Whelan wary of ‘obsessed’ Laois

CIARAN WHELAN has rejected suggestions that Laois are “obsessed” with booking a rematch against Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final.

The Leinster semi-final meeting between the counties two months ago saw Mick O’Dwyer’s side suffer a 14-point defeat.

But three wins and last week’s draw against Mayo have left them tantalisingly close to a second chance against Paul Caffrey’s side.

When Whelan was quizzed if Laois were somehow “obsessed” with Dublin since that drubbing, the Dublin midfielder skilfully sidestepped the issue.

“That’s their way of thinking — we just treat one game at a time.

“The natural reaction to losing a game at Croke Park, no matter who it is against, is that you are hurt.

“If you get an opportunity to rectify it in three months time or two years time, you are going to have motivation to do it. That’s natural.

“Laois under-performed the last day and would have been very disappointed leaving Croke Park. They would obviously want to get back to play us but that’s between themselves and Mayo and, whoever comes out, we’ll approach the game in the same frame of mind we have done all year.”

The drawn game between Laois and Mayo was a visually pleasing affair that but the game lacked the physical intensity normally associated with an August championship encounter .

The conclusion was that the short hand passing, non-physical style of game favoured by both teams would be no match for Dublin in the last four.

Whelan begs to differ.

“I think if you said it wasn’t championship intensity to Laois or Mayo they would disagree with you,” Whelan countered. “It was an All-Ireland quarter-final and they both came up and played an open brand of football.”

Dublin’s style this year could hardly be more different to their next opponents. Like Kerry, the Leinster champions have espoused a game plan based on the importance of feeding their attacking unit with quick, long ball. The results have been impressive with their last three victories being won by an average of 11 points and Whelan believes that teams may well have to adapt their tactics to counter the return to the old ‘catch and kick’ game.

“It worked for Kerry,” said the Dublin midfielder at the launch of the MBNA Kick Fada yesterday. “Kieran Donaghy has done very well, against Longford and again here (in Croke Park) against Armagh.

“Maybe teams have gone away from that tradition of having a big full-back because the game changed over the last few years. Teams may have to adapt.”

Their love of the long ball isn’t the only reason Dublin have stood apart from their four Leinster victims this summer according to Offaly goalkeeper Pauric Kelly. Their sheer size has been key to their progress too.

“I’m sure if you ask any of the Leinster teams at the start of January they will say they will have to bulk up their fitness to their level,” said Kelly. “They’re a very physical team size-wise. Whatever work they are doing you can see on their players.

“They’ve all beefed up a bit. They have a simple game plan but it’s very effective”, he added.