The great one returns, the Dubs need a kick up the arse and James Horan seeks some consistency in a Mayo team gone mad.
A Treaty backlash?
Losing to Clare in their own back yard will have been a bitter pill to swallow for Limerick hurling fans, and doing so twice in the space of six weeks is a thought barely worth contemplating in the Treaty County. The prospect of a Kilkenny side who had 25 points to spare over Galway waiting in the wings isn’t exactly an appetising one, but playing in Division 1A next year is certainly a huge incentive for both Limerick and Clare when they go to battle in the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday evening.
Limerick’s progress under John Allen has been steady since the defeat to the Banner, but it is hard to see past a Clare side with a perfect record in 1B and who look to be going places under Davy Fitz.
The Gooch is back
Mayo fans still on a high from the spectacular victory over the Dubs last weekend may well have been brought back down to earth with a bang on seeing Colm Cooper’s name on the Kerry team sheet for Sunday. The Gooch has brought misery on numerous teams throughout the country, but he seems to have a particular fondness for wreaking havoc against Mayo, especially in Croke Park.
As far as Kerry are concerned, it is a sign of the depth of their resources that they can cruise through the league without the standout forward in the country and survive the loss of Tomás Ó Sé to what are fast becoming all too familiar breaches of discipline on two separate occasions in this league campaign.
Their security at the top of the pile in Division One enables Jack O’Connor to ease his star man back into action with greater tests ahead and although it is early days yet, the Kingdom look to be motoring very smoothly.
They want their trophy back.
Greater consistency needed from a Mayo team gone mad
Speaking of Mayo, their supporters have gone through the whole gamut of emotions in what has been a tumultuous league campaign to date. Decent away wins against both Laois and Armagh were spoiled by three straight defeats, including a shambles of a performance against Donegal and throwing away a win against Cork when it was there for the taking.
Against the Dubs, Mayo showed what they can do. But can they back it up?
After taking the Dubs to the cleaners last Saturday the mood is high once again in the west, but like a drug, the inevitable low awaits if they can’t back up their performance in Tralee. The fact that Kerry have already qualified should make it easier for James Horan’s men and a place in the last four, allied to last year’s All-Ireland semi-final progress, would represent real progress.
It would also crank up the hope of the most optimistic supporters around, but let’s leave that talk till a little further down the road.
Dubs need a reality check
Pat Gilroy comes across as a straight-talking, no-nonsense sort of guy and no doubt he would have delivered a few home truths at the training ground this week. Even though there was no little skill in the side last season, hard work and application were the basic tenets of the All-Ireland success and both were sadly lacking in recent defeats to ravenous Down and Mayo sides.
All-Ireland champions are there to be shot at and the Dubs’ recent spate of disciplinary issues would suggest that they don’t exactly like it up ‘em. The prospect of qualifying for the last four and the highly unlikely threat of relegation should ensure there is no complacency from the Dubs against Cork on Sunday.
The sooner the Dubs erase such complacency completely and realise that they must carry the mantle of the country’s top dogs a little better, the better for Gilroy and company.
A far clearer picture at the top of Division Two
Unlike Division One, where, apart from Kerry’s guarantee of top spot, things are very much up in the air thanks to a format that has been labelled as a ‘farce’ by Pat Gilroy in the past, there is no complications surrounding promotion in Division Two.
It’s winner takes all in Pearse Stadium to determine who will join Tyrone in the Division Two Final and who will be playing their football in the top tier next season. Arguably, it is Kildare that need it more than Galway at the moment.
The Lilywhites are considered one of the top five teams in the country based on their Championship displays in recent years, but will only take the next step if they are competing against equal or superior teams on a regular basis and if they add a few more scoring forwards into the mix (Am I allowed even mention Seanie Johnston’s name at this juncture?).
Galway, on the other hand, are a team with promise but are a team in transition and another season in the second tier might do them no harm. In any case, it is good to see that there is at least one winner takes all clash this weekend and the neutrals will get to catch it on TG4 on Sunday at 2.30pm.
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