FOR DUBLIN DEFENDER James McCarthy, like most of his team-mates, Croke Park and the football championship go hand in hand. He knows no different.
Fans in the capital still reminisce about their narrow escape 10 years ago. Their two-point win was a little close for comfort but it was a thoroughly enjoyable jaunt into Longford’s sun-kissed Pearse Park all the same.
Only the evergreen Stephen Cluxton remains from Paul ‘Pillar’ Caffrey’s side that day, so Saturday evening’s Leinster SFC quarter-final clash against Laois in Kilkenny’s Nowlan Park is understandably getting McCarthy excited.
“We’re really looking forward to it,” McCarthy admitted.
“It’s a bit of a novelty going down to Nowlan Park for the first time but we’re really looking forward to the challenge.”
The fact that the Dubs have had such an extravagant summer home for so long has caused a stir outside the city, most notably since they’ve become more successful.
Their athletic prowess can undoubtedly be showcased to greatest effect on the open plains of GAA HQ, which has seen whispers of discontent surrounding the situation gradually grow into cries of inequality.
But the Ballymun Kickhams clubman is adamant that the Dubs can produce the goods no matter the dimensions, or location, of the venue. Their away league form is testament to that, he insists.
“I don’t think it will make too much difference where we play. I wouldn’t say it’s going to be much different to playing away in the league.
There’s going to be a big crowd at it and it being in the summer is the only difference, really. I don’t think it will affect us at all.
McCarthy has been a vital cog in Dublin’s rise to success, having made his championship debut in the drought-ending year of 2011. But the pacy wing-back has also struggled with injuries in recent seasons which has prevented him from fine-tuning his game.
“I had problems with the groins a few years ago and touch wood, they’re sorted,” he added.
“I was very unfortunate last year, I hurt my foot at the start of the championship, playing a challenge match against Clare, and that just knocked me out for a few weeks at the start of the summer.”
However, this season has been going swimmingly for the three-time All-Ireland winner who played in all nine of Dublin’s games en route to Division 1 glory in the National Football League.
“I’ve enjoyed my football this year. This is probably the most games I’ve played in a couple of seasons,” McCarthy explained.
“I think I’ve played every game this year, so the more games you get the more sharp you are, and I find the better football you’re playing.
“I’m definitely enjoying my football and hopefully I’ll go on and have a strong summer.”
The departure of his fellow halfback flyer Jack McCaffrey, as he pursues a work experience opportunity overseas for his medical studies, has barely rattled the Dublin machine as of yet.
Although McCarthy does admit that the loss of the reigning Footballer of the Year means there is greater responsibility on others, particularly himself, to begin attacks from deep this season.
“Jack played a big role for us, you could see how quick he is and how quick he moves the ball forward.
It’s definitely up to myself and other guys in the back line to get the ball up.
“We’re never going to be as quick as he is maybe but definitely there’s more of a chance to do it, to get the ball into the forwards.”
For now, a fit McCarthy is just desperate to get his championship campaign under way, even though it will be a bit further from home than he’s used to.
James McCarthy was in Dublin City University to launch the A.Menarini ‘Get Breathless for COPD’ charity cycle. The two-day cycle organised by A.Menarini Pharmaceuticals Ireland, will see 50 cyclists travel from Galway to Dublin on 10 & 11 June with the aim of raising awareness and funds for COPD Support Ireland, www.copd.ie.
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He must be thinking, “What do you people want?” Undefeated this season, joint top try scorers in the URC, probably second seeding in the champions cup and people are still complaining.
@Fagin Strauss: Well said
@Fagin Strauss: if all you care about is results that’s absolutely fine. 100% record. If you want to charge people to watch you play rugby every second week and all you serve up is fantastic defence well many people will either watch the game on TV or just wait for the result. I have bought 3 tickets at €50 a pop to bring my family to Saturdays game( like I do most home games) the boys won’t want to go to many more games if we don’t have an attack that even tries to run and pass the ball. Defence might win but if we don’t entertain we won’t be able to play the bills.
@chris mcdonnell: 100% correct. at the end of the day sport is a business and entertainment is what fans are willing to fork out on. there’s only so many times you can go to the well of ticket price increases but if the product you are selling doesn’t represent value, then people will stop going. this doesn’t just apply to leinster, it applies to all teams across all sports.
@chris mcdonnell: I am, like most Leinster fans, disappointed with how the attack has gone with Neinaber but considering the recent years of close calls and I’m willing to give it a pass for the season.
Regardless of the outcome, next season I’ll be expecting a shift in focus even if it comes with a detriment to the results but for now I’m willing to let it cook.
@Barry Moran: most seasons have gone exceptionally well until the games that really matter. He was here last season and we fell short again last season. This season will only be judged when the trophies are handed out and at that stage we can decide if this direction is the way to go. Personally I belive we have an empty trophy cabinet because of selection rather than style of play. For example we dropped james Ryan and josh VDF for last years final. Against DuPont we don’t play the best 7 we have ever had. Even during the final Ross was clearly injured for close to 8 minutes before frawley was brought on.
@Fagin Strauss: I agree about winning, they should be winning though. Any loss with the squad Leinster have is unacceptable, that’s what the standards have become. They are unbeaten this season so far but that’s the minimum expectation given the teams they’ve played.
@chris mcdonnell: Yes, yes we all know you know team selection better than any of the highly trained, highly successful coaches that actually do the job.
No one is tired of hearing about it.
@Barry Moran: He is right though,cullens team selections have been baffling at times and just right out wrong,leo has cost us a few times with his decision making
@chris mcdonnell: that’s absolute rubbish, 6O million south Africans playing the so called dros many in here claim would cut off their right arm to watch the boks play
@Fagin Strauss: LOL! It is always the way with supporters.
@chris mcdonnell: Chris… most of the opinions that you express are about demand results in the form of trophies. We cannot have it both ways. For the record, I have been to lots of Leinster games in which the attack is blistering and Leinster are out of sight by half time. Fans are bored, chatting to one another and the atmosphere drops off a cliff. I would much prefer an error strewn, tight game with strong defence. I think alot of fans would feel the same.
@Barry Moran: dropping James ryan and JVDF for a champions Cup final? Did you honestly think either before or after the game that was a good call?
@chris mcdonnell: Tbf it didn’t seem a bad call at the time with Connors but he just played so poorly in that final he made Cullen look a bit silly. I’d blame Connors more that than Cullen. The Ross Byrne selection at 10 last season cost Leinster a trophy. I reckon 20 year old Sam would’ve got the job done last year.
@Eoin H: What would be the maximum expectation? Put in a few extra games during the week and win them too?
@chris mcdonnell: Totally agree. It is all down to team selection in the end and Leo hasn’t helped in that regards the last 3 seasons.
@Fagin Strauss: You forgot to mention one of the worst scrums and lineouts in the Champions Cup and indeed URC for that matter. SA has dominant scrums and reasonably effective line outs. So if he’s trying to morph Leinster into SA, he’s wasting his time.
@chris mcdonnell: Dropped is a narrative you’ve developed yourself. Ryan had literally just come back from a 3 month injury and connors was a specific selection decision, that had worked wellagainst la rochelle, for taking down giants like Meafou.
@Ray Ridge: No he is trying to improve the Leinster defense and the last LAR game showed progress. Leinster fans view rugby through their own lens which is running rugby. Was it Alex Ferguson that said attack wins games but defense wins trophies?
@Stuart: how many of these 60 million pay to watch rugby every week? From the tv pictures half empty stadiums and lots of those are there for the water slides and fairground entertainment just as much as the rugby.
@Paul Ennis: i understand the appeal of suspense and drama. I want trophies, I want titles and i understand that we can’t always win. Simply I want leinster to be the best they can be and for the past few seasons we just have not been as good as we should when it mattered. We won’t know until may if what’s happening will be turned into titles or not but it’s an expensive business being a leinster fan who brings kids to games, buys jerseys and all the other merchandise for them. But like it or not they are not entertaining the next generation at the moment with the current style of play.
@chris mcdonnell: apart from maybe the lions I’d say based on stats recently seen, bums on seats in South Africa is well above average in relation to Ireland/UK in comparison . Can’t help infrastructure in stadia with an Aviva equivalent in every province but most games get at least a European size audience or better. Maybe a few water slides might cheer you up. I’ll strive to make you a saffa concert yet
@chris mcdonnell: Winning pays the bills, if you didn’t think Sunday was entertaining. Maybe you’re watching the wrong sport. Entertaining isn’t always about putting 50 points on poor teams.
@Eoin H: Total and utter BS!
To be honest i am not impressed with the line outs and scrum. That’s a very big concern of mine. Everything else will go in place if they sort of them issues.
I don’t understand to be honest. If I read the comments correctly, we have a terrible set piece, no attack, we’ve gotten worse relative to last year scoring and yet we’re unbeaten in all competitions, we’ve scored the most tries and points in the URC and we’re topping our table in the Champions Cup with top 2 firmly in sight. And people aren’t happy because it’s not fancy enough? As a Leinster fan I must say, some Leinster fans on here are an embarrassment.
@PJ Smith: worst part is it’s mostly the gobs that don’t support Leinster that called us soft and bottlers that are now saying well your attacks rubbish.
@PJ Smith: we also have by far best squad of players in the URC and the most expensive side in the league to watch. I spend my money to watch leinster so forgive me if I want to see leinster players running and passing the ball to one another.
@PJ Smith: As a Leinster fan, you can’t but be happy for them. If they get their defence nailed, they can work more on their attack. In a final, if they get there, the defence is what counts, first and foremost. As for Chris, well, he’s just a moan. He’ll always find something to moan about with Leinster. If it’s not Leo, it’s Ross. If it’s not them, it’s their attack……
Hold on there Jacques. Ireland had THE meanest defense in the 6N over the last few years under Faz’s coaching. 1 try per game we shipped!! We also attacked like a hornets nest and scored for fun. I say Ireland as most starters in blue are also in green. How do u forget the enjoyable stuff of slick passing and intricate movement so fast??? Brainwashed into “The System” I guess?
@Noel Lynn: it also took a couple of years to get there if memory serves
Can’t argue with the results this season but I find the style absolutely horrible to watch, to be honest. Leinster has always been noted for its exciting and exhilarating back play – that disappeared the day Nienaber arrived. Incredible defence but the attack just consists of barrelling up the pitch through one off runners most of the time. Incredibly effective but so boring to watch – which pains me to say.
@Aidan Farrell: Nienaber’s job description was make the defense like the Bok’s defense (absolutely horrible to play against) and it looks he’s achieved that. He doesn’t coach the attack. While it looks like the energy/focus employed to implement the defensive gameplan may have an impact on the attack, I think the finger should be pointed at Cullen/Bleyendaal fir that. We were told it was Goodmans fault but he’s gone now and the attack is even worse
The SA way works with a 6-2 split and extremely quick wingers.
@chris mcdonnell: And vegetables stay fresh longer if you keep them in the fridge. Join us next week for more random facts unrelated to the article!
@Sambo: But it is related to the article as Nienaber talks about a system, which includes 6:2, 5:3 split as well. The key difference is the quick wingers. For me the quickest wingers would include the 2 Osborne brothers and JO’B.
@Con Cussed: also understood comment was related to article. SA have lightning fast wingers who can score direct from turnovers or are able to scramble effectively. So they compliment the defensive strategy very well. This may be a weakness in the Leinster version which could be shown up against the top sides (basically only UBB, Toulouse or Sharks at home with their full complement of boks)
@Sambo: did you read the article it’s all about his SA system and the bench is a massive part of that as to is the fast wingers.
@Michael Corkery: that’s the issue with our attack, our wingers are not quick enough to score on the counter attack without support and everyone else has put in massive energy sapping phases in defence to win the ball so we just don’t have the numbers to support or attack. The extra forward in a 6 -2 helps with that
https://www.planetrugby.com/news/stuart-barnes-claims-jacques-nienabers-springboks-esque-approach-could-be-leinsters-undoing
@Patrick byrne: If Stuart Barnes says something, it’s a good idea to back the opposite