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Post by Mickmack on Feb 20, 2022 0:30:35 GMT
Lads it's true Dublin aren't anywhere near the strength they had 2/3 years ago but they still have a fine team it might look something like this come Championship: 1) Comerford 2) Byrne 3) Cooper 4) Fitzsimons 5) Murchan 6) McCarthy 7) Small 8) Fenton 9) Howard 10) Scully 11) Kilkenny 12) Costello 13) Small 14) Con 15) Rock It might not be the exact Championship team but thats the experience they have in that team and on their day they can match any team in the country.It has approx. 4 changes to the team that beat Kerry in 2019 Cluxton, McCaffrey, Mannion and MDMA out with Byrne, Comerford, Costello and P.Small coming in. Not exactly a completely different team but I do appreciate there are some key players from that team gone. They'll have 50,000 Dubs roaring them on later in the year and Dublin are like Kerry, they are suited to the dry hard pitch in the summer to suit their kicking style game. Running teams like Mayo and Tyrone are suited to the softer grounds because they carry the ball through the lines. The only problem Dublin have is their 5 subs are nowhere near the standard Kerry and Tyrone would have coming on. But Dublin will have a part to play yet, hopefully this is the year Kerry end the 11 year Championship hoodoo they've had over us. No matter what team Dublin have out in the summer it would be as sweet as it gets to beat Dublin in a packed Croke Park. Wise post |
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Post by southward on Feb 20, 2022 0:47:03 GMT
While they might be off-form so far this year, I don't think we're in a position to be sneering at Dublin or anyone else. Tis bad karma anyway, lads. And who knows, the Dubs might come good yet, or they might not but either way how about Kerry win something first, then we can talk. Until then, let's just worry about ourselves. Early days.
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mg72
Full Member
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Post by mg72 on Feb 20, 2022 8:19:36 GMT
Its very hard to have a definitive view at this stage on how the Dubs are faring out for the season ahead.
The way that the 2020 and the 2021 club and inter county were run off made it very hard for Dessie Farrell to find new players from club football, and to try out new players and put his own stamp on the team. It was plain to see that they needed some new blood after 2019. They changed the management, but didn't get a chance to change much else since then.
The same could possibly be said for Peter Keane down here, but at least he had one season under normal circumstances with Kerry, before the big interruption to '20 and' 21.
There's no denying that Dublin are playing poorly at the moment, but as others have said, there are still a few good experiencd playes to come back into the reckoning for them before the summer.
The extended break might actually do those players good, as some of the players who've been playing for a good few years, such as Byrne (whose skills are abysmal in my eyes), John Small, Fenton, Howard, Scully and Rock and have played the first few league matches look really jaded.
I don't think the Dubs should worry at all about slipping to Division 2 for a season, where it'll give them a chance to look at the newer players at a less pressurised level.
There's no denying that they're still capable of figuring at the latter stages of this years championship though. But I think there's a few more counties that have now lost the fear of playing Dublin, and having that extra bit of confidence and self belief when you go out to face any team is often the difference between winning and losing.
It's not too long ago since they were the clear favourites to put a halt to Mayo's gallop in the semi final last year. We saw how that turned out, but there's always one last sting in a dying wasp.....whether that was in 2020 or in the summer ahead is the question.
I can see them scraping survival in the league and making it to another semi in the summer, but that's where I see it finishing for them again.
Time will tell though..... I could be way off the mark!!
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Post by Annascaultilidie on Feb 20, 2022 9:48:33 GMT
There were numerous factors in Dublin's incredible success. Some are spoken about a lot - I always thought Jim Gavin was a massive massive part of it.
Absolutely nothing their current manager has done has impressed me.
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Post by buck02 on Feb 20, 2022 9:51:21 GMT
Eamonn Fitz is head and shoulders above anyone else when it comes to Co commentary. It made watching the Dublin v Armagh and Mayo games way more enjoyable than if the likes of Dessie the Bore Dolan was doing it.
Eamonn gives the person watching at home information about what is happening in the game that you can't see from watching on TV.
I watched back the Kerry v Dublin game a few days after being at the game and McStay offered no insight whatsoever in tactical things that were going on around the pitch. It was like he was watching the game on a monitor and commenting based solely on replays he was watching.
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Post by royalkerryfan on Feb 20, 2022 9:55:07 GMT
Firstly my post was a bit silly last night so apologies Mick if I caused any offence.
I'm not sneering Dublin but if you read the stuff they write about Kerry on their own forum you'd understand my pleasure in watching their current form.
No doubt Mccarthy and the other missing players will bolster that team but I honestly believe there is something fundamentaly wrong in that camp.
I was impressed with Mayo last night great attitude and performance
They too have a lot of a lads to come back.
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Post by onlykerry on Feb 20, 2022 10:32:26 GMT
Mayo are beginning to break some of the old hoodoo's - they beat Dublin in the Championship in 21 and now they have won their first league game against Dublin in Croke Park since 1971 - if they keep this up the excitement and anticipation will be uncontainable amongst their ever faithful fans - possibly of more concern the level of belief within the team will also grow.
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horsebox77
Fanatical Member
Our trees & mountains are silent ghosts, they hold wisdom and knowledge mankind has long forgotten.
Posts: 1,673
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Post by horsebox77 on Feb 20, 2022 10:59:28 GMT
Mayo are beginning to break some of the old hoodoo's - they beat Dublin in the Championship in 21 and now they have won their first league game against Dublin in Croke Park since 1971 - if they keep this up the excitement and anticipation will be uncontainable amongst their ever faithful fans - possibly of more concern the level of belief within the team will also grow. From my perspective, I think moving away from building a team around Aidan Shea is also a factor, for years they have altered their starting XV to accommodate him at midfield, centre forward and full forward. They now appear to use him on the last ten minutes to see out a game. Is this the roll some see Moran playing? |
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Post by misteallaigh abú on Feb 20, 2022 11:43:40 GMT
“Just 16 of the players – nine from Dublin – who started the semi-final last August – were back in action at the throw-in.“ Wow, you could argue that Mayo had more of a weakened team out tonight than Dublin. Absolutely, Mayo were missing Conroy, Durcan, O Hora, Mc Laughlin (Owen) and of course, Cillian O Connor. They are the names that I can think of off the top of my head. Mayo played well last evening and Dublin have issues in every line of the field. While the addition of Con, James Mc Carthy and to a lesser extent Costello will bolster the team, as a panel they are looking quite threadbare. They are fortunate, like Kerry, that their province is so uncompetitive. They will advance from Leinster, again and may have a big performance in them thereafter, however, winning an all Ireland is probably beyond them. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2022 11:46:58 GMT
Its very hard to have a definitive view at this stage on how the Dubs are faring out for the season ahead. The way that the 2020 and the 2021 club and inter county were run off made it very hard for Dessie Farrell to find new players from club football, and to try out new players and put his own stamp on the team. It was plain to see that they needed some new blood after 2019. They changed the management, but didn't get a chance to change much else since then. The same could possibly be said for Peter Keane down here, but at least he had one season under normal circumstances with Kerry, before the big interruption to '20 and' 21. There's no denying that Dublin are playing poorly at the moment, but as others have said, there are still a few good experiencd playes to come back into the reckoning for them before the summer. The extended break might actually do those players good, as some of the players who've been playing for a good few years, such as Byrne (whose skills are abysmal in my eyes), John Small, Fenton, Howard, Scully and Rock and have played the first few league matches look really jaded. I don't think the Dubs should worry at all about slipping to Division 2 for a season, where it'll give them a chance to look at the newer players at a less pressurised level. There's no denying that they're still capable of figuring at the latter stages of this years championship though. But I think there's a few more counties that have now lost the fear of playing Dublin, and having that extra bit of confidence and self belief when you go out to face any team is often the difference between winning and losing. It's not too long ago since they were the clear favourites to put a halt to Mayo's gallop in the semi final last year. We saw how that turned out, but there's always one last sting in a dying wasp.....whether that was in 2020 or in the summer ahead is the question. I can see them scraping survival in the league and making it to another semi in the summer, but that's where I see it finishing for them again. Time will tell though..... I could be way off the mark!! that's interesting that you say that gavin needed to bring in new players but didn't or wasn't able, when I've heard of Micko been lambasted for not doing it either, but maybe the players just werent there back then and hopefully there not there for dublin either although with their massive population they'll recover a lot faster than us back then. |
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Post by Mickmack on Feb 20, 2022 11:49:46 GMT
While they might be off-form so far this year, I don't think we're in a position to be sneering at Dublin or anyone else. Tis bad karma anyway, Since that startled earwigs game in 2009, Kerry havent beaten Dublin in the championship so Kerry fans are in no position to dance on their grave. Since then Dublin have lost to Cork once, Donegal once and Mayo twice. Thats 4 games. Kerry have lost to Cork,to Dublin several times, to Galway, to Mayo, to Down, to Tyrone, to Donegal. So its been quite a fall from the top table for Kerry and they havent managed to win the All Ireland again since 2009. There was a lot of sneering at Mayo too for a long time on here. It stopped when Mayo beat Kerry in the championship which in hindsight was a bit of a blessing. |
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Post by john4 on Feb 20, 2022 11:52:26 GMT
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Post by Ballyfireside on Feb 20, 2022 12:14:14 GMT
Mayo are beginning to break some of the old hoodoo's - they beat Dublin in the Championship in 21 and now they have won their first league game against Dublin in Croke Park since 1971 - if they keep this up the excitement and anticipation will be uncontainable amongst their ever faithful fans - possibly of more concern the level of belief within the team will also grow. From my perspective, I think moving away from building a team around Aidan Shea is also a factor, for years they have altered their starting XV to accommodate him at midfield, centre forward and full forward. They now appear to use him on the last ten minutes to see out a game. Is this the roll some see Moran playing? I suppose you could slot Donegal's Murphy similarly and he is already a leader anyway, I'd sense he may see himself as being the next manager. Moran could well hang up his boots if he isn't central to operations and I wouldn't be so sure it would work anyway, Aidan is a harder one to crack but Horan appears to have the measure there, would he and maybe Murphy be more of CHF/FF types than our David? David at CHB or a roaming Half back - I probably mad? |
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Post by Mickmack on Feb 21, 2022 12:50:52 GMT
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Post by southward on Feb 21, 2022 13:10:15 GMT
Tailteann Cup glory beckons. |
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Jo90
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Posts: 2,676
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Post by Jo90 on Feb 21, 2022 13:38:52 GMT
Tailteann Cup glory beckons. I'm heading to the bookies to bet on a Tailteann Cup double: Cork to win it in 2022, Dublin to win it in 2023! Some people reckon that Cork or Clare could be in the Tailteann Cup even if they avoid relegation. That the Championship has to have 16 teams and the Tailteann Cup have 16 teams. If a non-Division 1 or 2 team makes it to the Provisional final, a Division 2 team that doesn't make it to the provincial final drops to the Tailteann to keep the numbers for both at 16. In Munster, if Limerick or Tipp make it to the Munster final, Cork or Clare would drop to the Tailteann cup (allegedly) |
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Post by clarinman on Feb 21, 2022 18:08:50 GMT
Tailteann Cup glory beckons. I'm heading to the bookies to bet on a Tailteann Cup double: Cork to win it in 2022, Dublin to win it in 2023! Some people reckon that Cork or Clare could be in the Tailteann Cup even if they avoid relegation. That the Championship has to have 16 teams and the Tailteann Cup have 16 teams. If a non-Division 1 or 2 team makes it to the Provisional final, a Division 2 team that doesn't make it to the provincial final drops to the Tailteann to keep the numbers for both at 16. In Munster, if Limerick or Tipp make it to the Munster final, Cork or Clare would drop to the Tailteann cup (allegedly) Clare are in opposite side of draw to Kerry/cork and will be favourite to make the final. |
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Post by Mickmack on Feb 21, 2022 19:07:16 GMT
Ciarán Sheehan:
Cork footballers look lost but they are too good to go down
MON, 21 FEB, 2022 - 13:14
LARRY RYAN
The Cork footballers look lost without a defined defensive structure, but they are too good to be relegated to Division 3 of the Allianz League, believes former star Ciarán Sheehan.
The winless Leesiders slumped to a nine-point defeat to Derry on Sunday, leaving them facing a relegation fight with four games to play in Division 2.
Sheehan, speaking on the Irish Examiner GAA podcast, accepts the team looked impotent in attack as well as vulnerable in defence against Derry, but he doesn’t doubt the players’ ability or character, instead sensing lack of structure is undermining their efforts.
“The best form of attack is a good defensive structure, in my opinion, and at the moment Cork seem to be lost in defence. There is no strategy around when you turn over the ball, how we break forward, how we regain our shape."
Derry’s goal, scored by Benny Heron, was a case in point, Sheehan said.
“It was the easiest transition you will ever see, through the lines, One-twos, there wasn’t a finger laid on any Derry player.
“It just looked like a team that was lost.
“I’m sure that this is something that Keith Ricken is working on with the lads. Cork just need, in my opinion, to workshop around defensive structure for the next few weeks. But they don’t have that much time. They are in dangerous territory at the moment, to stay in Division 2.”
Cork All-Ireland winner Sheehan, who retired from inter-county due to injury last summer, does believe some of his generation, who have left the panel, still have something to offer.
“I know Cork tried hard to hang onto the likes of Mark Collins. He would have added a huge amount to this team. But when a player makes a decision it’s time to go, it’s time to go.
“There comes a point when you do have to totally rejig the whole thing, but you have to tread lightly around who you leave go."
He would find a place for Nemo star Luke Connolly, currently not part of the panel.
“I don’t know what the situation is, but I certainly would for his creativity. It depends on what the game style is and where he fits. But I think he’s a super footballer, I think he adds X-factor. If he improved his fitness by a couple of per cent, he’d be a top-level player in the country, but he’s been hampered by injuries."
Sheehan is certain manager Keith Ricken will be more aware then anyone where the current problems lie.
“I’ve worked with Keith Ricken for a long time, he’s a good friend of mine, he really knows his stuff.
"I don’t think they’ll be relegated. I do think we’ll see a response. They’ll be up against it against Galway, but it’s crunch time then in the last three games, and I think they’ll fancy their chances against those three teams."
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MeathExile
Full Member
I wonder, is there a goal in this game??
Posts: 199
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Post by MeathExile on Feb 21, 2022 19:08:36 GMT
Dublin will be in AI semi in June. Kildare looked brutal yesterday vs Tyrone and Id say Dubs will see them off next weekend. It will be the same in May/June if/when they meet. Meath have gone backwards from last year as well, so no danger there. Id say Louth will put up a better fight.
Dublin are currently in trial mode - trying out loads of players. They only need 1 or 2 from all of the "triallists" to come through - at the moment it looks like the corner back from Whitehall and that is exactly what they need. They have McCarthy and Con to come back - 2 of their mainstays. Those 2 will vastly improve the half/backs and full forward lines. Murchan next best addition. Paddy Andrews next and then Costello.
I dont think they have the forward line to win it out, but they wont be far off. Assuming we are there, we will have it all to do as we have our own weaknesses still. We drew with a poor Kildare side, beat an experimental Dublin side well, and a Donegal side who looked inept without their 2 main players. Meanwhile, we have almost a full team out for 2 of those 3 matches. We have an over-reliance on 2 forwards, an experimental midfield, and a backline which conceded 3 goals on the day it really counted....apart from Dan the sole addition.
I know this is a pessimistic note - but I feel Dublin are being written off way too soon. Plus Tyrone are the team to beat IMO....and we will likely have to beat both to get there. But I live in hope.....
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Post by dc84 on Feb 21, 2022 19:36:44 GMT
Dublin will be in AI semi in June. Kildare looked brutal yesterday vs Tyrone and Id say Dubs will see them off next weekend. It will be the same in May/June if/when they meet. Meath have gone backwards from last year as well, so no danger there. Id say Louth will put up a better fight. Dublin are currently in trial mode - trying out loads of players. They only need 1 or 2 from all of the "triallists" to come through - at the moment it looks like the corner back from Whitehall and that is exactly what they need. They have McCarthy and Con to come back - 2 of their mainstays. Those 2 will vastly improve the half/backs and full forward lines. Murchan next best addition. Paddy Andrews next and then Costello. I dont think they have the forward line to win it out, but they wont be far off. Assuming we are there, we will have it all to do as we have our own weaknesses still. We drew with a poor Kildare side, beat an experimental Dublin side well, and a Donegal side who looked inept without their 2 main players. Meanwhile, we have almost a full team out for 2 of those 3 matches. We have an over-reliance on 2 forwards, an experimental midfield, and a backline which conceded 3 goals on the day it really counted....apart from Dan the sole addition. I know this is a pessimistic note - but I feel Dublin are being written off way too soon. Plus Tyrone are the team to beat IMO....and we will likely have to beat both to get there. But I live in hope..... Andrews is retired, dublin will be better in the Summer and will make a quarter at least but if they get Tyrone or mayo in quarter could struggle. Their biggest issue is backs really and murchan Cooper and maybe mcarthy depending on where they put him will make a difference. Up from they will be grand o callaghan,costello paddy small etc. The thing is though is how badly they are playing all of them really except Gannon and kilkenny ,scully looks a liability rock is struggling a bit from play as he is now the main man is being marked by the best man markers on opposition team. Lots of teams are missing plenty of players mayo didnt have Durcan and Cillian o connor plus plenty others Tyrone are light aswell but both are still playing to the plan and battling through games. Dublin are getting hammered in all honesty and morale looks very bad that will be hard to build back up unless they win at least 3 of their next 4 games kildare ,Tyrone and monaghan away with Donegal at home. The crowds have been poor for them aswell and there is some negativity up here around the team that will seep in they are in a tough spot I think they will probably stay up by beating kildare Donegal and at probably monaghan all the same. |
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MeathExile
Full Member
I wonder, is there a goal in this game??
Posts: 199
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Post by MeathExile on Feb 21, 2022 20:39:57 GMT
Sorry - meant Small, not Andrews
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horsebox77
Fanatical Member
Our trees & mountains are silent ghosts, they hold wisdom and knowledge mankind has long forgotten.
Posts: 1,673
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Post by horsebox77 on Feb 21, 2022 20:43:56 GMT
Speaking of Andrews, he was always a tidy and underrated corner forward, but it was only during a covid lockdown I re-watched the 2009 startled earwigs game that I realised he lined out at corner back in that game.
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Post by royalkerryfan on Feb 21, 2022 20:46:14 GMT
Only Carlow have conceded more than Dublin in the national leagues so far this year.
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Post by Mickmack on Feb 21, 2022 20:48:01 GMT
Dublin will be in AI semi in June. Kildare looked brutal yesterday vs Tyrone and Id say Dubs will see them off next weekend. It will be the same in May/June if/when they meet. Meath have gone backwards from last year as well, so no danger there. Id say Louth will put up a better fight. Dublin are currently in trial mode - trying out loads of players. They only need 1 or 2 from all of the "triallists" to come through - at the moment it looks like the corner back from Whitehall and that is exactly what they need. They have McCarthy and Con to come back - 2 of their mainstays. Those 2 will vastly improve the half/backs and full forward lines. Murchan next best addition. Paddy Andrews next and then Costello. I dont think they have the forward line to win it out, but they wont be far off. Assuming we are there, we will have it all to do as we have our own weaknesses still. We drew with a poor Kildare side, beat an experimental Dublin side well, and a Donegal side who looked inept without their 2 main players. Meanwhile, we have almost a full team out for 2 of those 3 matches. We have an over-reliance on 2 forwards, an experimental midfield, and a backline which conceded 3 goals on the day it really counted....apart from Dan the sole addition. I know this is a pessimistic note - but I feel Dublin are being written off way too soon. Plus Tyrone are the team to beat IMO....and we will likely have to beat both to get there. But I live in hope..... Andrews is retired, dublin will be better in the Summer and will make a quarter at least but if they get Tyrone or mayo in quarter could struggle. Their biggest issue is backs really and murchan Cooper and maybe mcarthy depending on where they put him will make a difference. Up from they will be grand o callaghan,costello paddy small etc. The thing is though is how badly they are playing all of them really except Gannon and kilkenny ,scully looks a liability rock is struggling a bit from play as he is now the main man is being marked by the best man markers on opposition team. Lots of teams are missing plenty of players mayo didnt have Durcan and Cillian o connor plus plenty others Tyrone are light aswell but both are still playing to the plan and battling through games. Dublin are getting hammered in all honesty and morale looks very bad that will be hard to build back up unless they win at least 3 of their next 4 games kildare ,Tyrone and monaghan away with Donegal at home. The crowds have been poor for them aswell and there is some negativity up here around the team that will seep in they are in a tough spot I think they will probably stay up by beating kildare Donegal and at probably monaghan all the same. Rock is now getting a taste of the lone furrow Cillian oConnor had to plough. He doesnt look half the player he looked when surrounded by better players. I looked at the 2017 under 20 all ireland winning team that dublin had..... few enough coming through. Dessie is bringing on as many from the 2020 side that lost to Cork |
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Post by john4 on Feb 21, 2022 22:46:35 GMT
Dublin will be in AI semi in June. Kildare looked brutal yesterday vs Tyrone and Id say Dubs will see them off next weekend. It will be the same in May/June if/when they meet. Meath have gone backwards from last year as well, so no danger there. Id say Louth will put up a better fight. Dublin are currently in trial mode - trying out loads of players. They only need 1 or 2 from all of the "triallists" to come through - at the moment it looks like the corner back from Whitehall and that is exactly what they need. They have McCarthy and Con to come back - 2 of their mainstays. Those 2 will vastly improve the half/backs and full forward lines. Murchan next best addition. Paddy Andrews next and then Costello. I dont think they have the forward line to win it out, but they wont be far off. Assuming we are there, we will have it all to do as we have our own weaknesses still. We drew with a poor Kildare side, beat an experimental Dublin side well, and a Donegal side who looked inept without their 2 main players. Meanwhile, we have almost a full team out for 2 of those 3 matches. We have an over-reliance on 2 forwards, an experimental midfield, and a backline which conceded 3 goals on the day it really counted....apart from Dan the sole addition. I know this is a pessimistic note - but I feel Dublin are being written off way too soon. Plus Tyrone are the team to beat IMO....and we will likely have to beat both to get there. But I live in hope..... Andrews is retired, dublin will be better in the Summer and will make a quarter at least but if they get Tyrone or mayo in quarter could struggle. Their biggest issue is backs really and murchan Cooper and maybe mcarthy depending on where they put him will make a difference. Up from they will be grand o callaghan,costello paddy small etc. The thing is though is how badly they are playing all of them really except Gannon and kilkenny ,scully looks a liability rock is struggling a bit from play as he is now the main man is being marked by the best man markers on opposition team. Lots of teams are missing plenty of players mayo didnt have Durcan and Cillian o connor plus plenty others Tyrone are light aswell but both are still playing to the plan and battling through games. Dublin are getting hammered in all honesty and morale looks very bad that will be hard to build back up unless they win at least 3 of their next 4 games kildare ,Tyrone and monaghan away with Donegal at home. The crowds have been poor for them aswell and there is some negativity up here around the team that will seep in they are in a tough spot I think they will probably stay up by beating kildare Donegal and at probably monaghan all the same. I don't know about Cooper, I think he's done really. Was cleaned out by DC all of 2½ years ago. Cranky to go with it. If he's a starter it's not great for Dublin. |
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Post by royalkerryfan on Feb 21, 2022 23:12:54 GMT
I might be wrong but Dublins best man marker Fitzsimons is also their oldest player.
He must be 34 ?
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Post by Mickmack on Feb 21, 2022 23:52:07 GMT
Eamon Sweeney
Jack is back and the backs are Jack’s. Kerry have switched from the Keane way to the mean way.
These might be early days but the difference made by the Kingdom’s returned monarch is already obvious. After three games Kerry have the best defensive record in Division 1. More importantly, they’re the only top-flight team yet to concede a goal.
That matters because the concession of goals has been Kerry’s Achilles heel in recent years. The three they conceded against Tyrone lost them an All-Ireland semi-final. The four Dublin scored at this stage of last year’s league was a warning of trouble ahead.
And the last-gasp Cork goal which dumped them out of the 2020 championship showed how teams always had a puncher’s chance against Kerry. No longer perhaps. Kerry’s defence looks considerably more parsimonious now.
At this stage last year, they’d conceded 5-32. Two years ago, it was 3-44. The current total is a stingy 0-31.
They’re scoring less than they did in previous seasons but given the forward firepower at Kerry’s disposal that’s hardly a worry. This team won’t miss out on an All-Ireland title by coming up short on the attacking end.
Kerry might be less fun to watch this season. But they’ll willingly sacrifice the champagne football of the last two years if a new approach allows them to crack open the bubbly come July.
O’Connor has always admired the defensive virtues. For all the attacking flair at his disposal, the three All-Ireland titles won on his watch were founded on a powerful rearguard.
Five of the seven players to win multiple All-Stars during his previous reigns – Diarmuid Murphy, Marc Ó Sé, Tom O’Sullivan, Mike McCarthy and Tomás Ó Sé, operated at the back.
In 2004, Kerry conceded an average of less than 12 points a game during the championship. In 2009, the average was less than 11 from the quarter-final on with Cork’s 1-9 in the decider the third lowest score in the final during the last 20 years. This is how Jack rolls.
The change has more to do with attitude and tactics than personnel. Four of yesterday’s back-line started the All-Ireland semi-final. But it may be significant that the two who didn’t were Kerry’s best defensive performers against Donegal.
Much bigger tests await Dan O’Donoghue but so far the Spa player looks the kind of defender Kerry have largely lacked since the retirement of the Ó Sé brothers, O’Sullivan and Mike McCarthy.
The emergence of Tom O’Sullivan Mark Two has been a godsend but it says a lot about Kerry’s backline deficiencies that he’s their only All-Star winning defender in the last six years.
O’Donoghue is an old-school Kingdom corner-back, quick, combative and tight-marking. He’s had to wait a long time for elevation since winning an All-Ireland minor medal in 2014 under O’Connor but is currently grabbing his chance with both hands.
Tadhg Morley has known ups and downs too. Largely out of favour last year, he’s started all three games at centre half-back this term.
Morley might lack the athleticism of Gavin White or the pure footballing ability of Paul Murphy but he is strong, brave and extremely solid. He’s the type of player O’Connor, who deployed Eamonn Fitzmaurice at number six in 2004 and Tommy Griffin at full-back five years later, tends to like.
O’Connor’s tactical nous was apparent yesterday as he directed Tom O’Sullivan to shadow Ryan McHugh, a decision which effectively neutralised the Donegal wing-back. Lacking such a central contributor, Donegal’s short passing game looked even more pointless than usual.
But just when one big problem appears on the way to being solved by Kerry, another has reared its head.
At 33, David Moran may be a somewhat diminished force but his current absence through injury leaves the Kingdom a bit threadbare at midfield.
Jack Barry and Diarmuid O’Connor came off second best to Donegal and their failure to win clean possession will surely worry the manager.
Good foils to a dominant partner, both players seem like accompanists rather than lead singers.
Kerry badly need one of them to emulate Conn Kilpatrick’s great leap forward for Tyrone last year. Championship success may depend on it.
Two other players have started at midfield in the league so far. One is the hard-working Adrian Spillane whose performance combined impressive dispossessions with wayward distribution.
For the moment he too seems like a supporting actor rather than the star Kerry need in this area.
The other is Seán O’Shea who’ll surely be leading the attack in the summer. O’Shea may not be at quite the same level as David Clifford but there is no more aesthetically appealing player.
O’Shea, like Maurice Fitzgerald back in the day, sometimes seems on a mission to show that Gaelic football is the real beautiful game.
Yesterday he went through the whole gamut of point-scoring techniques. The sideline curled over the bar, the long free from the hands, a towering long-range point under heavy pressure, one on the run, one with the fist.
In the direst of conditions O’Shea seemed to hover above the spiteful weather, as though cocooned inside some championship summer micro-climate of his own.
Watching him play like this it’s easy to fall into the assumption that all you need is lovely football.
But the last couple of years have shown Kerry that you need other things too and Jack O’Connor has been brought back to provide them.
If Kerry do win this year’s All-Ireland, O’Shea and the Cliffords will play a huge part.
But O’Donoghue, Morley and the mystery midfielder who hasn’t yet put his hand up could be just as important.
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kerryexile
Fanatical Member
Whether you believe that you can, or that you can't, you are right anyway.
Posts: 1,013
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Post by kerryexile on Feb 22, 2022 9:24:01 GMT
Over the past few years there has been discussion on this forum more than once about the merits or otherwise of Brian Fenton. His supporters have likened him to Jack O’Shea. Others including myself see him in a more modest setting, as a player that can give a pass, take a pass and with dominant players around him solo through and score. Very often such discussions never amount to anything more than people’s opinions. In Brian’s case the test has actually materialised.
Dublin have players in their thirties to come back in and have young players who show signs of great potential. Success in the summer will need more than these two groups. Brian is in between these groups, at 27 or 28, the age that players were always considered to be at their best, several years experience and still having the natural fitness of youth. The universe has handed him a blank canvas.
So far we have only seen the basic passing from him. He is not taking control, making things happen, getting players to play above themselves.
When Jack O’ was 28 that is what he was doing. The summer awaits.
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Post by Whosinmidfield on Feb 22, 2022 10:35:16 GMT
Kerry exile I think you ré being a tad harsh on Fenton. He has been quiet recently and not great by his standards in last year's semi loss. However throughout Dublin s 6 in a row he was outstanding most of the time. I would rate Jacko ahead of him but he is my number 2 of the midfielders I've seen. Sometimes we forget. Jacko at 30 years of age was no longer a great midfielder. He was still an excellent footballer but struggled midfield and was getting beaten alot so Kerry pushed him into the forwards. Every player has downs aswell as ups. Fenton has been the best midfielder in Ireland for a good few years and is up with the greatest I've seen. If gé gad retired last year people would speak about him for years but now because he having a quiet time folk judging unfairly. Jacko got the same criticism from 87 on in newspapers. I haven’t been overly impressed with him since 2017. I don’t think even in the last 5 years he’s been anywhere near as good as he’s made out to be. |
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Post by royalkerryfan on Feb 22, 2022 11:07:10 GMT
Fenton for me was extremely fortunate that he played during a period when there weren't many stand out opposing midfielders out there.
He didn't have anyone really to compete with.
I think playing on a team that was so good made him look alot better too.
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