Philip Lanigan selects a GAA dream team
RONAN SWEENEY didn’t try to hide Kildare’s intentions beneath a cloak of diplomacy in the build-up to the O’Byrne Cup semi-final last weekend. Not for him the polite, meaningless words that often come when a member of management sizes up the opposition. Instead, the former player – and current selector – was unapologetically up front about the hosts’ intentions against effectively a third-string Dublin team, the All-Ireland winning squad marked absent since spending early January sunning themselves in Jamaica.
‘You wouldn’t be embarrassed about saying we want to win this match. We’re trying to get something going here… trying to get a winning culture too,’ remarked Sweeney.
Two goals up inside the first 21 minutes, the result looked routine. And yet by close of business, editorial pens were being sharpened about the shock turnaround that left Kildare manager Cian O’Neill ‘disgusted’.
That faint ringing sound in the distance heard by supporters filing out of the ground? Ah yes, that would be the death knell for Leinster football.
Add the O’Byrne Cup to their collection this afternoon against Louth and Dublin’s dominance in Leinster and beyond will only be reinforced before the first true shots are fired in the Allianz Football League next weekend.
For Dublin, 2017 has the potential to be a landmark in the county’s history. No senior football side has ever won five Division 1 League trophies in a row. Currently enjoying an unprecedented 29-match unbeaten run between League and Championship, the last time a Dublin team secured a hat-trick of All-Irelands was nearly 100 years ago. Between 1921-23, to be precise.
On Jim Gavin’s watch, only Donegal in 2014 have inflicted a defeat after St Patrick’s Day, a remarkable statistic.
So how would they fare if they actually played a game of football against the pick of the other 31 counties? Take it as read that the main contenders are planning with Dublin in mind. For a time, the conversation around picking the Ireland rugby team centred on one easy assumption: a team built around the flair and invention of the Leinster backs and the hard-nosed ‘boot, bollock and bite’ of the Munster forwards was as good a place as any to start. Exhibit A? The 2009 Grand Slam outfit. That was before the rise of Connacht and the growth of the game outside the traditional power bases gave a more rounded hue to the starting 15. Picking a Gaelic football team from the 31 other counties to beat Dublin, the easy assumption would be to start with Mayo’s backs and Kerry’s forwards. A bit glib, perhaps, but the starting point for any Rest of Ireland selection has to be Footballer of the Year Lee Keegan. No other player has been able to shackle Diarmuid Connolly to such an extent, the starting point when trying to go toe-to-toe with Dublin. ‘Hammer the hammer,’ as Tomás Ó Sé suggested. For that rare combination of selfconfidence and precision, his daring burst forward and pin-point goal on Stephen Cluxton in the All-Ireland final replay was the score of the year.
Alongside him is the necessary stopper in Colm Boyle. When
Sunday Game went with a Team of the Year, it even managed to include Patrick Durcan, such was the Castlebar player’s impact. But this team needs to be sourced in players capable of inflicting the maximum damage on Jim Gavin’s all-conquering squad. Step forward Ryan McHugh. No other player is more responsible for that one stain on the Dublin manager’s copybook.
In the 2014 All-Ireland semi-final he played the role of boyish assassin, ghosting in for two goals while looking like he could he could still play in the minor grade. Donegal’s most elusive of ball-carriers was top class all last year again and took the fight to Dublin even when the team was struggling in the quarter-final.
Behind that key line of defence? Let’s start with Evan Comerford of Tipperary, All-Star nominated in part from his laser-guided restarts and homage to the torch-bearer Stephen Cluxton. It’s easy to argue Mayo’s All-Ireland dreams were sacrificed at the altar of the kick-out and Comerford has plenty of presence, too.
Shane Enright scooped an All-Star in 2015 and has enhanced his reputation is so many of the recent jousts with Dublin. Mark Griffin could easily have slotted in at number three but Neil McGee remains the uncompromising, unbreakable persona that makes a forward think twice before heading for the square.
Cathal McCarron makes for a flinty presence in the other corner, his footballing pedigree shining despite his documented off-field trials.
Midfield? It says everything about Brian Fenton’s meteoric rise that he is already the main man for Dublin – and the main target for opposition set-ups.
Witness him causing havoc by drifting in behind in the drawn final against Mayo. Michael Quinlivan has the height, the power, and the pure footballing ability to match up best. Alongside the Tipperary man, Mattie Donnelly epitomises the box-to-box athleticism of the team that Mickey
For Gavin’s men, 2017 has the potential to be a landmark campaign
Harte is moulding with a clear view to trying to match Dublin’s key strengths. He is a born leader as well.
Peter Harte is another whose versatility is such that he can play in whatever third of the field that the tactical set-up to frustrate Dublin’s power play invariably requires, Mayo using Kevin McLoughlin to such good effect last September.
On a team where he isn’t expected to do more than his own fair share, the capacity for Aidan O’Shea to blossom is huge. He anchors the halfforward line.
Paul Geaney would slot comfortably into an inside line of supreme finishers and is another interchangeable part with the likes of Michael Murphy who is well used to spending time in the middle eight as a primary ball winner if required.
Given the damage he was inflicting on Dublin, Geaney’s substitution by Éamonn Fitzmaurice still looks the most baffling aspect of Kerry’s AllIreland semi-final demise.
Conor McManus’ sustained excellence makes a strong case for him to be regarded as, pound-for-pound, the best forward in Ireland in recent seasons, particularly when carrying so much of the scoring burden for Monaghan.
Murphy is an obvious target man to nullify Cian O’Sullivan’s role as sweeper with Dublin and force him to double up as cover.
Footballer of Year in 2014, a fit James O’Donoghue is the heir apparent to Colm Cooper and rounds the Rest of Ireland selection off nicely, one which has all the necessary attributes to win any game of ball.
So that’s it: a 31 county selection – at least in theory – boiled down to just six. Three representatives each from Kerry, Mayo, Donegal and Tyrone, along with two from Tipperary and one from Monaghan.
If Dublin make this another landmark year, then maybe it will be time to resurrect the traditional Goal Challenge when the All Ireland champions took on a Rest of Ireland selection in a charity fundraiser.
The accompanying team would be as good a place to start as any.