WHILE many people still believe that this year’s football Championship is Dublin’s to lose – which, incidentally, is what we were all thinking last year – what has stood out for me so far has been the unpredictability of this summer’s football fare.
Who would have predicted Down as the first Ulster county to exit the Championship? Meanwhile Antrim’s defeat of Laois, Westmeath’s comeback against Meath and Sligo dumping Roscommon out of the Connacht Championship all rank as results that even the most confident pundit would never have seen coming.
The hurling Championship, while still maintaining its high quality, has been remarkably subdued due to the lack of competitiveness in most of its high-profile encounters.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Last weekend, we witnessed some great action and the Munster final was probably the game of the Championship so far.
It ebbed and flowed and, with 10 minutes remaining, no-one could have predicted the outcome, with a draw probably the right result.
My old neighbour Páidí Hughes will probably qualify for mistake of the week for awarding a highly contentious penalty to Kerry when they were treading water, which threw them a much needed lifeline. However I watched the encounter with a bunch of neutrals from various counties and, when the incident happened, not one of about 20 of us were able to state with certainty that it was the wrong call.
When we saw the slow motion replay it certainly wasn’t a penalty, but the real mistake Páidí made was not consulting the umpires before he awarded it rather that after the event, which appeared indecisive.
SCORE OF THE WEEK
Fionn Fitzgerald floated over a sublime equaliser deep in Munster final injury-time and, even though there are some who question whether it was a genuine effort or a pass, I am going to give the Kerry corner-back the benefit of the doubt. I played with quite a few corner-backs in my day and if any of them had swung their foot at an equalising point from that distance, I would already have been heading for the changing rooms in disappointment.
MOAN OF THE WEEK
Antrim, though it’s not their manager or players, who exited the Championship in a crushing defeat to Fermanagh last weekend.
In my column two weeks ago, I paid tribute to their brilliant display against Laois and noted how it was nice to write something positive about Antrim football, which always seem to make the back pages for the wrong reasons. My column had to be submitted on a Wednesday evening for Friday publication, so I duly sent it off on time only to pick up The Irish News on the Friday to find that three players had left the panel to go to America in the meantime.
Commitment, dedication and sacrifice are all words bandied about but, without them, a team is going nowhere. I have no issue with boys going to America, but wait until you are out of the Championship at the very least.
MANAGER OF THE WEEK
This accolade was a competitive one. Pete McGrath was very much in the mix as he continues to work the oracle with Fermanagh and Brian Cuthbert, who so very nearly guided what can be a talented but disjointed Cork team to a Munster title in with a shout alongside Brian Cody, who guided Kilkenny to yet another Leinster title.
However, the nod goes to Roscommon manager John Evans, who came in for some severe and unwarranted criticism after the Rossies succumbed to a surprise defeat to Sligo. He was probably under more pressure than any other manger last weekend, yet answered most of his critics with a more than accomplished victory over Cavan at Kingspan Breffni Park.
Evans bore the brunt of the Sligo performance, particularly from some past players with little silverware on the mantelpiece, who stated that, even though he has seen them promoted in consecutive campaigns, he is in some way underachieving. Last Saturday night’s performance will have provided him with the best possible answer.
INDIVIDUAL DISPLAY OF THE WEEK
Seán Quigley produced a sublime performance in kicking 14 points against Antrim, seven of which came from play. I have no doubt if he was from another, more high-profile county he would be getting a lot more recognition.
I FULLY expect the unpredictability of this year’s Championship will raise its head this weekend in the Qualifiers. Many of the matches are far too close to call, but I will endeavour to give it my best shot anyway:
Derry are a ridiculous price at 1/6 to beat Wexford. The Yellowbellies sent a Down side pipped by Derry packing, but I still expect Brian McIver’s men to win.
Tyrone will be asked questions by Meath, but home advantage should see the Red Hands also progress.
Armagh also have home advantage and the bookies have it more or less 50/50 for their intriguing tie with Galway, who provided admirable opposition to Mayo in the Connacht Championship. Talking to many Armagh supporters this week, the mood is somewhat pessimistic, but I still have faith that, on July 12, the Orange men will go marching on by the slimmest of margins. However, much will depend on the availability of Ciarán McKeever and Aaron Findon.
Fermanagh also have home advantage and, even though they have been hugely impressive this year, I think Roscommon are the best side they will have faced and, should they keep Seán Quigley relatively quiet, they could end the Erne men’s run.
By the way, if you are looking to back Dublin to beat Westmeath in the Leinster decider, then you have to make the huge investment of £500 to win just £1 in return, so maybe the Championship isn’t that unpredictable after all.
