Rhode vs Kilmacud Preview

[Lone Shark]

For those of us that keep one eye on the Premiership across the water, the phrase “a real six pointer” has come to signify a game of real importance. Well this Sunday Rhode face their third such game in as many weeks, but unlike the previous two, the last thing they want is for it to be another six pointer. Tallies of 2-6 and 1-6 have been good enough to get them this far, but with a huge step up in class looming this weekend, if there is more in the Rhode locker it’s time to bring it out, because six points and maybe a goal or two simply won’t be good enough against the South Dublin opponents that are next on the club’s agenda.

This past Sunday in Tullamore was all about exorcising the demons of last year against Portlaoise, and with that in mind, to be too critical of a lacklustre Rhode performance would be harsh. The fifteen point hammering they received last November was the kind of beating that leaves heavy psychological scarring, and under those circumstances it was hardly surprising that Stephen Darby’s team put a premium on keeping matters tight at the back, denying their opponents space at midfield to pick out accurate passes into the forwards, and letting Niall McNamee’s class up front be the difference. Losing this match would have cemented Rhode’s reputation as perennial underachievers, something that was to be avoided at all costs. Now, they go into a clash with a much vaunted Kilmacud Crokes team who will be trading as short as 2/5 or even 1/3 in any bookmakers that offer prices closer to the weekend, and go in with two wins behind them and little weight of expectation on their shoulders. It’s an ideal situation, and one that every manager would wish for, as it means that motivation will not be an issue.

Indeed if motivation alone was to decide which team makes the Leinster decider on Sunday fortnight, there would be every chance that Rhode would be one step away from being Offaly’s first Leinster club football champions since Ferbane in 1986, but unfortunately more factors than that will come into play, factors that look to favour the Dublin champions.

First and foremost, Rhode’s backline has been imperious in the last two games, but Kilmacud can boast an array of attacking weapons the likes of which most club teams can only dream of. Mark Vaughan returns from the most well publicised suspension in the GAA this year, and he’ll be complemented by a resurgent Ray Cosgrove, who is back in the kind of form that saw him score 6-23 for his county in the summer of 2002. His tally of 1-10 against Dunboyne was the culmination of a steady summer and autumn of improvement, and Shane Sullivan will have his hands full keeping the Stillorgan marksman in check. Mick O’Keeffe is a steady club player who very rarely leaves the field without having raised a couple of flags at least, and Mark Davoren is a county under 21 who invariably capitalises if too much attention is paid to his more vaunted attacking comrades. Finally, Fermanagh player Liam McBarron offers power and pace from the half forward line, making up an attacking unit that would be hard matched by many counties, let alone clubs.

To counter the kind of scoring that these players are capable of producing, Rhode will need to devour breaking ball around the middle of the field and establish a good platform of possession throughout the game. In Alan McNamee they have one of the form players in the province, but Darren and Johnny Magee are a formidable pairing, and with McBarron well capable of dropping back and supporting, it will be a huge ask for Rhode to secure adequate possession, particularly in light of how they struggled in this regard last weekend. Their half forward line as a unit had a minimal impact on the game, struggling to curb the Stradbally half back line as well as drawing a combined blank in terms of scoring. Paul Griffin and Liam Óg Ó hÉineacháin are both Dublin regulars that will relish breaking forward at every opportunity, and a similarly impotent display from numbers 10-12 will cost Rhode dearly if it occurs.

In order for Rhode to put themselves in contention in this game, they’ll have to find considerable improvement on last Sunday, across several areas of the pitch. Generally their defence was in fine form, but even still two Stradbally scores came from simple giveaways - a high handpass to a marked man, and a clean pickup off the ground with no Stradbally attacker putting pressure on. These kind of cheap concessions must be eliminated. The half forward line will have to be quicker in supporting their inside players, and cannot let their markers burst forward with the same regularity. Finally, there’s no point having such a deep pool of capable players as Rhode have without using them. If Sunday’s game was ever likely to go against them, the autopsy would have revealed the rot starting around the forty minute mark when Stradbally, with three substitutes already on the field, began to snaffle all the available loose ball with much greater hunger and cut off Rhode’s attacking game at source. They appeared considerably fresher for the remainder of the game, and despite this Rhode had only used one extra player as normal time expired. Kilmacud manager Nicky McGrath is a known advocate of using his full panel at all times, and if Rhode don’t replace tiring limbs promptly, the potential for shipping too much water in a short space of time is a disaster waiting to happen.

2005 has been very successful for Stephen Darby’s charges, but Sunday will either see it come to an end or take one further step towards becoming the best in the club’s illustrious history. We all hope for the latter, but this reporter fears and suspects that it will be the former.

[black and red exile]

Very informative LS as usual. I personally felt Fergal Dunne was badly missed yesterday at midfield, if for nothing else at least for his fielding ability alone mixed with his physical strenght. Fergal is very much a holding midfield player and he compliments Alan McNamee perfectly in so far as the latter being an excellent support link between defence and attack. Roy had a very good game yesterday playing in an unfamilar role at midfield but began to tire quite visibly in the second half, which was very much expected due to an injury hit year with very little match practice over the last couple of months, but I feel he is much more suited to no 12 where he is much more at home with perhaps Derek Kellaghan stepping aside for next Sunday.
Of course if Fergal is not back for Sunday then Stephen Darby will probably not have alot of choice but to start with the same pairing in the centre again in which case you would Imagine the Rhode midfield might struggle against the two Magees who seemed to be very dominant in Navan yesterday, but if Fergal was back then Roy would be the perfect half forward/ third midfielder along with assistance from Gino Cole in gathering the breaking ball from the kickouts which will be vital in supplying quick ball into Niall McNamee to cause damage.

[Lone Shark]

To be honest I thought Rhode were a disaster area from midfield up full stop, not withstanding a fine tally of 1-3 from Niall. No other player looked like scoring regularly, Alan Mac never caught one clean ball all day, and whether due to Roy being beside him or not, never burst forward with the same intent we're used to.

Chino looked okay when on the ball, but didn't get involved nearly enough, while Derek Kelleghan was on the ball all the time but rarely used it to any great effect. David Hope looked more threatening but needed to be fed more ball - looking for Niall with every pass was a bit predictable in fairness - while Paschal was way too peripheral for a man of his ability.

I'd like to see Garret Hickey play from the start myself, possibly at 10, bringing Paschal back to centre forward with Padraig Sullivan on the other side. Chino at full forward does offer a different threat, and he might create either a chance for himself or a breaking ball or two for Niall t work off.

One way or another the half forward line has to work a lot harder the next day to have any chance.