The art of man-to-man defending has increased again - Paddy McGrath

Paddy McGrath was part of one of the most impenetrable full-back lines in Donegal, and indeed, in Gaelic football in the 21st century, and he believes that the skill of man-to-man defending has become more prominent once again in the game.

Along with Gaoth Dobhair pair Eamon McGee and Neil McGee, McGrath helped Donegal to the 2012 All-Ireland title and was well known as a sticky marker, who didn’t give his forward an inch of breathing space.

Since that year, the game has changed in different ways up to and including the return of Jim McGuinness to Donegal. The Naomh Conaill man has used more attacking players in the full-back line, with the likes of All-Stars Finnbarr Roarty and Peadar Mogan being deployed in the last line of defence before moving forward with the play.

But with the new rules, Ardara man McGrath feels that a balance needs to be struck, but the importance of having a defender who can defend one-to-one has gone back up to what it once was.

“There is a balance needed in the full back line. Eamon and Neil (McGee) were fantastic markers, but they were still fit to get up the field and take a score, maybe not as much because they were tighter to their men, but the way the rules have gone, there’s definitely a greater need for a man-to-man marker for that one-to-one defending.

“Before the rule changes, there was more of a zonal setup, and there wasn’t as much done on the one-to-one, but we’re seeing more of it now.

“It is an art and a skill, and defenders are naturally gifted in doing that, and some of the more attacking players wouldn’t have studied it as much.

“But the likes of Peadar (Mogan) are so effective in coming from the full back line, and he’s putting his man on the back foot, and the opposition are looking at his threat and how he comes forward.

“He might be staying back, and then he’s released at the far side running onto the ball, and there mightn’t be a player fit to pick him up, so they’re using the rules to their advantage.

“But in my opinion, there is definitely more of a need for man-to-man defending and you can see that in the games that have been played.

Since the start of 2025, the Donegal defence has been improved with the addition of the jack of all trades, and seemingly master of everything, Finnbarr Roarty.

The Young Player of the Year has impressed football fans across the country since his introduction to senior football.

Roarty can do that man-marking job, as well as be a threat going forward, and McGrath is another big fan, with a former teammate and fellow All-Star springing to his mind when he watches the Naomh Conaill man.

“Who Jim is using for matchups is very interesting.

“Finnbarr Roarty is the obvious one, and who he is picking up, then Brendan (McCole) has been given the same role as he has been doing in that full back line.

“Roarty would remind you of Karl Lacey in terms of being fit to do that man-marking role, but also being able to put his man on the back foot because he’s well fit to go up the field, and you can see him being in that half-back line because of that.

“His ability to tackle cleanly and get the hand in or get that touch on the ball is impressive and as a defender, I love to see that because it’s a real skill and not everyone can do that.”

While McCole has played in all five league games to date and is the go-to man at full back, McGuinness has chopped and changed his defence over the course of the Division 1 campaign as Donegal remain unbeaten.

Along with the aforementioned McCole, Roarty and Mogan, Caolan McColgan and Eoghan ‘Bán’ Gallagher have been given starts in the back line, while Caolan McGonagle, Ryan McHugh, Paul O’Hare and Stephen McMenamin have played in the half-back line.

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With Donegal safe in Division 1, it gives McGuinness more leeway to chop and change for the final two games and a possible League final on the horizon, and McGrath doesn’t envy him or his selectors in picking a team at present. 

“Jim wants to see a lot of players, but he's also looking to find that balance of getting minutes into men and giving lads a chance.

“There is depth in that Donegal team, and it’s something that Jim would have wanted to get in this year with men that he trusts.

“It is a fine balance in having a settled team and knowing what team he wants, and it’s about getting the minutes into those players. As a player, all you want is to play football and be out there every single day, but Jim has to have a look at those different players. He can see that in training, but there is nothing like the heat of the game and seeing that decision-making in the match.

“For me, I loved playing with the McGee brothers because I knew what they were about and what they were going to do, and it took a while, but the confidence built over time, and we had a fairly settled full back line, which is such a good thing.

“But the players in that squad can all do a job in different roles, and it’s great for Donegal that Jim is having a hard time picking the team.

“They have had a good few years under Jim McGuinness, so they know what he’s about, and they seem to have gone up a gear since last year, and we’re seeing the benefits of that now.

“The turnovers seem to be increasing, and that has been a platform for the counter-attacking football that they are playing.

“They’re fit, sharp, and on the money, even for this time of the year.

“Then the likes of Eoghan ‘Bán’ being back in at an early stage of the season is a real plus for Donegal because it’s creating that competition for places, and it’s getting him a platform to push on this year after injuries.

“He’ll want to get more minutes into the likes of Oisin Gallen and Michael Murphy, but they’ll want to stay unbeaten and get to a league final, so it will be interesting this weekend against Roscommon to see what the starting lineup looks like and what Jim is thinking going forward.”