Diary of a Dub More than Just another game....



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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