MY INTENTION heading to Croke Park last Saturday, like so many other ex-county players, was to enjoy four of the best teams in the country vying for a semi-final spot.
Although I carry a significant northern bias, I usually find myself defending Ulster football, and all the baggage it invariably carries with it, to our southern colleagues. Anyone who has not enjoyed the surroundings of the media centre in Croke Park has truly missed out. I would guess it holds its own when compared with all the great media centre theatres of the world - Old Trafford, Wembley or the Nou Camp.
Sitting in the middle of the field, above the second tier, you have a bird’s eye view of the match. It allows you the advantage of seeing how a neutral could develop an anti-Ulster bias in some cases. On the flip side, you can equally see how the ‘black arts’ of football, once confined to Ulster, have now been fully embraced by the best teams in the country - Dublin, Mayo and indeed Kerry.
If I were sitting with the Tipperary manager now, I would be telling him to take a crash course in these ‘black arts’, otherwise forget about going to Croke Park on August 21 to take on Mayo. Ten minutes into the Tyrone v Mayo quarter-final, Aidan O’Shea was dispossessed after fielding a great ball between two defenders. He was then turned over and Colm Cavanagh, without provocation, stood over him, yelling approval.
I thought to myself is it any wonder why the love of Tyrone (or indeed Ulster teams in general) is thin on the ground. It was just another example of the lack of class which seems to have crept into our game, perhaps because of the ‘win at all costs’ mentality where any sense perspective is lost.
Ten minutes after this incident, Sean Cavanagh - rightly so - remonstrates with the linesman for standing back and allowing play to continue while Lee Keegan continues to manhandle him in something akin to a WWF wrestling move. This is just one example of the what goes on week in, week out.
It was interesting to hear the many plaudits received by Mayo, talking up their chances as All-Ireland contenders. How things have changed in just a few weeks. I would agree that they are probably on the easier side of the draw (although I placed a €50 bet at evens on Tipperary to win).
I disagreed with many people in saying that this was a brilliant performance from Mayo. Refereeing error in sending off Sean Cavanagh for a second yellow card, especially when he was flashed one wrongly after an incident with Keegan just after half-time, robbed the game of Tyrone’s most influential player.
Simply put, if Sean Cavanagh had remained on the field, Tyrone would have won the game. Mayo celebrated wildly after the game. Aidan O’Shea headed toward the RTÉ studios, pointing at them - probably to send out the message, ‘Well that has proved you all wrong.’
But did it really? In my opinion, Mayo imploded in the last five minutes, coughing up three or four excellent chances to Tyrone who were uncharacteristically wasteful in their end product. Had Sean Cavanagh been on the end of these chances, I would be sure this experience could have delivered a completely different outcome.
Tyrone will be kicking themselves over a game they could have easily won. My questions for them are why continue to shuttle Niall Morgan up to hit frees during the entire game, wasting their own time, instead of taking these frees quicker and perhaps working the ball closer to goal?
Why persist with playing natural backs such as Cathal McShane in the forward line when McShane, among others, had four or five excellent chances to kick points and was unable to finish? When you compare the Mayo and Tyrone forward units, the presence of at least five more ‘natural’ forwards on the Mayo side makes for a better shot-to-score ratio.
Tactically, both teams got it wrong despite Mayo emerging as victors. The deployment of Alan Dillon did not work from a Mayo perspective and, despite Justin McMahon being told to sweep, Dillon didn’t provide much end-product in the first half with Tom Parsons having a much greater influence when he replaced Dillon at half-time.
Mayo still look susceptible at the back and, while Kevin McLaughlin had one of his better games to date, I suspect Tipperary will run over him with a more direct style in the semi-final. I feel for the Tyrone forwards. Ronan O’Neill perhaps got three or four touches of the ball until he was called ashore.
Mark Bradley and Darren McCurry fared no better due to lack of service. It seems that even the substitute defenders have a better chance of playing up front than naturally born forwards. I feel that for the Red Hands to become contenders, their attacking template will have to become more positive. They could start by starting more natural forwards.
Meanwhile, there was a certain inevitably about the quarter-final between Donegal and Dublin. Only when Donegal got their goal in the second half did the outcome even look in any doubt and I felt sorry for them at times. Michael Murphy looks like he needs a six-month break in a hotter climate.
The same goes for another half-dozen. Manager Rory Gallagher has done his best to maximise their summer and the likes of Paddy McBrearty and the McHughs have given everything to the Donegal cause. These are young guys who need as much rest as they need training and it is easy to forget they have been around for four years now on the road where the miles are tough.
Based on the idea that there is no immediate threat to his position as manager, it would be reckless for Gallagher to have players assemble before February next year for training. For many years now, Brogan and Co have sat out large parts of the National League, with this freshness and hunger plain to see at this stage of the year.
Donegal cannot serve several masters, with an over-emphasis on National Leagues or Ulster Championships. They need to figure out as a group where their priorities lie. The talent is there, the spirit willing, but the flesh unfortunately seems just too weak. Dublin roll on, only Kerry to beat now before what seems like another inevitable title.
There is no shame for Donegal in being beaten by the ‘team of the decade’.
