Cats undone by a shock to the system

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Galway came to Croke Park on Sunday with a game plan and took the final to Kilkenny from the throw-in.

Their strategy revolved around dominating midfield, where corner forward Damien Hayes had a free role, assisted by Cyril Donnellan and Niall Bourke.

Hayes was particularly effective, full of energy, picking up breaks and making himself available for short passes from defence as Galway insured that they retained possession.

Galway’s use of the ball throughout the field was excellent. They sought out players in better positions with short passes or long ball once the space was created. Kilkenny failed to deal with this in the first half and Galway had won the game by the interval when leading by 14 points.

Generally Galway had only one player stationed inside the Kilkenny 20-metre line. He was supplied with quality accurate ball leading to three points for Cyril Donnellan and two superb match-winning goals from Joe Canning and David Burke.

Kilkenny’s defensive system is built on holding a lead and previously only come under pressure in the 2009 and 2010 All-Ireland finals against Tipperary. But Galway’s early scoring burst and constant forward rotation forced the Kilkenny backs to man mark. This dismantled their defensive unit as they were dragged out of their holding positions with no help from their embattled midfielders or half-forwards.

Galway wasted little ball in this half with only three wides. After 19 minutes Kilkenny had still not scored with the possession stat showing a 69% to 31% split in favour of the Tribesmen.

In this first half, Kilkenny lost 13 of their own puck-outs which were gobbled up by the Galway defence setting up a solid attacking platform.

Galway’s tackling was a carbon copy of the Kilkenny model. They laid down a marker very early on, tackling powerhouse defender Jackie Tyrell and dispossessing him as he attempted his trademark burst from defence.

Midfielder Iarla Tannian and wing back David Collins driving forward upended Kilkenny’s Eoin Larkin and Killian Buckley. Kilkenny looked shellshocked. They introduced Aidan Fogarty to midfield for Colin Fennelly, who was injured early on, meaning they operated without a right-corner forward.

However they played a lot of ball into this area and it was swept up with aplomb by corner-back Johnny Coen and used productively to turn the screw on their celebrated opponents. Brian Cody must have wished for a time out during that first half and reorganised at half-time. Michael Rice, on as a substitute, did well in the second half and Kilkenny outscored Galway by 2-7 to 0-9 but the damage had been done. Galway’s defence, ably led by Tony Óg Regan at centre-back was outstanding throughout while Eoin Larkin and TJ Reid, normally full of energy, forcefulness and creativity, were outshone by their markers. The impressively fit and lean Joe Canning, supported by Cyril Donnellan, David Burke and all-action Damien Hayes, ran the show for Galway. It was a day where Kilkenny had no answers. They haven’t gone away but the competition has got a lot more interesting.

Meanwhile Offaly took the game to Cork from the throw-in of Saturday’s qualifier. Their half-forwards lined out deep on the 65. Cork’s half-back line followed their men and this created lots of space inside for the Faithfuls.

Cork’s half-back line were under pressure and Joe Bergin at full-forward caused problems for Shane O’Neill, who is more at home in the corner. Offaly carved out good goal chances and only a timely hook by Darren Sweetnam on the strong running Offaly centre forward Conor Mahon prevented a goal when the visitors were laying down a strong challenge. At the other end, Cian McCarthy and particular Pat Horgan rose to the Offaly challenge. Horgan finished a superb passing move involving Pa Cronin and Paidie O’Sullivan but Cork didn’t impose themselves on the Offaly rearguard until the last quarter when Offaly ran out of steam. Cork’s forwards bunched a lot, making it difficult for outfield players to pick out colleagues with defence-splitting deliveries and there was no space for midfielder Sweetnam to make his trademark forward runs. Cork hit 26 points, impressive scoring. Although Cork’s Pat Horgan, Paudie O’Sullivan and Cian McCarthy made a few good runs, drawing two excellent saves from Eoin Kelly, the forwards do not challenge their markers enough by running at them seeking goals. Cork have to learn to seek out and create goal opportunities.

They have another chance on Saturday against Wexford. Cork’s management gave valuable game-time experience to panel members from midfield up against Offaly. Qualifiers are always difficult after the highs of Munster Championship and a certain complacency and lack of intensity is understandable. Saturday’s game should be about picking the strongest possible side to see off Wexford — another opportunity to develop a killer instinct.

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