ONE THING Pat Gilroy can be sure of going into tomorrow’s game is that a repeat of Dublin’s performance the last day simply won’t do.
Meath may not have beaten them since 2001, but if they’re allowed run at the Dublin defence the way Wexford were then there’ll be no escaping this time. That really is the task facing Dublin in Croke Park tomorrow, although I believe they’ll be up for it.
Definitely Dublin’s biggest problem against Wexford was their defence. Too often the Wexford players were able to breeze past the Dublin defenders with ease. The Wexford midfield and half backs in particular ran unchallenged through the Dublin defence.
They’ll need to address this, and that means challenging the Meath attacks at source, preventing them from building momentum. So it’s up to the Brogans, Alan and Bernard, Mossy Quinn and the other forwards to slow down those attacks, cause the odd turnover. That does require an increase in energy, but Gilroy needs to bring more of his forwards into that defensive role.
They’ll need to meet the Meath attacks higher up the field. Meath still have the players to kick long-range points, Shane O’Rourke, Graham Reilly and especially Cian Ward. Plus Stephen Bray, if he regains form.
And Joe Sheridan is an obvious threat closer to goal. Dublin also need to defend without fouling, otherwise Ward will punish them. But if Dublin can manage that they’ll be more than halfway to victory.
But it means going back to basics. If possession is lost, every Dublin player must become a defender and not just mark space, but mark their man. The changes Gilroy has made from the Wexford game reflect this, reverting to the tried and tested, in Bryan Cullen and Ger Brennan, along with Alan Brogan and Quinn.
Gilroy will have realised he had too much inexperience against Wexford. Too many players didn’t know their role, and the team found it hard to settle into a pattern. There are still some rookies in there, and I’d be worried about Dublin’s midfield, the lack of leadership there, say a Ciarán Whelan-type figure. Dublin possibly have the better forwards, but they rely on quick, incisive and accurate ball delivered from midfield, and I wonder if Eamon Fennell and Ross McConnell can provide enough of that.
Certainly the Dublin half backs have a big role to play there. We’ll have to see a different attitude from Dublin too. There is a better mix of experience and younger players, and the full-back line did relatively well the last day. Plus we shouldn’t forget they overcame a seven-point deficit the last day, and finished quite strong.
Meath are missing a few first-choice players through injury and suspension. They still have a formidable forward line, so the key to this game really is the Dublin defence. If they can hold out, then Dublin’s forwards may have the edge on the Meath defence, which can be vulnerable, as they showed the first day against Laois. Overall then I expect a much- improved Dublin performance. They’ll have learnt a lot from the Wexford game; they need to get basics of defending right. If they do that I feel they’ll have just enough to get over the finish line first.
In the second game in Croke Park, Louth have a wonderful chance to make their first Leinster final in 50 years. Like a lot of people, I was taken by the sheer passion and honesty of manager Peter Fitzpatrick after their impressive effort against Kildare. The players are clearly responding to him, as shown by the wholehearted and spirited performance that in the end easily dismantled Kildare.
The element of surprise is gone, so the question is can they repeat that performance? The fear is that Westmeath have big names back now, Dessie Dolan, Derek Heavin and Denis Glennon, plus John Keane on the bench. They’ll be dangerous for sure, have the experience of being here before, and must see this as an opportunity to make another Leinster final. But I feel the prize is so big for Louth that they’ll reach out a grab it.
There is something about them this year, but they’ll need to play at the same high tempo, get another big game from midfielder Brian White. They have, crucially, plenty of players who can take scores and I think Louth making a Leinster final is just what this football championship needs.
Out west, it will be interesting to see what type of Galway team turns up tomorrow to face Sligo. One reason Joe Kernan went in there was to instil some steel into that team, and he needed to change some of that old pure football philosophy of Galway. But that takes time. It was always going to be difficult to ingrain that in this particular group of players. Starting without Nicky Joyce and Michael Meehan is a setback, and they had a poor league, but there is still a strong look about the Galway backs, and on paper they do have the better players than Sligo.
But Kevin Walsh has this Sligo team playing superbly well as a unit. They’ve very well organised, with great spirit, and also have the major asset of having scoring forwards, particularly David Kelly. So I fancy Sligo, even in Pearse Stadium. There was great method to their play against Mayo, like they way they used Eamonn O’Hara. All the ingredients are there. There’s a good atmosphere in the camp and all the players understand their role. You can’t ask for anymore than that.
In Ulster Fermanagh remain an enigma, but they’ve had some big results over the last few years and can’t have gone back that much. But Monaghan look like a team on a mission this year, at least to make the Ulster final. And I think they’ll have too much strength and experience for Fermanagh, coupled with the passion of manager Séamus McEnaney, and his able deputy Paul Grimley.
Finally, on a personal note, I wish to express my sadness at the passing this week of Dermot Earley. Dermot was a fine footballer and more importantly a fine person. It was a privilege to compete against him at both intercounty and interprovincial levels. I would like to convey my sympathy to his mother, wife, children and extended family.