Unfortunately, like a lot of fans of other counties, I’ve never supported a successful Laois senior team. When Laois were competitive I was involved with the squad so I can’t relate to what Dublin and Mayo supporters went through on Saturday. It must feel like heaven and hell all rolled into one.
That last 10 minutes of the game were unbearable to watch, even for me. Like most neutrals I wanted Mayo to get over the line and my heart was racing. The tension in Croke Park was extraordinary. I really don’t know how both sets of supporters coped.
Paul Mannion, who watched last year’s final from Hill 16, said after the game, “On the pitch you don’t feel the nerves as much because you’re just focusing on your job; you’re not in the same sort of mood as the people in the crowd. Playing is easier”.
The calmest people in Croke Park were down on the field of play. Nerves for players happen in the build-up and in the dressing room but when the ball is thrown in, the game takes over. Playing in the game and concentrating on your man and your own performance takes you to a different place mentally, unlike supporters who suffer until the final whistle.
Mannion, again, said after the game “The intensity is like something you can’t imagine. Training can only prepare you so much – when you get out there it’s a completely different feeling, a completely different level”.
You’re right Paul, I can’t imagine. The fitness levels, the hits, the pressure, the scores, just everything about that game was on a different level to any inter-county football I ever played. Looking back on big games I played, while they felt intense at the time, they were more like challenge games in comparison to that war on Saturday.
I spoke with Alan Brogan yesterday and said to him, “I wouldn’t last 10 minutes in the modern game.” He laughed and said the same thing, “Yeah, I got out at the right time”.
We both agreed that faster players like us who liked to go past defenders are redundant in the modern game. Unless you’re built like a bull, like Kevin McManamon, it’s almost impossible now for a forward to take on his man, go past him and score. Defenders are too strong, they’re able to hold you up and wait for a covering player to come and take the ball off you. How many times did we see forwards on Saturday attempt to go past their man, realise it’s not going to happen, turn back and recycle?
Inside the scoring zone, forwards now only have a split second to decide what they’re going to do. They need to be sharper then forwards in my time ever needed to be. Time and space is at a premium. They have to avoid going into the tackle at all costs.
The reason both games were so gripping was Mayo and Dublin have the balance between defence and attack close to perfect. They play a similar type of game to each other. Mayo play with six defenders and a sweeper and Dublin go with five defenders and use their sixth as a sweeper. Mayo forwards have more space up front to exploit which makes up for their weaker forward line. They both have strong, mobile midfielders; working half-forwards who can also score and try to keep their inside forward line inside.
I think teams like Tyrone and Donegal will need to come with something new next year. Their very defensive half-forward lines, often made up of defenders, are outdated. Those defensive game plans won’t get enough scores to beat Mayo and Dublin and they need to go back to the drawing board if they want to compete.
Dublin are worthy and brilliant champions. I’m often accused of being anti Dublin, usually by trolls, but I don’t think I am. I do point out some facts Dublin fans don’t like to hear. They enjoy the biggest pick, play almost all their games at home, have the greatest number of clubs, the most professional set-up and have more money than every other county. Despite being the richest, they don’t even have a county ground of their own that’s fit for purpose.
They have dominated Leinster to the point that the provincial championship is a complete waste of time. Now they’re threatening to do the same with the All-Ireland championship. They don’t hammer teams in the All-Ireland series like they do in Leinster but they have now won four out of the last six All Ireland titles. That is worrying for everyone else.
On the field of play they are an incredibly likeable team. They play the best brand of football in the country. They are honest, hard-working and skilful. They have the perfect mix of players – the best goalkeeper in history, a tenacious footballing full-back line, attacking half-backs, a Rolls Royce midfielder in Fenton and some of the best forwards in the game. They are a huge team physically and can take you on in a battle if needed. If you want to trash talk them, you’ll get it back in spades.
They work for the team and not for themselves. Two former footballers of the year, Bernard Brogan and Michael Darragh MacAuley, were dropped for an All-Ireland replay and their attitude when they came on the field was exemplary. They won the game for Dublin.
They are brilliant role models. What’s not to like and admire?
As for Mayo they are as gutsy a team as you’re likely to see. They need to find a couple of forwards though. The worry is they don’t have them. Rochford tried to move on from Andy Moran this year, realised there wasn’t anyone better, so he pretty much reverted back to the team from last year.
I think Cillian O’Connor will move to centre forward next year. He’s doesn’t have the pace to play in the full-forward line against the top tier teams. On Saturday, as usual against Dublin, he was marked from the front. He couldn’t get out in front of his man, got demoralised and stopped moving altogether. He would be better suited to the broken play around the 40 where he can kick a long range point or two like the one that drew the first game.
He is a leader and captain and he can’t lead stuck inside with a man standing in front of him. Can Mayo find the inside forward to replace him? That’s the big question for them as they attempt to come back next year in their never-ending quest for an All-Ireland. Anyone that thinks this is the end of this Mayo team knows nothing about their character or quality. They are so close; they can’t and won’t lose heart
There are a lot of cracks in the championship and we’ll have the winter to discuss them, while plenty of counties will be plotting the downfall of Jim Gavin’s side. But plotting is the easy bit. This summer belonged to the greatest Dublin team of all time and it will take a lot more than talk to defeat them.
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The GAA Hour pays tribute to the unbeatable Dubs and asks where did it all go wrong for Mayo in the All-Ireland final replay. Listen below or subscribe on iTunes.
