LEINSTER SFC SEMI-FINAL DUBLIN v KILDARE: SEÁN MORANsuggests Kildare need to win some silverware to confirm they are on an upward curve
TOMORROW’S Leinster football semi-final is of critical importance to both teams but for different reasons. Dublin have no need of further provincial titles to bolster their self-esteem but need to be able to defeat challengers with rising confidence levels and a growing reputation.
Kildare could do with some silverware as a sign of their improvement under Kieran McGeeney and winning this would put them in a strong position to do that.
After the ultimately comfortable win over Meath in the quarter-finals, McGeeney was relatively blasé about the wides tally.
“I could be wrong in this but over the last two years I’d say we are one of the highest scoring forward units in the country at championship level. People say that we can’t shoot. We might need more shots but we are just a team that likes to shoot.
“You have to pull the trigger. What did we score today? Sixteen scores and we probably should have had two goals as well, but that’s the way it goes. I am happy enough. The day that we get beat I won’t be happy, but as long as we are scoring more than the opponents I’m happy.”
Nonetheless the wides in the last round left Kildare still vulnerable to an otherwise outplayed Meath team who could well have been right back in the match with less than 10 minutes to go had a contentious square-ball call gone the other way. The problem with a patchy conversion rate is that it will prove costly against more economical opposition and Dublin’s strike forwards are certainly that.
Bernard Brogan’s Laois marker Cahir Healy got plaudits for his perseverance but Brogan still kicked four points from play.
Eoghan O’Gara’s return to the team at the expense of Kevin McManamon is a radical departure given the latter’s excellent year to date. Then again McManamon’s running game may well be deemed to be more effective when the match has loosened up rather than in the claustrophobic early stages.
It’s not the only reflection of Pat Gilroy’s plan to meet what will be a greatly intensified physical challenge after the Laois quarter-final.
O’Gara’s physical presence will create more space for Bernard Brogan and Diarmuid Connolly and if the signs during the early weeks of the league (before his lengthy suspension) that his distribution has improved a good deal are confirmed the full forward is capable of doing some very effective work.
It also releases Alan Brogan to play his continuity role from deeper positions although Emmet Bolton and Gary White will make that sort of free spiritedness a lot harder than it was in the quarter-final.
The same can be said about O’Gara’s club-mate Denis Bastick. In the quarter-final Brendan Quigley’s attempts to impose himself physically at centrefield petered out when Bastick appeared and exchanges around the middle are going to be hotter and heavier tomorrow than they were three weeks ago.
Dublin’s defence is going to be more of an issue tomorrow than attack or centrefield. Before the championship it looked as if Gilroy was going to be in a position to bring in some reinforcements at the back but since then Paul Griffin has had to check out of a second successive championship and Cian O’Sullivan’s recovery from injury has been slower than anticipated.
Dublin’s most impressive defensive alignment during Gilroy’s management was during the 2010 league when no county conceded fewer scores.
Whereas the hard work in covering back and getting people behind the ball was the most conspicuous element of this approach, at its heart was the understanding between Rory O’Carroll at full back and O’Sullivan whose pace and intelligence in front of him helped Dublin build quickly from the back.
The hard work is still required of everyone but Dublin have defended more conventionally this season and that won’t face its greatest test of the season tomorrow against a team that’s usually configured for four attackers.
They will, however, still have plenty to do tomorrow. Kildare, in keeping with their manager’s philosophy, create attacking platforms and go for scores without hesitation but not all of the players are using shotguns. For instance Eamonn Callaghan sniped four from play off six attempts against Meath.
John Doyle is the biggest conundrum facing McGeeney. Three points from play the last day summarised his continuing importance as a shooter but his ball-winning and use of possession have seen him located at centrefield where he is needed to provide the direction that would usually have been provided by the injured Dermot Earley.
Dublin will be pleased to see Doyle farther from goal even if he is increasing Kildare’s chances of bringing order to the frantic exchanges in what will probably be a crowded sector.
Kildare have prepared with their now customary thoroughness for this, bringing retired All-Ireland referee John Bannon down to training matches and working hard on targeting Stephen Cluxton’s kick-outs although these have been under more pressure in recent times since opponents have copped on to them and since the telepathic understanding with Shane Ryan was discontinued over the past two years.
Kildare need to address the tendency to start matches more slowly. It earned them a two-point half-time deficit against Meath but you’d expect Dublin’s forwards to raise the price tag in similar circumstances tomorrow.
Defeat would not rule either side out of making an impact later in the summer and both went to last year’s All-Ireland semi-finals through the qualifiers. But that route is not a sign of strength and unless you’re Cork or Kerry, no county goes through the back door with a confident gait.
David Coldrick, who was originally appointed to referee the match, has had to withdraw because of a leg injury and will be replaced by his fellow Meath man Cormac Reilly.
In the last episode: The 2009 Leinster final saw Dublin survive the early sending off of Ger Brennan to win by three, largely thanks to Bernard Brogan's seven points, five from play.
You bet: Dublin are favourites at 8 to 15, Kildare 2 to 1 and the draw 15 to 2.
On your marks: Paul Conlon makes his first start for Dublin tomorrow. Depending on how Kildare set up, he'll be charged with marking Alan Smith or James Kavanagh, two forwards who are trying to relocate their A game. It's up to Conlon to see that they don't; if they do it will mean Dublin are in trouble.
Gaining ground: Familiar surroundings for Dublin especially. It's five years and 26 matches since Dublin played championship anywhere else (including during last year's extended run through the qualifiers). Kildare get out a bit more.
Just the ticket: Stand tickets (€30 – no concessions in Hogan), Family tickets for the Cusack and Davin stands (adults €30 and children €5). Terrace (€20 – no concessions). Students and OAPs can get €15 rebate at the Cusack.
Crystal gazing: Dublin's more productive attack to make the difference.
DUBLIN: S Cluxton; P Conlon, R O'Carroll, M Fitzsimons; J McCarthy, G Brennan, K Nolan; D Bastick, MD Macauley; P Flynn, A Brogan, B Cullen (capt); D Connolly, E O'Gara, B Brogan.
KILDARE: S Connolly; A MacLochlainn, M Foley, H McGrillen; G White, B Flanagan, E Bolton; J Doyle (capt), H Lynch; M O'Flaherty, E O'Flaherty, E Callaghan; A Smith, T O'Connor, J Kavanagh.
Referee: C Reilly(Meath).
