Lar Corbett: Cork must use anger from Limerick hammering and try to hurt Waterford early
The final round of the Leinster Hurling Championship has thrown up a de facto semi-final between Galway and Dublin, a relegation play-off between Offaly and Antrim and a challenge match between Kilkenny and Wexford.
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Irish Times
30 minutes ago
- Irish Times
Tactical analysis: Aerial dominance and nous in final third will prove pivotal in decisive football weekend
It has been hard to gauge exactly where everyone stands in the race for Sam Maguire , but all should be clearer after the final round of group games this weekend, where every match has something at stake. One of the key aspects of the final round is the fact that teams have two weeks of preparation time. That leaves plenty of time to identify opposition strengths and weaknesses. It is very hard to call the games as we head into the weekend. Games are taking on a life of their own as teams try to make the new rules work best for them. It has led to some thrilling games and no shortage of drama. Three of the biggest games are Dublin v Derry and Armagh v Galway on Saturday, and Mayo v Donegal on Sunday, so let's take a look at some of the strengths of each of the six teams. READ MORE Mayo As Mayo approach Donegal in a do-or-die game, they will be hoping the kickout zone will be as profitable for them as it was against Tyrone . Mayo opted to go long for all of Colm Reape's 16 kickouts and managed to secure possession on 12 out of 16 (75 per cent). Mayo scored 1-6 from these 12 won, while Tyrone scored 1-1 from their four won. Mayo would have been happy with their five-point profit from their own kickout. It would be easy to look at these figures in isolation and say that Mayo were excellent at the breaking ball zone, but interestingly, they won three of these kickouts as a result of Tyrone fouls in the air, trying to shield the ball through. In the absence of Tyrone's Brian Kennedy, it would have made sense for Reape to avoid Conn Kilpatrick, but going right down his throat was an aspect of Mayo's play that showed bravery and a willingness to fight. They made sure Kilpatrick won nothing clean, through subtle and not-so-subtle contact on the Edendork man in the air. They were also ravenous on the breaking ball, often with two men at the front of the break. Mayo worked hard to get men around the breaking ball in the landing zone. Mayo tried to curb the influence of Conn Kilpatrick by stopping him getting off the ground. Additionally, Mayo showed a strong hand on the Niall Morgan kickout, winning nine out of 12 (75 per cent) that were sent long. Over the course of the encounter across kickouts in both directions, that is a staggering 21/28 (75 per cent) of the long kickouts won by Mayo. This really indicated their hunger for the battle. However, Mayo also managed to put Tyrone under severe pressure on their short kickouts, as Tyrone only returned 0-3 from their 12 short kickouts won. Mayo even managed to spoil one short one, as Davitt Neary turned over Shea O'Hare when Morgan didn't get his kickout wide enough. Mayo also smartly fouled the first receiver on the Tyrone kickout on three occasions, allowing all the Mayo bodies behind to reset. In further emphasising this cuteness, they managed to not concede a 50m penalty on any of these. Overall, Mayo scored 0-6 from the Tyrone kickout, with Malachy O'Rourke's men only managing a point more than that, 0-7. Mayo managed to force lots of pressure on the Tyrone kickout, even when they went short, such as Davitt Neary turning over Shea O'Hare on this kickout. The big question as Mayo head for Dr Hyde Park to face Donegal is whether they can replicate such a performance on the kickout. Donegal are unlikely to be as profligate if they get hands on ball on their own short kickouts and there is the added risk of goalkeeper Shaun Patton – if he's back – going over the break zone. Donegal With their Atlantic coastline, Donegal are used to waves. When they get their running game going from deep, those waves can be hard to stop. Two scores before half-time against Cavan , initiated from defensive turnovers that led to 1-1 at the far end of the field, highlighted this strength. The first score started as Eoghán Bán Gallagher intercepted a loopy Cavan handpass, then Donegal attacked in unison as the ball went through hands of both Ciaran Moore and Peadar Mogan, with Ryan McHugh also ahead of the ball, before a Cavan foul - Patrick McBrearty scored the resultant free. Then a turnover and a powerful Finbarr Roarty burst started from behind where the ball was turned over and ended with him palming the ball to the net, as he left the tracking Cavan men in his wake. This sent Donegal into half-time on a high after a lot of good Cavan work in that opening half was wiped out. In the first half, Donegal scored 1-6 (including a two-pointer) from the 10 possessions that originated behind their 45m line, eight from turnovers on Cavan and another two short kickouts from Gavin Mulreany. Donegal's Finbarr Roarty started his run from behind where the turnover occurred. And it ended with Roarty palming the ball to the net. This relentless efficiency from ball originating inside their own 45m line continued in the second half, as another seven turnovers and a short kickout led to a further 2-3. Donegal by the end of the game scored 3-9 from the 19 attacks that originated inside their own 45. This is a warning to Mayo to make sure that they don't allow Donegal to get possession in this area, as the punishment will be more severe than what Tyrone served up. Dublin Armagh got a lot of credit coming out of Croke Park two Sundays ago , but equally Dublin were nowhere near as bad as it was portrayed. It is easy to point to the missed efforts, as Dublin hit 16/37 efforts (43 per cent), and there was also the uncharacteristic three-up breaches. Dublin will have come away from the game very happy with how they set up on Ethan Rafferty's kickouts. With their zonal approach, they forced Rafferty to try to execute high-risk kicks into pockets of space. Dublin's zonal press meant Ethan Rafferty was occasionally forced to go wide with his kicks. Dublin's zonal press here forces Rafferty to make a risky chip into a congested area. Dublin won 15/33 (45 per cent) of the Armagh kickout, but they didn't convert this strength to the scoreboard. Rafferty is really accomplished at striking the ball and this zonal set-up may yield better dividends for Dublin in Newry. Ethen Rafferty getting off a perfect kickout in Croke Park - Dublin's press may yield better returns against someone not as accomplished as Rafferty. Derry Are Derry getting back to being the side that promised so much in recent years? Not quite, but some of their key players are back performing at a high level and others are delivering high-energy performances. Niall Loughlin was one of these, but so was Conor Glass. The Glen man was back to his best, as he scored 1-3, assisted 0-3 and secondary assisted another 0-2. That is a direct impact on 1-8 of Derry's scores. His awareness of space and ability to manipulate the Galway defence shows a man at the top of his game. Derry create the space to allow Conor Glass take up a scoring position. For the second backdoor cut, Derry manipulate the space by moving eight players inside the 20m line while Conor Glass assesses the space around him. Having moved backwards before making his run, Glass then advances with his teammates smartly keeping their shape to afford him space. Glass was on hand in the clutch moments when Derry needed leaders. After Galway's first goal, he was there to palm the ball to the back of the net. He was a key man again after Galway's fourth goal, as he slipped John Maher (who was specifically detailed to mark him when Derry were in possession) with a backdoor cut to set up the Derry equaliser. However, it is not necessarily these on-the-ball actions where he is most influential for the team. He was marauding around the field, making his presence felt at the tackle zone as he imposed himself physically on Galway. It is often hard to get a true gauge of the defensive output of a player, but he was involved in turnovers, tackles and slowing attacks throughout the encounter. On two occasions, with Cillian McDaid in the first half and Jack Glynn in the second half, his ferocity in the tackle led to a break in play as the Galway men required medical attention. His contact and tackle technique as Seán Kelly attacked the goal during the Galway resurgence contributed to the defensive display. Armagh Armagh have shown really strong attacking creativity over the past number of years. The basketball influence of Kieran Donaghy along with the thirst for innovation in the management when it comes to finding an extra percent advantage is always evident. Armagh showed a number of excellent screens in the encounter at Croke Park which helped to unlock the Dublin defence. One particular screen, by Rory Grugan on Sean MacMahon in the 24th minute, allowed Andrew Murnin glide in for a shot at goal. It brought Stephen Cluxton into action with a great save. The ease of cutting through the Dublin defence really highlighted the power of such screens. Armagh do this regularly and to great effect. Rory Grugan screen creates space for Andrew Murnin to move into - the effort on goal was saved by Stephen Cluxton. A closer image of Armagh's Rory Grugan creating the space for Andrew Murnin. The Orchard county were lauded last year for their attacking innovation in terms of set plays and while the game has become faster with the new rules, they are still able to manufacture them and execute. One such attack took place in the 16th minute. Éamonn Fitzmaurice on RTÉ correctly identified that Dublin stayed zonal as Armagh tried to set up an overload in attack. After Armagh probed the weak side, they quickly transferred the ball back to the other side of the pitch through Oisín Conaty and Grugan shot a controlled two-pointer. Kieran McGeeney has recently described Grugan as 'one of the best players I've ever seen'. Stopping the Ballymacnab man will be top of Galway manager Pádraic Joyce's priority list this weekend. Rory Grugan signals for Armagh to create the move - they have succeeded in setting up setplays this season despite the game being faster. After probing one side, Oisín Conaty switches the ball across the pitch with a kick to Rory Grugan in space. Galway There are many moving parts with Galway. If consistency and cohesion arrives, they will be very hard to stop. The question is how does that consistency and cohesion materialise? Joyce will be hoping to have his best players on the field, but he will also be looking to have the players on the field who enable those stars to function. As was mentioned with Conor Glass, he makes such an impact off the ball and is unselfish in his actions. Can Galway get a similar return from their on-ball stars? One thing we know for sure is that this Galway set-up is a cut-throat environment. The game against Derry finished with Paul Conroy, Cillian McDaid and Shane Walsh all watching from the bench. There are not many teams that can leave players of their quality on the line and stage a comeback like the Tribesmen did. Armagh have already qualified for the next phase but any question of this being a soft fixture is nonsense. The Galway v Armagh rivalry has become one of the best in the country. If past evidence is anything to go by, a one-score game is likely to materialise. It could go either way in Breffni Park. Analysing an opposition on one game is layered with danger as there is so much individual context to a one-off game. What materialised in the round-two fixtures is unlikely to be an indicator of what happens in the round-three games. The matches are so variable and unpredictable at the moment, swinging wildly based on how teams set up for the opposition and how the opposition sets up for them. This is great news for supporters, but it also means management and analysis teams are second guessing everything. Paul O'Brien is a performance analyst with The Performance Process.
Irish Examiner
6 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Nine big questions ahead of a blockbuster weekend of Sam Maguire Series drama
There are eight seismic fixtures taking place in the final round of the Sam Maguire group stages. It also signals the end of this current system. The group phase will be abolished after this year with a new qualifier-style format in place next year. Several intercounty managers have criticised this move, which was voted on at Congress last February. Was it the right call? This is just one of many big questions ahead of a blockbuster weekend. Should we get rid of this format? All-Ireland winning manager Kieran McGeeney is adamant that the GAA made the wrong move. Galway boss Pádraic Joyce and Wicklow's Oisín McConville have said similar. 'It is great this year,' agreed former Mayo manager James Horan on the Irish Examiner's Gaelic football podcast. 'Everything seems to be working right this year, with rules and everything else. It is all combining and working out ok. Should we get rid of it? If you take this year on its own, you would say no but what were we saying this time last year or the year before that? Too many games etc. Overall, the sample size of one year isn't enough to make a decision. Changing it might be the right play.' Next year, the last 16 will play in a Round 1 with provincial finals and league positions still determining placings. They will then be divided into Round 2A and 2B. Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney feels the GAA made the wrong move with the current format. File picture: Ryan Byrne/Inpho The eight Round 1 winners will comprise Round 2A with the victors advancing to the All-Ireland quarter-finals. The losers will meet the winners of the losers' stage in Round 2B to fill the remain four places in the last eight. 'I would get rid of it,' agreed Paul Rouse on the Examiner podcast. 'I think it's worth trying the new one.' How will Cork defend? Roscommon's front six against Meath was frightening. Dylan Ruane, Ciaráin Murtagh, Enda Smith, Diarmuid Murtagh, Daire Cregg and Ben O'Carroll all started and scored. Cork must combat that threat. Enda Smith didn't have a shot in his previous two games against Galway or Kerry but he caught fire in Dr Hyde Park, kicking three two-pointers from four attempts. Ben O'Carroll is their leading assister in championship as well as scoring 1-10 from play. They are the priority. 'Traditionally I was man-on-man everywhere; it evolved over time,' said Horan. Cork will take on Roscommon in Round 3 of the All-Ireland SFC. File picture: Tom Beary/Sportsfile 'I haven't coached with the new rules yet but in games in the past we had very good man-markers to go specific on an influential player for the opposition. But players are so smart now, they go ahead of the ball, get their marker and pull him out past the ball to create little zones for players to run through. 'If I'm centre-half back and Ben O'Carroll is there, running out away from the ball where you know he isn't really a shooting risk even if he gets the play, I am not moving away from the direction of the ball. On those occasions, you let him go and hold strong.' Do Kerry need to chase two-pointers? After a league lacking in orange flags, Kerry kicked seven two-pointers last time out. Plenty of that was due to officiating and two-point frees. From play, they converted three of six attempts. Meath consistently shoot from outside the arc, converting five against Roscommon. Don't expect Kerry to go chasing them, but they will create opportunities for David Clifford and Sean O'Shea. Who is the leading contender for Player of the Year? The current favourite remains David Clifford or his brother, Paudie. Michael Murphy is nearby. That says as much about their All-Ireland ambitions as it does their form. Right now, as we begin to move towards knockout football, who else has impressed? 'Conor Glass for the sheer majesty of his performance against Galway,' said Rouse. Once again, Kingdom talisman David Clifford is one of the hot favourites to be crowned the Player of the Year. File picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile James Horan went for Armagh's Oisin Conaty: 'When did he get to this level? I think he has been absolutely amazing. That left footed point the last day, took the ball running away from goal and ran around a few, that is a serious level this guy is operating at now consistently.' Galway's Matthew Thompson is the current runaway favourite for Young Footballer of the Year. Can a player survive in the new rules without pace? 'They will struggle,' according to Galway boss Joyce. 'That has been the case at intercounty over the last few years. Unless you have pace, you will struggle. Probably more so now. 'You are going away from the traditional positions on the pitch. It is three back, eight workhorses in the middle and three up top. When the ball goes up, you need your wing-backs and wing-forwards coming at pace up the pitch and being able to control the ball at high speed.' Do you need height? In a late blitz, Mayo made widespread late changes. Sean Morahan came in at full-back. Even without Donnacha McHugh, David McBrien was able to operate further out the pitch and let Morahan take Mark Bradley, with Jack Coyne on Darragh Canavan and Enda Hession on Darren McCurry. Cathal McShane's departure has left Tyrone struggling for height in attack. File picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile Tyrone's lack of height inside made it easier to defend against them. The news last month that Cathal McShane had stepped away from the panel has left a void. Can Clare throw a spanner in the works? Eight games without a win. Clare's history in this version of the All-Ireland SFC is not good. However, they now face Leinster champions Louth, who lost their last two since a historic outing in Croke Park. Are Down the kickout innovators? Ronan Burns has been in sensational form for Down. He made two point blank saves from Daire Ó Baoill and Aaron Doherty against Donegal. The 20-year-old has remarkable variety with his kickouts, getting a whole host of them off short despite the new limitation on the ball having to travel outside the arc. 'They are getting away a high percentage of kickouts for sure but the way I look at it, the press that was put on for some of those was watery at best,' said Horan. 'It would spur you on as an opposition. Maybe set a trap, let them have a few and go in for the smash. The kickouts, I don't think that much has happened yet. It is bog standard, an overload here and a run there. We are at the early stages.' Can Mayo get after Donegal in the middle? Colm Reape went long with every kickout against Tyrone. Donegal have shown a huge reliance on Michael Murphy for restarts and Shaun Patton's fitness is a live concern. Personnel will dictate so much on Sunday. Patton, Jason McGee, Donnacha McHugh and Diarmuid O'Connor are required for their respective teams.
The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Podge Delaney urges Laois to bounce back from Croke Park heartbreak ahead of Tipperary clash
DESPITE suffering Croke Park heartbreak for the second year on the spin, Podge Delaney is keen for Laois to make the most of their chance to prove that they are no average Joes. Last Advertisement 2 Podge Delaney urged Laois to bounce back after their Joe McDonagh Cup heartbreak 2 Tipperary play Laois this weekend in the All-Ireland SHC preliminary quarter-finals But the 2025 campaign is not yet over for Tommy Fitzgerald's side, who face As Laois discovered in their defeat to Wexford at the same stage last year, regrouping to take on top-tier opposition so soon after failing to achieve the ultimate objective is a tall order. Experienced defender Delaney said: "It can be tricky. It's a quick turn-around, especially after losing. It can be a lot easier after a win and you have momentum behind you. "But at the end of the day, it's a Championship game and you're putting on the Laois jersey. Advertisement READ MORE ON GAA "You want to do yourself proud as well. We don't get too many years to do it so it's another Championship game where we'd like to put in a good performance." As the only Joe McDonagh team to have won a game in the Liam MacCarthy Cup since the competitions were linked, Laois remain the benchmark when it comes to mixing it with the big boys. Delaney was a member of the side who stunned Dublin in 2019, before going on to be beaten by eventual champions Tipp when an All-Ireland semi-final spot was up for grabs. While riding the crest of a wave, respectable performances were also produced by recent McDonagh winners such as Antrim, Carlow and Offaly. Advertisement Most read in GAA Hurling Comment Comment However, as evidenced by an average losing margin of 24 points, it has proven more difficult for the beaten finalists to get back on the horse. Still, Delaney said: "It's nice to get the opportunity to play the top teams as well. Back in 2019 we beat Dublin, so there's scope there to win games and have a real cut off bigger teams. GAA fans 'loved seeing and hearing' the late Micheal O Muircheartaigh as he features in RTE documentary Hell for Leather 'It's definitely a lot easier when you win the final but we'll pick ourselves back up again and go again on Saturday.' Although the teams were level at half-time, Laois were left to rue their first-half wides tally of 11 against Kildare as they sought to atone for losing last year's final to Offaly. Advertisement Things were looking good nonetheless as Paddy Purcell netted to give them a 1-11 to 0-11 just seconds after the restart. However, they were outscored by 2-15 to 0-8 thereafter as the Lilywhites sealed a ten-point triumph. Delaney reflected: "I think in the second half we kind of just fell away from the game. I don't know what it was. Even at half-time and after we got the goal, I thought we had scope to push on. But we just kind of fell away. "Kildare are obviously a savage team as well with savage, fit players, unbelievable hurlers as well. They got on top of us in the second half and we couldn't claw it back." Prior to this season, Kildare had never won a game at that level. Laois, who competed in the Leinster SHC as recently as 2022, were favourites to seal their return. Advertisement Delaney added: 'They had a bit of freedom. I suppose we gave them a bit too much freedom on the field as well. But look, they're a great team. 'What they're after doing in the last year is brilliant. I'm working up in Kildare so I can see first-hand the work that's going into hurling up there. It's brilliant to see it." Laois will have home advantage on Saturday for a meeting with a Tipperary team they encounter regularly in challenge matches. Delaney said: "We've played them nearly every year for the last few years. We know they're a savage outfit. Advertisement 'We'll just be hoping we can put in a good performance to give the fans that were up in Dublin the other day something to cheer about, because we feel like we kind of let them down."
