Weeshie's Week

Preview of the 2011 Championship

May 17th, 2011
by Weeshie Fogarty

And so begins another year of championship football and all eyes in my opinion will be on Cork, Kerry and Dublin and you don't have to be a so expert to declare unless we have a major upset the All ireland winners will come from these three. Now Tyrone will be giving it an extra special effort this year and if they were to climb the steps of the Hogan stand in September its very doubtful if many people would begrudge seeing Mickey Harte lead his county to victory following the family's terrible heartache at the  unspeakable manner in which his beautiful daughter Michaela met her death.  They have the potential to do well the championship. Down will have learned a multitude from their voyage to the final last year. They are probably the most settled side in Ulster; however their defense as I watched them in the league is suspect and could prove to be their Achilles heel. Dublin to come out of Leinster and will be serious contenders to win out. However they rely very much on Bernard Brogan and injury or an off day from him as we saw in the league final will seriously damage their chances.  Brogan for me (after Colm Cooper) is the second best natural forward in the country.   Kerry would have reached the National League final if he had not kicked that magnificent point into the canal goal during that game under lights early in the year.

Mayo should win the Connaught championship and with the qualifying system giving sides a second chance Galway following their disastrous league campaign will have received a massive boost as their under 21s dazzled to capture that title. They will improve, trouble some of the fancied sides but won't be good enough to win it out. Its also safe to say followers in Kerry and Cork don't give two hoots who wins out in the other provinces because with all due respect to the so called weaker counties in Munster it will be the old firm clash for the Munster final in Killarney. And straight away let's make it quite clear that both counties will be leaving no stone unturned to win the provincial crown.
One thing is for sure this year and that is that our rivals across the border can't use the phrase "don't listen to those cute Kerrymen" when we say that Cork are hot favourites to retain the title. Their league final win over Dublin recently, their league/ championship double last year and their league division two win the previous year has made them in my opinion potentially the best ever Cork team I have seen.  If they win the All Ireland this year then in my book they will be the best, most consistent Rebel side I have seen since 1955. They have developed into a hightly disciplined, experienced free scoring supremely confident outfit. And crucially they have a panel of players to call on and all are excellent footballers but more importantly each and every one has now experienced the pressures and tensions of big match days. All major games in this era can be won and lost due to the experienced quality of players on the so called bench.   They are now like Kerry, a Croke Park team, and the manner of their league win over Dublin as they came back when seemingly down and out confirms all that I have said. The team that beats Cork in Croke Park will win the All ireland. And I emphasize "in Croke Park".  However the one big bogy that still hangs over Cork is they have yet to beat their greatest rivals, Kerry in Croke Park. Imagine the scenario Kerry V Cork in Croke Park once again this year. The mind boggles at what the build up would be like.  Many say they are meeting too often however for me the ultimate GAA experience of latter years is Kerry against Cork in Croke Park.
And what of Kerry. Well the year is long and we will have plenty of time here to discuss their progress as the qualifiers will still be there whoever loses in Munster. Jack o Connor and his sideline men have had a very satisfactory league.  Hightly consistent performances in all their games and the losses to Cork and Dublin could have gone the other way every easily.  Management have a good solid base to build on, much better than last year in my opinion, and the introduction of young fast lively defenders such as Brian McGuire, Shane Enright, Jonathan Lyne, Peter Crowley, Shane Enright and Adrian o Connell will give the required options.  These young men might not start the big games but will definitely get their chance if any tiredness or slowness becomes evident in some of those long serving  defenders all of whome have served their county with the greatest distinction.

No need what so ever to elaborate greatly on our forwards. Quite simply they are as good if not better than any others we will see in the championship. And natural forwards win games. The problems may arise at mid field and the two positions here will alternate between Seamus Scanlon, Michael Quirke, Eoin Brosnan and Anthony Maher. Hopeful the Currow man will regain his top form and if so then a mixture of partners together with the now crucial ability to win breaking ball around that area will nullify any conceivable weakness. Winning breaking ball is I believe an art in itself and very often can decide the result of a match.  While the Tipp game will be won the selectors will learn a lot, they always do. The boys are going well in training and I am utterly convinced if the key players avoid injury and most importantly red cards stay in the pockets of the referees then Jack o Connor shrewd, focused, ruthless as he must be in pursuit of victory and one of the top two managers with Connor Counihan in the country will see his men there and there about when the business end of the championship is being decided.  Kerrys best player in the league for me, Darren o Sullivan



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