Under Discussion: The weekend's Allianz Football and Hurling League action.
Chatting were: Paddy Heaney of the Irish News is joined by the Irish Examiner's Tony Leen, Michael Moynihan, Diarmuid O’Flynn, Fintan O'Toole and columnist Ray Silke.
TONY LEEN: Morning lads, we'll start with Saturday's All-Ireland football final repeat in Páirc Uí Rinn. At half time I felt Down would push on and claim a right good scalp but they died a death in the second-half.
JOHN FOGARTY: I felt Down played into Cork’s hands. As he alluded to last week, James McCartan is working on plan Bs, Cs and Ds this year.
PADDY HEANEY: I watched Down against Armagh and left Páirc Esler convinced that they had improved. They have now more options in defence. They have also addressed their problems at midfield by designing new kick-out strategies. Given what happened on Saturday, it's hard to avoid the conclusion that Cork have pushed on. The monkey is off their back and I think they could be the team to beat in 2011.
FINTAN O’TOOLE: There was an interesting comparison in the team's midfield fortunes as the game went on. Down started to wilt in that sector with Kalum King being taken off, whereas Cork got stronger when Aidan Walsh came on. That was the platform for Cork's last quarter dominance.
JOHN FOGARTY: King had a lot to make up after last September even if it was just the league. Martin Clarke or not, James McCartan or not, Benny Coulter's influence is still heavy in the Down set-up.
RAY SILKE: 3-17 was a fine score for Cork. They fairly opened up Down’s back-line and even scored four points more than that much vaunted Kilkenny attack. I’d say Alan Burke can’t wait to face another free scoring forward division on Sunday in Pearse Stadium. Cork -8, anyone?
TONY LEEN: Once they got into their stride, Cork looked frighteningly good - especially considering they've had a later start to 2011 than most. Options all over the field, and plenty more coming off the bench. But who'll be the ones who will nudge the established starters off the first fifteen?
FINTAN O’TOOLE: Right now Fintan Goold is making a strong push for a half-forward spot especially with Patrick Kelly looking so comfortable in the centre. In defence now that Sean Kiely is finished with Sigerson Cup duties, I'd like to see him get a chance to stake his claim. Colm O'Neill also looks hungry to pin down a starting spot this year rather than be used off the bench. Paul Kerrigan also has to come back into that mix.
TONY LEEN: So if Fintan Goold is coming in at 10, who's the Championship partner for Aidan Walsh. Still Alan O’Connor?
JOHN FOGARTY: O'Connor, with telling cameos from Nicholas Murphy. O'Connor was more than decent on Saturday night.
PADDY HEANEY: A question lads. The RTE report said that Noel Leary did another good marking job on Martin Clarke. But I read a newspaper report this morning that said Clarke was good, particularly in the first half. What is your verdict on Clarke's display?
TONY LEEN: Noel didn't start on Clarke, but did reduce his effectiveness when he was switched onto him. Broadening out, which county gets our Monday morning performance of the weekend for football?
JOHN FOGARTY: No-one in Clones anyway. Cork would be close but Kildare showed great mettle to come back against Laois.
TONY LEEN: I was talking to Trevor Giles this morning, and he said Laois were well the better side in Newbridge, but didn't manage to close the deal. He has them third in the province behind Dublin and Kildare. McNulty's pulling up a few trees there. Big, big game for them next Saturday night, home to Tyrone.
JOHN FOGARTY: Tipped Kildare in Saturday's newspaper because I felt they would want this more. One win from the opening three games for Kieran McGeeney's side was a poor return for a team we are being told is going places. We'll know just how good they are in Leinster this year. Another run through the qualifiers can't be entertained.
TONY LEEN: I thought Armagh's win in Castlebar was a decent result, in front of the Taoiseach and all. Good preparation for a tasty treat at home to Kerry next weekend. Jack O'Connor badly needs two tough away games now (Armagh, Monaghan) because Galway were shocking in Killarney yesterday. Body language all wrong.
PADDY HEANEY: I was impressed by Armagh's win too, but less when I read today's match report. Armagh's big problem is in the forward line. They lack chemistry. There is no invention in the half-forward line and they are too reliant on Stevie McDonnell. Despite the fact that they scored 2-10 in Castlebar, four of their starting forwards failed to score from play. They have serious potential, but they really need to groom young Rory Grugan as their new No.11.
FINTAN O’TOOLE: Donegal's emphatic win in Navan over Meath has brought them right back into the promotion mix in Division 2 as well.
JOHN FOGARTY: A man under serious pressure, that's what Banty is. The number of injuries he has gives him some breathing space but not enough. He will find, just like Joe Kernan in Galway, that traditional football counties take exception to new experiments failing.
PADDY HEANEY: On the subject of Joe Kernan’s ‘failed’ experiment in Galway. Right now, I think Ray and his native people would welcome Joe back with open arms!
RAY SILKE: NO Paddy. We would not. Beaten by Sligo & Wexford and the wolf at the door. Me thinks not! Galway in my humble opinion would not currently survive in Division 2. Sunday was probably the worse starting 15 in 20 years and there were oceans of mulla on Kerry at -6.
FINTAN O’TOOLE: Sounds like Colm Cooper was imperious again yesterday for Kerry.
TONY LEEN: Funny, I asked Jack O'Connor afterwards if Gooch's form was too good as it's only March. He admitted the selectors had just been discussing the same thing. It's a long summer yet, but at the moment he's virtually unplayable. And it was interesting that Kerry abandoned the high ball into Donaghy yesterday. Not before time either. Variety is key and Kerry were becoming worryingly predictable.
JOHN FOGARTY: Captaincy suits Colm Cooper down to the ground. Leading by example in action and a lot more vocal in the dressing room these days. He mightn't admit it but the so far elusive footballer of the year award may be a real incentive for him this year as well.
PADDY HEANEY: It could only happen in Kerry! A discussion on whether a footballer is playing too well. I've heard it all now. And we think the French are philosophical chinwaggers. They have nothing on Kerrymen.
RAY SILKE: Dead right Paddy. I was on Radio Kerry on Saturday with Ambrose and Billy O'Shea. Jaysus, they nearly convinced me we had a chance.
TONY LEEN: Ah here we go, all-pile-in-On-the-Kerryman again. Let me throw petrol on the fire. The difference in standards between Cork-Down on Saturday and Kerry-Galway on Sunday was night and day stuff. Hence my point about Kerry requiring a couple of gut-check away fixtures. Midfield remains a concern. Scanlon was good yesterday, but there's no Alan O'Connor or Nicholas Murphy to partner him. Moran not ready, Quirke not fit, Maher too green. Ray, spoke to Tomas O Flatharta afterwards, very measured, talking about missing players, panel working hard. Can he turn it around for the first round of the Championship?
RAY SILKE: All this talk of missing Galway players is a smokescreen to be honest. Padraic Joyce is 34 on April 1st and is not the man he was, Meehan has been out for 12 months and Armstrong has not developed to his potential. Plus none of them play at 6, 8, 9, or 11 and that's where Galway's biggest problems are. I expect Galway to be 0 for 7 by the end of the NFL. A reasonable question: will Ó’Flatharta still be there in June 2011?
FINTAN O’TOOLE: Did Jack make any mention of bringing Daithi Casey in alongside Cooper for a run-out or will he be left to his own devices with the U21's for a while?
TONY LEEN: All those lads are out of commission now. Pity, because I would have loved to see Peter Crowley get a chance. Had a great Sigerson and going very well in training. Having said that, Shane Enright did well, but against very little.
JOHN FOGARTY: Shaping up to be a mediocre Connacht championship. Where have I heard that one before?
FINTAN O’TOOLE: On that note John, are Roscommon currently the leading football county in Connacht? Reigning senior and U21 provincial champions, St Brigid's in the club final and their U21's dumped a highly-rated Mayo side out of the championship on Saturday.
JOHN FOGARTY: There could be an argument for it, Fintan. Wasn't it amazing how we were all taken by the prospect of Mayo's U21’s facing Leitrim next Saturday and it being the only thing standing in the way of the Dublin-Mayo game being played in Croke Park? Roscommon must have loved reading about that.
TONY LEEN: Ok, let's pack up the football chat with the best team in the country, Dublin. Another grinder on Sunday, and Mayo next week. A good or bad thing to go through the League undefeated for Gilroy?
JOHN FOGARTY: Good thing. It's not as if the hype is going to escape them if they want to achieve something this season, so let them get used to it. But to say they scraped by in Clones yesterday would be a euphemism. They faltered again in the latter part of the first half. Credit to them, though, they hung up and scored seven unanswered points. If they don't qualify for the league final now - with Mayo, Down and Galway to come - it would be a real psychological blow.
PADDY HEANEY: Dublin would derive huge benefit from winning the League. Lifting the Leinster title has been of no help to them. Beating the best of Division One would be a different matter.
TONY LEEN: Onto hurling. What are we reading into Galway’s comeback in Pearse Stadium yesterday v Kilkenny?
MICHAEL MOYNIHAN: . . . that JJ Delaney needs to go back to the full-back line. And PJ Ryan’s place is safe in goal if he wants it.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Agree with Michael about JJ and full-back, but even the same JJ looked to be in trouble yesterday, against a very physical Galway half-forward line.
MICHAEL MOYNIHAN: The reason I’d have JJ back in the full-back line is that it’s more tight corners than open country, which might suit him at this point.
RAY SILKE: JJ had a good knee strap on him yesterday and did not look to be moving 100% freely. A lot of credit to for Cathal McAllister who kept the game going and was a big factor in the 4-14 to 3-13 scoreline. A few football refs could learn a bit off him.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Kilkenny sliced Galway open twice in those opening minutes, Galway looked ripe for slaughter, yet they turned it around. Kilkenny need their big guns this year, if they’re to get back to the top.
RAY SILKE: Early days yet in Galway. 1988 was a long time ago and McIntyre should have no problem keeping any feet on the ground. Good to see Damien Joyce back and when Joe Canning and Damien Hayes come back there’ll be serious competition for places.....
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: They’ll have to be very careful about how they ease Joe back though, upsetting what is now a nice balance. Ger Farragher is a brilliant free-taker and line-ball specialist, should be left with it, and Iarla Tannian proving a real handful at full-forward, so where do you play Joe? Hurling story of the year so far has to be Dublin, though — only unbeaten team left in Division 1, and looking stronger by the week. Huge scoreline yesterday, yet no Conal Keaney and Alan McCrabbe STILL to come back.
JOHN FOGARTY: I wouldn’t be getting over-excited about Dublin’s start. Have had a relatively easy beginning. Galway, Kilkenny and Cork are the real tests. We’ll know more then. With Dublin, there’s a tendency to exaggerate their advances because their promotion brings us back to the revolution years and raises our hopes of an outside county rising once more.
FINTAN O’TOOLE: Surely John there’s reasons for optimism in that Dublin are posting big scores without McCrabbe who’s been their leading marksman in recent seasons? I accept they’ve played the easiest two games against Offaly and Wexford already.
JOHN FOGARTY: I wouldn’t be getting carried away. They caught Tipperary at the right time and should have beaten Waterford. No, I’m not buying it just yet.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Yes Fintan, but they blew both away, very Kilkenny-like, and fronted up against Tipperary and Waterford, and I think we’d all accept now that Waterford are a serious proposition this year.
MICHAEL MOYNIHAN: Move it on to Cork-Waterford, then. Like Galway, the latter are doing well with Mullane only back yesterday and Eoin Kelly coming in for the last five minutes.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Michael, what did Davy do with Kevin Moran yesterday? The forwards again?
MICHAEL MOYNIHAN: No, Moran was very strong at wing-back. He got the winner but that was his only venture upfield. Davy said there might be “elements” who want Kevin up front but he can do everything. Maybe he’s reading us!
JOHN FOGARTY: Waterford were always going to be a team to beat this year. Didn’t get enough credit for winning Munster last year. Richie Foley is performing mighty. The remnants of the Justin McCarthy era are all but gone.
MICHAEL MOYNIHAN: Waterford will be happy with their defence in general. Wayne Hutchinson was strong at full-back, and Brick very strong as well.
FINTAN O’TOOLE: Thoughts on Cork yesterday, Michael?
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Would you say both Waterford and Cork were close to full battle dress yesterday? Have they the Indian Sign over Cork?
MICHAEL MOYNIHAN: Fintan, Cork’s full-forward line was very accurate but still leaving their men out too freely. Midfield was very strong in the first half then Davy moved Molumphy out and Waterford broke even. Stephen McDonnell was very good on Mullane and I would say is a live contender for a starting championship spot.
Diarmuid, I’d say both sides have significant players to come back — Eoin Cadogan was mentioned by Denis Walsh, while Eoin Kelly in full flow would be a huge addition to Waterford. as would Eoin Murphy.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: I’ve been impressed with McDonnell every time I saw him. Waterford are a serious team this year though — looking forward already to the Championship!
MICHAEL MOYNIHAN: Waterford will have to strike a balance with the numbers they have — Ken McGrath was well off the pace yesterday — while Cork are doing a bit of shuffling with the cards they’ve got left.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Maybe Fraher Field yesterday might be a sign of a turnaround, in terms of attendance.
MICHAEL MOYNIHAN: Yeah, surprising to see the crowds still coming in — and great they got a good game, too. What was the attendance like in Pearse Stadium, didn’t look too bad on TV last night?
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Attendance very poor in Galway, less than 2,000 we reckon, but then Galway hurling fans aren’t the best when it comes to supporting their team, and Kilkenny don’t travel very far from Nowlan Park. Elsewhere, Tipp are now back to near full strength, and very much back in the league mix too. Coming so close to the end of the league, will their game against Cork be a dress rehearsal for championship, or will it the two managers pull back?
MICHAEL MOYNIHAN: Going by Denis Walsh’s comments yesterday, Cork will be all out for it, as he referred to the fact that Cork’s league is done if they don’t win. I don’t think Declan Ryan would be averse to a good run-out either, I’d expect him to pick a very strong side.
JOHN FOGARTY: Might be some shadow-boxing in that one. Remember what Denis Walsh did with Setanta last year? Took him off Padraic Maher after he had roasted him. Didn’t want to give them the game away for the Páirc and he was proven right.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: I don’t think that was the case last year, John, my information is that it was pre-planned that Aisake would move after the first ten minutes, and they simply followed through on that. Hope it’s full on, however.
JOHN FOGARTY: Hope so too, Diarmuid. Tipp and Cork games might be ten-a-penny these days but haven’t lost their lustre, whatever the occasion.
FINTAN O’TOOLE: Limerick still setting the pace in Division 2 but they weren’t overly impressive in dispatching Laois yesterday. Donal O’Grady had no qualms afterwards in stating there is plenty scope for improvement.
MICHAEL MOYNIHAN: No better man to damp down the expectation.
JOHN FOGARTY: One game away from a Munster final — what an incentive for Limerick this year.
MICHAEL MOYNIHAN: There’ll be a bit of nervousness in Waterford about that, too — two years ago they were so sluggish out of the blocks and Limerick could have caught them. There’ll be the ‘unknown’ quality to Limerick to this year for Waterford.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Limerick will qualify for the playoff, Clare will have to beat Laois in Portlaoise — nothing guaranteed, though their huge win yesterday will do wonders for their scoring difference.
MICHAEL MOYNIHAN: Though would a Division 2 final win be better for Limerick than flying into the propellers of Tipperary in a Munster final?
JOHN FOGARTY: So Tipperary are your tip to come through then?
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: I think that’s Donal’s big aim, promotion; don’t think they’ll have to worry about Tipp either, in the championship — Waterford won’t be fooled, and at this stage they’re just too far ahead of Limerick, in their development.
MICHAEL MOYNIHAN: I agree with Diarmuid, if you look at the championship teams you’d wonder where LImerick would get the scores from to beat Waterford — yet we thought the same two years ago.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: I’m not knocking Limerick, just recognising that job done in Waterford by Davy and company — they are now serious contenders for All-Ireland honours. I wouldn’t put my house on Tipp to beat Cork either!
MICHAEL MOYNIHAN: A few tasty ones coming up in the next round — Cork-Tipp, Waterford-Kilkenny. Anyone care to pick winners, given it’s Cheltenham week?
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Tipp, Waterford, Galway, Wexford.
JOHN FOGARTY: Tipp, Kilkenny, Galway, Wexford.
Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/lnxl5XDvB8g/post.aspx
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