I was surprised that changes weren’t made in a lot of defensive positions in Trim
ANOTHER frustrating visit by a Wicklow hurling team to Trim last Saturday. I had high expectations that Wicklow would be a lot closer to this much changed and somewhat depleted Meath outfit.
It has to be said that we were in trouble in a lot of defensive positions and I was surprised that there weren’t changes made in these areas.
I felt that a lot of the Wicklow team didn’t or weren’t let play to their potential. I thought the plan to play Chester at centre-forward and give him a somewhat roaming role just didn’t work. The first touch in our back line was poor and this hindered any prospects of successfully finding Chester with suitable ball.
What was actually happening was that our backs were under pressure clearing the ball and for a lot of the time it was just hit and hope which unfortunately on many occasions when straight to Meath’s free man, their centre back Damien Healy.
Healy, with time and space, was able to expertly deliver intelligent ball in front of our exposed full-back line.
Bustling corner-forward, Gavin McGowan, on his debut with 2-02 and full forward Neil Heffernan with 1-03 were tormentors in chief in the Meath full-forward line while in the half line Adam Gannon and James Toher caused untold problems throughout.
In fact Heffernan’s goal, following a defensive slip-up, was the score that sealed the deal for Meath and sent them to the winners’ group.
With Meath leading 2-08 to 1-03 at half-time it was always going to be a big ask for Wicklow to turn this game around.
In fact Wicklow’s first goal, a fine piece of opportunism by one of Wicklow’s top performers on the day, Padraig Doran, came from the last puck of the half. Worryingly in the first 35 minutes of play we only registered three points, two of which came from placed balls.
Despite the problems in the backline our first change saw Danny Staunton replace Ronan Keddy in midfield and Staunton wasn’t long in showing his undoubted class and finished the game with three well taken points from play.
Padraig Doran was moved to centre forward and he certainly asked more questions of Meath’s stand-in number six Healy and this enabled Wicklow create more scoring chances.
Wicklow, to their credit battled to the final minute and a combination of some great goalkeeping from Meath’s Shane McCann and bad luck saw Meath finish the game 9 points ahead. Best on the day for Wicklow were John Henderson, Eamonn Kearns and Padraig Doran.
It will disappoint Martin Storey that only two of his starting forwards scored from play, Doran with the first half goal and Lee with a point. Free-taking was also somewhat erratic especially in the first half and this needs to be more consistent at this level.
The draw for Wicklow in the losers’ group wasn’t too kind either and we must now face local rivals Kildare in a huge knockout game at a Wicklow venue.
On a side note it must be the first time in many years that Genealy Hurling Club didn’t have a player in the starting 15. In fact the north of the county supplied 12 of last Saturday’s starters, six from Bray, five from Eire Og and one from Kilcoole – a huge change to the hurling landscape.
Another football title for the Dubs with a comprehensive win over a below par Kerry team last Sunday.
This is Dublin’s fourth consecutive league title and from looking at the Kerry performance they will need to improve considerably to have any hope of success if they meet in the All-Ireland semi-final.
I thought it was a poor game overall, littered with mistakes and Dublin were very wasteful for many periods and despite their 11-point victory they unusually passed up many simple scoring chances which kept Kerry in the game for longer than their performance deserved.
Dublin currently have an extremely impressive panel despite losing their two All-Stars, Jack McCaffrey and Rory O’Carroll. To be able to call on players of the calibre of Michael Darragh MacAuley, Kevin McManamon, Paddy Andrews and Cormac Costello is a very strong position to be in. At this moment it is very hard to see any team wrestle their title from them.
It was great to see a full house in Croker for the final. It’s a pity, with the year that is in it, that they didn’t play the Division 4 final between Louth and Antrim as the curtain raiser last Sunday.
There was a small crowd at headquarters for the Division 3 and 4 finals played on Saturday evening and it would have been a great occasion and memory for Louth and Antrim players to have played before such a big crowd. I could be wrong but the chances of either team making it to the latter stages of the football championship is slim so another PR opportunity missed.
This Sunday, Thurles host the hurling league final and this promises to be a cracker. It is a pity that Clare and Waterford are meeting again so quickly in the Munster Championship. I hope this won’t affect how both sides approach the game.
I think a victory on Sunday is nearly more important for Clare.
Two very mediocre seasons has left some doubts over the Clare management and in particular Davy Fitzgerald.
The addition of Donal Og Cusack to the management ticket was a bold move but at this stage of the year it is showing positive dividends. Clare have changed their style somewhat and we are now seeing more direct ball into their inside forwards which is working well.
Clare’s victory in the semi-final highlighted that there are weaknesses in this Kilkenny team and that even they can’t afford to take to the field without the likes of Paul Murphy, Michael and Colin Fennelly and Eoin Larkin.
The concession of goals against Clare showed that J.J. Delaney has not been replaced. This defeat to Clare and the manner of it has given Cody plenty to ponder as they start their journey to secure another McCarthy Cup.
The big question is will this legend be able to mastermind another title and are any of the main challengers getting closer?
History shows it would be a brave man to bet against them. I think Clare will win the league next Sunday and that they will go very close, as will Waterford, to causing a shock this year.