Three influential figures in Gaelic football, a man from Kerry, one from Donegal, and another from Dublin find themselves in the same room. The Kerry man commences a discussion about the Dubs, while the Dublin man criticises the Leinster Championship, and the man from Donegal raises a question regarding the timetable of provincials and the All-Ireland final.
Midweek brings Darragh Ó Sé, a prominent Gaelic football commentator, to the Trinity City hotel located in Dublin city centre. Ó Sé is joined by Dean Rock and Michael Murphy, who will become our fresh columnist team for the 2024 Championship. Out of the 27 All-Ireland battles from 1997 to 2023, 15 were claimed by someone in the present room, making these three the giants of Gaelic football.
Seán Moran and Gordon Manning, the reporters, kickstart the conversation.
Seán Moran queries about the expectation of the upcoming championship.
Darragh Ó Sé responds that he is curious about the team capable of challenging Dublin’s dominance. Despite the recent results, he still believes Dublin is the rivals to tackle. He mentions the return of Jim McGuinness to Donegal to be noteworthy and is eager to observe the potential escalation of Kerry. Based on the league final, Derry might give a promising opposition to Dublin, but he fears that Dublin might eventually take everything in their stride.
Michael Murphy, on the other hand, had initially considered Derry as potential contenders. However, he believes that following the previous Sunday’s performance, they must now handle the responsibility of being genuine rivals in the forthcoming months. He is also eager to see how Dublin handle the newfound challenge from Derry. The Division 1 final has magnified Derry’s self-belief but could also serve as a reality check for Dublin, thinks Murphy.
Given how things stand from Dean Rock’s viewpoint, he suggests that Dublin’s primary focus should be on the All-Ireland series’ group stages, as the Leinster Championship may not offer them as much of a challenge. There is the expectation of notable competition from Kerry and Derry in particular, while other teams such as Mayo and Galway could bring forward one or two strong performances. However, he reasons that top-tier teams could perhaps afford one stumble in the group stages and still salvage their standing.
Concurrently, Dean holds little regard for the significance of the Leinster Championship as he believes it has lost its vitality. When questioned about the possibility of Dublin attaining their peak performance prematurely this year by Seán Moran, Rock assuredly dismisses such worries, citing the return of numerous players as an optimistic sign. He makes note of the substantial effect Shane O’Hanlon’s passing has had on the team, as it has made them react in a defiant and positive manner.
Michael Murphy was posed a question by Gordon Manning about whether the Ulster Championship teams would divert their focus solely to the All-Ireland series, essentially relegating the provincial championship to secondary importance. Murphy contends that the intense rivalry between the Ulster Championship teams is so powerful that he doesn’t foresee them taking a step back for a game in the provincial championship.
Furthermore, with regards to the restructuring, he emphasises the importance of balancing the number of matches each team plays. By doing this, all teams will endure the same level of attrition, providing a more fair competition. Lastly, Manning suggested that the provincials should commence earlier in the year, to which Murphy agreed, explaining that this might give the tournament a better structure and learn from other sports that use league-based systems followed by knockout stages towards the end.
Original Text: Gordon Manning addressed Dean Rock, “After reaping a victorious series of Leinster titles ranging from seven to nine, can you describe the atmosphere in the dressing room?”
Dean Rock responded, “Internally, the spirit of competition was strong within our squad. Each member aimed to perform to their best, as a subpar performance could lead to their removal from the team. Interestingly though, these Leinster victories weren’t extravagantly celebrated. It was more of an opportunity for the team to chill out and enjoy a drink or two. I recall in my younger days witnessing the spectacle of pitch invasions post Leinster finals at Croke Park. However, reflecting on it, I can’t accurately count the number of Leinster Championships I’ve participated in – not exactly a great thing, is it? Personally, I feel the relevance of the Leinster Championship has significantly declined.”
Persuading Darragh Ó Sé, Gordon queried, “Presuming a Cork triumph over Limerick this weekend, a Cork-Kerry Championship match in April is likely. It seems like GAA has altered our national games into winter sports, with the majority of critical matches happening in the colder season. Apart from the finals and semis, all our intercounty sport completed by the last day of July, a tradition that will presumably continue this year. The remaining summer period now feels unclaimed – a part of the calendar we previously owned but seem to be gradually abandoning. What reasoning could possibly support this?”
Seán Moran questioned, “Do you anticipate any pros for the clubs at all arising from this change?”
In response, Darragh Ó Sé said, “No, my perception is quite the opposite. Consider any accomplished player – they are continuously engaged in matches with barely any breaks. Therefore, it feels like success is being penalised rather than rewarded.”
Seán Moran continued asking, “But aren’t only a few players impacted by this?”
Meanwhile Michael Murphy suggested, “There isn’t an absolute requirement to persist with the season till the end of September. Wrapping up even by August end could make a significant impact.”
A question was then posed by Gordon Manning, “Do all of you agree that an August concluding All-Ireland would be preferable?”
Dean Rock responded, “Certainly! An extension of four weeks would be highly beneficial.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Darragh Ó Sé thereafter stated, “No doubt, it would be highly advantageous. Club teams typically only resume their season from September. Why don’t we make productive use of the preceding month then?”
Michael Murphy: Considering the popularity of games among spectators, it’s crucial to give some breathing space amidst injury management and the hectic promotional activities.
Seán Moran: Do the teams have adequate time for effective training amid close fixture schedules?
Michael Murphy: Indeed, providing sufficient time for team development is a significant aspect. The return of Jim to Donegal has been much talked about, but the short interval between games presents them with a real challenge.
For Donegal, it might take two to three years because the time available for training and preparation is virtually non-existent now. November to January is primarily about physical readiness.
In the current scenario, between the league, Super 16s, and the All-Ireland series, there’s little time for any substantial training. Whereas previously, the four-week gap between the quarter-finals and semi-finals of Ulster used to allow for more thorough preparation. That’s no longer the case.
Darragh Ó Sé: Our defeat to the Dubs at Croke Park during the league was debilitating. Would Jack have preferred another match against the Dubs in the league final? Absolutely not. Thus, ideally, securing a decent position and training under the sun seems to be the plan. Jack’s opportunity to organise is likely due to the weak Munster Championship.
Michael Murphy: The loser of the Donegal-Derry game will have a five to six weeks of training break before their next game. Is this practice more beneficial than staying in Ulster?
Gordon Manning: Are you surprised by the constant tenacity and ambition shown by Dublin?
Dean Rock: I must admit that I had no particular expectations for this year. However, I anticipated it to be eventful and testing, which it might still prove to be. Nevertheless, our performance in the last five league group stage games has provided some optimism. We also aim to make the most of our experience from the league final, considering the multitude of strategies accessible to us.
Michael Murphy observed an interesting turn of events. A year ago, it was perceived that Dublin’s young players weren’t stepping up to claim the jersey, which was seen as a potential defect. Now, a year later, the situation has reversed completely. Credit for this impressive comeback is attributed to Dessie Farrell’s coaching and the opportunities he’s offered these young men.
Dean Rock affirms that Farrell has shown dedication to his coaching style, providing personalised instructions and areas of improvement. He refers to the players as bright, pointing out that they’ve been selected for a reason and possess the ability to apply the learned information during matches.
Darragh Ó Sé highlights the value of experienced players like Brian Fenton, Stephen Cluxton, and James McCarthy, who are returning to the pitch. He suggests that having a feeling of being part of something good can be powerful. He conjectures on how many team members sharing the dressing room foresee winning the All-Ireland this year and claim another medal as a real possibility.
Some might say that Farrell has an easy job coaching such a relatively successful team. Contrarily, coaching in a place like Leitrim could be viewed as the ultimate challenge in GAA, considering the resources readily available for Farrell and his team in Dublin, including personalised coaching and home-delivered meals.
Despite all the resources, Dean Rock disputes, they don’t rest on their laurels. Last year’s All-Ireland victory was crucial, especially due to the lingering doubt of whether they would ever win again. However, he suggests the victory has spurred a resurgence in motivation and confidence within the team.
Darragh Ó Sé agrees that last year’s final was a golden opportunity to best Dublin, due to the uncertainty present. However, once Dublin overcame that hurdle, they gained a lot of confidence, particularly among their younger team members. The game’s outcomes were narrowly decided. Derry nearly defeated us in the semi-final. Interestingly, Ó Sé believes that Derry, given the circumstances, might have been in a better position to triumph over Dublin than they were.
On the other hand, Dean Rock believes that even in this year’s league match, Kerry still had multiple opportunities to win. He acknowledges that Dublin put up a phenomenal performance for 25 minutes, scoring 2-8 out of 12 attacks. Still, he insists that Dublin may not be able to duplicate that performance. Clifford had two opportunities to score a goal, but only managed to convert one. Rock maintains that Kerry is well-positioned to challenge Dublin. While they may have struggled with fitness and team cohesion, he asserts that the end score was not a fair representation of the game.
Moreover, Darragh Ó Sé states that Dublin has been dominating the league games by aggressively pushing up on kickouts and tackling. He opines that to defeat Dublin, one must match them in aerial kickouts. Furthermore, being able to drop the ball by your goal, kick it out 70 yards, and have a fair chance to gain control of the ball is essential. He cites Derry’s recent win against Dublin and Mayo’s victory in Castlebar as examples of this strategy’s effectiveness. In the latter game, Mayo scored two points from the last three kickouts, primarily because Paddy Durcan was too exhausted to break more tackles.
However, Darragh Ó Sé makes a cynical comment about Cork, implying that they tend to underperform whenever they are hyped up.
Over time, and especially in matches against Kerry, I often consider the statistics focused on kickouts. Our goalkeeper has an impressive retention rate of 96 percent, but this could easily be viewed as a given if the kick is just across the pitch. Dublin’s style of deploying a press on kickouts is interesting, as a lengthy kick can confer significant advantage. If one can confidently boot the ball over a distance of 60-70 yards and trust in the players and kick out strategy, you’re effectively obviating the ebb and flow of the game. It merely simplifies the matter to your impending score from that single kick, which could transpire into either goal or a free. The league final witnessed a similar tactic by Derry.
Dean Rock observes that it’s all about balancing risk and reward. Darragh Ó Sé asserts that a bold approach is necessary. DR points out the potential to sideline eight of Dublin’s players with a well-aimed long kick. Gordon Manning then raises the question of a 50-50 confrontation with Brian Fenton.
Darragh Ó Sé concedes that Fenton’s aerial prowess is notable, but he also argues that it should be challenged. Should we hamper our kick out strategy because of Fenton’s presence? Derry didn’t feel limited by this.
Michael Murphy opines that teams often devote a disproportionate amount of preparation time to countering the Dubs, rather than working on their own strengths. Teams often spend 2.5 weeks in a three-week block preparing defence measures against the Dubs and hardly any time to cultivate their own offensive strategies.
Seán Moran raises the question about the prevailing condition of football, to which Darragh Ó Sé, responding as a midfielder, laments the decline of short kick outs and fielding. He observes that catching, once a fundamental skill, is now fading. The marking rule may have contributed slightly to this.
Michael Murphy reflects on the ever-changing nature of the game, remembering how only a decade back around 2013 and 2014, rigid defence and territorial blanket defence governed the game. Darragh Ó Sé assures Michael that he isn’t blaming him for this shift.
Michael Murphy stated that many have embraced the ‘plus-one’ strategy in football, resulting in larger numbers of players behind the ball, but there’s also been a rise in man-to-man games. Even though high presses weren’t commonly used in the past, nowadays they’re frequently witnessed in club matches, indicating how the sport is evolving.
There was a time when, using the ‘blanket’ tactic, teams believed they could keep their opponents’ scores in check. However, the current state of play shows that teams have found ways to navigate this, with advanced tackling skills, backdoor cuts, and well-calculated runs that allow them to break away and take more shots.
Dean Rock noted that teams appear to be gaining a stronger grip on defensive tactics such as the ‘blanket’. In his view, if teams like Dublin and Kerry have ball possession, they’re likely to score, making a more man-to-man approach more effective. Sweating it out in training against 16 or 17 players to prepare for the ‘blanket’ technique is commonplace.
When asked about Jim McGuinness’s return to Donegal, Murphy expressed great delight, especially following the disappointing previous year. Murphy highlighted that McGuinness’s return, although not necessary, has significantly rejuvenated the team and generated excitement among fans. He also noted the positive impact McGuinness’s presence has had on the current generation of young players.
Dean Rock discussed potential contenders who could make a significant difference in the next championship. He said that Cork and possibly Galway, if they can gather all of their players, could emerge as impactful challengers.
In a conversational exchange, Darragh Ó Sé began discussing the unfortunate pattern of the Cork team falling short, despite having solid performance rates in under-20 games. He also observed that Kerry, often with a less strong team, still manages to outdo Cork inexplicably.
Michael Murphy chimed in, drawing similarities between Cork and Kildare, highlighting their significant reserves and relatively successful young players. When asked about his experience with underage, given his association with Donegal’s under-15s, he shared his thoughts. Murphy expressed concern that the shift from 17 to 18 happens at an inconvenient time of leaving school. Despite Ó Sé’s interjection that the Leaving Cert is a two-year process that indeed starts at 17, Murphy partially disagrees as the impact still varies. He conveyed a sense of discontent with how things were but proposed no concrete changes.
Wrapping it up, Dean Rock contrasted his experience as an under-21 player, which seemed rewarding as they would train with the senior team and then perform at the under-21 level. High value was attached to under-21 games as they offered major exposure. Still, he concluded with a critique on the state of Sigerson, indicating the perceived mismanagement of the competition.