Diary of a Dub
More than just another game….
Only 4 sleeps to go, and we
are in the thick of the build-up as they say. A little mid-week distraction is
called for. Happiness Factor:10, Giddiness Factor:6 and a half.
A week full of well-wishing (for Mayo) silly
videos from both near and afar, and general sentimentality for the love of an
underdog, and an increasing desire to wind-up any Dub all feature in the early
part of this week. Goes with the territory, and helps to pass the week that
seems to be never-ending. Banter factor: 5 (and rising)
Thoughts this week are occupied by 2 things thus
far(non-ticket related), one relates to what we will see from Mayo on Sunday,
and the other to something Jim said in a media interview this week.
Let’s deal with Mayo first. What Mayo will we
see this Sunday, and what Mayo have we seen over the course of the championship
this year? Hard to get a read on this, other than, they clearly have resolve,
don’t lack for any hunger and they don’t give up in any game. They have found a
way to get over the line against Kerry, and they do like a replay. Looking back
to our previous games, they have taken Dublin to replays in 2016 and 2015. Kick
of a ball stuff to be honest. Most are calling it same for this Sunday. I don’t
concur. And here’s why….
You cannot take too much from ’15 and ’16,
other than all 4 games were tight, tense affairs. The read from this is that
Mayo were clearly up for it, and were willing to die in the trenches for the
win, ultimately coming up short however. Dublin, on the other hand, were driven
in 15, clearly motivated by the loss to Donegal in ’14, and last year, I feel they
under-performed in both games, but did enough to get across the line. As I look
to where these teams are now, I can see a little more clearly. Dublin, have
evolved, and play fluidly, with agility, and look to change formation and
approach as games unfold in front of them. Control of ball and possession is
important, but have the will and nous to defend in packs and change formation
when ball is not in hand, even if that means, 14 behind the ball at times.
Break at pace and score, or hold until an opportunity arises. Once Dublin
score, press high and force errors from the opposition. You need absolute focus
from you 14 outfield players playing this style, and we saw that against
Monaghan and Tyrone, and it killed both games early doors. Mayo, from what we
have seen, have had to adapt their style to overcome Kerry and Roscommon,
taking 2 games in each to get over the line. Fast-starts in games and looking
for early goals. Same intensity levels, and much more risk-taking, prepared to
play marquee players in man-marking roles and adjusting entire formations
around this. In that sense, it is impossible to predict how Mayo will approach
this game, however, Rochfort now has experience of Dublin, and he will surely
have a disruptive plan, which is more akin to what we get from Mayo. I expect
same levels of intensity and physicality, and if you look back to 2016, Black
cards and off-the-ball handbags were a mainstay of both games. These are
tactics to drive Dublin from playing football, and I’m sure Jim will have
instilled discipline into his team. We’ve not had to use Dermo and we come
without any shred of bad discipline into this game. Don’t’ however, think for a
minute, that Mayo won’t bring it.
It is intriguing as a match-up,
regardless of what is at stake. For Dublin, it’s the team that has dragged them
closer than ever in the last 3 years, and for Mayo, it’s a team they have been
fingertips away from beating over the same time.
The question you need
to ask though is this. Over the last year, and during this year, which team has
improved more in their style of football and application in game-time? You know my answer. Validation will come circa
5.10pm, Sunday evening.
Now onto Jim, and the media.
The media game has to be played, the hype is inevitable, and as a manager, all
you can do is your best to quell the fires of Hype, talk it down, and protect
your players from it. We all know better though, don’t we?
Sport is just like any
commercial entity. It’s a business as much as anything. Success breeds success
for any team, regardless of sport, code or county. Jim is a manager, a leader.
Dublin as a county, clearly have a master-plan, be it a 3, a 5, or a 10 year
plan. Just like any business would have. Players are not strategists, but
managers and leaders are. This is not for media consumption, but as a fan, you
have to view what is said in the media as folly and take it with with a pinch
of salt.
Of course, this is part
of a plan, a bigger picture. And of course, it is on the player’s minds. They
have a chance to do something not done in almost a hundred years in Dublin, and
in over 30 years in GAA football. Think of how often the Kerry team of the 80’s
is spoken about for their achievements, and same said of the Dublin 70’s team.
Players want to emulate previous achievements, want to create their own piece
of history.
This Dublin team stands on the cusp of its finest
achievement, and winning on Sunday, will see them emulate the achievements of
Heffo’s army of the ’70’s. Fact. That team had 3 All-Ireland’s, Jim’s team has
4 already. Both have won back-to-back. So it’s logical that a 3-in-a-Row puts
this current Dublin team into a league of their own. Doing something not done
before or in a long, long time, is bound to be a driving force behind this
team, not just this week, but it’s been in the plan all year long. Focus on it
now, means, Sunday is one more game, but not just another game.
Lots to ponder upon in the coming days, or take with you to
the bar-stool for some healthy discussion…
More to come before the weekend, and if you decide to break
the radio silence rule and you happen to hear or see mention of this, please
remember, and it applies as much to us as it does to everyone involved in this
Dublin team.
This is…….More
than just another game…
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