Colm O’Rourke says the best teams in the game are still regularly kicking the ball.
Meath boss O’Rourke, who has guided his side to the Tailteann Cup final, is surprised that more teams aren’t following the example of Dublin and Kerry.
The GAA’s big two were hugely impressive over the weekend in their comprehensive All-Ireland quarter-final victories over Mayo and Tyrone.
Read more: "We'll get a chance" - Monaghan hero Conor McManus reflects on the crucial final play against Armagh
“The two most successful counties - Kerry and Dublin - I’d always find it enjoyable to go and watch their style of play,” said O’Rourke.
“The winners generally dictate the style and the Dublin style for six years when they were winning All Irelands was something I admired.
“They didn’t mind kicking it. Look at the first goal they got against Mayo, a long high ball in.
“(Colm) Basquel catches it, turns his man (and) bangs it into the net.
“Kerry were doing plenty of kicking of the ball last week too so I'm quite surprised (at) the likes of Armagh who were using that tactic quite a lot in previous games.
“I was in Clones one day. The throw-in was caught and bang, into the net.
“I think Rory Grugan caught it and put it in the net.
“Like, why would Armagh go away from that when it was paying dividends. They got three goals against Down in the Ulster semi final kicking the ball in high.
“So teams who have been kicking the ball a good bit – I know you can’t just kick it in all the time – it still has been profitable for quite a few counties.”
O’Rourke reckons people thought he was “a stone age fella” who only knew one way of playing when he first took the Meath job.
“I have been having a good bit of success with other teams I have been involved with,” he continued.
“You adapt to the modern demands of the game and I suppose in the beginning people would have thought we were so open defensively in some of our games that I was trying to play a 1980s style game.
“Our defensive system and what we are trying to do hasn’t changed from the first game of the League to the game we played against Antrim and we were open.
“So we have had a defensive system and are trying to be more defensive in nature.
“I just takes time with newer players. We are improving all the time, but it’s still a work in progress and we are not nearly there yet.”
O’Rourke’s Meath face Down on Saturday week in the tier two decider, which is the curtain raiser to Dublin’s All-Ireland semi-final encounter with Monagan.
“The Dubs won’t bother coming in to see us anyway, so it’s not as if we’re going to be playing before a full house at three o’clock,” said the Simonstown club man.
“We’ll be ignored. One of the problems with extra-time in these games is there’s going to be quite a big gap between the games now.
“So I’d say now they will pass no remarks on us. Only when we’re able to compete with them will they pay us any attention.”
O’Rourke is “not a great fan” of penalty shoot outs, but he was in Croke Park for the four All-Ireland quarter-finals last weekend to see Monaghan’s 9-8 victory over Armagh on spot kicks.
“The most excitement in Croke Park last Saturday evening, when we were all after going to sleep, was the last minute of extra time and the penalty shootout (laughs),” he said.
“We were all glad of a bit of excitement hoping it would go to penalties for a bit of drama.
“I don’t like it but I don't know what the alternative is apart from replays and the restricted season has ...
“Though I’m not a fan of the restricted season either.
“I think it would do no harm if the thing went on for another month. The Meath club championship is starting July 29.
“If it didn’t start to the first week of August, would it make any difference?”
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