Pay attention class
Everyday’s a school day, but if Mayo and Dublin are to avoid spending their September in the dunces corner, then they will need to learn valuable lessons from Sunday’s thrilling 2-12 to 1-15 draw.
Not there is much time for players to readjust and prepare for what everyone expects will be an even more ferocious battle than we saw just 48 hours ago.
The Dublin management will probably have more information to process this week as the county face their first championship replay since Meath 2007.
So what lessons will Jim Gavin have learned from Sunday’s action?
Stephen Cluxton should concentrate on being a goalkeeper
The multiple All-Star had three attempts at the posts on Sunday and missed them all. His last shot, to win the game, was almost in the same patch of grass where he kicked the All-Ireland winning point against Kerry in 2011.
But by all accounts the Parnells man has been troubled with a hamstring injury, and he never looked comfortable when placing the ball and aiming for the posts.
Cluxton’s short-kicks outs were almost an unqualified success for the first half, but after he missed those crucial frees he saw a shot blocked down and immediately after the Mayo penalty his next kick-out went to a man wearing green and red which resulted in the equalizer.
Cluxton is one of the best goalkeepers of all time and he should be allowed stick to it.
Free-taking needs to be the responsibility of the 14 other players, with Bernard Brogan and Dean Rock more than capable of slotting over placed balls if needs be.
Showboating is for Soccer AM
Paul Flynn is yet to hit the heights this season that has seen him earn various All-Star awards at wing forward, but at times on Sunday he did seem to be returning to form. He won the opening penalty and was foraging for ball and making runs.
But then all the talk after the game was how his outside of the boot shot in the 63rd minute went wide.
Flynn had acres to run into, he could have carried the ball forward and reduced the angle, but instead he went for the glory, the point that the Hill would love and it didn’t work out.
Dublin don’t need to show off. Everyone knows they have outstanding individuals but you could never imagine a Tyrone or Kerry trying something like that even when they were seven points up.
Kilkenny’s hurlers have developed the template of when you have a boot on your opponents throat you bring down you other foot. Dublin, and even Mayo, would do well to copy their attitude.
Trust the midfield
Mayo were happy to let Dublin take their short kick-outs to Johnny Cooper and their wing backs for the majority of the game.
However when Mayo pushed up on Dublin’s midfield, minus Michael Darragh McAuley and Denis Bastick, the Leinster champions were found wanting
It’s not a shock as they have not had to compete with any team’s midfield really this season, but Bryan Fenton and Tomas Brady could not cope with Seamus O’Shea and Tom Parsons in the final few minutes.
Jim Gavin is likely to start Bastick and he, along with MDMA, should give Dublin a much surer footing at midfield.
Mayo will definitely push up on Dublin’s short kick-out next Saturday so Jim Gavin needs to have his side ready to go long.
The squad isn’t as strong as they thought
It may have been partially inspired by media coverage of Dublin swatting sides away with impunity, but Dublin’s squad is being severally tested as the summer moves into autumn.
With Eoghan O’Gara and Cormac Costello missing from attack and with Bastick and MDMA both black carded, Dublin were down to the bare bones on Sunday.
Alan Brogan is a more than capable replacement for Diarmuid Connolly, but apart from Kevin McManamon Dublin’s subs made no impact in the game.
Now imagine if Philly McMahon had been suspended or Rory O’Carroll’s eye injury was more serious
It was said last season that Gavin wanted to finish the game with his best 15 on the field.
He now has no choice but to start with it on Saturday.
Hold your discipline
Jim Gavin is unhappy how his side seem to come out the wrong side of the free count in almost every game this season.
Against Fermanagh Dublin were penalized 21-4 while on Sunday it was closer to 26-22 against them.
Gavin has intimated there may be some sort of conspiracy against his side, but perhaps before last Sunday players were not prepared to tackle in the correct way when they were winning games so easily.
It’s much easier to be lazy with a hand or foot when you’re 14 points up.
However when they faced Mayo, the best side in the country for robbing possession, Dublin came in under-cooked and were fouling when normally they should be able to dispossess.
There was niggle on both sides, and outright filth as well, but it was a lack of discipline in front of the posts that kept Mayo in the game.
That cannot be allowed happen this Saturday.
