Dubs must not fall for the hype
If they get through, Tipp won’t fancy their battle with them. But first they have to get through. Their battle is with themselves and their motivation rather than Limerick.
In the league, Dublin looked poor against Cork but the next day out they deservedly beat Galway, and the difference comes down to motivation.
Last time out Dublin, as underdogs, were very impressive against Kilkenny because they were “up” for that game.
As favourites they barely got over Wexford in their previous outing. Being hot favourites can be a poison chalice as everyone tells you that “you’ll win alright”.
If one or two Dublin players believe the hype and feel they’ll win no matter what then, the seed of overconfidence will be sown and it’s impossible to remove once it takes hold.
Many factors contribute to a team’s motivation. Being underdogs is one. You want to show the pundits got it wrong and, of course, the team has a cause that gives them a ferocity overconfident opponents cannot match.
The Lions easily beat South Africa in the third test, for the Boks a meaningless match; Cork City beat Ipswich Town recently. Both winners had more to play for.
The Laois-Limerick game last weekend was similar: underdogs Laois almost won. Based on that performance, Limerick haven’t a prayer.
But this is their greatest asset in tomorrow’s game. The difference between the Dubs 2008 and 2009 is self-belief. They’ll need it as I’m expecting an old-style “up for it” physical type of performance from Limerick. Dublin have the better hurlers and teamwork, but when no-hopers play hot favourites, then without the cushion of early goals, the favourites can struggle.
Limerick’s lack of power up front is a major weakness but Dublin’s mental attitude holds the key.
Now to Galway’s next big test – Waterford. In Galway’s big championship games this season against Kilkenny, Clare and Cork, they have followed the same pattern of play.
Because of this, their players are sure of their roles and know their function on the field. This is the third game on consecutive weekends and John McIntyre’s concerns will include covering defensive injuries and fatigue.
Galway will play the same system. No new tactics will be necessary: training sessions will be short and snappy, working on first touch, support play and honing the basic skills while mindful of rectifying mistakes video analysis may have identified.
Freshness and sharpness are the most important ingredients and the game plan will be simple. Keep it tight, with half backs, midfield and particularly half forwards scrapping for every morsel of possession, denying Waterford time and space for Eoin Kelly or John Mullane, likely to be man-marked by Fergal Moore
Up front, the tactics should be simple. Quality quick ball being fed into Damien Hayes, who showed a return to form against Cork, and Joe Canning. If I were John McIntyre I’d insist Joe would operate at the fringe of the square as much as possible.
He spends a bit too much time on “walkabout” after hitting long-range frees and Waterford’s confidence in their full-back Declan Prendergast must be brittle after the Munster final. McIntyre will surely exploit this.
Davy Fitz, the Waterford manager, will be accentuating the positives from that Munster final, as anything else will be counter-productive.
He will have spoken many times over the last fortnight of the four-point losing margin, he’ll have shown video evidence of the goal chances spurned in the first few minutes and he will lay down challenges to his full-back regarding Canning, whom Davy knows well from managing LIT.
Davy’s preparation time was short as Waterford didn’t know their opponents until late last Saturday and most teams like to know who they’re playing; he’s had only a few sessions to prepare a game plan and must be concerned with his last line of defence.
If I were in his shoes, I’d place the half-back line across the 45-metre line, hold it there and defend from there to the square, crowding the goalmouth; I’d drop the midfield back to squeeze the space and play the half forwards in midfield, with Stephen Molumphy as a running centre-forward and Seamas Prendergast to play on Damien Joyce for the lion’s share of puck outs.
This would allow Mullane and Kelly space up front. but taking the lesson from the Tipp game, disciplined tight defence with lots of bodies around Clinton Hennessy’s goal should be Davy’s start and finish point.
