Shay Given talks about GAA, supporting Donegal and ‘sweeper keepers’

"We're not in the Jim McGuinness era at the moment."

Ireland legend Shay Given has opened up about his love for the GAA, supporting Donegal and the new phenomena of 'sweeper keepers' in the game. The former Republic of Ireland keeper played Gaelic football growing up and still has a keen interest in it, although he admits that his home county Donegal aren't performing too well at the moment. Speaking exclusively to SportsJOE in association with LeoVegas, the ex-Premier League shot stopper shared his woes at his county's poor form so far this season.

"I follow more the county, not religiously, and obviously Donegal are struggling at the minute - they've won one in six or something and it looks like they could go down, so they need a wee bit of a revamp up there. "I don't know what's been going on over the last number of months, but as a team they've been struggling a bit.

"But it's still a phenomenal game. The finals, and semi finals are watched all around the world, I watched it in Manchester. "I do follow it, but we're not in the Jim McGuinness era at the moment, we're sort of the other scale at the minute, and a team that's struggling, so that's a difficult one for the county." One thing that has emerged in recent years, is the use of 'sweeper keepers', where the goalie not only joins the play in the middle of the field, but is even involved in the attack and gets on the end of some scores. Tyrone's Niall Morgan and Armagh's Ethan Rafferty come to mind, and Given has no issue with coaches experimenting with the role, despite being more of a traditional goalie himself. "It's probably just like soccer, the goalkeeper position has just moved on," said the former Newcastle hero. "When Pep (Guardiola) started bringing in keepers who were playing it out from the back, and they were passing along the six-yard-box - people were scratching their heads. "They were thinking 'what's going on here? You're just inviting pressure', but if your goalkeeper can be an outfield player then you're outnumbering the opposition. "I think they're always looking at where they can evolve and improve, and that's the same in Gaelic, it's moved on so much since I played. "The analysing, the work that goes into Gaelic, the formations, keeping the ball, all of that stuff - it used to just be 'kick the ball as long down the pitch as you can and have a fight'. "Now there's short passing, playing through the lines - the game has changed so much, and these coaches have dedicated their lives to it, so it's not for me to say what's right or wrong, I just think they're moving with the times." Related links:

• The new Ireland football jersey has finally been revealed
• Three big calls as Ireland release squad to play France in World Cup qualifier
• Evan Ferguson scores twice for Brighton as France game looms

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