Barney Rock says going for two-pointers goes against Dublin's philosophy

Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne during the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final against Cork. File picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Taking the percentage shot is so engrained in the Dublin psyche that they have been so reluctant to punt on two-pointers, says county great Barney Rock.

Dessie Farrell’s men have kicked 25 two-pointers in their 13 games this year. Their average of less than two a game is the worst of the remaining eight teams in the championship.

Rock feels striking from outside the 40-metre arc for an orange flag runs against their philosophy. “The one thing about Dublin, maybe it's a confidence thing that some of the lads are just half afraid.

“I know before this Dublin would have been in a situation that you had to make sure you got it in, you'd take the percentage shot. The percentage probably would be about 80 to 90. Anything outside of that, you don't shoot.

“I think it's come back to bite them a little bit from that angle because Dublin didn't really kick too many balls from outside maybe a 40m arc before now. When you look at them at the moment, some of the misses, they were snatching the shots and they were going wide against Armagh.” 

Rock feels Dublin’s backs will match up well to Tyrone’s “nippy forwards” on Saturday but is worried about the prospect of it becoming a scorefest. In such a scenario, Con O’Callaghan will be required.

“The only one thing I'd say about Dublin is they do need him. They do know how to win in Croke Park, they could win a scrappy match, but when it comes to shootouts, that might be the problem.

“The teams that would probably catch them in the shootout, possibly Kerry, Armagh, one of them are going to be gone. Donegal and Galway would be the other two teams.”

Brian Kennedy, left, and Conn Kilpatrick will be a difficult duo for the Dubs to deal with. File picture: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Rock acknowledges Tyrone’s totemic twosome of Brian Kennedy and Conn Kilpatrick will be a major test for Dublin’s only giant Peadar Ó Cofaigh-Byrne this weekend. 

“I think the midfielders are big lads, so Ó Cofaigh-Byrne now is going to be meeting somebody equally as tall as him from here on in.

“He's been brilliant for us in the last couple of games, single-handedly around midfield. He's either won or broke ball, and it's great to see him there because he's been with Dublin for probably five years as such at this stage, and now he's fulfilling his potential.

“The way the game has gone now, it seems to go from the kick-out and it's all about the break around midfield. If Dublin can pick up their breaks and go forward, I think they'll cause more problems for Tyrone.” 

Rock is enthused by the new rules which have helped to illuminate the championship but points out some games have been far from stone-cold classics. 

“The transition from when the breakdown comes to getting forward is probably the most exciting part of the game, but it's when it goes and gets a little laboured that it goes back.

"Like last week's hurling match (Dublin v Limerick), the hurling was fantastic and the atmosphere after, what I really needed was a real attack-minded game (between Dublin and Cork) but it ended up being just a little bit sour.

“It was always very hard to follow hurling with football. But that one just looked like, 'Geez, we're going back.’ But then you look at the Sunday match between Wicklow and Limerick, it was a great game. But then the next one (Kildare v Fermanagh) with the better teams just didn't really ignite.”