Éamonn Fitzmaurice: Myriad opportunities open as teams explore the three-up shape
WRECKING BALL: When Damien Comer was fed decent ball against Dublin, he was unstoppable. Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Every year round seven of the National Football League captures the country's imagination for a weekend. There is plenty at stake and I’m sure you have read the head scratching permutations elsewhere at this stage, with a group of teams capable of reaching league finals should results go their way, or being relegated should events conspire against them.
Wonderfully, the only certainty is the uncertainty of it all. What sport should be and what it is all about. While All-Ireland final day is a unique and spiritual occasion that enthrals the nation, only two counties are all-in, to decide who is on the right side of the thin line that divides heaven from hell. This weekend is different, as 23 of the 32 teams still have something to play for, with some of the relevant talking points, permutations aside, below.
While the Donegal v Derry Ulster Championship preliminary round tie has acted as the lightning rod in terms of drawing awareness to the proximity of the league final weekend to championship, it is far from an outlier. In total 18 teams make their 2025 championship bow either six or seven days after the league finals. It is farcical that teams have to consider compromising an appearance in a national final in Croke Park because of scheduling. Prioritising one over the other shouldn’t be a decision that they have to make. It dishonours a great competition. Not to mention what loyal sponsors Allianz must make of it all.
I have always been a huge fan of the league final weekend, whether as a player, manager or spectator. However if they continue to be compromised, as they have this year, we should consider getting rid of them and gain a weekend back to allow a natural two-week gap between league and championship. Maybe the time has come to simply award the cup to whatever team finishes top of the league after round seven.
Finally we started to see the ball being moved at pace last weekend. Kerry, Dublin and Galway all excelled at it, using the boot to great effect. I was surprised to see that the amount of kicking actually dropped in round six, as detailed in the report from the Games Intelligence Unit this week. As time goes by and teams see the possibilities that lie within a kicking game, specifically as part of rapid counter-attacks, hopefully we will see more teams doing likewise.
Interestingly, teams have eventually cottoned on that it pays to move the ball away from the kickout drop zone as quickly as possible, preferably with a kick pass. To allow for this teams need to maintain width at the opposite side to where the kickout is dropping, rather than being sucked towards the contest as had been happening. Either that or players were starting to cheat back on the weak side in preparation for losing the kickout.
There was a great example of flipping this on it’s head last Saturday evening in Austin Stack Park when Paudie Clifford won a break in front of the stand and fired a great foot pass wide to Micheál Burns who had stayed put in the 12 position and was in place for the pass. Rather than worrying about losing the restart Kerry planned on winning it and were setup to maximise that win.
While they have been inconsistent during the league and will be looking to build on last week's performance in Galway tomorrow, Kerry have scored the most goals in the entire national league (13) while also only conceding three. Only Offaly (two) have conceded fewer across the four divisions. The team that manages the risk reward equation best will win it all and those metrics suggest Kerry may well be working towards a successful formula.
Unsurprisingly, teams are still trying to figure out their own kickouts, while also holding a few bits and pieces back for the big stuff. It will be the height of summer before we see the full array of possibilities in this regard. There are still elements of frustration as they move from the old to the new but they are getting there.
Stephen Cluxton struggled in the first half in Croke Park against Galway last weekend but he really found his range in the second, particularly with some superb mid-range kicks. In general, the restart to the two and four positions is now fraught with danger, as Blaine Hughes can testify to. It is the longest kick for the goalkeeper to beat the arc, for a short restart to retain possession.
I’m pretty sure it is a 28-metre kick to the point where the arc meets the 20-metre line, whereas the apex of the arc straight out from the centre of the 20-metre line is 20 metres. This is because the circle is centred on the goal line, rather than on the 20-metre line as it is for the traditional ‘D’. The wider teams go the longer the kick. Simply put the shortest kick is straight out to the apex of the arc, the longest kick is to the two points where the arc meets the 20 metre line.
That kick is giving forwards the opportunity to steal the ball, especially as they can intercept inside the arc, whereas the backs can’t touch it in there directly from a kickout. For teams that want to work that one to the corner back as time goes on they may elect to leave another defender inside the 20 metre line as the kickout is being taken. If their teammate gathers possession that player can then charge off their shoulder to support them coming out and break any would be aggressive opposition press. Worst case scenario should they lose the restart they would be in a position to defend the advancing forward rather than allowing them straight through on goal, as happened with David Clifford for Dylan Geaney’s goal against Armagh.
Should they get a few away via this method the opposition would probably push further up to deal with it, thus leaving more space outside. It would appear to be a win-win situation to me, for a team that wants to get their hands on the ball and to avoid kicking everything to a contest.
Finally teams are starting to really look at their three up shape and are starting to make hay. They are now actively exploring the myriad of possibilities that this structure invites. They are no longer stationing themselves too far out. At least one is staying close to goals and one is operating as a link man. The third man often floats and moves between the two more defined roles. Paul Geaney does this with aplomb for Kerry.
Forwards are redeveloping their lateral movement rather than making runs straight out. They are starting to take their men on in one-on-one situations as opposed to coming back out the pitch on an interminable loop. When the link man is getting early ball he is immediately looking to give an angled ball inside, where the inside men just need to get separation from their markers to open up scoring chances.
Kerry, Dublin and Galway shone at this last time out. It will be telling to see if they can back it up again this weekend. Can they maintain those patterns when a team tries to disrupt this? Can they continue to impose their game on the opposition? A variety of outlets and mixing the approach will be key here. Keep them guessing while sticking to the plan.
We also got a glimpse of the possibilities that exist with respect to a target man. Donegal actively tried to use Michael Murphy in this regard. It was as if they decided they would investigate this option in what they considered an irrelevant league game. Any post-match assessment would suggest they still have work to do on it.
Damien Comer’s Croke Park cameo gave the best illustration of the potential of this tactic. When fed decent ball he was unstoppable. He caused havoc and must be excited for what lies ahead for himself personally and for his team. For one thing his battle with Jason Foley this weekend will be riveting. An old school mano a mano one-on-one battle. Even if it is only for a period of the match tomorrow, sit back and enjoy.
