Class of forward thinkers

THE form of some of the top forwards in the game has been one of the more encouraging aspects of the League so far.

There are many great skills to our game that we sometimes forget, whether it’s a great piece of tackling, a block down from a defender or the Brian Fentons of the world fetching a kickout from the clouds.

But there is nothing quite like watching top forwards in full flight. Con O’callaghan (above) put on an exhibition in Croke

Park last Saturday night. When he plays like that he is simply unstoppable.

Time and time again he received quick ball into space and wreaked havoc. It wasn’t just on long balls though – he is probably the best executor of the back door cut in the game and used it brilliantly to bamboozle Jason Foley for his first and third goals.

Up in Omagh, Darragh Canavan (left) was electric in his team’s win over Mayo. His goal was a thing of beauty and had so many aspects to it.

Firstly he recognised that Peter Harte, one of the best kickpassers on his team was on the ball, which was his trigger to make a hard show for it.

He won it around the D, not out on the sideline, and then twigged that he is one-on-one and goes at Sam Callinan. He had the intelligence and skill to hold the ball in his left hand which forced Callinan to reach across in desperation. Once that happens Canavan is in control, and he slipped by the lunge before slotting past Rob Hennelly.

Shane Mcguigan (right), although much quieter last Sunday, hit 11 points from 11 shots the week before.

If these guys can maintain this form along with the Cliffords and Sean O’shea and Co, it could be some Championship.