But after watching the ball Daragh Canavan played for his brother Ruairí against Trillick at the weekend — it’s safe to say that creativity is back.

Like every skill, practice is half the battle. Assigning "creativity time" in training games  where you encourage the high risk passes is probably a good starting point. Watch how players will get their head up quicker, and make runs they might normally bother making. Of course there will be way more turnovers.

Like pressing high, you can always scale it back, but it is hard to scale it forward if you've never tried.

In this Drill the goal is not to concede goal, by collapsing the Defence .

Set up a 3 v 4 as in the animation. Start the ball moving, and at any time the ball is with the attackers, blow the whistle to start the attack.

Coach the defence to retreat( Collapse) while also taking control by pushing the attack down one side. 

The key coaching point is to get your body position right ( and stay open an big, denying the centre channel), and don't get beat. 

The other 2 payers must move back also in tandem with ball and  the first Defender, again denying easy ball to the middle. Facing and Scanning man and ball at all times is another key coaching point to hightlight.

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This is great warmup or progression drill where players need to make good decisions under limited pressure.

Set up groups of 3 as per animation......

Put 2 players in the middle zone, who act as both defender, and attacker. ( this is hardest part of the drill, and you should switch the 2 in the middle regularly)

Ball starts with any of the 3 players, who must work it to the oppositie side. The player in the middle nearest the ball trys to intercept the attack, while the player in the middle furthest away, can be used for a give and go. ( the roles reverse when the ball comes from the other side, so hey need to stay switched on) 

Use this as an opportunity to coach different patterns of attack

In the All-Ireland series games leading up to the final, Donegal were averaging 8.4 points per 10 opposition turnovers, with Kerry just behind on 8.2. Donegal, in other words, were slightly more clinical when punishing mistakes.

But in the final, that trend fell apart — and it’s probably the one stat that will stick in Jim McGuinness’s throat for a long time.

While Kerry actually improved, hitting 8.5 points per 10 turnovers. Donegal’s rate plummeted to just 3 points.

And when you dig a little deeper, the contrast becomes even starker:
9 of Kerry’s 11 points from turnovers came from the middle third —. Donegal, by comparison, scored 0 points from turnovers in that zone.

In a game still in the balance at 58 minutes, that inefficiency proved decisive. Had Donegal maintained ( or Kerry allowed it, which they didn't) their turnover conversion rates  we could be looking at different  All-Ireland champions.

For coaches preparing for club championships over the coming weeks, and it's something I had touched on 3 or 4 years ago.
It might not just be about winning turnovers — but also where you win them. 

After years of systems, structures, and rigid roles, something shifted. The shackles came off. Players played. And with that freedom came the return of something we hadn’t seen in a while: real connection.

Not just passes or patterns. Real, intuitive, unspoken and spoken connection. The kind I first saw years ago when Greg Blaney floated balls into Mickey Linden’s path like he had a remote control. Somewhere along the way, we smothered that. But it’s back.

True connection can’t be coached. It’s not in a drill or a team talk. It’s something players build themselves. Coaches can create the environment, but it’s in the chats before training, the bit of craic after a session, the reps done when no one’s watching, the coffee meet up —that’s where it’s born. And when players become intentional and specific about what they want to do in games, and expect from others to help them do it, it adds rocket fuel to performance. 

Everyone’s talking about that pass from Paudie to David—an instinctive backdoor cut met with perfect timing. A move born not just in practice, but perhaps a childhood spent reading each other’s form. Most teammates won’t have the benefit of growing up under the same roof. But that doesn’t mean connection isn’t possible.

Whether you're a coach or a player, if you can find ways to build those playing connections—on the pitch, off it—you'll gain an edge no system can teach.

Let’s start with the basics. ( Scoring and Conceding )

Donegal scored 136 (6-13-87) points from 165 shots, and conceded 93 (5-8-62)

Kerry hit 135(7-20-74) points from 148 shots, and conceded 102 ( 3-19-59)

So what does that tell us?

You could say that Donegal have played a higher quality of opposition, but Kerry played the All Ireland champions along the way.

Kerry's efficiency has been off the charts this year from all areas of the pitch, while Donegal have been so methodical in working the ball to high percentage scoring areas. Donegal have only scored 13 , 2 pointers, compared to Kerry's 20. But Donegal have been miserly in defence , defending the arc, and conceding only 8, 2 pointers to Kerry's 19 ...

Turnovers, Kickouts, and Where the Game Will Be Won

While both sides generated alot of their scores off turnovers. Donegal scored 54 points , Kerry scored 47.

But here’s where it gets interesting – Kerry punished opposition kickouts better, scoring 45 points , compared to Donegal’s 35. Remember how they penned Armagh in.

Donegal were slightly better on their own restarts. They got 47 points from their own kickouts; Kerry managed 43. Not much in it.

How Kerry go about forcing Patton long could be the key in determining the result, but I think they will gamble, while trying to ensure that they are protected from the long flick on which worked so well against Meath

Interestingly, while Joe O'Connor is playing out of his skin, it is Mark O Shea who has been their main long K/O target. 

The team that wins the kickout battle will give themselves a huge platform to win the game.

The Players That Matter Most

For Kerry, it all starts with David Clifford. He was involved in 48 scoring chances and was directly responsible for 47 points. He’s not just the best finisher in the game – he’s the most involved player in the country.

Sean O’Shea had 32 involvements and 33 points. He came alive against Armagh, was closely marked v Meath, but he’s been very  important. Dylan Geaney too – involved in 22 scoring chances, and a real link between Kerry’s middle third and their finishers.

Donegal’s firepower comes from spreading the load. Shane O’Donnell has been their main man. He’s not the top scorer, but he’s been involved in 38 scoring chances and assisted 23 of them, which tells you alot about the Mc Guiness project

Michael Langan is the most efficient shooter they have, and his ability to produce big scores is up there with Kerry's best. Conor O’Donnell has finished nearly everything he’s touched. Add in Gallen, Murphy, Mc Brearty, and Thompson, and you’re dealing with a team that has depth, and that shares the load better than any other in the country. This could sway it for Donegal. 

The Verdict

If you go off shot volume in previous games, Donegal probably have the slight edge. But Kerry will have a plan to disrupt the Donegal scoring sources. 

If you go off best player in the country, Kerry have the edge. But Donegal will have a plan to disrupt this.

In the end, it will be Kerry’s ability to press Patton's Kickouts high, and then squeeze every drop out of the possession they win from them that will be  key. When Kerry win opposition kickouts they go direct ( Clifford)  , when Donegal win them, they tend to go slower, resulting in a higher return off opposition Kickouts for Kerry.

Add in the form of Clifford and O’Shea, plus the return of Paudie Clifford, Kerry have a slight edge.

Kerry by two.

Attacking Threat:

Last week we talked about Kerry averaging just 25 shots per game. But against Cavan, that jumped to 36 shots . That’s a significant increase in output, and it wasn’t handed to them. Cavan had been holding teams like Mayo, Tyrone, and Donegal to just 31 shots on average. So this was Kerry creating — not being gifted — chances. Is this a sign of things to come?

Armagh, on the other hand, have averaged 30 shots per game. And as we all know: those games came against Galway, Derry, and Dublin — three of the best teams in the competition. But will 30 shots be enough this weekend in Croke Park?

Shot Accuracy Tells Its Own Story

Looking at total shots,  scores, and efficiency

• Armagh: 70 shots, 68 points, 87% efficiency ( across 3 games)

• Kerry: 87 shots, 91 points,  93% efficiency ( across 4  games) 

While both teams are extremely efficient, Kerry just happen to be converting at a slightly higher rate.

Defensive Numbers: Two Different Strengths

While Armagh are conceding 34 shots per game, only 69% of those chances are converted by opponents. That tells you something about their structure — they’re giving up shots, but not good ones, or they are getting pressure on the shot.

Kerry, meanwhile, are conceding just 28 shots per game across their last four matches, with opposition teams having a 75% efficiency score. Pretty impressive for a team that is sometimes perceived to be open at the back. 

The Shooters 

Kerry (4 games)

Armagh (3 games)

The VERDICT:

Too Tight  to call. Armagh spread the scoring, Kerry rely on Clifford.  Armagh are extremely well organised at the back, but Kerry are pretty solid also. 

But take a look under the hood, and the numbers tell a different story—one that suggests Kerry might still hold the best hand in the championship… if they play it right.

As any coach knows, three key areas shape performance:
Kickouts. Turnovers. Shots.

And while all three matter, let’s focus on shots for—because that’s where Kerry’s hidden potential lives.....

• Lowest shot volume: Kerry are averaging just 25 shots per game, dead last in the competition. That’s 12 fewer than Monaghan’s 37.

• Highest efficiency: But here’s the twist—Kerry are converting at 0.99 points per shot, the best in the country, compared to Cork, who are at .66 ( last place)

• Very dangerous when they go for goal: While they’re averaging only 3.33 goal shots per game, they’re finishing 50% of those chances. For comparison, Donegal are converting just 27%.

And there’s more good news.
If key forwards like Paudie Clifford, Seán O’Shea, and Paul Geaney return to full fitness, Kerry’s shot volume is only likely to increase—adding firepower to an already clinical attack.

So what does this tell us?
Kerry don’t need to panic—they just need more looks at the posts. If they can bump that shot count north of 32 ( which the should in Croke Park), they instantly become formidable again.

Keep an eye on that stat this weekend against Cavan, it could be a good indicator on how the next few weeks will go for them.

Now, with data from over 30 inter-county matches, we’re starting to see what’s really happening.

Since the 11 v 11 rule has been introduced, teams are averaging just under 6 shots per game from outside the arc. A handful are pushing that to 8 or more, but it still represents a minority of total shot volume. Most attacks continue to funnel into the 20–35m zone, where accuracy is higher but reward is fixed at one point.

But the numbers suggest something interesting: according to the  GAA Games Intelligence Unit official data 2-point shots are, on average, more efficient than many expect. With a 38% success rate, they return 0.76 points per attempt. Compare that to close-range 1-point shots at 61% success (0.61 pts/shot), or longer 1-point efforts around 35–40m, which convert at 46% (0.46 pts/shot).

Modelled out:

• A team taking 6 two-point shots and 16 one-point shots would average 14.3 points.

• Adjust that to 12 two-point attempts and 10 one-point efforts, and the projected return climbs to 15.2 points — with no increase in shot volume.

That’s nearly a full point gained by simply shifting where shots are taken from — not how many.

Now, when you add in the extra goal chances that are created as defences push out to deny the 2 point shot, there could even be more value that just whats on the surface.

So why aren’t more teams adjusting?

The arc is being used. But the data shows it’s not being maximised. Whether that’s tactical caution, habit, or a skillset gap is still unclear.

But one thing is emerging: for the teams willing to commit to it, the 2-pointer isn’t just one of the new rules — it’s an opportunity.

Can the same principle be applied to sport?. Many players and teams focus on marginal gains—small refinements to fitness, tactics, technique etc.........

These are valuable, but do they really lead to true breakthroughs?  Could Moonshot thinking help some team make an improvement that nobody seen coming and give them a 10X moment?

2025 has already seen the introduction of  a "moonshot" , with the introduction of rules that have transformed the game overnight, and most agree, for the better.

Studying what others are doing rarely leads to moonshot moments. For me, there is an opportunity for some innovative manager to manipulate the rules, and come up with a moonshot that will propel them to success. The problem with sport is that once you unleash your moonshot idea, it's out of the bag, and others can now plan for it. The trick in 2025 will be holding the moonshot back until the precise moment that it has maximal impact for your journey..... OR have a few up your sleeve.