Big two going toe-to-toe gives us all hope for the year..and a new Blueprint
KERRY have delivered on a plate to all contenders the tactical plan to beat Dublin.
Monaghan planted the seed with their opening day win but in a rip-roaring encounter in Tralee on Saturday night, Kerry laid the template for the future downfall of the mighty Dubs.
Rule number 1: You can’t sit back and give Dublin their own kick-outs one after the other.
Rule number 2: Mixing the long direct ball into the Dubs’ full-back line is a must.
What a great advert it was for Gaelic Football. We were treated to great physicality, strong tackling and superb scoring – 3-42 was the aggregate total – all played out in a magical atmosphere.
The difference l see with Kerry under Peter Keane (above) and Donie Buckley is the savage work-rate of each Kerry player – along with the much improved tackling that now is coming naturally to them.
Buckley’s imprint is clearly evident. He was the main reason that Mayo became such brilliant tacklers over the last five or six years. Bringing him back to Kerry was a master
stroke by Keane.
Kerry are not quite as defensive as we were lead to believe but what’s so, so impressive about them right now is the split second a player loses the ball anywhere on the pitch, the work-rate for every Kerry man to retrieve possession is amazing.
Kerry mixed up their game very well and asked different questions of Dublin throughout. Having said all that, they still have much work to do because they were opened up far too easily.
Dublin’s goals underlined that some Kerry defenders need to deal with the sidestep better. They must work on the positioning of their feet when on the back foot.
Con O’callaghan made a mockery of three defenders with two simple swerves, while Paul Mannion should never score a goal from where he received the ball.
However, I like the new improved attitude under Keane and the balance of youth and experience looks great.
Up front they have a real punch, so overall the future looks bright.
I wouldn’t panic if l was a Dublin supporter. Jim Gavin certainly won’t, but to do the five-in-a-row certain players must be on the field. Most importantly, Dublin need Diarmuid Connolly back.
After seeing their three games in full, it’s very evident to me there are some shortcomings starting to appear up front that only he can remedy.
Gavin’s substitutions over the last three games prove my point. Yes, they have fielded 27 players thus far in the League but none possess the geniuslike qualities of Connolly.
Stephen Cluxton is a gigantic loss against the top teams. Dublin’s defence looks much more vulnerable when he’s not there – and not just for his kick-outs. They really need his exceptional organisational skills in big moments under the high ball.
Their playmaker-in-chief Ciaran Kilkenny’s absence was also felt. Dublin’s link play suffers when he’s not around, their transition is ponderous and they over-do the short passing in the middle third.
Some of the Dublin players also look to have wintered very well. They’re carrying a few pounds you wouldn’t normally expect under the present regime, but I’m pretty sure that will be sorted out in time.
It’s very early in the year yet, but it’s still great to see Kerry back on the warpath. Gaelic football isn’t the same without them mixing it with the best.