All-Ireland SFC Qualifier Round 2A: Fermanagh v Antrim (tomorrow, 3pm, Brewster Park)
Neither of these teams will need any reminding about the importance of keeping 15 players on the field.
Fermanagh will line out today without their most experienced defender, Ryan McCluskey, who was sent off in the semi-final against Monaghan. A nudge with a knee cost McCluskey a red card and the repercussions for the Ernemen were catastrophic.
Prior to McCloskey’s sending off, Fermanagh were competing well. In his role as sweeper, McCloskey was curbing the threat of Conor McManus. While Monaghan were also keeping a tight rein on Sean Quigley, neither team had managed to open up a decisive gap. The red card changed everything.
When McCluskey was on the field, Conor McManus scored zilch. By full-time, the 2013 Allstar had chalked up 1-1 and Monaghan had stormed to a 10-point victory.
Sean McVeigh’s sending off in Brewster Park didn’t have such dramatic consequences, but his dismissal still hurt the Saffrons. A strong presence around centrefield, Antrim’s performance at midfield dipped after the Ballymena men was sent off.
Statistics on the game produced by Ulster GAA sports scientist Kevin McGuigan have highlighted how McVeigh’s red card hurt Antrim.
In his analsyis of the game, McGuigan wrote: “Antrim won 57 per cent of first half kick outs (12/21), but only 35 per cent of second half kick outs. This is the first indication of the impact the Antrim sending off had on the intricacies of the match. In the first half Antrim won 50 per cent of the Fermanagh kick outs (4/8) while in the second half, following the sending off, Fermanagh won 100 per cent of their six kick outs. It appears the sending off left Antrim unable to challenge Fermanagh’s kick outs.”
Once Antrim were reduced to 14-men in Brewster Park, Fermanagh were able to dictate the terms of the contest. Their extra man made it easier for them to execute their gameplan, which was to put a straitjacket on the Antrim forward line, then, slowly but surely edge to victory.
While Fermanagh produced a laboured and error-ridden peformance, they still managed to achieve their primary objective.
One statistic is particularly telling. Over the course of the game, Antrim managed just 0-2 from play and a pitiful overall tally of 0-8. Even though Fermanagh’s forwards never sparked into life, the sound job performed by their defensive screen meant the hosts never looked in danger of losing.
It’s extremely unlikely that tomorrow’s Qualifier contest will follow the same dreary dynamic as the match which was played in Brewster Park five weeks’ ago.
Naturally, Fermanagh will be keen to replicate the conditions which provided the foundation for their victory. By shutting down the Antrim attack, they were able to grind their way to an eight-point win. In the absence of scores coming from midfield and defence, the Saffrons were too easily contained.
Following their shock victory against Laois, Antrim will not be as easy to stifle tomorrow.
Although Antrim’s players produced a committed effort in Brewser Park, they were clearly a team that was operating with limited confidence. They were inhibited and predictable. There was no zip, drive or imagination about their performance.
The result in O’Moore Park has changed everything. Trailing by eight points and facing another typical Antrim summer, the Saffrons threw off the shackles. Rather than surrendering to defeat, they went out and played.
By full-time they had scored 2-15 and a massive 2-10 of that yield came from play. Ryan Murray’s haul of 1-5 dominated the headlines, but it was the scores from Owen Gallagher (0-1), Benny Hasson (0-1), Patrick McBride (0-2), Mickey Pollack (0-1) and substitute Dermot McAleese (1-0) which illustrated the potential which exists within Antrim’s ranks.
Evidently, Antrim need to play with greater purpose and adventure but they can’t afford to be too cavalier. Were it not for a succession of excellent saves by goalkeeper Chris Kerr, they could easily have lost to Laois.
The Saffrons need to find the right balance between defence and attack. They don’t need to go totally gung-ho.
If Antrim use a sweeper to nullify Sean Quigley and Fermanagh do likewise on Ryan Murray, then the team that can produce the most scores from other sources will win. In terms of scoring capacity, Antrim possibly hold the edge.
Ryan McCluskey is also a huge loss to Fermanagh. Given how effectively McCluskey and Marty O’Brien shut out Conor McManus, it could be assumed the pair would have performed a similar job on Ryan Murray.
For his last performance in Brewster Park, Murray was subbed in the 61st minute. The Lamh Dhearg man was clearly annoyed when he made his way off the field.
Murray will be eager to avoid a repeat of that experience and Antrim’s footballers will be keen to give the county’s supporters something to celebrate.
Every game takes on a life of its own, and if this contest develops into a scoring blitz, then Antrim will fancy their chances.
Fermanagh will do their level best to turn Brewster Park into a controlled environment. Pete McGrath’s team is a well-organised outfit. They know how to defend.
If the home team resist the temptation to get drawn into a gunfight then they can this game through stealth rather than style.
Fermanagh team (All-Ireland Qualifier v Antrim):
T Treacy; M Jones, T Daly, N Cassidy; D McCusker, J McMahon, M O'Brien; E Donnelly, R O'Callaghan; B Mulrone, R Jones, D Kelly; P McCusker, S Quigley, T Corrigan
Antrim team (All-Ireland Qualifier v Fermanagh):
C Kerr; N Delargy, S McVeigh, J Laverty; J Crozier, T Scullion, R Johnston; C Murray, B Hasson; D Lynch, D McAleese, M Pollock; M Sweeney, R Murray, O Gallagher
Key Battle: Eoin Donnelly (Fermanagh) v Sean McVeigh (Antrim)
An injured hand meant Eoin Donnelly missed the Ulster Championship game in
Brewster Park. Donnelly’s return to centre-field is a huge boost
for Fermanagh. The team captain underlined his value to the cause with a man-of-the-match performance against Monaghan.
Fermanagh dominated the aerial exchanges in their Ulster semi-final against Monaghan. Donnelly helped them claim 66 per cent of the kick-outs.
A good fielder, Donnelly is an effective ball carrier as he has the bulk and power to puncture the first line of defence.
Sean McVeigh is a wholehearted performer who leaves nothing in the tank.
If the Saffrons are to upset the odds again, the All Saints clubman needs to negate the influence of Fermanagh’s midfield general.
Fermanagh Tactical Take:
Fermanagh set a record for this year’s Championship when they played Monaghan in the semi-final, but it’s not one manager Pete McGrath (right) will be pleased with.
In total, the Ernemen coughed up possession 30 times – the biggest volume of turnovers in this year’s Championship.
Fermanagh’s tendency to give the ball away undid all the great work they did at midfield. Fermanagh’s main failing was poor passing and weak shooting. Eighteen turnovers were the result of misplaced fist-passes (nine) and kick-passes (nine). Six shots, which dropped short or were blocked also resulted in possession going straight back to Monaghan.
Antrim Tactical Take:
The lure of Boston has deprived Antrim boss Frank Fitzsimons (left) of Patrick McBride, Paddy McAleer and Conor Burke. McBride and McAleer played against Laois while Burke produced a fine display when he marked Sean Quigley in the quarter-final of the Ulster Championship.
The trio are a significant loss but Fermanagh will also be missing key players. Ryan McCluskey is suspended, Ciaran Flaherty has been dropped, and Ruairi Corrigan’s troublesome hamstring means he is expected to start on the bench.
Tactically, Antrim just need to acknowledge the goal-scoring threat posed by Sean Quigley.
If measures are taken to curb Quigley, it should be a closely fought contest. Fermanagh are strong at midfield. But Sean McVeigh and Benny Hasson will not be bossed around while Niall McKeever and Jack Dowling provide excellent cover.
The confidence generated by the victory over Laois should ensure that Antrim give a better account of themselves in tomorrow’s sequel.
Last Championship meeting: Ulster SFC quarter-final, May 31, 2015, Brewster Park: Fermanagh 1-13 Antrim 0-8
This was Fermanagh’s first win in the Ulster Championship since 2010. An uneventful and drab contest, Antrim’s hopes of causing an upset suffered a severe setback when Sean McVeigh was sent off in the 31st minute.
Fermanagh had started to look vulnerable when Ryan McCluskey and Ruairí Corrigan were forced to retire with injuries. McVeigh’s red card turned the tables back in favour of the home team.
Having worked exhaustively on their new defensive system, Fermanagh’s extensive efforts on the training ground paid off. Antrim managed just 0-2 from play. Both those scores were registered before McVeigh was sent off.
While Fermanagh’s Sean Quigley was held scoreless from play, the Ernemen were much better at engineering scores. Ryan Jones (0-3), Barry Mulrone (0-2), Ciarán Flaherty (0-1), Paul McCusker (0-1), Tomás Corrigan (0-1) and substitute Daniel Kille (0-1) produced a harvest of 0-9 from play – and that was the key difference between the teams.
Weather Forecast:
Temperatures are set to drop tomorrow. By the time of the throw-in at 3pm, it should be around 16 degrees. There will also be a stiff breeze and it’s expected to rain so bring a jacket.
Man of the moment: Ryan Murray (Antrim)
In his last performance in Brewster Park, Murray showed a tiny glimpse of his talent. On receiving possession after making a blistering run to the wing, Murray instantly fired the ball over the bar. There was no hesitation. It was fast, efficient and virtually impossible to stop. Murray’s score bore all the trademark signs of a speedy, sure-footed finisher. However, that was the highpoint of Murray’s afternoon. Thereafter, he quickly slipped off the radar. He was subbed in the 61st minute.
A fortnight later in Portlaoise, Murray delivered a more sustained performance. Brought into the starting 15after CJ McGourty was dropped, he scored 1-5 from play.
Team talk: Fermanagh
Ciaran Flaherty started the Ulster semi-final against Monaghan. The half-forward then went abroad for a two-week holiday. It’s understood that Flaherty will not be included in the 26-man panel named for tomorrow’s game.
Fermanagh didn’t release their team until late last night. The starting 15 wasn’t available at the time of writing.
Reports indicate that James McMahon and Damien Kelly will come into the starting line-up while Ruairi Corrigan will be held in reserve.
Team talk: Antrim
Ex-AFL recruit Niall McKeever is available for action. The former Brisbane Lion has been ruled out for five months with a quad injury.
But McKeever has stated that he’s keen to play against Fermanagh. Eoin Donnelly and Richard O’Callaghan helped Fermanagh boss centrefield against Monaghan. Sean McVeigh will need assistance in that sector and McKeever could prove to be an effective reinforcement.
Betting Box: Match Odds
Fermanagh 4/11
Draw: 15/2
Antrim: 3/1
Fermanagh (-3): 11/10
Antrim (+3): 10/11
Antrim to score more than 13.5 points: evens
