AT THE END of an interesting debate on ‘Championship Matters’ on RTÉ on Thursday evening, journalist Kieran Shannon made a typically astute and important point that could easily have been lost amidst all the talk of Seánie Johnston and Dublin’s chances of retaining their All Ireland.
In recent times he said he had watched the demise of the traditional midfield and noted that primary possession had almost become about ball won in the tackle leading to quick breaks, as opposed to high-fielding and an attack based on physical momentum.
Sadly, the show ran out of time and he didn’t get a chance to expand.
His theory is fascinating but it isn’t solely based on tactics. Right now there is a dearth of quality ball-winning midfielders and it’s little wonder given the names we’ve lost over the last decade. Kevin Walsh, Fergal O’Donnell, Ciarán Whelan, Paul McGrane and Darragh Ó Sé have all left the stage while the lengthy careers of Dermot Earley, John Galvin, Eamonn O’Hara and Seán Cavanagh have been slowed and stopped by injuries.
Such a trend is purely cyclical and in time we expect to see the likes of John Heslin, Aidan Walsh and Brendan Murphy thrill us in the air again. However, when they come back down with the ball in the future, they’ll be faced by a different proposition to any that went before them. At that point they may have traditional primary possession, but others will be looking to turn it into the modern-form of primary possession.
Then, eras will inevitably collide.
Tomorrow, we’ll get a sneak preview of what to expect and watching Paddy Keenan in particular against Dublin will be made even more fascinating because there’s little else to get excited about.
There’s no doubt the Louth midfielder is one of the best in the game right now and off his own kickout, he may not have the physicality of either Michael Darragh Macauley or Eamon Fennell but he certainly has the mobility to get to well-placed passes. What he does then is crucial because there’s no point in galloping into traffic so the onus will be on Darren Clarke in particular to make space closer to goal.
But to be honest, that’s where our interest ends. The last time these sides met in 2010, it was an horrific blowout. Back then Louth had the excuse of that Leinster final heartbreak and while they’ll be in a better frame of mind this time around, they may not be in a better position as they have regressed and Dublin have progressed in terms of tactics, ability and confidence. Indeed outside of that Keenan midfield battle, the match-ups are horrific for the underdogs. On top of that they won’t be able to compete with the style of play or the intensity of the home side.
Firepower
No team scored more goals in Division One than Dublin this league and that was without the Brogans. No team conceded more goals than Louth in Division One or Two this league so you can imagine where this is going to go. The ability of Peter Fitzpatrick’s side to stay close early will decide how much entertainment we get, but it won’t decide the result and we believe we won’t even get to learn about the key issues facing Dublin down the line.
If the champions are to get back to where they were last year, how Diarmuid Connolly and Kevin McManoman, who blossomed in the league, react and if they’ll defer now the Brogans are back will be big. How Ger Brennan and Connolly deal with pressure mentally in terms of lashing out and how MacCauley and Fennell deal with pressure in terms of the basic tackle will be huge. And how Dublin replicate last year’s intensity with a medal already at home will be colossal.
But none of that is relevant here because they won’t be under the pressure they’ll feel later in the year. As for those sitting in the stands, we suggest you keep your eyes on Paddy Keenan and away from the scoreboard. It’ll be better than way.
Leinster SFC Quarter-final
Dublin v Louth
Sunday, Croke Park, 4.30
Live, TV3, 3.30
DUBLIN S Cluxton; P McMahon, R O’Carroll, M Fitzsimons; J McCarthy, G Brennan, K Nolan; E Fennell, MD Macauley; B Cullen, A Brogan, P Flynn; D Connolly, K McManamon, B Brogan.
LOUTH N Gallagher; P Rath, D Finnegan, G Hoey; R Finnegan, J Carr, D Byrne; P Keenan, R Carroll; D Crilly, M Brennan, A Reid; D Maguire, J McEneaney, D Clarke.
