SHUTTING UP SHOP
Numbers don’t lie as Dublin now boast country’s meanest defence
FIFTY minutes into last Saturday’s thrilling encounter between Dublin and Monaghan, Conor McManus took David Byrne for a jog out towards the right touchline of Croke Park. The Clontibret man’s finishing had threatened to make the game his own, but he used this moment to turn provider, sending a high, dropping ball into the square.
Shane Carey, who spent the evening in a sweeping role, had ghosted in behind the Dublin defence and seized the ball. Carey’s shot managed to beat Stephen Cluxton but it came off the upright. It was only on subsequent viewings that it was clear that Philly McMahon’s fantastic block had deflected Carey’s shot onto the post. Dublin’s clean sheet remained intact.
That McMahon was in the right position to get the block in illustrated his own change in role during that match. With Carey and Karl O’Connell given sweeping roles by Monaghan boss Malachy O’Rourke, McMahon had a free role in the first-half and revelled in it, moving forward to kick two points. After the break, though, McMahon was clearly instructed to remain in the full-back line and mind the house. It was another example of Dublin’s greater defensive organisation and discipline. They have become hallmarks of the team as much as the attacking philosophy that manager Jim Gavin likes to emphasise.
Since Dublin conceded 3-14 to Donegal in that monumental AllIreland semi-final back in 2014, there had been some universally acknowledged truths about Jim Gavin’s team. That their defence can be ropey and goals can be scored against Dublin. However, it’s time to rethink those ideas about the All-Ireland champions for simple numbers don’t lie.
Dublin have kept more clean sheets, 13, than any of their rivals in League and Championship football since the start of last season. They have now played over 320 minutes of League and Championship football since Cluxton’s goal was l ast breached by Cillian O’Connor in the 42nd minute of the All-Ireland semi-final replay last September.
As much as Gavin is keen to stress that his team are wedded to their attacking principles, it’s clear that he is no one- eyed Arsene Wenger who refuses to flinch on those principles. He knows that given his team’s propensity for finding the net, if they can shut out opposition at the other end, they are likely to win.
Mayo’s habit of conceding soft goals has been held up as one of the chief reasons they have failed to reach their Holy Grail — and is probably holding them back more than the oft-repeated problem of an over-reliance on C ill ian O’Connor. Mayo have only kept four clean sheets since the start of last season, showing they have yet to sort out those problems
After watching his defence shredded by Donegal in Croke Park back in 2014, Gavin (below) held his hands up and accepted that a lack of balance between attack and defence cost his team.
‘On a personal level, I accept full responsibility for the philosophy, for the attacking style we play and sometimes for the vulnerability that it brings and the unpredictability of it,’ Gavin said. ‘One result won’t change Dublin’s core philosophy but i t has been a l earning experience.’
THEIR ability to absorb lessons has been one of the key reasons why Dublin have won eight of the nine competitive trophies they have gone for since Gavin took over. But of all the lessons learnt, the most important has been shutting out the opposition. Cian O’Sullivan’s deep-lying role as a sweeping centre-back has transformed Dublin’s play. The Kilmacud man’s brilliant reading of the game has been the main pillar of Dublin’s restructured defence. Donegal scored three goals by running down the centre of Dublin’s defence. The relocation of O’Sullivan to that position means that they have never been left that open again.
O’Sullivan accepted that his role was born out of that afternoon in Croke Park. ‘Donegal opened us up for a few goal opportunities,’ he recalled last year of that day. ‘They got three and just ran down the heart of our defence. And it was something we knew that we had to address and sharpen up on. You can’t concede that many goals and I think
we did quite well this season. ‘
O’Sullivan was struggling with a hamstring injury in the two weeks before last September’s All-Ireland final and having lasted 61 minutes, it was no coincidence that Kerry produced their one and only goal chance after he was called ashore. Kieran Donaghy created it for Killian Young, who got in behind the Dublin defence in a place that O’Sullivan will generally police.
Last Saturday night in Croker, Dublin afforded McManus the respect he deserves as one of the best footballers in the game as O’Sullivan was l odged i nto a sweeper role. James McCarthy proved that he is one of the finest wing-backs in the country, but it was telling that McCarthy only went forward when he was certain that his team weren’t open to the counter-attack.
The rumours that Jack McCaffrey may spend some time out of the country as part of his medical studies is another headache for Gavin, coming on the heels of Rory O’Carroll’s decision to opt out for a year. McCaffrey, McCarthy and O’Sullivan has formed the most solid half-back line in the country.
Losing the current Player of the Year will be a blow but such has been Dublin’s defensive discipline since conceding three goals to Donegal in 2014, you feel that the All-Ireland champions will be able to absorb it.