FORMER KILDARE CAPTAIN Johnny Doyle was Con O’Callaghan’s age when he first broke into the Kildare senior ranks, and remains incredulous that the young Cuala forward possesses such confidence so early in his career.
O’Callaghan torched Doyle’s native county in this year’s Leinster final adding 12 points to Dublin’s total, with the 21-year-old having already pocketed All-Ireland Under-21, Senior and club medals during a remarkable start to what will surely transpire to be an illustrious career.
Doyle was wowed by his presence of mind during the opening exchanges of Sunday’s rather facile victory over Tyrone, and while admonishing the Ulster county’s defence or lack thereof on The42 GAA Show, lauded O’Callaghan for having the bottle to go it alone for his scorching finish past Niall Morgan.
“Con O’Callaghan waltzed through this defence that we all expected from Tyrone that just wasn’t there, and I think one of the commentators on the telly said, ‘It’s nearly game over at this stage,’ after five or six minutes, which is crazy stuff,” he said.
“How is Con O’Callaghan, number one, left at centre half-forward standing on his own? But number two he just waltzed in, went by the fullback as if he wasn’t there. I think it was Dean Rock who dragged him [Aidan McCrory] to one side, but I suppose the easy thing would have been to give it to Dean Rock – a bit like Andy Moran’s goal [vs Kerry], but he went and it was a bullet.
“It just set the tone. It nearly deflated the crowd, let alone the Tyrone players.”
O’Callaghan’s self-belief in spite of being a relative newcomer, Doyle explained, was a testament both to his character and the environment Jim Gavin has cultivated as Dublin manager, in which younger players are expected to thrive akin to the elder statesmen alongside them.
“It epitomises the confidence Dublin are playing with,” Doyle said.
“I was 21 when I came onto the Kildare team, and you were sitting in the corner kind of afraid to look around you in case… You know, you were nearly apologising to be in a dressing room with the players that were there.
But for him at that age to show such confidence – because the guy is only human, and we see the Dublin forwards that are on the bench, all mad to get in ahead of him – it shows a huge maturity and confidence to take it on, to throw that little dummy, to drops the hips and even to rip the net out of it the way he did. A player on top of his game.
Doyle dissected both All-Ireland semi-finals on The GAA Show, which you can watch back below.
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Thank God for the bench…..never thought I’d say that!
Proud? Proud of scraping by a team that were hockeyed by Scotland last week? Pull the other one Andy
@5sZl1dX2: same team beat the almighty England Ray
Line out complete disaster need a hooker that will throw straight and ryan and Mccarthy need to live up to their big reputation
@frank walsh: paulie ??
@frank walsh: Leinster’s lineout hums along every week with Ryan and McCarthy having very few problems.
Bring O’Connell in to coach it and Beirne to “run” it in the same way he does the worst lineout in Europe for Munster and all of a sudden it’s a disaster.
@teuO6nLS: none of the provinces line outs are statistically very good. Having watched Leinster beat ulster last night neither was impressive except defensively
So much negativity. We won. There were years we never won. Support our team or STFU
@Tony Joyce: we’re top 2 in world and played badly in 3 out last 4 matches.
@Papa Kilo: so what
@Tony Joyce: Glad we won i cant take this negativity anymore i just want to swing at them
@Tony Joyce: how dare you call out Ray and his multiple accounts
The headline “Crowleys impact sees Ireland over the line” does a massive disservice to Craig Casey. He should have been the headline. Forget Crowley v Prendergast. Let’s talk about Casey v Gibson Park.
@Pud: plus the fact that prendergast had a superb game. He oozes class.
It’s a friendly 2 years out from a world cup and we won what are looking for
@Cathal Brennan: we’ve been shocking bar beating a team still hungover after beating Wales something very off at moment.
@Papa Kilo: are we expecting too much from leinster players having to deliver at a high level for club and Country.for some reason they not doing it for Farrell at moment.munster boys did well though.
@Papa Kilo:
@Matt Gilsenan: stupid comment but can’t be helped
@Papa Kilo: Shocking dear god we are a tiny country we win so many games id say we lost 7 games in 3 years won over 20 yes not playing like before the world cup but still winning
It’s been a very underwhelming autumn series. Got out of jail again today. The writing has been on the wall this season, however. Just look at the rubbish being dished out by the provinces. Gets worse every round. Let’s see if munster can improve on the pathetic showing of the other 3 this weekend.
@Ray Ridge: We’re England and we must use every opportunity to make Ireland and its people feel inferior to us
@Ray Ridge: won 3 out off 4 playing badly id take it everyday mr mizerable oh and munster won
@Ray Ridge: Leinster are top of the URC ya pleb hahaha. Ireland outplayed and beat the all conquering Australia without getting out of first gear. What does that say about you and your predictions. Series couldn’t have gone any better. 4 from 5 and plenty to work on and now we know what needs to be improved. Ireland didn’t wake up one morning sh/t£ as you would have people believe with your anti irish rhetoric. Why don’t you go on the English threads and praise the almighty there
The reality is the game is constantly moving and evolving and we have to be willing to go with it. We have played the same way for at least three years and we need to be adaptable which does seem to be a touch lacking. That’s not to say we throw everything out. Some of the innovation off the line out is brilliant but we need to focus on our set piece which are both suspect and then look at how teams have started to counter us. They’re all smart enough guys to recognise this and develop some other wrinkles to the game
Looking at it was a good test. Too many handling errors but it happens. All of the Autumn games we have been giving away cheap penalties. So things can only get better also we looked at a few fresh faces which is always good.
To many none leinster players on the pitch.Beirne,Aki,Hanson,Behlaim should all be dropped and replaced with leinster players.
@Ross Clancy: …learn to spell, !d!0t!
@Ross Clancy: all the money in Dublin and still couldn’t receive an education. It’s true what my grandmother used say, you can’t educate pork
@Ross Clancy: Nice sarcusm
@Ross Clancy: Ross you posted this after 9pm which is way past your bedtime. If it happens again santy will not be bringing you the harry potter Lego set you asked for
Much too much hype about Prendergast – never took the ball to the Aussie defence. Posed no threat. Good kicker from the hand but looked lost when Aussies rumbled forward.