It was a good start to the day with Dublin dispatching Clare in such a comprehensive manner in the first game of Saturday’s double-header. Dublin won in the end by 13 points and the impressive Liam Rushe, Alan McCrabbe and Dotsy O’Callaghan give hope that Dublin my progress to an All Ireland semi final this year.
The crowd was sparse for the hurling match but there was an expectation that some more fans would arrive for the football. This arrival of fans did not materialise and I had the strange sensation of having space to breath on the hill. The attendance of 22,000 can be put down to the weather, Oxygen and a general disillusionment with the Gilroy/Whelan management team.
Dublin were poor in the first half but still managed to go 7 points ahead with Bernard Brogan scoring a number of frees and Michael MacAuley fisting home a goal after good work from Eoghan O’Gara. A slip from Rory O’Carroll allowed his man Barry Grogan escape and collect the ball before rounding Cluxton to score as easy a goal as you are likely to see. This goal brought Tipp back in to the game and had the Dublin fans on the hill fearing the worse.
The second half saw a much-improved performance with the Brogan’s contributing scores and influencing the game to a greater extent. Dublin ran out winners by 8 points in what was a far from vintage performance but enough to see us through to the next round of qualifiers to face our old foes Armagh.
There were positives to take from the game. The Brogans played well with Alan in particular returning to some sort of form. The caveat is that this was Tipperary we were playing and the Armagh defence will be a different prospect altogether next Saturday. Eoghan O’Gara looked good in his first start. He is direct and strong and set up our only goal. He offers Dublin something different and is sure to start against Armagh.
The frailties are still there for all to see in the full back line. There is no doubt that Rory O’Carroll is a good footballer but he is still short of experience at the top level. It seems that Gilroy has little choice but to preserver with this full back line and hope they cement in to a cogent unit.
The halfbacks played well enough with David Henry’s return having a stabilising effect. In midfield, MacAuley was impressive but McConnell again was disappointing. One wonders how long dumb and dumber will keep picking a player who is clearly not comfortable in the position.
Gilroy needs to make two changes to the team to give us the best possible chance on Saturday. Eamon Fennell in for Ross McConnell in midfield to give us ball winning potential and in the half forwards, Bryan Cullen should come in for Niall Corkery. Corkery has not contributed anything in any championship game this season. Cullen showed in his cameo against Tipperary that half forward could be a position he could do some damage in.
Even if Gilroy puts out his best team, which I doubt he will, I am still pessimistic about our chances against Armagh. I expect Armagh to grind out a result although I don’t see us getting a thumping. Stephen McDonnell Armagh’s full forward with three all stars and one All Ireland medal in his back pocket will relish terrifying our shaky full back line. This may well make the difference. I expect to see the hurlers comfortably beat Antrim and be our sole representatives for the remainder of the All Ireland series come 6.30 pm on Saturday.
July 13, 2010 at 9:23 pm |
I’ve never seen an attendance like it, Paul, and I’ve never spent a Dublin match twiddling my thumbs behind the counter. I expect a bigger crowd will turn out this Saturday. But I agree with your estimation: Armagh will beat Dublin by, I’d say, three points.
July 14, 2010 at 6:13 pm |
I reckon you are right, I would expect an attendance of 40,000 plus.