100% vs. 66%
Michael Murphy took two shots at the posts in Sunday’s Ulster final loss to Monaghan and scored both.
If he was any other forward in the country getting two points in such a defensive game would bee seen as a decent tally, especially on a day when his side ran into a Monaghan team that outfoxed Rory Gallagher and his charges.
Economy. Isn’t that what the GAA is all about now?
But Murphy is the Donegal captain and one of the best forwards in the country.
Two points is simply not good enough, particularly when Conor McManus grabbed six points of his side’s total.
Murphy was kept scoreless from play for the third successive Ulster final against Monaghan despite seeing much more of the ball.
So how exactly did McManus, despite having much less possession than Murphy, manage to achieve a 66% success rate on a day when the master was outfoxed by the slave?
McManus grabbed three points from play and three from frees while Murphy’s two attempts were from placed balls.
The Monaghan corner-forward also missed three kicks at the post, his final attempt on the right hand touchline, in the second half, coming off the post.
The spread of his scores, as well as the distances involved indicates he, as well as his forward teammates, were always on the move, and looking to move Donegal full back Neil McGee away from the crucial danger zone as much as possible.
Murphy, in the first half a least, was stationed as the sweeper around the half back line.
Murphy was utilised 60 metres from the opposition goal. This is a tactic that has worked well for Donegal in the past.
He normally gets primary possession, his tackling breaks up attacks, and he can join in as Donegal work the ball through the hand.
However his marker Vinny Corey stuck to him much the same way that Aidan O’Mahoney frustrated him in last year’s All-Ireland final. Monaghan totally shut him down in his own half.
Neill McGee and Corey engaged in their own battle to see who could be more limpet-like, in the game, with their respective markers.
The two men were tied until McManus needed just half a yard to get away from Donegal’s full-back and score a wonderful point coming in from the sideline.
The players had been booked just moments earlier for a tangle, but it was clear that the Monaghan captain would bide his time until the chances arose.
Murphy meanwhile was clearly frustrated with Corey’s attention and this was highlighted in his tangle with McManus, around the middle of the pitch, in the first half.
It was probably this frustration that also led to his misplaced pass that was gobbled up by Monaghan before the break, and McManus tapping McGee on the chest afterwards on the way back out as they led by 0-8 to 0-4.
McManus’ longest spell of sole possession in the first half was just eight seconds as he went on a mazy run in the middle.
Murphy in contrast had a maximum of three seconds with the ball in hand to try and work an opportunity for himself or the team.
Indeed, he had to make up 30 metres to even get on the ball.
Monaghan could afford to have McManus starved of possession for so long, safe in the knowledge that one correct ball into his path would cause all sorts of problems.
Donegal, on the other hand, needed Murphy to be centrally involved, if not always in a central position.
He got no chance to strike a shot at the posts or to wind up his foot to launch a 60 metres point attempt in the entire match
Credit has to go to Monaghan’s defensive system here, but Murphy was influential against Derry and Tyrone whilst being reasonably shackled.
Indeed, he was only found with one high ball inside the 21m line all game and that was in the 63rd minute.,
With Monaghan retreating, Rory Gallagher must be questioned as to why some long range bombs into the edge of the square – even to test the pulse of the full-back line – were not an option.
Donegal were turned over time and time again running into traffic.
Eoin Liston described the match perfectly on Twitter:
Donegal being outdonegaled
— Eoin Liston (@EoinListon) July 19, 2015
To beat Monaghan’s blanket, Donegal needed Murphy firing on all cylinders.
Instead, half a tank of dirty petrol meant he was stuttering along in first gear and his teammates laboured without his presence and energy.
Murphy’s performance is a result of being a victim to a system.
He is trying to be all things to everyone in the Donegal team, but he cannot play half-back and then be expected to join up the attacks and then chase back when that attacks flounders due to heavy mid-town traffic every single day.
McManus plays away from the posts for Monaghan most of the time but it is rare to see him back beyond the half-way line.
He is an outlet every single time because he is spared from the punishing defensive work that Murphy is expected to do.
Donegal will face a similar if less refined defensive system against Galway next week.
They will get 100% from Murphy in terms of effort, as always, but what they really need is a better ratio of chances created and chances taken.
100% isn’t always the perfect stat.
Just ask Conor McManus and the new Ulster champions.
