Looking forward to another great day's championship action with the final round of the hurling qualifiers and the Ulster football final replay.
The hurling season has stuttered along so far but last weekend was really the start of us getting down to serious business.
Cork shocked, I know it's a strong word given that they have one of the top two sides in the country for the last six season, all of us with the quality of their performance last weekend against Galway and their sheer guts and determination in the second half against the wind with a man down.
They defeated the Tribesmen in a game where we saw one of the great individual performances by a teenage Joe Canning.
When you see a young man put in a game like that you just have wonder how good he can be.
If he keeps his feet on the ground and remains injury free, which will be difficult given that he puts his body on the line to create space, he has the potential to become an all-time great.
However, the Cork half back line of Gardiner, Curran and O hAilpin looked like men on a mission and with Joe Deane on fire up front Cork looked irresistible.
Clare on the other hand have also a lot to prove after a fairly poor performance in the Munster final and they should at least not be as dependent on one player to do the damage for them as were Galway.
In the end I think Cork will edge it just because they take their scores easier than Clare but if the Banner can find the Cork net the way they breached the Waterford and Limerick defences early in the season then it could be quite a contest.
I fancy Waterford to overcome Wexford despite their over reliance on Eoin Kelly to beat Offaly last week.
I still think there is a big game in Waterford and it's now die dog or shite the licence.
Wexford are a poor side, their league form and their efforts in Leinster tell us that.
The gap between the rest in Leinster, Cats apart, and Munster isn't as big as some suggest, but the Decies know this is the last throw of the dice and I would expect some of them to begin to perform as they can.
I wouldn't even dream of calling Ulster. Prevailing wisdom that Fermanagh had their chance and that they will be eaten up by Armagh in the replay isn't going to happen.
Fermanagh are much too fit and physically strong to roll over for anyone. They know they had the game by the throat for the last 25 minutes and they will take great heart from that but they must do something about the free taking.
Armagh are methodical, clever and slick in full flight but McGrane is no longer a 70 minute player, he tired last week and the team suffered.
They are a little too pedestrian at times in the build-up and it was a tactical error bringing in Oisin McConville left the field.
The old Armagh disease of the two Brians era of not pushing on when they had a big lead cost them dearly and unless they address the issue of pace in their side they will be found out by better sides than Fermanagh no matter what Curran and McDonnell can conjure up.
I think we are in for another great battle as winning is everything in this one as the losers will find it very tough lifting themselves for the qualifers.
Showing posts with label Fermanagh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fermanagh. Show all posts
Sunday, 27 July 2008
Saturday, 21 June 2008
O'Rourke gets it right on the night
Whatever Fermanagh manager Malachy O'Rourke has got I wish I could bottle it.
His record of success wherever he has gone has been phenomenal but tonight he got it completely right against Derry to bring Fermanagh to their first Ulster final in 26 years, and if his team continue to work as hard as they did tonight they will win it.
The Ernemen had stars all over the field tonight.
Murphy and McGrath worked like Trojans and McGrath's ability to soak up hits and continue his runs was a joy to watch.
Mark Little ran himself into the ground linking up defence and taking his team on to the attack.
Eamon Maguire and Ryan Keenan always seemed to be available and at times it looked like the Ernemen had a man over they worked so hard.
I thought early on that Sherry was going to be their undoing at the back as Eoghan Bradley took a goal and a point off him in the early stages but he stuck to his task and eventually got on top aided by some strong defending by Goan and McDermott.
What also impressed was the fact that they didn't panic after Derry's great start.
They did get a rub of the green when Ronan Gallagher saved a penalty, which should never have been awarded against Marty McGrath.
And they ate into Derry's six-point lead with half backs Tommy McElroy and Damian Kelly showing the way with great points.
McCabe too did a great job when he came on popping up everywhere to keep the ball moving.
Fermanagh do play an awful lot of short ball but they mix up the hand passing with some great diagonal balls into space where players are working tirelessly to get on the end of them.
If they have a problem at all, it is in scoring.
They have to work tremendously hard for everything they get and if they had have been a little bit more ruthless in front of goal they would have had Derry dead and gone ten minutes before the end of the game.
No one will enjoy playing against the Ernemen and they will not fear either of the other two sides still left in Ulster.
If O'Rourke can keep his best players fit and healthy, and incidentally it was great to see Barry Owens back and magical that he scored the goal in his first game back after serious illness, they will be hateful team to play against.
This year's Ulster championship has already been one to remember, let's hope that Down and Armagh can serve up another thriller.
His record of success wherever he has gone has been phenomenal but tonight he got it completely right against Derry to bring Fermanagh to their first Ulster final in 26 years, and if his team continue to work as hard as they did tonight they will win it.
The Ernemen had stars all over the field tonight.
Murphy and McGrath worked like Trojans and McGrath's ability to soak up hits and continue his runs was a joy to watch.
Mark Little ran himself into the ground linking up defence and taking his team on to the attack.
Eamon Maguire and Ryan Keenan always seemed to be available and at times it looked like the Ernemen had a man over they worked so hard.
I thought early on that Sherry was going to be their undoing at the back as Eoghan Bradley took a goal and a point off him in the early stages but he stuck to his task and eventually got on top aided by some strong defending by Goan and McDermott.
What also impressed was the fact that they didn't panic after Derry's great start.
They did get a rub of the green when Ronan Gallagher saved a penalty, which should never have been awarded against Marty McGrath.
And they ate into Derry's six-point lead with half backs Tommy McElroy and Damian Kelly showing the way with great points.
McCabe too did a great job when he came on popping up everywhere to keep the ball moving.
Fermanagh do play an awful lot of short ball but they mix up the hand passing with some great diagonal balls into space where players are working tirelessly to get on the end of them.
If they have a problem at all, it is in scoring.
They have to work tremendously hard for everything they get and if they had have been a little bit more ruthless in front of goal they would have had Derry dead and gone ten minutes before the end of the game.
No one will enjoy playing against the Ernemen and they will not fear either of the other two sides still left in Ulster.
If O'Rourke can keep his best players fit and healthy, and incidentally it was great to see Barry Owens back and magical that he scored the goal in his first game back after serious illness, they will be hateful team to play against.
This year's Ulster championship has already been one to remember, let's hope that Down and Armagh can serve up another thriller.
Derry found out in Ulster
Derry were found out in tonight's Ulster championship semi final against Fermanagh.
Fermanagh simply did their homework on the National League champions.
The key to stopping Derry was to cut the supply to Paddy Bradley.
Fermanagh double teamed him and although Eoghan Bradley produced another of those flashes of brilliance to score an early Derry goal he didn't do much more after the first ten minutes other than look busy.
Paddy Bradley tried hard to break the stranglehold on him but never really got a sniff at it.
What must be worrying for Derry was the failure of the rest of the forward line to fire at all.
Enda Muldoon was hurt early on but I've rarely seen him as quiet in a game.
I don't know whether this was a result of the injury or that the Fermanagh half back line and Mark Little worked so hard to close them down and burn them out with their lung bursting runs forward.
Fergal Doherty was once again missed in midfield and after a slow start Fermanagh's Murphy and McGrath won the war in the middle.
The running of the Fermanagh forwards also cruelly exposed the Derry backs.
I am not convinced by Kevin McCloy's form this season and although the Derry defence dug deep for periods in the second half when they were being over-run out the field a better side than the Ernemen would have had this game won long before the final whistle.
Once again Derry have flattered to deceive in Ulster. They lack mental toughness and there were a lot of players today who looked short on ideas when the going got tough.
Derry posted 1-4 in the first 20 minutes yet scored only another five times in the rest of the game and three of those came in the last ten minutes when Fermanagh were down to 14 men after a rush of blood to Sherry's head.
The Oak Leaf men have enjoyed good runs through the back door in recent seasons but psychologically they will struggle to come back from this defeat given their stated aim of at least winning Ulster.
Worse again is the fact that Fermanagh have shown clearly how to take Derry on and no one at the top table will fear them.
Fermanagh simply did their homework on the National League champions.
The key to stopping Derry was to cut the supply to Paddy Bradley.
Fermanagh double teamed him and although Eoghan Bradley produced another of those flashes of brilliance to score an early Derry goal he didn't do much more after the first ten minutes other than look busy.
Paddy Bradley tried hard to break the stranglehold on him but never really got a sniff at it.
What must be worrying for Derry was the failure of the rest of the forward line to fire at all.
Enda Muldoon was hurt early on but I've rarely seen him as quiet in a game.
I don't know whether this was a result of the injury or that the Fermanagh half back line and Mark Little worked so hard to close them down and burn them out with their lung bursting runs forward.
Fergal Doherty was once again missed in midfield and after a slow start Fermanagh's Murphy and McGrath won the war in the middle.
The running of the Fermanagh forwards also cruelly exposed the Derry backs.
I am not convinced by Kevin McCloy's form this season and although the Derry defence dug deep for periods in the second half when they were being over-run out the field a better side than the Ernemen would have had this game won long before the final whistle.
Once again Derry have flattered to deceive in Ulster. They lack mental toughness and there were a lot of players today who looked short on ideas when the going got tough.
Derry posted 1-4 in the first 20 minutes yet scored only another five times in the rest of the game and three of those came in the last ten minutes when Fermanagh were down to 14 men after a rush of blood to Sherry's head.
The Oak Leaf men have enjoyed good runs through the back door in recent seasons but psychologically they will struggle to come back from this defeat given their stated aim of at least winning Ulster.
Worse again is the fact that Fermanagh have shown clearly how to take Derry on and no one at the top table will fear them.
Sunday, 25 May 2008
No road back for Farneymen
Seamus McEnaney's Monaghan footballers will find it hard to recover from the body blow of losing to Fermanagh in the first round in Ulster.
The Farneymen looked low in confidence today and even when they closed the gap to just one point with a breeze at their back they allowed Fermanagh to steam ahead to a clear cut victory.
The element of surprise enjoyed by McEnaney's side last year is gone, like so many others before them they are finding that other sides can see them coming.
The over reliance of Tommy Freeman was cruelly exposed as Fermanagh simply denied the Monaghan full forward line any space to operate in.
And Monaghan also looked nervous, unable to deal with the expectation which has grown around this side after almost beating Kerry last year.
Players were arguing with the referee and they got involved in a lot of off the ball physical nonsense.
I was not impressed by one period where Ryan Keenan was being pulled, shouldered, squared up to all accompanied by a lot of verbal.
Five minutes later Keenan won the ball which led to the second goal and for all the silly provocation he endured five minutes earlier his marker was left for dead!
I thought that Monaghan's goose was finally cooked when even Paul Finlay got involved in the appeals to the referee over a fairly straightforward decision.
Gary McQuaid's actions which earned him a sending off were pathetic, there's no place for this in Gaelic football, it was as stupid as it was unwarranted.
He shouldn't kick a ball in county football for the rest of the season.
It will be tough for the Farneymen to come back from this.
Ulster is now gone and confidence is rock bottom, they looked mentally tired and unless they get a handy one in the first round of the qualifiers they will find it hard to get their season back on track.
The Farneymen looked low in confidence today and even when they closed the gap to just one point with a breeze at their back they allowed Fermanagh to steam ahead to a clear cut victory.
The element of surprise enjoyed by McEnaney's side last year is gone, like so many others before them they are finding that other sides can see them coming.
The over reliance of Tommy Freeman was cruelly exposed as Fermanagh simply denied the Monaghan full forward line any space to operate in.
And Monaghan also looked nervous, unable to deal with the expectation which has grown around this side after almost beating Kerry last year.
Players were arguing with the referee and they got involved in a lot of off the ball physical nonsense.
I was not impressed by one period where Ryan Keenan was being pulled, shouldered, squared up to all accompanied by a lot of verbal.
Five minutes later Keenan won the ball which led to the second goal and for all the silly provocation he endured five minutes earlier his marker was left for dead!
I thought that Monaghan's goose was finally cooked when even Paul Finlay got involved in the appeals to the referee over a fairly straightforward decision.
Gary McQuaid's actions which earned him a sending off were pathetic, there's no place for this in Gaelic football, it was as stupid as it was unwarranted.
He shouldn't kick a ball in county football for the rest of the season.
It will be tough for the Farneymen to come back from this.
Ulster is now gone and confidence is rock bottom, they looked mentally tired and unless they get a handy one in the first round of the qualifiers they will find it hard to get their season back on track.
Fermanagh a tough shower
The Ulster Football Championship did what it always does best today throwing up a surprise rather than a shock result with one of the sides many of us predicted would enjoy a run in this year's competition falling at the first hurdle.
Fermanagh simply mugged Monaghan today at Brewster Park and were good value for their four-point win.
Last year Monaghan surprised everyone with their swashbuckling brand of football reaching the Ulster final and almost taking Kerry out in last year's All-Ireland quarter final.
They carried that great form into the league but quietly Fermanagh boss Malachy O'Rourke was doing his homework and by employing a sweeper in front of the full back line he made sure that Monaghan's best forward Tommy Freeman hardly got a sniff of the action.
His midfield too of Marty McGrath and Mark Murphy won the crucial battle at centre field and while Fermanagh worked their socks off they eventually totally frustrated the Farneymen reducing them to a shadow of the team which lit up last year's Ulster Championship and which started its league campaign off in some style.
Mark Little and Ryan Keenan ran themselves into the ground at half forward while McBarron gave Fermanagh a good target on the edge of the square.
If there was one area I would be critical of the Fermanagh performance it was of their free taking.
They had no consistency in this crucial area all day and points win prizes. They squandered a lot of scoring chances which on another day will be the difference between winning and losing.
The winners of next week's game between Derry and Donegal will not look forward to playing the Erne men.
They are a bloody difficult shower to break down and if they can become a little more focussed in front of the posts they could take a bit of beating.
Fermanagh simply mugged Monaghan today at Brewster Park and were good value for their four-point win.
Last year Monaghan surprised everyone with their swashbuckling brand of football reaching the Ulster final and almost taking Kerry out in last year's All-Ireland quarter final.
They carried that great form into the league but quietly Fermanagh boss Malachy O'Rourke was doing his homework and by employing a sweeper in front of the full back line he made sure that Monaghan's best forward Tommy Freeman hardly got a sniff of the action.
His midfield too of Marty McGrath and Mark Murphy won the crucial battle at centre field and while Fermanagh worked their socks off they eventually totally frustrated the Farneymen reducing them to a shadow of the team which lit up last year's Ulster Championship and which started its league campaign off in some style.
Mark Little and Ryan Keenan ran themselves into the ground at half forward while McBarron gave Fermanagh a good target on the edge of the square.
If there was one area I would be critical of the Fermanagh performance it was of their free taking.
They had no consistency in this crucial area all day and points win prizes. They squandered a lot of scoring chances which on another day will be the difference between winning and losing.
The winners of next week's game between Derry and Donegal will not look forward to playing the Erne men.
They are a bloody difficult shower to break down and if they can become a little more focussed in front of the posts they could take a bit of beating.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)