We go again.
It’s almost a month now since Dublin’s sensational second half collapse to Cork in the Allianz Leagues semi-final, and defender Johnny McCaffrey is still at a loss to explain his side’s defeat.
The Dubs were cruising for most of the clash in Nowlan Park, having enjoyed an 11-point advantage in the first half and still led by eight after 50 minutes, until a late rally from the Rebels derailed Ger Cunningham’s side.
McCaffrey admits that it was puzzling to be on the pitch to see such a dominant positioned erased so quickly:
‘Cork got a good momentum on us, got a couple of scores in a row. When we got our chances near the end we didn’t take them and the goal that they got propelled them on.
‘It’s very hard to stop a team like Cork if they get a run on you. They’ve got the forwards there, who can score from anywhere, and that’s what they did on the day. It can be hard to change it but you’ve just got to try and get the next ball, try and get the next score. A lot of times we did do that but near the end we didn’t and sometimes you can’t really do anything when it’s happening in front of you.’
‘You have to learn from games like that. If you don’t learn from them and put them into practice the next day, then there’s no point in having games like that. It taught us a great lesson and hopefully we’ll put that right the next day.’
The loss may have been a set-back for Ger Cunningham in his maiden year in the capital, but the Dubs have little time to feel sorry for themselves with an opening championship encounter with Galway coming up on the 31st of this month.
The defender feels that having a marquee side in the opening round is the best way for the team to recover from the league disappointment,
‘Absolutely. You can’t take your eye off the ball. You know you have to be 100% for the first game against Galway and that’s great for us and it’s something that we’re really looking forward to a big game early in the summer. Sometimes that can set you up for the rest of the summer.’
‘We’ll be expecting Galway to be 100% and they’ve had a lot of time since the league and had plenty of time to prepare for this game. They’ve had a couple of injuries over the league as well and Galway will be hard to beat in Croke Park.’
The Dublin league campaign was marked, not only by Cunningham’s new approach on the sideline, but with players taking up positions unfamiliar to supporters and pundits alike. Liam Rushe was remoulded as a full-forward while several other players were moved around from defence to attack and midfield. How did McCaffrey find life as a defender one week and a midfielder the next?
‘He’s brought in a freshness and a new voice and and everyone is competing for a a place in the team and it’s all positive for the summer.’
‘Lads are happy to play no matter where you are. Once you’re starting wherever you are you’ll fill that area. Hurling is more adaptable now and you’re not just playing in one area of the pitch and you’re always being moved around in games anyway. You have to be ready to play in various areas and that’s what the management are trying to get across.’
The league is known as the experimentation stage for many sides, so does he expect a more settled side for whatever the summer has to offer?
‘Things can happen in the middle of championship and in the heat of battle things can happen and you could be moved around and you have to be ready for that and ready to adapt.’
Dublin begin in the Leinster Q-finals after losing heavily to Kilkenny in last year’s provincial final, and a subsequent loss to Tipperary in the All-Ireland series. The Cats are much shorter on experience this year due to a spate of retirements while Wexford and Laois will be hoping to make a big impression along with the Dubs and Galway.
How does the brother of Dublin star football Johnny feels the provincial championship shaping up this term?
‘The Galway game is the biggest game of your year. Like I said, if we can get a victory then it could set up for the year and all our attention and focus is just getting a performance and a victory against Galway.
Laois could make an impression, maybe Wexford who were unlucky last year to not get further after an impressive run to the All-Ireland quarter-finals. You can’t write Offaly either and any given day these counties can get a big win.’
Hurling fans will have to get used to the strange sight of seeing two former Kilkenny legends on their TV screens rather than pitches this summer with Henry Shefflin and JJ Delaney signing up for RTE and SKY duties respectively. Does the Lucan man feel that with the departure of six players from Brain Cody’s squad make the defending provincial and All-Ireland champions an easier target this season?
‘I think other counties have raised their level and other counties trying to get to their standard they set over the last 10 years or so. They set the bar and someone like us having been trying to get up to that level. Kilkenny will be very strong no matter who they have and everyone must be ready for that.
‘It’ll be strange to play them without the two lads, and Tommy Walsh, who was always very strong when we played them. They’ve got lads there that played last year and are settled in positions who are going to be just as good. They’re still going to be a difficult team to beat.’
The Games Development Officer is about to begin his 10th inter county season as a Dublin senior hurler and was a key part of the county’s success under Anthony Daly, scooping a league and Leinster title under the Clareman. However, they have failed to take the next step and secure a place in an All-Ireland final. McCaffrey feels it is just a very fine margin that currently separates Dublin from the All-Ireland favourites.
‘The belief is there now, it’s just that rub of the green on the day. Last year didn’t go well in championship but the year before we could have been a puck of the ball away [from the final]. You’ve got to keep working hard and make sure you’re putting yourself in positions, and if it does comes around again you take them.’
Dublin’s league collapse set up an all-Munster Allianz final as Cork faced neighbours Waterford just last weekend. The Déise are quickly becoming the story of the hurling year. Does their style and success now mean they have to be considered an All-Ireland contender?
‘The high work-rate is probably the biggest thing that Waterford have. I wouldn’t say they’re defensive, they’re working very hard for one another. They’re very confident on the ball. It’s a style that has been there. Clare tried it a couple of years ago and got an All-Ireland out of it. It’s very hard to counteract when they’re in full flow.
‘It’s a hard system [to crack] if you don’t have the ball, and it’s very hard to get it off them. Once any inter-county player has the ball in possession it’s going to be hard to take it off him.
It’s phenomenal really for Waterford, coming from last year. They’ve been a breath of fresh air throughout the league and they’ve deserved every victory they’ve had. There’s been no luck involved.’
The FootballJOE quiz: Were you paying attention? – episode 10
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