DELUSIONAL. THAT’S WHAT anyone predicting a Westmeath win against Dublin on Sunday will be labelled.
The bookies are convinced of the result (they have Jim Gavin’s side a staggering -15 points in the handicap betting and 1/100 to prevail), the experts are convinced of it, and the fans (even many of those travelling from Westmeath) are convinced of it.
This Leinster final feels more ceremonial than ever. It’s just a matter of turning up on the day, all suited and booted, exchange some pleasantries, and then await it being put in writing. It’s all about the afters.
But there’s always a chance the bride, or groom, can bottle it on the day.
And that’s something Dublin defender Cian O’Sullivan is acutely aware of.
While others have already turned their attention to how Jim Gavin’s side would match up against the likes of Tyrone, Donegal and Kerry further down the line, the Kilmacud Crokes man is adamant that’s not the case in the Dublin camp. And considering the level of sincerity he says it with, you can’t help but believe him.
He does admit, however, that it is impossible for the Dublin bubble to be impenetrable.
The incessant talk of legacies and multiple All-Ireland titles is bound to be heard. So finding a way to stay focused on the task at hand can be trickier than we would sometimes be led to believe.
“The difficult thing is not listening to friends and family,” O’Sullivan says.
“They’ll talk to you and they’ll say things to you about winning at the weekend. And you try and shut that out.
It is difficult, shutting away from newspapers, from social media and all that stuff.
“But the biggest hurdle is actually being conscious of that, that these guys are in a different space to us at the moment. We know the reality of what we need to do and that’s what matters.
“You don’t concern yourself with the bookies, the odds or anything. If you’re going down that road you’re on a completely different page. We try and cocoon ourselves and keep everything within the team bubble.”
O’Sullivan admits that some deal with the outside pressure better than others. And the key to staying focused and avoid reading into discussions from multiple avenues is knowing your limitations; how much you can digest without it altering your approach.
“There are some guys who can deal with it easily and there are some guys who can’t. There are some who can read the paper and subsequently throw all that stuff out and if they’re comfortable doing that, so be it,” O’Sullivan adds.
“But there are other guys who recognise that subconsciously that stuff will feed in. Everyone is different and it’s just about recognising what works and what doesn’t work.”
For the 28-year-old tax consultant, a quick change of direction usually does the trick.
“You might be at the water cooler and people are chatting to you. The easy approach I take is to try and change the subject right away, chat about something else, like Brexit.”
Westmeath keep defying the logic that league form translates to the championship having secured a spot in the provincial final for the second successive year, the first time in the county’s history, despite suffering relegation in the past three seasons.
Having said that, O’Sullivan isn’t surprised to see the Lakesiders back in the provincial decider.
“By their own admission they were probably disappointed with their league campaign in getting relegated to Division 4 but they are a good side with some fantastic players — Kieran Martin, Paul Sharry, Callum McCormack.
“We’d be very familiar with these guys over the past number of years. And they’ve had lots of good underage teams as well so it’s not really a surprise to see that they’re in a Leinster final yet again.”
Cian O’Sullivan was speaking at the announcement that Sure is becoming the GAA’s first statistics partner.
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A disaster. Foley has had a proper ‘mare since he took over. Awful team selection again tonight. You won’t win much with Billy Holland and O’Callaghan as your second row. And as for big Duncan Williams – God love us. Tiny crowd again, fans are beginning to give up.
Playing a winger at full back and a full back on the wing
You can add Murphy to that list too.
Very fickle fans if they’re giving up after one game in.
Keatley is just not good enough. Munster really need to spend some money. Shocking display tonight.
Get in a Peter Grant or perhaps a katrikilas. They would blossom in Munster Heineken cup rugby.
The point about the tiny crowd is the most important one here. Who would have thought that Munster would have such fairweather ‘fans’.
When you see Duncan Williams, johnnie murphy, billy Holland, sean dougal and Leighton hodges on the pitch together you no its going to be a long night
Just not good enough anymore plain and simple !!!
The worst thing happened to Munster was loosing penny
Shocking! Lost too much ball in rucks, too many basic errors, leaderless on the pitch and looked to be out muscled…
Whoever is in charge of the camera work in TG4 needs to be fired! Couldn’t see what was going on at the start of the second half.
Not a good night for Munster rugby.
For the love of god, Murray, please don’t do an in depth analysis piece on this, I might kill myself. That performance was absolutely shocking.
Really expected the team to lay down a marker tonight. Everything that went on in the week was enough of a reason, not to mind the fact that it was his first game and its at home.
Zebo needs to stop running sideways and learn how to tackle!
Zebo was hardly at fault I thought he was 1 of the better players (alot worse then him tonight) although he did miss a tackle towards the end which was pretty bad
Why was the game played behind closed doors?
The turn out was very bad for the curtain raiser to the new season for Munster, especially as it was axel’s first home game. Thought it would have been a much bigger occasion. One game doesn’t make a season of course but really thought tonight’s game was going to be a big event. Ah well thanks to the grace of god I’m a Leinster fan.
Duncan Williams =
There was a poo emoticon at the end of that. You know, the blank space works just as well. Awful.
I turned on TG4 for 10 mins and switched off again. Tired of watching second string teams play in the pro12. This is the first weekend of the competition. The organisers should want to grab viewers but after that why bother. Cannot blame the fans for not turning up. The same bolloxology of crouch touch engage (aka time to switch channels) is still around. Poor handling and zero pace. Why would you bother watching? It is meant to be entertainment.
IRFU Player Welfare policy tied Foleys hands in alot of his selections.. mind you starting Williams ahead of Sheridan is a puzzler
True but Munster just aren’t producing players through the academy! Leinster and to a lesser extent Ulster have been a conveyor belt of up and coming talent over the last 5 years. What has Munster produced in the last few years?
The playing population is pretty much the same demographic so the problem in Munster has to lie in the academy staff; as much as I love Munster I’m gonna say it: a 100% rookey training staff won’t help things…
Least that side to side nonsense is gone.
Delighted for stander
Yea, because they played so much better tonight.
When they’re filling in the latest version of the school report, the teachers might consider having somebody take a look at the teachers. I think strength and fitness and some skill work would be better than writing amateuerish comments on a report card.
Its going to be a long school year for the customers and nobody wants to throw money away buying tickets for that rubbish.
Much to do. Plenty of time to do it.
At lest Penny’s teams knew how to own the ruck area
At least Penny’s teams got to two H. Cup semi finals…
Sorry have to do this, you know because sport and all that #axelout
Honestly, what a disaster , no one at match , and no one there really cared , rugby rubbish , munster with no half backs , terrible
I feel it was a wrong step for Munster but now that he is there at least get behind your team. This is a World Cup season and we need our players playing with confidence. Unfortunately what’s happening at Munster and ulster is a huge disaster but it can be put right. Can’t see the European cup visiting ireland anytime soon but we do have a chance next sept/oct. Agree though that considering once upon a time 1.5 million people where in thomand in 78 to about. 6000 tonight. First game. Home game too. Too many fair weathers.
Have you ever been to a game? The majority of the crowds are from around the province. How can you expect people to turn up to Limerick for a game on Friday night from Cork, Waterford or Kerry? Allied to the fact that people are cutting back on games too and saving cash for the European games. They should be holding these games in Musgrave when it’s open again instead of playing in what looks like a dead crowd. Of course the crap standard doesn’t help either. How Duncan Williams is a pro player….standards have dropped big time.
Not a positive start, however I’m still optimistic.
Foley out. That’s all I have to say.
Very disappointed with ruck efficiency, especially clean out and ball presentation. In Williams defence he got a lot of messy slow ball. Some of the back play looked good. Worrying out muscled up front.
To be fair a hooker on a training contract, a 2nd choice prop. A debutant back rower. Was never going to be easy.
To put it into context this is nowhere near the worst performance ive seen. There were a few positives out there tonight.
Especially losing to a team that had 14 men for 20 minutes and conceding a try during on of those cards
Pro 12 is a training ground for Heineken cup – glorified friendlies
Watch Glasgow and leinster tomorrow night and you’ll see its not glorified friendlies at all, two of the best teams in the competition. Don’t know why munster had such a bad team out tonight albeit leinster and Glasgow aren’t at full strength but the teams they each will put out Is a lot better quality than what was on show tonight without taking anything away from a great result for Edinburgh.
Thought The Hino was consigned to history???
Leinster lost as well – results that are unthinkable in the Heineken cup happen regularly in the pro am 12 – how many scots or Welsh sides get to the last 8 of the h cup?
Murray, you had an article a few days ago describing how Munster intended to increase their attendances by having family zones outside the stadium. That’s fine and all, but ultimately if what goes on on the pitch is rubbish then that’s where we’ll lose fans. There was a decent attendance there last night but I wonder how many fans will think twice about coming next time after viewing that error ridden and disjointed performance?
Also, Duncan Williams should not be a professional rugby player.
Foley you need an out half ASAP and stop playing players out of position. It looked like tonight you’re not interested in the pro 12 and experimenting
Excuse me but does anyone else see a major problem in the scrum, this is where the foundation for good performances comes from and the Scottish team were lower then Munster and had total control in that area. Munster need to look more cohesive and joined together when scrummaging. My u14 second team could have held their own against that pack in the scrum last night.
It looked a lot like many Irish representative teams over the decades, trying to do flash stuff but it comes apart because somebody can’t pass two yards.
All round not good enough but why is Duncan Williams there? He is useless. Wat good is a scrum half that can’t pass the fn ball. It’s a disgrace that he is in the squad, he is not up to the standard and I can’t see him getting any better. Fn joke
Commercial and politcal naivety by axel. 1ST match with new management team at home ,supporters would want to see best available players. Subject to irfu guidelines. with solid experience and continuity to give us our best options for a win .. so a mediocre team is announced with newbies. No wonder attendance was low. That shows lack of respect to supporters and opposition. No surprise that our arse was handed back to us by Edinburgh.
Its essential to rotate and develop players but just not on the first match after such a major change. Axel and the old farts in the boardroom need to remember that munster only exists through its supporter base and last night needed to refect that else fringe support will drift and cash and sponsors will shrink . Its a new world lads, ppl initiated hc demise saw the end of any pretence around old values . This is business. the customer is king Strike 1.