Jim McGuinness has always been transparent about his desire for Donegal to ascend back to Division One, an achievement the team reached with their six-point triumph against Kildare last Saturday. This accomplishment was vital for Donegal’s progression, according to McGuinness, who sees it as a significant milestone. The thrill of playing their first Division One match in Croke Park left a lasting impression on him, further inspiring his ambitions.
McGuinness didn’t hide his enthusiasm when discussing Donegal’s forthcoming schedule. Despite their next match against Meath in Ballybofey not having any sporting consequences, the team will immediately shift their focus to the Division Two final against Armagh on Easter Sunday. After this, the spotlight around them will intensify, leading up to the Ulster SFC quarter-final against Derry at Celtic Park on April 20th.
There has been speculation regarding McGuinness’s intentions towards the Division Two final. Some wonder if he might prefer an extended period to prepare his team for the championship. McGuinness, however, rejects such insinuations. He believes that the thought of contemplating if and when to play a game does not serve the sponsors properly. He insists teams should feel motivated to walk out on the field with the knowledge they have a fair chance to compete and sufficient time to prepare for the championship.
The predicament they’re in is due to management, but at the end of the day, it’s up to them to make the tough choices. This is the essence of elite sports, according to Ian O’Riordan.
Monaghan’s time has finally caught up with them, marking a significant transition in Division One. Inevitably, this means we’ll miss out on one of the most anticipated league displays of late: Monaghan’s potential performance in the final weekend. Despite their dogged display in Omagh nearly earning them a lifeline for one more last-ditch effort – a pattern repeated five times in the last decade – the luck of Vinny Corey’s team has run out. For the first time in ten years, they have found themselves in Division Two.
This moment carries a heavy weight for the county that has defied all odds to be a major player in senior football, despite boasting one of the smallest populations in the country at 65,288. Three contenders from last year’s All-Ireland semi-finals – Derry, Dublin, and Kerry – will battle it out for this season’s league title. The fourth contender is Monaghan.
Over the course of the past decade in the upper echelon, Monaghan has claimed an Ulster title and reached the All-Ireland semi-finals twice, in addition to being provincial finalists during the Covid era.
Throughout these years, Tyrone has regularly been a stumbling block for Monaghan. In 2015, when they clinched the Ulster title, it was the neighbouring county that oust them in the All-Ireland quarter-final, repeating their victory in 2013.
Even in 2021, with the championship reverting to a knockout format, the provincial final was a duel between the two counties, culminating in a narrow loss for Monaghan to Tyrone, who were on their way to the All-Ireland.
So it was somewhat destined, albeit indirectly, that their well-acquainted adversaries would deliver the final blow on Saturday. Remarks Seán Moran.
As for the issue of the long ball, while it never really disappeared from the game, it seems likely to show up more frequently this upcoming summer than in recent championships. Teams demonstrated the merits of the straightforward approach over the past weekend on numerous occasions.
Niall Morgan’s spectacular downfield throw to Darragh Canavan caught everyone’s attention, nevertheless, it wasn’t the sole long pass that led to a score. Con O’Callaghan’s positioning on the perimeter of the goal square, which Dublin reinstated, continued to be fruitful against Galway in Salthill on the weekend. Roscommon found themselves under pressure on Sunday due to David Clifford’s performance as a forward at the Hyde. However, a two-minute stint at Navan over the weekend prominently displayed the utilisation of long passes as a planned manoeuvre developed by management. This approach led to Mathew Costello scoring 1-1 directly after successfully securing a high ball put above the Cork defence.
Following the match, Colm O’Rourke commented positively on the long ball tactic when questioned about it. He mentioned that when you have a high-quality player like Matt Costello, who excels in air and has strength, it would be a smart strategy to make use of it. Though it’s not something that can be used throughout the game, as Gaelic football evolves so do its tactics. Coaches always in search of gaining an upper-hand might explore a balance between long and short passes, which could result in some classic goals during the championship.
We also see Kilkenny in the search for a consistent player for their number six jersey position in the hurling league, a somewhat placid subplot. There was once a time when every hurling squad had their centre back as one of their strongest players. If it’s not so, it indicated impending trouble. The dynamics of the game have transformed, and the position has shifted into a curator, guardian role, not necessarily engaging with opposition’s centre forward, without interfering with opposition’s puck-outs directed elsewhere.
Yet, no team can afford to be weak in this position. Kilkenny tried rotating four different players for this position during the league without success. Paddy Deegan, emerged as the best centre back in the club championship and tried his hand at the troublesome position number six during the league, but Kilkenny sees more potential in him as an offensive wing-back.
Over the past few years, Richie Reid has maintained his position, however, now it appears that alternatives are being considered. A temporary substitute stepped in for a majority of the previous year’s league in Reid’s absence, Huw Lawlor. Yet, he seemed out of place compared to his role as a number three, despite being the nation’s finest full back.
Kilkenny’s opponent in the following week’s league semi-final has been utilising a wing forward in the centre back position in the continued absence of Declan Hannon. Although Cathal O’Neill’s brief stint in the position is expected to conclude prior to the championship, the intriguing experiment was a result of Limerick’s exceptional defensive structure and the intense pressure downfield on the ball that was delivered into the defence, which allowed O’Neill ample time to relish the creative aspects of his role. This is a luxury that no other squad possesses.
Division Three is so full of possible outcomes it would leave anyone’s head spinning. The flurry of activity at the top of Division Four, often overlooked, has transformed the lowest division into a vehement contest. Every attempt to simplify by a single team pulling ahead has been thwarted and clawed back. Just weeks before, Laois seemed secured in Division Three, but a weekend loss to Leitrim has put them in tight competition with more teams.
Despite this, Laois is expected to claim victory. Their concluding game is against Waterford, a team which hasn’t yet registered a win. A draw is all Laois requires for roster in Division Three the following year, which should be achievable given the unpredictable nature of this division.
Furthemore, three teams – Wexford, Longford and Leitrim – are contending for a singular spot with each holding eight points. Adding to the complexity, the head-to-head results are conflicting. Leitrim overcame Wexford, and Longford surpassed Leitrim. On Sunday, Wexford is up against Longford. Despite Wexford’s significant advantage from trouncing Tipperary during the weekend, it will all go to waste if Leitrim outplays Tipp due to the importance of head-to-head records.
In essence, Leitrim must secure a victory and wish for either a Wexford triumph or stalemate in the other match. For Wexford, they need to come out on top, hoping for Leitrim’s defeat. The easiest task is for Longford, who just need to overpower Wexford, rendering the other matches’ outcomes irrelevant.
Unless Waterford somehow overcome Laois. If this event occurs, it will send everyone’s minds into a state of chaos. Malachy Clerkin.