'September success does more than put a medal in your pocket'

 

Tony Leen, sports editor: Okay probably only one place to start, in Tralee. What struck me about Cork was their unflappability in the closing stages. Remember last year against Kerry in Páirc Ui Chaoimh, when Donncha O'Connor ballooned that late free up into the air? Panic attack. Yesterday, even after Kerry turned around that three point deficit to lead, Cork kept their shape, worked some frees (however dubious). Goulding too, you can see the confidence in his free-taking now. Before he was hit and miss - and on the key occasions, more miss than hit. September success does more than put a medal in your pocket it seems. It empowers a player. Like, I'm king of the jungle now, you want a piece of me?

John Fogarty, GAA correspondent:  I'd agree,  but would add that the way they finished the game was impressive given they've only had a few weeks training. Now, whatever they did on the holiday in South Africa we don't know but to have shown that tenacity at the death against a Kerry side that had more done was excellent. I know Conor Counihan is making a lot of the lack of scores from play but the pressure they were exerting on Kerry, especially in midfield, won those scores.

Eamonn Fitzmaurice, columnist: Thought a big factor was the way Pearse O’Neill, Aidan Walsh and later Nicholas Murphy broke the ball aggressively in the second half. Cork were very strong on breaks. Thought the much maligned Micheál Quirke was missed by Kerry late on. He would have secured a few vital possessions.

Trevor Giles, columnist: It was what has become a typical Cork performance, their forwards labour a bit in general play and don’t score goals but put up a large points total and kick some pressure frees at the death.

John Fogarty: Was Sunday's midfield partnership for Kerry the one you'd expect for the championship, Eamonn?

Eamonn Fitzmaurice:  I think so. They are both young and developing and need game time together. There is an impatience in Kerry to find a replacement for Darragh. What people forget is Darragh did not become Darragh until 2000 when he was 25. Moran is 23 an Maher is 24, so their age profile and physical development is getting closer to what is required to survive as an inter-county midfielder.

Tony Leen: We're all a bit jizzed up because it's the first round of the League, Trevor, but is there an importance beyond local bragging rights so early in February? Is it more about mileage in the legs at this stage?

Trevor Giles:  It’s about mileage in the legs but for Cork the next step in their development is to beat Kerry in Croke Park and being champions, I think it was important they beat Kerry yesterday. I know they have not beaten Kerry in Croke Park yet, but the dynamic is different now because they never played Kerry when they (Cork) were champions.

John Fogarty:  One more sidebar from Tralee - David Geaney looks like he could make the breakthrough. Had a great first-half. Barry John Walsh was marked out of it by Eoin Cadogan and you'd fear for him.

Tony Leen: I get a sense from watching Dublin Saturday night that Pat Gilroy still has them on an upward curve. Last August was a sickener but the evolution of the Dubs seems to be continuing apace. Going into a bearpit like the Athletic Grounds and coming away with a win on a dirty Saturday night does not suggest a side that will buckle when the heat comes on, which, let's call it, Dublin were always likely to do in the past.

John Fogarty: Dublin's away day frailties appear to be a thing of the past under Gilroy. He hardly had a defence at the start of last week with injuries and what not, but he has a system that a lot of the players are not only buying into, but also fitting into. Armagh had made a big thing of starting with a win in their new home but they were worried coming into Saturday's game - and rightly so, as it proved. Gilroy won't be getting ahead of himself, the county board will be delighted that the win - coupled with Cork's - will boost sales for Saturday week's game in Croke Park but Dublin do appear a more formidable side. And here comes the hype...

Tony Leen:  Was anyone surprised with Monaghan putting up 19 points against Galway?

Trevor Giles:  I was surprised, particularly as Monaghan had some injuries including their best forward, Tommy Freeman. Conor McManus has been brilliant in club football in Monaghan and looks to be finally bringing it to inter-county now. I would be a bit worried if I was Tomás O Flatharta for Galway to concede such a big total at this time of the year.

Fintan O’Toole, staff GAA journalist:  Achieving that win over Galway without Tommy Freeman was hugely impressive by Monaghan. Thedevelopment of Conor McManus meant that Freeman's absence is not as keenly felt.

Brendan O'Brien, staff journalist: I was covering the Athletic Grounds and what struck me on Saturday was the fact that Dublin never panicked when Armagh came back at them. They kept their cool and came away with the win - their fourth in their last five away league games. If they can take some of the weight off Bernard Brogan up front they will be very difficult to beat this year. A good tip for a league title - if they want it.

John Fogarty:  Worth mentioning Dublin, all going even relatively well for them in Leinster, will only have to venture outside of Croke Park on two more occasions this year - away to Monaghan and Galway.

Colm O’Connor, deputy sports editor: Does it all fall back on Bernard Brogan though?

Brendan O'Brien:  That's the thing about Saturday. It was the same old posse for the Dubs up front - Mossy Quinn, Kevin McManamon, Diarmuid Connolly. Beyond that you have Alan Brogan and the rough-as-sandpaper Eoghan O'Gara. They need more of those guys to put their hands up.

Eamonn Fitzmaurice:  I saw the Dubs on tv and was impressed. They are evolving and are slowly but surely getting the right balance between blanket defence and attacking in numbers. They will still need to give Bernard Brogan a bit more support but if McManamon keeps playing as is, he might hold onto his place for the championship this year and give them a bit of additional fire power. Full back also still a problem spot for them.

John Fogarty: Dublin are crying out for a Robin to Brogan's Batman. O’Gara can do a job but they need another finisher - and badly. They're still kick-passing a good bit. Full back should be sorted when Ross O'Carroll comes back from Kilmacud Crokes' duties. Paul Brogan, if he gets over his injury setbacks, could be a solution too.

Tony Leen: I'm always wary of putting the hex on Mayo, not least at the start of the season, but they got a gutsy draw against Down after giving away soft goals. Can James Horan get something extra, something intangible out of them?

Trevor Giles: I always feel Mayo are short a couple of “unpleasant” individuals on their team, any such candidates around?

Mike Finnerty, Mayo News sports editor: Unfortunately no sign of any remotely unpleasant individuals in this Mayo squad. Trevor Howley is probably the nearest thing we have but he’s injured at the moment. We have loads of nice, skilful wing-backs though!

Fintan O’Toole: Is McManamon that answer John? Looked very good in last year's league but did fade as the season progresses.

John Fogarty:  His attitude is excellent. I'd have been a critic of Gilroy initially but his ruthlessness has to be admired. We saw that with McManamon last year. We saw it with him again in the O'Byrne Shield final. McManamon struggled to reach a ball and was hauled off. Tough love worked for Bernard Brogan and it might just do it for McManamon although he is a tireless player. Gilroy expects huge work-rates from his half-forwards. I know David Henry's brief was anywhere and everywhere last year but he was taken off in the majority of the championship games largely down to fatigue. I'd love to see how find space he covered.

Fintan O’Toole: The other attacking question for Gilroy is trying to harness Diarmuid Connolly's talent effectively. He's had a good start to the year between Dublin and DIT. Still reservations though as to whether he can maintain that form.

Trevor Giles: Banty has spent all of January searching for new talent in Meath and picked a team for Laois yesterday that was the same as last year’s essentially. I suppose it’s only now that he can start to make his mark on the panel but I feel it may be next year before we see the results. We’re still short a No. 6 and No 11, and a man marking corner back.

Tony Leen: On the issue of missing links, are Kerry any nearer solving the full-back line issues that would allow Marc Ó Sé out to the prairies of the half back line?

Eamonn Fitzmaurice: Marc was solid and confident at full back in Tralee yesterday. Unfortunately, Kerry can't spare him from the full back line so there he will stay. No point having him out the field if Kerry are leaking scores inside. On the flip side Jonathan Lyne's performance at wing back yesterday was a major positive.

Fintan O’Toole: Eamonn, are Lyne and the Geaney's the only new faces from the McGrath Cup trawl of talent that we can expect to feature regularly? Jack gave a lot of players game time in January but difficult to see many of them coming through.

Eamonn Fitzmaurice:  Shane Enright is another that could make the step up. He did well in the second half yesterday and is a good tight corner back. Keep an eye on Daithí Casey as well. If those four of five make the step up the league can be regarded as a success for Kerry.

Fintan O’Toole: Enright did have a poor McGrath Cup semi-final against Cork but he impressed me last year with UCC in the Sigerson Cup. Casey is a superb talent but between Sigerson, U21 and senior, he's a busy few months ahead.

John Fogarty: I wonder if Marc Ó Sé is the new Seamus Moynihan in the sense that he can't be spared from doing the more onerous work.

Trevor Giles:  I would think Kerry will be happy enough with yesterday, they will still have the best forward line in the championship this year and will only need 40% possession to win games which they should pick up when Paul Galvin returns.

Eamonn Fitzmaurice:  They would liked to have got a point on the board, Trevor, but there are big guns to return and this League is definitely about developing a few players for the championship.

John Fogarty:  Is that Meath poor mouthing, Trevor? Your own attack is pretty decent!

Tony Leen:  John, Kildare spent a shedload on the seniors again last season. Good win yesterday in Antrim, but what represents success this season? A League, a Leinster or the big one?

John Fogarty:  It's time Kildare did the proverbial or got off the pot. Kieran McGeeney is loved in Kildare but a lucky O'Byrne Cup isn't going to suffice. Aside from that Leinster final in 2009, their record in the province under him has been poor. Apart from Cork, nobody finishes games strongly as the Lilywhites. Come to think of it, they have timed their championship runs better than most but if they can come out the tough side of the Leinster draw this year we'll know they're up to something.

Brendan O'Brien:  There's so much to admire about Kildare but I'm just starting to wonder if they're a few players short of a team that can really go places.

Tony Leen: Finally lads, views on Derry's win over Tyrone. They haven't gone away you know...

Fintan O’Toole: Good start to John Brennan's tenure with Derry, they had began the season brightly in the Dr McKenna Cup. Bringing back Conleth Gilligan and giving more Coleraine players a run out will benefit them. Of course Tyrone could have a chance for revenge in next Saturday's McKenna Cup final.

John Fogarty:  Five wins from five for John Brennan. Seems to have got the Bradleys on side but how long that lasts remains to be seen. Still have James Kielt to come in.

Brendan O'Brien:  Nothing Derry have achieved in the league has ever amounted to a hill of beans. Tyrone were unlucky not to grab a draw by the sounds of it.

John Fogarty:  Would tend to agree with that. Celtic Park is a bit of a fortress, nevertheless.

*So what do you think of the opening weekend of the Allianz Football League? Let’s have your views and we’ll use the more thought provoking in tomorrow’s Irish Examiner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/PDFQgbt6oOU/post.aspx

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