Sunday, September 22
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final
Dublin v Mayo, Croke Park, 3.30pm
There is the wise old saying that the cream always rises to the top. This may be true when considering both teams contesting this years All Ireland Football final as both Mayo and Dublin have been the two most impressive and consistent teams over the course of the season. Who will be lifting the Sam Maguire Cup on Sunday evening and be crowned the best team in the land? It is a very difficult one to call.
Both these teams have been dining at the top table over the last three seasons, having both at least reached the All-Ireland semi-finals in 2011 and 2012, and it was inevitable that sooner or later both sides would meet on the biggest day of all. Both teams are unbeaten in this year's championship turning in some scintillating performances in the process. Dublin's impressive form has carried over from the Allianz Football League which they won for the first time in 20 years at the end of April. Mayo had a steady league campaign, reaching the semi-finals, but it has been in the championship where they have really shown a determination to make up for their many final heartbreaks in recent years.
While Dublin overcame their western opponents in their two league meetings this season they were both absorbing encounters and a good indicator of the aspirations of both teams for the championship season ahead. Both games were played at a remarkably high tempo with goals proving crucial and fast, energetic movement of the ball overshadowing the blanket defences of previous seasons.
The last time the sides met in the championship was in the All-Ireland semi-final last September when Mayo produced a brilliant performance to knock Dublin out and progress to the final (0-19 to 0-16). Memories of the epic semi final in 2006 between both sides are also vivid and particularly the splendid winning point from the mercurial Ciaran McDonald in to the Hill 16 goal.
Where that recent past leaves us for Sunday isn't clear - Mayo's positive recent championship record against Dublin is offset by the fact that they haven't won the top honour since 1951 whereas the majority of this Dublin side have the experience of defeating Kerry in the 2011 decider.
Both sides have cruised to provincial glory already this year. Dublin had a slightly more difficult path in Leinster, but they made short work of Westmeath (1-22 to 0-9) and Kildare (4-16 to 1-9) before overcoming a decent challenge from Meath in the Leinster final (2-15 to 0-14). Mayo surged through Connacht, racking up big wins against Galway (4-16 to 0-11) and Roscommon (0-21 to 0-9) before a very comfortable final victory over London (5-11 to 0-10).
Although there have been a few tricky moments for both counties in the All-Ireland series, they have both been excellent since coming to Croke Park on the August Bank Holiday weekend. Dublin moved past Cork in the last eight before showing great character in their epic semi-final against Kerry. Mayo delivered the performance of the year so far in the All-Ireland quarter-final against Donegal, when inspired by the marauding Aidan O'Shea in the middle, they blew the All-Ireland champions away with a display of pace, power and skill.
Their semi-final win over Tyrone was an altogether different affair but in many ways it was a lot more beneficial experience for James Horan's side. Having struggled to cope with the Tyrone gameplan for long stages in the first half they eventually managed to get to grips, and once they did, they took control of the game in the second half before easing to a 1-16 to 0-13 win. Dublin condeceded three first half goals to a Colm Cooper inspired Kerry and were still one point in arrears with four minutes remaining but still had the capacity for one final kick and eventually won the game by a somewhat flattering seven points, 3-18 to 3-11.
There has been plenty of discussion in the build-up to the game as to the way both sides play the game. Both play a very attacking brand of football, with a high tempo and a high expectation on players to get forward, and back, in great numbers. Dublin's man-on-man style has been very good for them in terms of the amount of goalscoring chances they create, they have been criticised for not taking enough of them, but it has also occasionally left them vulnerable to attacks at the other end of the field which both Cork, with limited success, and Kerry, with much success, have exploited.
The biggest question over the last few weeks has surrounded the fitness of Mayo forward Cillian O'Connor after he suffered a recurrence of a dislocated shoulder injury in the Tyrone game. O'Connor, who has scored a remarkable 6-14 in this year's championship, has been named in an unchanged Mayo side and this is a serious vote of confidence by the management. The Dublin team shows one change from the semi final with Philly McMahon replacing Kevin O'Brien in their full back line.
With so much at stake and with the smallest things deciding the biggest games is it too much to expect another draw so close to the drawn All Ireland Hurling Final?
Verdict: Draw Odds: 9/1
Saturday, 21 September 2013
Saturday, 7 September 2013
Munster open new Rabodirect Pro 12 campaign with bonus point victory over Edinburgh
Munster 34
Edinburgh 23
On a beautiful autumnal evening with perfect playing conditions Munster got their 2013/14 Rabodirect Pro 12 campaign off to a positive start with a five try, bonus point victory over a game Edinburgh side.
Apart from when the visitors took an early lead with a penalty, Rob Penney's men were always in the driving seat and had three tries on the board by half time with touch downs from fullback Denis Hurley, back row and captain James Coughlan and debutant loose head prop James Cronin.
Although Alan Solomons charges upped their performance after the break, the Munstermen wrapped up the bonus point when centre Ivan Dineen slid over in the corner. And they added a fifth try for good measure when replacement outhalf JJ Hanrahan was allowed to stroll over under the posts to complete a convincing win
To be pleased with:
1. A debut try scoring performance from loose head James Cronin. With Wian du Preez having departed in the summer it was good to see Cronin being given his chance and providing competition to Dave Kilcoyne
2. The performances of wingers Ronan O'Mahoney and Johne Murphy. It was good to see both these players looking so sharp, particularly in the first half, with Murphy also showing security under the high ball. Maybe it is the new scrum cap that is making the difference. O'Mahoney will be slightly disappointed with his missed tackle on Lee Jones for his try in the second half
3. An offloading game in the first half which moved with purpose and accuracy
Still to work on:
1. The big question coming in to this season is whether Munster currently have the players to fill the massive shoes of the departed Ronan O'Gara. Ian Keatley got the nod here and had a mixed night from the boot with three successful kicks from six i.e 1 penalty and 2 conversions. His success rate will have to improve fpr the bigger challenges going forward
2. Scrum performance. It held up well in the first half under the new IRB scrummaging rules but had to play second fiddle in the second half with the penalty count rising against
Edinburgh 23
On a beautiful autumnal evening with perfect playing conditions Munster got their 2013/14 Rabodirect Pro 12 campaign off to a positive start with a five try, bonus point victory over a game Edinburgh side.
Apart from when the visitors took an early lead with a penalty, Rob Penney's men were always in the driving seat and had three tries on the board by half time with touch downs from fullback Denis Hurley, back row and captain James Coughlan and debutant loose head prop James Cronin.
Although Alan Solomons charges upped their performance after the break, the Munstermen wrapped up the bonus point when centre Ivan Dineen slid over in the corner. And they added a fifth try for good measure when replacement outhalf JJ Hanrahan was allowed to stroll over under the posts to complete a convincing win
To be pleased with:
1. A debut try scoring performance from loose head James Cronin. With Wian du Preez having departed in the summer it was good to see Cronin being given his chance and providing competition to Dave Kilcoyne
2. The performances of wingers Ronan O'Mahoney and Johne Murphy. It was good to see both these players looking so sharp, particularly in the first half, with Murphy also showing security under the high ball. Maybe it is the new scrum cap that is making the difference. O'Mahoney will be slightly disappointed with his missed tackle on Lee Jones for his try in the second half
3. An offloading game in the first half which moved with purpose and accuracy
Still to work on:
1. The big question coming in to this season is whether Munster currently have the players to fill the massive shoes of the departed Ronan O'Gara. Ian Keatley got the nod here and had a mixed night from the boot with three successful kicks from six i.e 1 penalty and 2 conversions. His success rate will have to improve fpr the bigger challenges going forward
2. Scrum performance. It held up well in the first half under the new IRB scrummaging rules but had to play second fiddle in the second half with the penalty count rising against
2013 Championship Challenge Week 17
Sunday, September 8
GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final 2013
Clare v Cork, Croke Park, 3.30pm
So, after what has been described as the most exciting and unpredicatable hurling championship in many a year, which produced 28 games in total, which simmered and then bubbled over into something magical, it has finally been reduced to this - the All-Ireland final between somewhat surprise packets Cork and Clare at Croke Park on Sunday.
It would have taken a very brave man, or woman, to have predicted that these two teams, who met in the Allianz Hurling League Relegation play-off back in April, would face each other once again five months later with the Liam MacCarthy Cup on the line? And who would have predicted more so that the Black & Amber of the Cats or the Blue & Gold of Tipperary would be conspicuous by their absence on All-Ireland final day?
It’s been that kind of summer. A summer of the tactical tempering of Davy Fitzgerald and the man management prowess of Jimmy Barry Murphy coming to the fore once more. These new strategies have challenged the notion that breaking the stranglehold was not just about outmuscling Kilkenny, Tipperary and Galway but more about out-thinking them, and more importantly about outplaying them.
When Jimmy Barry- Murphy’s running game meets Davy Fitzgerald’s superbly conceived passing game, something will have to give in what is the first all-Munster All-Ireland final since 1997, when Clare beat Tipperary. Clare have been back to an All-Ireland final since, in 2002, when beaten by Kilkenny, but under the expert tutolege of Fitzgerald, and with possibly the finest collection of young hurlers in the country available to him, there is a real sense that the good times are back in the Banner County. Cork, too, have been away from the biggest day in the hurling year since their 2006 final defeat to Kilkenny. Only Tom Kenny, Brian Murphy and Shane O’Neill are still involved in the Cork set-up from that day, adding to the sense of freshness in this final.
While Clare prevailed by 0-31 to 2-23 in a cracking relegation play-off back in April, condemning Cork to the second tier of the Allianz League, when they met again in the Munster Championship over two months later, it was Cork who gained revenge with a 0-23 to 0-15 victory at the Gaelic Grounds. Key to Cork’s success that day was the man-marking job defender Brian Murphy did on the influential Tony Kelly. After a dramatic return from injury will he be able to repeat that feat on Sunday? Tom Kenny is the player to make way at wing-back in the only change to the Cork team from the one that faced Dublin in the semi-final. Clare should stick to the same team that overcame Limerick with somewhat ease in their semi-final.
In what should be an intriguing tactical battle Cork will probably do a mirror image of Clare. They should have a sweeper deployed in their back line because Clare usually deploy a five man forward line utilising the expansive ground of Croke Park. Both sides have speedy players in the forward line but the key to the game may be what happens around the middle of the pitch as that will determine how effective the spare man will be in defence and dictate the time they will have to deliver the ball in to the spaces in the forward line.
Cork have the tradition of defeating the Bannerman in championship matches and in JBM they have a man who has the experiemce of leading a young Rebel team to All Ireland glory already back in 1999. However, with Davy Fitxgerald showing an expert knowledge of the tactical side of the game, and no doubt he will have a new trick up his sleeve for this game, the Bannermen may just have learned enough from thier defeat to the Rebels already and may just have the momentum coming in to this game to silence Biddy Early once more and carry them to victory.
Verdict: Clare Odds: 6/5
GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final 2013
Clare v Cork, Croke Park, 3.30pm
So, after what has been described as the most exciting and unpredicatable hurling championship in many a year, which produced 28 games in total, which simmered and then bubbled over into something magical, it has finally been reduced to this - the All-Ireland final between somewhat surprise packets Cork and Clare at Croke Park on Sunday.
It would have taken a very brave man, or woman, to have predicted that these two teams, who met in the Allianz Hurling League Relegation play-off back in April, would face each other once again five months later with the Liam MacCarthy Cup on the line? And who would have predicted more so that the Black & Amber of the Cats or the Blue & Gold of Tipperary would be conspicuous by their absence on All-Ireland final day?
It’s been that kind of summer. A summer of the tactical tempering of Davy Fitzgerald and the man management prowess of Jimmy Barry Murphy coming to the fore once more. These new strategies have challenged the notion that breaking the stranglehold was not just about outmuscling Kilkenny, Tipperary and Galway but more about out-thinking them, and more importantly about outplaying them.
When Jimmy Barry- Murphy’s running game meets Davy Fitzgerald’s superbly conceived passing game, something will have to give in what is the first all-Munster All-Ireland final since 1997, when Clare beat Tipperary. Clare have been back to an All-Ireland final since, in 2002, when beaten by Kilkenny, but under the expert tutolege of Fitzgerald, and with possibly the finest collection of young hurlers in the country available to him, there is a real sense that the good times are back in the Banner County. Cork, too, have been away from the biggest day in the hurling year since their 2006 final defeat to Kilkenny. Only Tom Kenny, Brian Murphy and Shane O’Neill are still involved in the Cork set-up from that day, adding to the sense of freshness in this final.
While Clare prevailed by 0-31 to 2-23 in a cracking relegation play-off back in April, condemning Cork to the second tier of the Allianz League, when they met again in the Munster Championship over two months later, it was Cork who gained revenge with a 0-23 to 0-15 victory at the Gaelic Grounds. Key to Cork’s success that day was the man-marking job defender Brian Murphy did on the influential Tony Kelly. After a dramatic return from injury will he be able to repeat that feat on Sunday? Tom Kenny is the player to make way at wing-back in the only change to the Cork team from the one that faced Dublin in the semi-final. Clare should stick to the same team that overcame Limerick with somewhat ease in their semi-final.
In what should be an intriguing tactical battle Cork will probably do a mirror image of Clare. They should have a sweeper deployed in their back line because Clare usually deploy a five man forward line utilising the expansive ground of Croke Park. Both sides have speedy players in the forward line but the key to the game may be what happens around the middle of the pitch as that will determine how effective the spare man will be in defence and dictate the time they will have to deliver the ball in to the spaces in the forward line.
Cork have the tradition of defeating the Bannerman in championship matches and in JBM they have a man who has the experiemce of leading a young Rebel team to All Ireland glory already back in 1999. However, with Davy Fitxgerald showing an expert knowledge of the tactical side of the game, and no doubt he will have a new trick up his sleeve for this game, the Bannermen may just have learned enough from thier defeat to the Rebels already and may just have the momentum coming in to this game to silence Biddy Early once more and carry them to victory.
Verdict: Clare Odds: 6/5
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