1. Dublin’s attacking options
Their All-Ireland semi-final loss to Mayo last year raised questions about Dublin’s attack.
Were they too reliant on Bernard Brogan? How big a blow was the impending departure of Ciaran Kilkenny to the AFL? And would Alan Brogan return to full fitness?
The latter has yet to be answered as Brogan’s comeback is delayed from a groin injury.
But Kilkenny cut short his Australian sojourn and while currently on the treatment table, he will be integral to their summer hopes.
And the manner in which Dublin yesterday rebuffed the notion of being too reliant on Bernard Brogan is most salient.
When they played Mayo earlier in the league, Brogan posted 1-10 to their 2-14 total. Yesterday Dublin shot 2-16 but Brogan only contributed 0-5 as other players stepped up.
Paul Mannion has gone from being a sub in last year’s U21 winning side to being in line to start for the seniors. He shone for Kilmacud Crokes last year and his tally of 1-4 yesterday illustrated what a hot prospect he is.
Jason Whelan effortlessly stepped onto the inter-county stage after a great club run with Ballymun Kickhams, struck 1-1 and put in a hard-working shift.
And even if Paddy Andrews didn’t score yesterday, he has shot a minimum of 0-2 in their previous seven Division 1 ties this spring. The enhancement of their attacking options is a crucial plus for Dublin ahead of the summer.
2. The areas that need attention for Mayo
There were only six points adrift at the final whistle yesterday but the gulf between Mayo and their opponents Dublin was greater on the day. Certainly Mayo’s focus is on succeeding in a different arena in 2013 but their league loss did bring into sharp focus what they need to work on.
Firstly, the thorny issue of firepower up front remains. Cillian O’Connor lead the line manfully yesterday and Michael Conroy was typically game for the battle but this is an attack that still needs Alan Dillon and Andy Moran back in harness at the peak of their powers.
Secondly, they were wiped out in the middle third for a phase during the first-half which cost them dearly. In a 20-minute period, they were outscored by 2-9 to 0-2 with Dublin’s control of possession at midfield being the springboard for that supremacy.
It will be interesting come the championship game at the end of May against Galway if Aidan O’Shea is moved back from centre-forward and if Barry Moran recovers to start.
Finally there was the fundamentals of football and fitness to be addressed in the eyes of James Horan.
“As you can see there, we are a little bit behind in fitness. We’ll do some quite heavy training over the next couple of weeks. Some of our fundamentals left us down.
“Some of our shots for goal were terrible, we had four hand-passes intercepted and we had three or four shots into the goalkeeper’s hands. That is basic stuff.”
Mayo’s Michael Conroy in action against Dublin’s Jack McCaffrey.
Pic: INPHO/James Crombie
3. Tyrone are back where Mickey Harte wants them to be
Central to Mickey Harte’s managerial philosophy when he took over as Tyrone boss a decade ago was a notable emphasis on the league. In his debut season Tyrone won the league title and they reached the semi-final stage in the following two campaigns.
That league progress was the precursor to All-Ireland titles in 2003 and 2005. And slipping down to the second tier informed Harte’s view in recent years that no team in Division 2 was capable of lifting the Sam Maguire.
This year they have clambered back up to Division 1 and an assured performance yesterday saw them past the semi-final challenge of Kildare. Back in the league decider is where Harte wants to be.
“We want to be winning games at this time of year. If that affords someone else the opportunity to look at you well so be it. I think it’s a better environment to be in.
“I’m very happy to be there, it’s the first time in 10 years. I’ll take that.”
Managers Kieran McGeeney and Mickey Harte at the end of the game
Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer
4. A learning experience for Kildare
All in all it’s been a spring of progress for Kildare with a Leinster U21 trophy stored on the sideboard and a competitive Division 1 campaign under their belts. They have a good base to build their summer challenge on.
But climbing those extra rungs on the ladder will be tricky on the evidence of yesterday’s game against Tyrone. Their plethora of U21 talents found it difficult to impose themselves on the match while up front, there was a lack of composure about their shooting.
A rash of wild shots contributed to their loss by four points and attacking shortcomings were something Kieran McGeeney accepted.
“We dropped ones short. Things like that are killers. We have to learn to be more clinical. When you reach the top level here, every small thing helps and makes a big difference.”
5. The effects of the Gaelic Grounds clash will be interesting
Over 80 minutes of hurling in Limerick yesterday that contained 56 scores, hints at an open and entertaining affair. But the consequences of Clare’s victory over Cork will be most significant.
In the short-term will Cork benefit for this summer from a hard match in April or suffer greatly in the long-term from Division 1B hurling in 2014? Will a campaign in Division 1A be the springboard for Clare to mount a real challenge in the provincial championship this year?
How fired up will Cork be if they end up crossing paths with Clare again in Munster in June? And is there any credence to those rumours being expressed in certain hurling quarters that a revamp of the league is in the offing after Cork’s relegation? Time will tell.
YouTube: hjtvsports1
