GAA talking points: The right manager for the job
Peter McNamara analyses the importance of managerial inputs after the weekend's GAA.
Kilkenny supremo Brian Cody summoned Robert Lennon from the substitutes’ bench yesterday in Nowlan Park on the hour-mark.
The Bennettsbridge clubman arrived at Cody’s side moments later.
For close to 30 seconds after that – a substantial time-period given the context of the situation – Cody, as only Cody would, issued clear and concise instructions to the young defender entering the fray.
Kilkenny, at the time, were 17 points ahead of Wexford. Seventeen points!
There were no such sentiments as ‘enjoy these final few minutes and the experience of them’.
Cody was adamant Lennon picked up where Paul Murphy, the man he was about to replace, would be leaving off within Kilkenny’s rearguard.
People naively wondered pre-season, and possibly even throughout the League, if Cody’s desire was diminished in any way, shape or form.
The well-documented retirements, people mused, would potentially impact on Cody ever so slightly to take that much-vaunted competitive edge off of him.
How hilariously wrong they were.
The bottom line is it will take a Herculean effort, and then some, and probably then some more, to deny Kilkenny a place in the All-Ireland final again this year, especially with the legend that is Cody around.
It was obvious, from listening to Shane McGrath directly after the final whistle in the Gaelic Grounds what winning meant to Tipperary’s players yesterday.
The Premier County have more reasons than most to make sure 2015 counts as a truly productive season in their history.
And McGrath spoke of how producing a winning display of verve and controlled aggression for Eamon O’Shea was their primary motivating tool against Limerick.
Internally, O’Shea has had to brush off a constant drip-feed of criticism from within Tipperary.
And that has clearly irked his players.
In 2010, O’Shea, being Liam Sheedy’s side-kick, represented all that was positive about Tipp’s All-Ireland title-winning success, particularly due to the fact it was he that devised their awesome attacking gameplan which dismantled Kilkenny in the decider.
The players will always hold him in the highest regard even just for that fact alone.
So when you throw in regular bouts of criticism to that mix, most of it unwarranted, it was bound to not sit well with those he presides over presently.
O’Shea was bullish pre-throw-in against Limerick and he was vindicated, as was his players’ belief in him as a masterful tactician and wonderful man-manager.
Anthony Cunningham could afford to introduce the likes of Joseph Cooney and Fergal Moore on Saturday in Tullamore and that strength in depth will be a vital facet of Galway’s make-up this summer.
The Tribesmen expectedly brushed Laois aside, dismissing Seamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett’s outfit as Joe Canning alone, with 1-15 on the board, managed to out-score their opponents in an absolute rout.
However, Cunningham will have to make a decision now as to how he composites his side for the Leinster final against Kilkenny.
Does he stick with the general side that torched both Dublin and Laois or does he assemble a specific starting 15 from his squad that could negate the Cats’ individual threats in attack, in particular?
For example, should Cunningham leave Iarla Tannian in situ at centre-back or does the boss specifically detail a noted man-marker to shadow TJ Reid who is likely to roam in such an area?
Of course, it could be argued if Cunningham does make a number of switches that he will be conceding ground to Kilkenny just by doing so, essentially allowing Brian Cody to dictate the tactical terms of engagement.
Still, this element of the showpiece will be title-defining.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
