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Well now, a fun day out in the home of Dublin Football yesterday. Nice to be back in familiar surroundings as Croker welcomed us home for the first time this year.
Milling around Drumcondra in the usual haunts, catching up with a few head the balls and only added to by the Kildare, Meath and Laois lads. I always enjoy these games despite the negative end of days narrative that has stalked the week.
A few well supped pints, helped to take the edge of the inclement weather for this time of the year, the day didn't seem to know what to do with self, then made its mind up in the final 10 mins as the heavens opened. It was that type of day overall really.
A decent enough crowd of 36k and ive been to worse attended games and atmospheres in truth, came more to life when the Hill was populated for our game. With our country cousins respecting the usual boundaries over in the Hogan and Canal and the Cusack and Hill largely left to our own devices.
No real surprises in the Dublin team, bar MDM starting in place of young Gavin, but more on that anon. We were also sporting a back line of Davey Byrne, Micky Fitz and Cian in at 3. The back line is looking very competitive this year and its beginning to show with lads raising their performances there.
Nice touch by stadium to do a montage of Stephen Cluxton's career shortly before the game, that and likely a belly full of stout really geed up the hill reliving some great great moments of the man. The man himself didnt even look up and he was kicking balls during the warm up.
Of the game itself Kildare started bright and purposeful and took the first blood of the first score. Kildare played, some nice, open and expansive stuff. Nice team to watch and put in a good performance, with their consistency finishing really letting them down, they hit some beautiful scores, top quality stuff, then hit some straight forward ones wide and should have had a few goals. They will be confident going through the qualifiers of being a match for many of the Mayos, Tyrones and Mongahans of the world. The scoreline in this didnt really reflect some of the play they had in this game. They will be confident of making the S8's in my opinion.
With Kildare looking purposeful and very mobile, scoring first had a bit of a result of poking the bear, Dublin upped the tempo in the first quarter and raised to a 7-1 lead after 15 minutes. To Kildares credit they scrapped and harried and showed ultimate commitment to labor that back to 4 point come the break as Dublin dropped the intensity level after the first 15.
Half time came and went with Kildare probably taking the best of the second and third quarters, within the final mins of the first half and first mins of the second Kildare really should have scored three goals, but for poor finishing and Cluxton living up to his billing, the game could have been closer.
Dublin inevitably upped and downed the tempo as needed in phases of the game and had superior quality in the forward departments and with the forwards roaring, saw Dublin clock up some beautiful scores throughout the half and eventually just continuously taking them on until the game was out of reach for Kildare and it was time to empty the bench which both teams did really.
Scoreline wasn't very indicative of the performance as i mention, Kildare were good and caused Dublin some problems. Not for the first time against us Feehily and Moolick cleaned us out midfield and we really struggled all day in the midfield line. Fenton to me is off form a wee bit and despite playing well, he hasn't quite hit the form of recent years, some uncharacteristically sloppy play and turnover. MDM was given the opportunity in the center and while he endeavored and gives energy going forward, he was sloppy on occasions trying Hollywood passes and kicking away possession and was turned over on more then one occasion. What i noticed yesterday is he doesnt have the recovery pace anymore to be able to contribute to the defensive side of Dublins game. I think he will be a 20 min player off the bench to take on tired legs as we go on. Perhaps that doesnt give enough credit to Kildare, who really harried Dublin and won as significant amount of turnover i have seen Dublin give away in many a year.
Our other lines were terrific and upped and downed the intensity and tempo as required in the game and the context, sometimes Dublin were subdued and then would up it and create at will, then go down the gears again.
Our back three looked really good, Cian where ever he plays and yesterday he played at 3, is just a rolls royce, he was exceptional yesterday both defensively and offensively. Davy Bynre, really looks like he has the bit between his teeth this year to reclaim a spot, tough as teak yesterday, put in some huge hits and won a decent amount of turnover and dirty ball. Mick Fitz, does what Mick does - ever reliable. Murchen was welcomed back off the bench and he gives us a different dimension with pace and man marking ability. Rory came on as well for 15 mins and played brilliantly, winning the ball with a tackle it seemed impossible to, he looks so good. Philly was sprung from the bench for a stretch of the legs and did fine and Jonny Cooper wasnt even named. We are looking really strong at the back this year and the competition looks fierce.
Else wise our half back line, is as immense as you would expect containing Jamesy and Jack McCaffery but they played in fits and starts upping downing the intensity as required. Small got the nod with them. Jamesy looks beast this year, in top form and just so powerful. they control our tempo so well, but they were ticking boxes yesterday for me, loads left in the thank. I suspect Jamsey will end up in midfield given his form, unless Gavin or MDM do something special against Meath.
Forward line really purred, Scully is perpetual motion and while he struggled early doors he is a night mare to play against, he never stops moving, offensively or defensively and he and Howard give this Dublin system so much offensively and defensively.
Costello and Mannion put on an exhibition in point taking and both filled their boots with 16 between them and 14 from play. Two really skillful quality footballers just about coming into their prime i wouldn't swap them for anyone's. Cormac was a bit eager and went for goal himself when better options were on and that will be looked at without doubt. It was a shame for all the good play we didnt score a goal.
Con and Kilkenny were the brains trust, both clocking healthy scoring figures and contributing over all to the system, nightmare to mark because they flip positions and play make, they can pop up anywhere, two very very clever footballers. Both had a huge influence and went home with respectable tallies. Two immensely intelligent footballers.
In other news Paddy Andrews came on to a huge cheer, great to see him back healthy, Darren Gavin came on looking purposeful for a fading MDM and Paddy Small came on to score a point. Paddy Small i think is developing into a player and really beginning to contribute. He has quality and skill and his ingame intelligence has come on leaps and bounds. I think we might have a player there.
All in all, a good day out. Kildare can take a lot from that game, we were sloppy, they dominated midfield - cleaned us out and they won loads of turnover. Just lacking that quality in finishing to really trouble us.
Loads for us to work on, we were sloppy and at times we sat back just ticking boxes, we lost a huge amount of turnover and our back line and forward line won the day yesterday, as Kildare dominated it the middle. You feel we have plenty in the tank though.
Next up Meath in the home of Dublin GAA in a couple of weeks time, that will be another great test, its great to be playing Div 1 team standard this early in the Championship.
TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 10/06/2019 14:10:31
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