Warning signs as champions regain intensity
The biggest issue for the Dublin boss was intensity, or more specifically a lack of it, which left his team operating far from the heights which he set in the 2011 All-Ireland winning campaign.
Yesterday Dublin looked to have learned some valuable lessons from their league campaign and produced a clinical, ruthless performance that sets the bar as the standout display of the championship so far.
Dublin’s forward play impressed me most, and in particular the work of Alan Brogan. Despite having only played one full league game this year, he was the fulcrum of their attack yesterday, with excellent movement, vision and distribution.
In the past two seasons he has evolved into a top-class centre-forward who works hard, creates chances, links play and still can get a couple of scores.
Diarmuid Connolly’s movement was always good but I was surprised at the speed he and Kevin McManamon can produce when required.
The other Brogan, Bernard, is a more static presence in front of goal, who expends less energy than the other three, but who can win the 50/50 balls and relies on his strength and fast feet to make space for himself. Having missed all the league he was unsurprisingly rusty early on but improved as the game wore on and finished with a remarkable 2-5, with all but one point from play.
McManamon settled the debate for me as regards his role as a starter or impact sub. He scored three points and could have had three goals and with his pace and movement I feel he has more to offer than Eoghan O’Gara, who may be the man to be sprung from the bench this season. When you add in two points each from Paul Flynn and Brian Cullen along with their work-rate and ability to win kickouts, Dublin have a tremendous attack.
Questions about Dublin’s indiscipline did not arise as they were never in danger of losing although Connolly did briefly lose his composure when stopping Paddy Keenan taking a quick free.
Stephen Cluxton kicked mostly long but Dublin were successful in making some space in their centre-back position to chip some kickouts in front of their midfield to run onto.
One little cameo from Michael Fitzsimons told plenty about Dublin’s attitude. With 58 minutes gone and Dublin 17 points up he started a move in defence and got on the end of it 25 yards from the Louth goal. He probably has never scored for Dublin and maybe never will but instead of looking for glory in front of the Hill 16 crowd he opted to pass to Bernard Brogan for a point.
A young player with a great attitude still doing the right thing even though the game was over must bring a smile to Pat Gilroy’s face.
Dublin are now at the stage where if their attitude is right they will beat the winners of the Longford/Wexford replay, but their likely Leinster final opponents, Kildare, will be a much sterner test.
Dublin showed some vulnerability when Louth ran at them in the second half. Whether they win Leinster or not may be irrelevant as Dublin will get to the All-Ireland quarter-final regardless in early August. The main lesson to be learned from the two previous All-Ireland winners is to arrive at the last eight with your full team and try avoid the suspensions and retirements that cost Kerry and Cork so dearly in the last two campaigns.
And what of Louth? Peter Fitzpatrick admitted earlier this year that retaining Allianz League Division Two status was their chief target. This they did in impressive fashion but surely the aim is to improve on league form and peak for the championship. Having rode their luck beating Westmeath last time out and failing to bring the required intensity to the occasion they look like a team that has placed more emphasis on the league than championship.
They did improve in the second-half adopting a more positive approach but the game was long over. Louth have now lost to Dublin by 17 points (2012), 7 points (2010) and 13 points (2008)in their last three championship matches in Croke Park.
Time for Louth officials to get their next fixture out of Croke Park and into a tighter provincial pitch or similar results await.
