Ahead of the meeting of Dublin and Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday, JOE has picked out a few crucial battles where the game could be won and lost.
The midfield
It is entirely feasible that the four midfielders who start Sunday’s game will not be on the pitch at the end of the 70 minutes. For a start, the high-energy game played by both sides places high demands on those in the centre of the park, but both also have plenty of options in reserve.
Of all the newcomers in Pat Gilroy’s set-up this year, Michael Dara McCauley has arguably been the most impressive of the lot. As well as being an accomplished fielder, he is an extremely clever footballer and will more often than not pop up with a score at a time when it is most needed, like against Tyrone.
Ross McConnell seems far more at home at midfield than at full back, but has been inconsistent at times and will more than likely be replaced around the 50 minute mark by Eamonn Fennell, who is not fit enough to last 70 minutes, but can definitely be effective as an impact substitute.
In Cork’s case, it wouldn’t be outlandish to suggest that the two midfielders who began the game against Roscommon on the bench have more to offer than the two who started. 20-year old Aidan Walsh is a bundle of energy and will go from one edge of the square to the other all day long, while the experienced Derek Kavanagh provides a steady presence.
Nicholas Murphy and Alan O’Connor are superior fielders, however and with the middle third likely to be extremely claustrophobic on Sunday, the winning of clean ball could be a major factor.
Bernard Brogan v Michael Shields
Brogan has been the best forward in the country this season bar none and destroyed a Tyrone defence that had previously tied up the best Down and Monaghan had to offer. What’s more, he seems to have rid himself of the inconsistency that has often affected his shooting in the past and no longer plays second fiddle to older brother Alan in attack.
Dublin will make no attempt to telegraph their tactics; they’ll hit Brogan quick and they’ll hit him as often as possible. What is different about Dublin this year is that they have a completely different threat in the form of Eoghan O’Gara in the full forward line. How Cork deal with both players will be crucial to the eventual outcome, but Brogan undoubtedly remains the biggest danger.
Bernard Brogan and Eoghan O’Gara will pose a significant threat in the Dublin full-forward line
With Graham Canty out, Michael Shields might be deployed at centre-half back, but it was he who was chosen to curb the influence of Donie Shine last time out, while he has marked Kieran Donaghy with varying degrees of success in the past, so looking after marquee attackers will be nothing new to him.
Shields may not be the stickiest of markers, but like Canty, he is the type of player that can inspire his teammates and the Cork supporters with an inspirational block, a mighty fetch or a lung-bursting foray up the pitch, something that could be important in what will be a hostile atmosphere in Croke Park on Sunday. If Shields and Brogan do cross paths, the winner of the individual contest will more than likely be appearing in an All-Ireland final next month.
Ger Brennan v Pearse O’Neill
Ger Brennan has been in and around the Dublin scene for quite a few years now without ever establishing himself as a permanent part of the starting line-up. His temperament often got him into trouble and he would never have been renowned as the best man-marker. As such, holding the fort at centre back rather than sticking tight to an individual marker seems to suit him and he has made the position his own in the last few games.
He faces a massive test on Sunday, however, against a man who will run often and run directly at the heart of the Blues’ defence. O’Neill let loose in the second half against Roscommon in the quarter-final and has shown in the past how dangerous he can be when he is in full flight.
Brennan will be helped by Dublin’s ultra-defensive tactics and Pat Gilroy’s decision to draft in Cian O’Sullivan may have been made with the idea of switching him on to O’Neill if Brennan should struggle.
