Eirgrid All-Ireland U21 Football Championship semi-final: Dublin v Donegal (Saturday, Kingspan Breffni Park, 2.30pm, live on TG4)
JUST five days after breaking down stubborn Derry to capture the Ulster title, Donegal line-out against a Dublin side that scythed through Leinster this year.
The Dubs racked up a total of 6-23 in wins over Westmeath, Longford and Offaly in their provincial curtainraiser, but they face a considerable step up in class this afternoon against a Tir Chonaill outfit that is packed with power, pace and scoring panache.
Declan Bonner’s outfit is not one for half measures. From the throw-in against a battling Derry side they withdrew everyone into their own half and created a spiders’ web defence that led to 14 turnovers.
They scored from 12 of them thanks to the athleticism of the likes of Jamie Brennan, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Stephen McBrearty, Daire O Baoill and Jason McGee. In fairness, Derry matched them toe-to-toe for most of the first half, but a goal from Lorcan Connor – put on a plate for him by Brennan’s blistering break – had them four points ahead at half-time and the Oak Leafers were unable to get back into the game in the second half.
Derry manager Fergal McCusker agrees that Donegal are a formidable unit, but he argues they could be even better if the threw off the defensive shackles.
“They are a fantastic side,” said McCusker.
“If they would only believe in themselves a wee bit more in regard to how they play… There were occasions when they had nobody inside our half at all and I don’t think they need to be that defensive.
“They will say that the end justifies the means, and they obviously won the game, but they would some outfit if they kept three or four forwards up front. With a wee bit more ambition they could really cut loose because they have fantastic footballers – their size, agility and athleticism are unbelievable.
“That team is five years’ in the making. What you are seeing now is the fruition of five years’ strength and conditioning, five years of getting together at weekends and working on a style of play. Their ability to run and their size…
“Jason McGee is 6’5” and it gives you a massive advantage if you’re able to win your own kick-outs. We went 15 on 15 and tried a high press on their kick-outs to force turnovers but their ’keeper was able to go long to the two midfielders as an out-ball.”
Counter-attacking is Donegal’s default position. They wait for the opposition to make a mistake and then break at pace with three or four runners making every effort to get ahead of the ball.
Lorcan Connor finished with 1-5 on Monday night and was one of 10 scorers in the side with Michael Carroll chipping in with 1-2 and Michael Langan converting two effortless ‘45s’ and a long-range free.
But Dessie Farrell's Dublin are packed with scoring options too and two-footed Cuala full-forward Con O’Callaghan is their most consistent threat with 2-14 in three games so far. Donegal’s defence will also need to look out for the likes of Tom Fox, Chris Sallier and Na Fianna clubman Aaron Byrne, who hit a match-winning 2-3 against Westmeath.
O’Callaghan was a member of Dublin’s Sam Maguire-winning squad last year as was Colm Basquel and Ballyboden wing-back Shane Clayton has featured at senior level this year. Goalkeeper Evan Comerford has been earmarked as the heir to Stephen Cluxton.
“It will be intriguing how they break down Dublin because Dublin certainly have a potent forward line,” said McCusker.
“It’ll be interesting to see if Dublin can get ahead of Donegal by two or three points because they’ll have to come out at that stage and maybe leave a bit of room in defence. Dublin will probably look to get a good start and try and draw them out.”
While the entire Donegal team fulfils their defensive duties, they did cough up five scoreable frees against Derry and that will not have been lost on the Dublin management who were keeping a close eye on proceedings at The Athletic Grounds on Monday night.
Five-days doesn’t give the Tir Chonaill side much time to prepare, but will they need it? Their style of play is engrained in the players by this stage and it certainly won’t change at this stage.
Donegal will set out to impose their style of play on Dublin who will look to counter the massed ranks of their defence with a kick-passing game that could suit the wide open spaces of Breffni Park.
They’ll look to kick the ball early to O’Callaghan, get forward with support runners and try to take Donegal out of their comfort zone.
They should have some success with those tactics but Donegal’s range of scoring options, their physicality and energy throughout the field and the dead-ball prowess of Connor and Langan means they start as favourites to make it to the last final at this level.
Dublin: E Comerford; D Byrne, C O'Shea, E Murchan; D Monaghan, S McMahon, C Murphy; A Foley, T Fox; G O’Reilly, A Byrne, B Howard; C Sallier, C O'Callaghan, D O’Brien
Donegal: TBC
Eirgrid All-Ireland U21 Football Championship semi-final: Galway v Kerry (Saturday, Cusack Park, Ennis 4.30pm, live on TG4)
FAVOURITES Kerry will be without injured skipper Brian Sugrue for their semi-final clash with Galway in Ennis.
The Renard clubman was forced off injured in Kerry’s 2-16 to 0-6 win over Cork in the Munster final. The Kingdom also recorded straightforward wins over Waterford and Clare and manager Jack O'Connor has made two changes for the clash against the Tribesmen.
Barry O’Sullivan (midfield) and Conor Geaney (left corner-forward) come in while their Dingle clubmate Cathal Bambury is the other player to lose out.
Galway manager Gerry Fahy admitted that his players will have to be at their best to force their way into a first final since the county last won this competition back in 2013.
“It’s a huge task, there’s no doubt about that,” said Fahy whose side beat Leitrim and Mayo before seeing off Sligo in the Connacht final after extra-time.
“It’s a great opportunity for young Galway players in their development to get experience at this level of competition.
“Kerry are a good side but we always thought that last year’s Galway minor team were very close to them. If you’re looking at that, we’re not far off the mark. On the day, we can give it a right shot.”
Kerry: S Ryan; TL O’Sullivan, J Foley, T O’Sullivan; B O Beaglaoich, A Barry, G White; B O Seanachain, B O’Sullivan; B Barrett, S O’Shea, M Flaherty; K Spillane, M O’Sullivan, C Geaney
Galway: TBC
