Dessie Farrell’s low-key league achievement with Dublin
Dublin’s record in the league, once overlooked, has come to the forefront under Dessie Farrell as much as Jim Gavin’s Championship feats. Gavin led Dublin to five consecutive All-Ireland victories – a record broken by Farrell the following year, which drastically reshaped the game’s lore.
Dublin demonstrated incredible stability in the spring tournament, remaining unbeaten in 36 league and championship matches. Their streak, beginning and ending with losses to Kerry in March 2015 and two years later in the 2017 Division One finale, surpassed Kerry’s own running record. The previous record set between 1928-1933 illustrates how the intercounty schedule has evolved, achieving in two years what took five before.
Although not appearing to give the league as much importance as his predecessor, Farrell’s track record is impressive. In his debut year, Dublin fell just one point behind Kerry but would’ve contested the Division One championship in the absence of the Covid crisis.
The following year, due to recurring pandemic restrictions, both Dublin and Kerry were declared co-champions as there was no opportunity to play out the final for which they both qualified. Farrell’s sole blemish is the 2022 relegation, a last-minute upset by Monaghan in Clones on the final day of the season.
Yet, a year later, Dublin rebounded with their first Division Two campaign in 14 years, clinching the league title and gaining retaliation on Derry – their only regulation loss – in the final. Now, the same teams are set to face off in the premier showdown once again.
In the process, Dublin have corrected some longstanding trends. The county’s first win at Celtic Park occurred earlier this month against Derry, and this past Sunday, Dublin triumphed over Tyrone for the first time in a standard league game at Croke Park, although they had previously defeated them in the 2013 final.
This triumph marks a significant upgrade from their initial encounter in 1991, when Tyrone won the first divisional clash 4-11 to 0-11. The teams have since faced off in seven league games, two of which ended in a stalemate, with Dublin claiming their first victory most recently. – Seán Moran.
Tipperary’s need to identify several leaders who can guide their performance when times are tough was clearly demonstrated on Sunday. What troubled Tipperary during the game wasn’t merely the 20 missed opportunities at scoring, or the fact that they missed every second shot from a ball-placement. Even the fact that four distinct players tried and failed to score didn’t account for the loss. Yes, these aspects played a part, but in essence, Clare had the upper-hand in terms of scoring when required. An increase in Tipperary’s scoring would consequently lead to an uptick in Clare’s scoring.
As Tipperary’s coach, Liam Cahill, looks at the footage of the game, he would inevitably notice the lack of leadership and direction when Tipperary was losing ground. A poor start, going down 0-8 within just 11 minutes, clearly presented Tipperary’s inability to manage the game effectively. No one from Tipperary showed initiative to control the pace or disrupt Clare’s game flow.
The team continued their usual game strategy – maintaining possession, short stick-passing, and keeping the ball within lines. Unfortunately, these tactics fell apart when they received the first blow, exposing their lack of experience. Even though the team has the potential to be a formidable opponent when their strategies align, as was evident from Jake Morris’s impressive goal and Dan McCormack’s 60-yard pass or Sean Hayes’s second-half goal. However, the issue remains with their inability to sustain this momentum.
When the game was just two points apart in the 45th minute, Tipperary crumbled under the pressure of a few simple free shots by Clare. They quickly lost their momentum and couldn’t recover, scoring merely two points in the last 28 minutes of the game.
It’s evident that unless Tipperary learns to manage their game even when their strategies aren’t executing perfectly, their prospects for the summer seem dim. – Malachy Clerkin
On the other hand, Limerick has an opportunity to diversify its tactics if they wish.
John Kiely, in his Saturday press conference, announced that certain roles in the team would be up for competition during the upcoming training this month, a typical stance after witnessing his team fragment like a fragile dessert. It will be fascinating to monitor the unfolding of this statement as Kiely has been known for his cautious approach while picking his team when the championship rolls around. He usually selects a consistent team of 15 from a pool of about 18.
Assessing the team’s composition from the last Kilkenny versus Limerick match, where Kilkenny emerged victorious in the 2019 All-Ireland semi-final, reveals that seven of Kilkenny’s original line-up are no longer part of the team. Conversely, for Limerick, only Richie English is not presently on board. Three substitutes from Limerick in the respective match – Barry Nash, Darragh O’Donovan and David Reidy – were starters in the All-Ireland finals the following July. It’s easier to retain successful teams.
Cathal O’Neill is the lone young player posing a consistent challenge for a spot on the team, now in his fourth year with the squad. The current status of his position raises questions. He was shifted to centre back post-Declan Hannon’s departure, a move that seemed temporary for the offseason, but O’Neill excelled in the role and proved his mettle even further as a wing-back last Saturday.
However, assuming that Hannon is not set to be ousted and Kyle Hayes is due to return, there won’t be any spaces left in the half-back line-up. Peter Casey’s abrupt ejection last Saturday excludes him from Limerick’s inaugural championship game, but O’Neill isn’t suited for such a role which requires leading and gathering from the top. O’Neill, if used in offence, would be a half-forward.
Therefore arises a dilemma: where can O’Neill be included and how can he be excluded? Has he not done his time? Can positions be opened up? Perhaps a shuffle is warranted? The events of last Saturday seem to provide Kiely with a prime chance to reorganise his team, as expressed by Denis Walsh.
Furthermore, Tyrone suffered their first divisional league loss against Dublin at Croke Park, and the manner of this defeat was uncomfortably reminiscent of the county’s previous visit to the iconic stadium.
The All-Ireland quarter-final in July served as a platform for Tyrone to assert themselves in the game against Kerry, the reigning champions – a rematch of former and current title-holders. The first half hinted at a promising contest, with Kerry slightly leading by three points.
The tables turned decidedly in the latter half as the champions tallied an impressive win, outpacing their rivals with a 2-9 to 0-6 score. Thanks to the extraordinary skill exhibited by David Clifford, the showdown was nothing short of memorable. Clifford, despite being restricted by All Star defenders Ronan McNamee and Pádraig Hampsey, ingeniously volleyed the ball into safe territory for Tony Brosnan. This smart move enabled Seán O’Shea to score the second goal for Kerry.
The end saw Kerry triumphant, matching a previous victory over Dublin, with the score at 2-18 to 0-12 with Dublin adding three additional goals resulting in a 5-18 to 0-12 finish.
Tyrone manager Brian Dooher voiced his disappointment over the impact the match had on his youthful team. He acknowledged it as a humbling experience, yet reminded that mistakes aren’t easily forgiven at this level of play.
Recalling the devastating loss of 1-14 to 6-15 against Kerry in Killarney during the league semi-finals three years ago, Dooher expressed optimism drawn from their subsequent victory in that year’s All-Ireland semi-final, securing the recent Sam Maguire trophy for the county.
In response to whether they could draw consolation from their past achievement, the manager expressed a call for personal accountability by the players.
The forthcoming National Football League final between Down and Westmeath in Division Three, scheduled for next Saturday, is deemed the pivotal match among the four division finals. The stakes are high, as the losing team will lose their All-Ireland SFC ticket earned through league progression and will have to secure another via the provincial championships.
Due to the outcomes of the Munster SFC draw, Clare, Tipperary, or Waterford are set to compete in this year’s local football final in the south. As placings in the provincial final take precedence over league positions, the team currently sitting 16th in the league (the loser of the Division Three final) will automatically lose their spot in the All-Ireland SFC allocation.
While this losing team will retain a chance at revival in their regional championship, they will already find themselves struggling to escape from the Tailteann Cup. Further, the victorious team of the Division Three final could similarly lose their All-Ireland SFC place if, hypothetically, Clare and Kildare both move forward to their individual provincial finals. The quirks of this scenario are highlighted by Down’s recent victory over Clare, securing their promotion to Division Three. Despite this, Clare seems to have a more direct route to the All-Ireland SFC at the moment. — Gordon Manning.