JBM needs to be at tactical best if Rebels are to prevail
Paul Ryan and Dotsie O’Callaghan have operated as an effective two-man full-forward line for Dublin in their wins over Kilkenny andGalway. Twenty years ago theresponsibility for marking these two would have fallen solely on their respective markers’ shoulders.However in this age of tactical play Cork’s Conor O’Sullivan and Shane O’Neill’s success on the Dublindanger men will depend on how the Rebels set up around midfield.
If Cork’s full-back line are isolated and expected to counteract Ryan and O’Callaghan’s influence on their own then it is advantage Dublin. If Cork haven’t plans formulated to counteract Dublin’s strategy and if the Dubs build a lead it will prove extremely difficult to reel them in. Wing forwards Conal Keaney and Danny Sutcliffe operate in wide midfield positions, dropping back for opposition puck-outs.
Midfielder Joey Boland stations himself directly in front of hiscentre-back Liam Rushe. Thisprovides massive protection for their defence in general play. These tactics make it difficult foropponents. They force attackers to hit long route one deliveries and the tall full-back Peter Kelly reads these very well. Possession is contested aggressively by their half-backs and running at the defence is difficult as lines of defenders block the path to goal. The system is also a two-edged sword. It provides protection for their defence and when ball is won in midfield superior numbers in this area enable them to attackwith players, right and left, coming from deep supporting the man in possession.
Cork must realise they are playing a system devised to create massive space up front while making Dublin difficult to beat. In the Leinster final, Galway defenders followed Dublin’s wing forwards out to midfield leaving green swards of space in front of the aforementioned Ryan and O’Callaghan, who exploited it to the full. In such situations defenders are forced to mark from behind as one good ball over the top hands the attacker a goalscoring opportunity. But marking from behind yields up good possession once quality ball is supplied into space. Smart forwards will always do damage on the scoreboard when they are provided with a quality supply. Cork cannot afford to fall into the trap of allowing the men in blue to impose their system on them. The Rebels must ensure there is no direct path from midfield to Dublin’s inside attack by keeping bodies in this sector across their 45-yard line refusing to follow their men in ‘man to man’ roles out to midfield, particularly on puck-outs which will have to be well directed and varied in length by Anthony Nash. Cork need their forwards to tackle back quickly, even improving on their Kilkenny display and to pressurise their opponents into hitting misdirected deliveries. In the Leinster final, Galway were tactically naive and paid a heavy price on the scoreboard. Cork should be aware of the dangers of failing to counteract Dublin’s plans. Their system thrives if they get ahead, a la Kilkenny. Forewarned should mean Cork are forearmed and being ahead at half-time or at least level is a primary requirement.
Dublin manager Anthony Daly has never been afraid to implementtactics. His teams play well when they impose their tactics on the opposition as they did against Kilkenny and Galway this year and with his native Clare against Kilkenny in 2004. The ‘Boys in Blue’ have a lot going for them. They’ve had three games and four weeks training to further hone their championship system, near to perfection in the Leinster final. Confidence levels, already high after their heroics against the Cats will have soared as a consequence of their swatting aside of Galway. Self-belief, their main obstacle to success, will have been boosted by their victories.
Cork manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy may not be as tactical as his counterpart but he will be well aware that forcing the Metropolitans to question the belief they have in themselves will play a major part if Cork are to eke out a win. Daly needs his half-back line of Rushe, Hiney and Carton to put up the shutters as winning this line will lead to victory. JBM needs to dismantle this line and create doubts in the minds of Dublin players and supporters alike. Clever play rather than brute force is needed. Feeding Jamie Coughlan, Pa Cronin and Seamus Harnedy good ball is key. The Rebels’ misdirection of a lot of ball from defence was the only blight against Kilkenny. Huge improvement is needed by JBM in this regard. Daly knows that he has a better bench and a chance at making history. This game should be a tight affair. They’re usually decided on the field. This one could be decided on the line.
