A few thoughts on Galway v Laois
Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2015 9:01 pm
On Saturday, I think the worst thing Laois could do would be to hurl 2014’s match against Galway all over again. Just those final, fateful minutes. Because 2014 is gone. New year; new match. Old acquaintance forgot. On Saturday Laois will face an opposition in a far better psychological state than last year. And the extra match, one-sided as it was, will do wonders for Galway.
Having said that, the Dublin that Galway demolished a fortnight ago in Tullamore was a shadow of themselves. Cathal Mannion scored two goals from the angle of the ‘D’ and the 21. There is no way a lad should be attempting goals from out there, and that he scored them is an indictment of Alan Nolan and by extension, of Ger Cunningham, who had Gary Maguire wearing the no 16. Nor should a puck-out be allowed hop on the 21 for a forward to flick to the net.
Nor is Cyril Donnellan the ball-winning dominant centre half-forward shadow of Richie Power that he was in Tullamore, nor is Íarla Tannian the swashbuckling centre half-back he appeared to be in Tullamore. That said, the Ardrahan man played a beauty of a ball into space for Joe Canning to run onto, turn his man and score the Connacht side’s fourth goal.
What was refreshing about Galway is that they played a direct brand of hurling, something they haven’t done since, oh, some year BC (before Cyril (Farrell)). And Galway are scoring goals, which is more than can be said for Laois. Yes, Laois created almost 50 scoring chances, but one goal chance (the one saved by James Dempsey at the near end) was a poor ratio.
Waterford (and indeed anyone who plays with five (or fewer) forwards) do suffer from a dearth of goals. So did Cork of Ben, Jerry and Tom Kenny. It was noticeable last night that Waterford, when on their opponents’ 45 and going forward, put the ball on the hurl and went for goal. With better support of the ball-carrier, they will likely create overlaps and open defences up. Then again, Laois are a bit different, with more aerial strength on the forwards but without Waterford’s pace.
So. How far can Laois go? That’s up to themselves, and they really are on a roll now. And Waterford can be a yardstick for them. Not dissimiliar styles, both running up big scores, both running up a big wides tally. Both blue and white. Laois are absolutely comfortable with their game plan and with themselves. Cahir Healy told a lovely story on Newstalk of the team climbing the hill around Borris in Ossory or Kilcotton and each hurler asked their version of what it means to hurl for Laois. And the ‘Laois Hurling Country’ signs around Borris in Ossory and Mountrath lend to the sense that something is stirring.
The extra defender should cut out the space which the Galway forwards will require to function. And with big-hitting goalkeepers at each end, there could be much crowding. Certainly, Eoin Reilly’s long puckouts were counter-productive in the first half against Offaly, and Laois only began to prosper when Offaly stopped crossing the Laois end line and James Dempsey was forced to repeatedly puck out for a spell.
On the subject of puckouts, a fortnight ago Laois faced a team who were clueless regarding how to utilise a spare man in defence and who were unable to correctly execute a short puckout. Laois will also face a team who will have taken time to study their opposition – Brian Whelahan was open in his admission that his focus was entirely on his own team and not on their opposition. Whatever questions there are about the Galway defence, and whatever the marking arrangements, Johnny Coen will be the floating defender – a position he performs best in. For that reason, both need to be smarter with their puckouts, and it's quite possible that more scores will originate from swift counter-attacks rather than lengthy puckouts.
Laois will keep Coen moving though, and they pass – pass – pass out of defence before finding a half-forward wide on the touchline – the source of many of their second-half scores against Offaly and the reason such a high proportion of their scores came from Hyland, Keenan and Dwyer.
I expect a high scoring game. Laois will need at least two goals if they are to win, but they just don’t create goalscoring opportunities. Galway don’t exactly shoot the lights out when it comes to goals, but they are more likely to score a few. The usual parameters for a shock result will come into play (Laois can’t go too far ahead lest they awaken the favourite and would be unable to arrest a change in trend, nor can they fall more than a few points behind which would blow their belief, and they need to finish stronger). Galway to advance, something like 3-22 to 0-24 or thereabouts.
Having said that, the Dublin that Galway demolished a fortnight ago in Tullamore was a shadow of themselves. Cathal Mannion scored two goals from the angle of the ‘D’ and the 21. There is no way a lad should be attempting goals from out there, and that he scored them is an indictment of Alan Nolan and by extension, of Ger Cunningham, who had Gary Maguire wearing the no 16. Nor should a puck-out be allowed hop on the 21 for a forward to flick to the net.
Nor is Cyril Donnellan the ball-winning dominant centre half-forward shadow of Richie Power that he was in Tullamore, nor is Íarla Tannian the swashbuckling centre half-back he appeared to be in Tullamore. That said, the Ardrahan man played a beauty of a ball into space for Joe Canning to run onto, turn his man and score the Connacht side’s fourth goal.
What was refreshing about Galway is that they played a direct brand of hurling, something they haven’t done since, oh, some year BC (before Cyril (Farrell)). And Galway are scoring goals, which is more than can be said for Laois. Yes, Laois created almost 50 scoring chances, but one goal chance (the one saved by James Dempsey at the near end) was a poor ratio.
Waterford (and indeed anyone who plays with five (or fewer) forwards) do suffer from a dearth of goals. So did Cork of Ben, Jerry and Tom Kenny. It was noticeable last night that Waterford, when on their opponents’ 45 and going forward, put the ball on the hurl and went for goal. With better support of the ball-carrier, they will likely create overlaps and open defences up. Then again, Laois are a bit different, with more aerial strength on the forwards but without Waterford’s pace.
So. How far can Laois go? That’s up to themselves, and they really are on a roll now. And Waterford can be a yardstick for them. Not dissimiliar styles, both running up big scores, both running up a big wides tally. Both blue and white. Laois are absolutely comfortable with their game plan and with themselves. Cahir Healy told a lovely story on Newstalk of the team climbing the hill around Borris in Ossory or Kilcotton and each hurler asked their version of what it means to hurl for Laois. And the ‘Laois Hurling Country’ signs around Borris in Ossory and Mountrath lend to the sense that something is stirring.
The extra defender should cut out the space which the Galway forwards will require to function. And with big-hitting goalkeepers at each end, there could be much crowding. Certainly, Eoin Reilly’s long puckouts were counter-productive in the first half against Offaly, and Laois only began to prosper when Offaly stopped crossing the Laois end line and James Dempsey was forced to repeatedly puck out for a spell.
On the subject of puckouts, a fortnight ago Laois faced a team who were clueless regarding how to utilise a spare man in defence and who were unable to correctly execute a short puckout. Laois will also face a team who will have taken time to study their opposition – Brian Whelahan was open in his admission that his focus was entirely on his own team and not on their opposition. Whatever questions there are about the Galway defence, and whatever the marking arrangements, Johnny Coen will be the floating defender – a position he performs best in. For that reason, both need to be smarter with their puckouts, and it's quite possible that more scores will originate from swift counter-attacks rather than lengthy puckouts.
Laois will keep Coen moving though, and they pass – pass – pass out of defence before finding a half-forward wide on the touchline – the source of many of their second-half scores against Offaly and the reason such a high proportion of their scores came from Hyland, Keenan and Dwyer.
I expect a high scoring game. Laois will need at least two goals if they are to win, but they just don’t create goalscoring opportunities. Galway don’t exactly shoot the lights out when it comes to goals, but they are more likely to score a few. The usual parameters for a shock result will come into play (Laois can’t go too far ahead lest they awaken the favourite and would be unable to arrest a change in trend, nor can they fall more than a few points behind which would blow their belief, and they need to finish stronger). Galway to advance, something like 3-22 to 0-24 or thereabouts.