Defence Leads the Way for Galway and Armagh
Galway and Armagh, among the country’s most tactically astute and dogged football teams this season, have amassed a notable defensive record. In the 16 matches that they’ve participated in, both in the league and championship, they have only succumbed to goals in a mere three games, thus preserving a clean sheet in the other 13 matches.
Armagh managed to keep their opponents goalless in their first six league matches until they faced off against Cork in the seventh round, who successfully penetrated Armagh’s formidable defence to bag two goals. The Ulster semi-final pitched Armagh against Down, where they conceded two more goals. However, their only other concession was during last Saturday’s All-Ireland semi-final victory against Kerry.
Galway, on the other hand, let in two goals in their debut league match against Mayo before they yielded to Derry who netted three goals on February 25th. Galway were successful in not conceding a goal in the following eight games until a defensive error allowed Tiernan Kelly of Armagh to seize an opportunity and score a critical goal during the All-Ireland group stages. This marked Armagh as the sole team that lodged a championship goal against Galway this summer.
Pádraic Joyce, when asked about his team’s defensive prowess after Sunday’s triumphant match against Donegal, mirrored, “Brilliant, indeed.” He admitted that his initial focus, which erred on the side of favouring showy football, was not enough and that tightening the defence was a necessity. He praised the team, especially its young members like Johnny McGrath, Jack Glynn, and Seán Fitzgerald, for their remarkable contributions.
Joyce also commended the effects of the structured training given by Cian O’Neill and John Divilly, and the reliability of key players like Paul Conroy, who flawlessly executed all of his passes. As the teams prepare to face their next challenges, their impregnable defence record continues to provide them with a crucial advantage.
Seán Mulkerrin and Dylan McHugh are deeply involved in serious football, even to the extent of keeping Kieran Molloy and John Daly away from the squad. This has become extremely gratifying and offers a considerable opportunity when you manage to avoid huge defeats, as mentioned by Gordon Manning.
Focusing on the northern aspect of Kerry, Jack O’Connor perhaps captured the heart of Kerry in his response to intense query regarding the significance of defeating Tyrone in the All-Ireland final of 2005, only a couple of years post the ‘puke football’ incident: “This final isn’t equivalent to winning two All-Irelands.”
However, Kerry’s record in the championship against teams from Ulster, which was starkly highlighted by their recent loss to Armagh, holds a certain degree of intimidation. Nearly two decades ago, in that final, Kerry’s performance against northern counties was just about average, noticeably less successful than their matches against Connacht and Leinster.
Two major changes have occurred over the passed years. Firstly, their performance balance deteriorated further with two more All-Ireland final losses (both to Tyrone) and one victory (over Donegal).
As contests between provinces in All-Ireland have become more frequent, Kerry has reaped benefits from competing against less known rivals, such as Cavan and Antrim in the beginning rounds.
Moreover, they have also managed a couple of victories over Monaghan, but the draw in Clones in 2018 – secured at the last minute by David Clifford’s goal – lead to Kerry being effectively ousted.
Munster counties have also entered into the All-Ireland mix and Cork have failed to win in both their finals against the neighbouring teams.
The dominance of Dublin has likewise had its effects on the balance with Leinster – no other Leinster team has defeated Kerry since 2001 – but it remains profitable even as Connacht’s record has augmented in this period.
The frequent matches between teams from Ulster and Kerry have revealed favourable results for the latter. Over the past 20 years, with 19 matches played, Kerry has emerged victorious 12 times (with wins against Armagh, Monaghan three times, Tyrone three times, Antrim, Donegal, Cavan and Derry twice), drawn twice (against Monaghan and Donegal), and suffered defeat five times (to Donegal, Armagh, Down and twice to Tyrone).
The consequences of the repeated losses experienced have been strikingly harsh. Naturally, one could argue that the outcome of losing to Antrim in 2009 would also have been harsh – this was a historical loss, recorded during the 1912 semi-finals, but Kerry has been struggling unusually with Ulster, demonstrated in the game last Saturday.
Over the two decades, teams which have pushed Kerry out of the championship have predominantly been from Ulster, this has happened seven times. Dublin, represented in Leinster has done it on six occasions with Connacht making a single contribution, Mayo in 2017.
The blow from these losses in Ulster led to the dismissal of four out of the previous five managers of the Kerry team, including the current manager Jack O’Connor, who backed out from his second stint in 2012, after suffering a loss to Donegal. He is optimistic to see out his current term which has a year remaining. — Seán Moran
On Saturday, in the press conference and his post-game interview with RTÉ, Jack O’Connor touched on the profound influence of the crowd. This sentiment was echoed by Eamon Fitzmaurice, during the in-game commentary, as Armagh clinched a turnover at the centre field and their supporters burst into cheers. The stadium was bursting with energy.
However, O’Connor described it in a way similar to how football managers might describe playing on an opposing team’s turf. “The goal we conceded really got the Armagh crowd going,” he said. “We managed to keep the crowd quiet for significant parts of the game, but that just gave Armagh the upper hand. Momentum is challenging to disrupt.”
Supporters of Kerry were also invited to the neutral venue, Croke Park. There was plenty of space.
Despite this, O’Connor expressed concern over his team not being able to silence the Armagh crowd. This reflected in the bold array of colours seen in the stands and on Hill 16. He said, “The noise generated by whatever actions from my team couldn’t have matched theirs. They significantly outnumbered us on the field,” said O’Connor.
Despite the lack of interest from numerous followers of Kerry, choosing to stay home in anticipation of the final match, they paid no heed to the thinly disguised reproach of O’Connor. Given the continuous contention of their county, only a small handful of matches beyond the All-Ireland finals can incite mass support. The prevailing echoed sentiment from locals is that Kerry alone should be defeating Armagh. As the forthcoming investigation sets in, discussions surrounding the role of the crowd will likely be brief.
Kieran Donaghy took the longest of all players to emerge from the Armagh dressing room following Saturday night’s exhilarating victory over Kerry, a step into their first All-Ireland final in over two decades. Presenting a range of emotions, Donaghy appeared depleted, yet elated, and somewhat baffled by the event’s outcome.
It was indeed a concoction of feelings. Witnessing his teammates Dylan Casey and Joe O’Connor under such circumstances brought back memories of his own 15-year dedication to the Kerry team. Meanwhile, having been part of Kieran McGeeney’s support crew for four years, Donaghy was well-accustomed to the hard work and disappointment experienced by the Armagh team.
Donaghy isn’t the first renowned figure to train a team against his home county, nor will he be the last. However, his checkered show of loyalty makes his story somewhat tantalising. His wife and daughters were proudly wearing the Armagh colours in support, despite their staunch ties reigning from his Kerry heritage.
The situation was surely delicate. His family members even texted him, bearing their allegiance for the day. In their words, ‘We’re green and gold today!’ It was a classic assertion of love – they were accustomed to his deep-seated commitment to the Kerry team over the years. He fully comprehended their current stance.
“My immediate family, along with my mother, were firmly behind me. My uncle, the most fervent Kerryman in existence, penned a comprehensive message to me. It both prepared me for what lay ahead and advised me on how to respond to either possible outcome.
The past week has been insane, and the following fortnight promises to be just as unhinged. I am acutely aware of the sadness felt by many in Kerry, understanding the importance of football to its inhabitants. The disappointment they feel is not lost on me, nor is their looming harsh winter. However, the redeeming quality of Kerry is their indefatigable spirit, they will bounce back.” — Malachy Clerkin
The Tailteann honour roll spells the necessity for a third tier
It’s reasonable to assume that the Tailteann Cup was not intended for teams like Down, Meath, and Westmeath. Down made a comeback to the final last week, managing to pull off a win after losing to Meath in the 2023 title match. Westmeath emerged as the victors in their inaugural year of 2022. All three squads will be seen in Division Two in the upcoming season. Not exactly a breeding ground for the underdogs.
It announces an intriguing prospect for 2025: whether the second tier clash will continue to captivate, given the escalating signs of a potential requirement for a third tier. If the tournament continuously sees dominance from the ‘bigger’ counties recovering from a rut, is it actually beneficial for the development of the lesser known counties?
The Tommy Murphy Cup had a run spanning five years, from 2004 to 2008. The termination of the competition followed the 2008 season, and it took the establishment of the Tailteann Cup to resurrect the second tier bout. The Tommy Murphy Cup declined due to a lack of player dedication and poor promotion, eventually turning into a forgotten detail until its termination. The Tailteann Cup seems in better shape than the Tommy Murphy Cup after three years but indifference could plague it quickly, making the creation of a third tier competition pressing. — Gordon Manning