then again in 2014 with their blistering counter-attack these are just a couple of examples where it takes you by surprise.
2017 was no different, decisions that shaped the championship were plentiful but who was in the running for a Wooly Award?
Aidan O’Shea marking Kieran Donaghy
Kieran Donaghy himself admitted that when Aidan O’Shea dropped back on him he was surprised and as soon as the Breaffy man won the first high ball the crowd roared the roof off in Croke Park.
It meant Donaghy ended up taking O’Shea out of the square and towards the wings, in a way that’s exactly what Mayo wanted – keep the man that broke their hearts in 2014 away from goal.
Ir wasn’t all rosy and it ended up working better in the replay but it was a bold move from Stephen Rochford that eventually paid off.
Andy Moran playing closer to goal
How is it that a 34-year-old that pretty much everyone thought was ready to retire ends up as player of the year? Well, a simple coaching decision (and a lot of hard work).
Andy Moran used to do the tireless work running out into the corners and the wings to win the ball but it appeared that Stephen Rochford gave him a simple instruction to stay closer to goal and work on your shooting.
It worked, 1-5 vs Kerry in the first game, top scorer from play in the championship in 2017 and a force to be reckoned with.
Lee Keegan on Enda Smith
Making a decision is one thing but it is up to a player to execute it too.
You never really have that worry when Lee Keegan is on your team, the lad can do anything.
And he did just that, Enda Smith had an out-of-this-world game in the Connacht final so what’s the best thing to do? Put the man-marker in the country on him.
Lee Keegan may well be seen as a wingback but in midfield, he bossed Smith and scored 1-3.
A bold move by Rochford but one that paid off.
Dublin vs Tyrone
The last team to beat Dublin were an Ulster team, Tyrone looked just as good coming in the All-Ireland semi-final as Donegal did in 2014.
The results were different, Dublin put on an exhibition from start to finish.
Call it boring because it was one-sided but how they used the ball had all the Jason Sherlock and Jim Gavin trademarks.
Dublin knew better to take the ball into contact with a strong Ulster side like Tyrone, they used men out wide to spread the ball and left the Red Hand chasing them around the pitch.
It was all about patience and go for the jugular. Class.
Down vs Monaghan
They couldn’t repeat their success in the qualifiers but Down were brilliant against Monaghan in the Ulster Championship.
Eamonn Burns’ side went old school with long balls into the full forward line to fully utilise Connaire Harrison as he went and had one of the best displays of the year and Down caused one of the biggest upsets that 2017 had seen.
Winner: Dublin vs Tyrone
The bumper weekend that had Mayo draw with Kerry and Conor McGregor facing Floyd Mayweather was meant to culminate in Tyrone putting it up to the Dubs but we saw possibly the greatest team to play the game at the peak of their powers.
Tactically, Dublin had learned from their one loss three years ago. The blanket defence had a short lifespan but Dublin dug its grave and buried it that day.
