JOHN FOGARTY: QUITE the day on Sunday. Hardly the most memorable National League final but up there as one of the most memorable results in recent times as a new team comes to the fore. Dublin, after being the best team in general play during the league, deliver in historic fashion. We’ll get to Kilkenny shortly but firstly your thoughts on Anthony Daly’s men?
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Could see them coming all year, finally delivered, but even the Dubs themselves won’t read too much into the beating they gave Kilkenny — not a good team yesterday, seriously depleted even before the red card.
FINTAN O’TOOLE: Remarkable performance by Dublin. Notable that after a league campaign where their shooting let them down in certain games, they were extremely accurate yesterday and landed some quality points. At the end they seemingly couldn’t miss and were popping them over from all angles. Agree with that Diarmuid, how stretched Kilkenny’s resources were is the major caveat when praising Dublin’s win.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: A few people had noted that when they got their shooting sorted they would be a real force, and that was the case in the first 25 minutes yesterday, fellas pointing from all angles and distances, great confidence shown. The shooting in the final five minutes can be ignored somewhat, just one of those occasions when everything goes right, but early on, impressive.
JOHN FOGARTY: How they finished was very similar to Tipperary’s in last year’s final. O’Dwyer and Keaney really pushed it on with Paul Ryan having a marvellous first-half. But what about the dreaded hype?
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Going to go into overdrive now and they have a potential banana-skin coming up, Offaly in Parnell Park. Offaly had some very poor results during the league, but they are not a very poor side and if Dublin heads aren’t right, they could lose that one. If their heads are right though, they’ll progress.
FINTAN O’TOOLE: We saw last year against Antrim what happens when Dublin aren’t focused but they do appear to have improved in that respect.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: And speaking of Tipp, Freudian slip by the announcer yesterday during Ryan O’Dwyer’s blood-subbing: “for Tipperary’s Ryan O’Dwyer”. That guy has really made a difference to Dublin, which begs the question, how did Tipp let him go?
JOHN FOGARTY: We’ll know if they have learned anything from last year’s horror show against Antrim when they face Offaly. The announcer made several mistakes yesterday. Not the first and won’t be the last this year. It’s a pertinent question about O’Dwyer. He was on the panel but didn’t make the break through. West Tipperary hasn’t had much to shout about in terms of hurling over the last while. They might have raised a glass to him last night. Might have. Anyway, what have been Dublin’s best attributes? Who has been their best performer over the course of the league?
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Best attributes: physicality, pace, touch, never-say-die, team balance. Best performance: yesterday. Best performer: O’Dwyer.
FINTAN O’TOOLE: The emergence of guys like Daire Plunkett and Conor McCormack is a real plus in my view. Their attack has more versatility and depth to it than ever before. Keaney an obvious standout in that regard and it was promising for Dublin to see David Treacy come on towards the end yesterday.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: All six forwards scored yesterday, three subs likewise, plus McCaffrey — that’s some spread of the workload. Paul Ryan a revelation also. Thing is, Galway could actually match Dublin, play the same type of pacy, open, running game. Will be very interesting in Leinster this year.
JOHN FOGARTY: Cyril Farrell mentioned last night they could make the All-Ireland final. Realistic call to make?
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Dublin are very realistic All-Ireland contenders, yes.
FINTAN O’TOOLE: I think they’ll be All-Ireland semi-finalists this year. Along with the league title, that would make 2011 a progressive year.
ENDA MCEVOY: The most important point to be made is Anthony Daly as manager has worked. Brilliantly. He doesn’t have to wonder about what legacy he might leave for the next guy. He’s produced. And provided a legacy already. Not bad going for two and a bit years. I think an All-Ireland semi is now a realistic target for Dublin. But should they get turned over by Offaly in the championship, nobody should go around saying that winning the league was bad for them. Incidentally, interesting that Daly should be central to three of the great hurling moments of the past 20 years: Clare winning Munster in ’95, Clare winning the All-Ireland in ’95 and yesterday.
JOHN FOGARTY: Did Cody line the team out right yesterday? And what about those incidents in the first-half?
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Talking to Tony Considine after yesterday’s game, he reckoned Cody is playing a game with us all. They weren’t going to win, so why not lose big, throw everyone off the Kilkenny scent, so to speak? The positioning of players yesterday — Noel Hickey corner-back, Colin Fennelly corner-forward when much of his best work was from the wing, Matt Ruth centre-forward...
ENDA MCEVOY: Was being down to 12 at half-time also part of the plan?
JOHN FOGARTY: He didn’t have the players he would have liked but then he didn’t help his cause with that positioning either, I’d agree, Diarmuid.
FINTAN O’TOOLE: Their shooting must be a concern, not a single point from play registered by their attack. What of the indiscipline in the first-half as well?
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Lost discipline was disappointing from a Kilkenny point of view; have often said here that you don’t see a Kilkenny player lashing out, but were very open yesterday. Perhaps you’re right Enda, just a bad day for the Cats.
JOHN FOGARTY: The indiscipline told a story that Cody couldn’t be codding us with. All three players were provoked but they’d have risen above that in previous years.
ENDA MCEVOY: Dare we say that Michael Wadding was let down by his linesmen and umpires?
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: And a premature whistle for half-time, Dublin clearly about to score; similar premature whistle in Ennis on Saturday night, just as Graeme Mulcahy was about to score for Limerick. We need that time-clock and a genuine advantage rule.
JOHN FOGARTY: That could be argued, Enda, but one last question on Kilkenny. Just how much pressure is on Henry to make everything right when he comes back?
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Phenomenal and speaking to a few Kilkenny fans on Sunday, he’s working like a madman to get back. Would love to see that happening.
FINTAN O’TOOLE: The attack certainly needs it talisman to return.
ENDA MCEVOY: To be fair to Wadding, he blew for half-time when two defenders were going for the ball. It was only after the two of them missed it that it became an issue. To return to something Diarmuid has been banging on about for weeks now: Are Waterford currently the number two team in the land?
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: We’ll have a good idea of that on June 12, Limerick definitely on the way up.
JOHN FOGARTY: They’re extremely close to it, Enda, but not just yet. People will rank Galway higher than them. Waterford are more of a unit than Galway right now.
FINTAN O’TOOLE: The Ardscoil Rís effect is starting to be seen Diarmuid, was impressed with Downes and Hannon on Saturday night.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Put two strongmen like Lucey and Geary into the defence, add Shane Dowling to the attack — this is a coming side.
FINTAN O’TOOLE: Clare have key defensive issues, would start Pat Donnellan at six from now on. Any reason revealed as to why Honan didn’t start? When he came on, Clare attack carried more menace courtesy of him and Conlon.
ENDA MCEVOY: Is there a more unplayable forward in the country than Honan when he’s on his game?
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: The length of those arms, keeping the ball away from the defender, the pace, the finishing. Clare may not benefit as much from another year in Division 2 as they would in Division 1, but I’ll tell you, some outstanding young talent in Clare. Matched Limerick in almost every facet except finishing; Jonny Clancy had a real off-day, but some of the other Clare youngsters in the attack — dangerous.
FINTAN O’TOOLE: Conor McGrath has been a good find for them this spring.
JOHN FOGARTY: But do they have the defence, Diarmuid. Waterford under Fitzgerald have built from the back and are succeeding. Are Clare like the old Waterford in terms of the talent they are blessed with up-front but not so much in defence?
FINTAN O’TOOLE: That’ll be their problem John. Aside from the horrible error for Limerick’s second goal, the other three strikes saw the Clare defence opened up far too easily.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: I’d have Bugler centre-back; Hickey I’d have on the wing, yes, though I was impressed with him on Saturday in the centre; O’Mahony also did very well when he came out to quieten Conlan. Limerick have options, is what I’m saying — big strong men, or slim fast guys.
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Good point John, and many people Clare fans were muttering about McMahon/Lohan and fellas not living to make it all the way through the middle in the good old days!
JOHN FOGARTY: Wrapping up on the hurling, it’s shaping up to be a great championship. Munster free from strikes for the first year in awhile, Leinster looking so competitive... excited?
DIARMUID O’FLYNN: Very, can’t wait. And Cork lads — going by Dublin’s second-last game, how far away are Cork?
ENDA MCEVOY: I can think of five teams I’d put money on before I’d back Cork this year... if that answers your question! Or was it meant to be answered?
JOHN FOGARTY: In teams not to write off, Cork come just after Kilkenny. You’d have to fancy Tipperary on May 29 but qualifiers could be their saviour.
JOHN FOGARTY: Fintan, on to the U21 final and what of Cavan getting stage-fright? Does it take away from just how good Galway were?
FINTAN O’TOOLE: Massive expectations in Cavan all week, a football-mad county yearning for an All-Ireland title. They started well in the first 10 minutes, but had no answer when Galway took over at midfield and lost all shape in their defence before half-time. A good day for Galway football. They have senior players in waiting and a senior manager in waiting.
JOHN FOGARTY: The year suddenly isn’t looking so bad for Galway football, is it? Not as if they won’t get competition in Division 2 next year. And who of the U21s do you think might get onto the Galway team for the Connacht SFC?
FINTAN O’TOOLE: Colin Forde will lock down one of spots in the full-back line. Don’t know will there definitely be any other starters, senior could be too much too soon for Tomás Flynn and Fiontan Ó Curraoin at midfield. Both are just out of minor. Mark Hehir and Danny Cummins the best of their attacking prospects. Over the course of the season, Tomás Fahy impressive at half-back as well.
JOHN FOGARTY: He was, Michael Boyle showed some stones too. Finally, how much of a setback is it for Cavan? It was fever pitch with their army in Croke Park yesterday. As you said, massive expectations but massive disappointment as a result.
FINTAN O’TOOLE: Terry Hyland was quite pragmatic afterwards, talking about how it was a very good year winning a first Ulster U21 title since 1996 and reaching an All-Ireland final. Not winning it should not completely detract from that progress. They’ll look to the likes of Gearoid McKiernan and Niall McDermott to break through to the senior ranks this summer. On a positive note, they displayed discipline and maturity this year, something other Cavan teams have lacked in the past. One other thing, how many teams looked on yesterday with huge regrets? Mayo, Tyrone and Cork the front runners at the start this season yet all fell short.
JOHN FOGARTY: Oh, yes. Plenty of regrets around the country yesterday. Cork, especially. Mayo had no momentum and Tyrone had a saga so they might have reason to feel there were mitigating circumstances for their losses.
Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/exLVvypskd0/post.aspx
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