N OT every team has a marquee forward; players who can conjure up a moment of pure genius against the odds and turn the match in their team’s favour.
The kind of person who we all love even though they aren’t one of our own.
The kind who gets a by-ball in games if they kick six wides but will pop up with the winning point having skilfully dummied his marker not once but twice.
These forwards are so rare they are idolised the length and breadth of Ireland. In my estimation, there are a mere four players of this calibre in the modern game.
They are Monaghan’s Conor McManus, Tipperary’s Michael Quinlivan, Kerry’s James O’Donoghue and Dublin’s Diarmuid Connolly.
Fortunately, there are many other gifted forwards in the modern game but their game is based on exceptionally hard graft, such as Ciaran Kilkenny, or their supreme physical prowess, such as Michael Murphy.
What makes this quartet stand out from the others is a crystal clear understanding of their role, their strengths and the qualities of their team-mates.
When their team need a score at a vital time, they deliver. He is always where he needs to be; in a dangerous position, rolling off a work horse to get a safe pass and clean shot or, a worst case scenario, buying a soft free. Take McManus for example.
Monaghan really struggled to break down the Cavan defensive structure despite repeatedly mixing up their attacking play. In the 59th minute,
McManus ran from the edge of the small box out towards the ‘D’ in what seemed to be a textbook run off the shoulder for a fist pass and customary point. Instead what he did can only be performed by someone who has a predatory-like sense of his surroundings.
His run out left a huge void in behind the Cavan defensive line and only he saw the opportunity. He turned taking two steps, leaving his marker bewildered.
Once the pass was made there was only one outcome – a goal. McManus only ever needs one chance. James O’Donoghue gave a similar performance for Kerry in their win over Clare.
The 2014 Footballer of the Year gave an exhibition of scoring off both feet under immense pressure.
His self confidence is infectious. Remove the opposing marquee forward and your chance of success increases significantly.
Tipperary’s loss of Michael Quinlivan to injury after a few minutes of their Munster SFC semi-final with Cork at the weekend is a case in point.
A poor Cork team scraped through this game by the smallest of margins.
His performances in the Allianz League have left a lasting impression on me so I can’t help but think this result would have been so much different if Quinlivan was able to play on.
What do you do when you do not have a marquee forward? This is the question most teams ponder.
The successful teams will want to get the ball to their main score-getters close to the goals.
Tyrone will look for Sean Cavanagh, Donegal will seek out Michael Murphy.
If either man is beyond 40 metres from goal he becomes orchestrator and not scorer. His role changes and their chance of getting that winning score dissipates.
A team which disappointed last week was Mayo. What disappoints me most is their decision-making in the final 10 minutes when all they needed was one point to force a draw with Galway.
Mayo’s best forward Cillian O’Connor had a decent game, scoring from play and frees.
However, in those final 10 minutes Cillian played in the middle third, receiving short passes, spraying others.
During this period he had no opportunities to shoot, no one-on-one moments when he could take on his man and force a free.
The two final shots were taken by Evan Regan, one from distance with his right and another while off balance with his left.
Both shots went predictably wide. Evan should not be taking those shots,
Cillian should have.
The key to success is playing the hand you were dealt like it was the hand you wanted.
Marquee forwards may be your ace in the pack but it does not guarantee success.
As it stands,
Dublin will be without their marquee player Diarmuid Connolly, although some would argue that Dublin can still achieve the elusive three-in-a-row.
Jim Gavin will see this as an opportunity to ask his remaining forwards for that extra 10 per cent, something which can almost negate the loss of such a talented player.
In my time playing for club and county, I always thought our chances of winning were best when Oisin McConville was playing. He was our genius, our uber-confident forward, our oneof-a-kind.
Sure, the others could score, and regularly did, but on those days when our backs were to the wall, he always stood tall.
I remember one game in particular when Crossmaglen played Pearse Og of Armagh city in Keady Michael Dwyer’s pitch. There were five minutes of normal time remaining and Cross were seven points behind, completely flat and deflated. Oisin started a skirmish to change our mentality.
It worked. With time remaining and the additional four minutes of injurytime up,
Cross were victorious by an amazing five points. When all else fails, let’s hope the only thing left in your hand is the ace.
Use it wisely
