VERSATILE MUNSTER BACK Dan Goggin says there’s no concern in their camp that they have scored just one try in their two festive derbies and he’s confident they can have a right crack off Ulster this evening.
The 24-year old, used on the wing as well as in the centre this season, feels their Conference in the Guinness Pro14 is incredibly tight this season.
Munster’s only try in the two derbies came from Jack O’Donogue in their 19-14 win over Connacht in Galway, but Goggin insists nobody is panicking.
“I don’t think there is too much concern here because I know, we all know, the ability we have to score tries,” he said. “We do remember that they’re derby games at the end of the day and it’s not easy to score in these games — they’re usually very tight.
“We review everything and look to pick out where we went wrong. The only thing we can do then is try to do better week-on-week going into the next game, and previewing where we can beat the opposition.
“I think it will come. We are getting there. It’s just derby games aren’t easy, especially last weekend with Leinster’s defence and the conditions we were up against in the first half, it’s not an easy task.
“Leinster are quite clearly on top of both competitions at the moment without losing a game this year. They’re so clinical in everything they do and they don’t give away penalties at all. So it’s a hard task to try and get in behind them.
“I felt like we did really well in the second half, a few calls that could have gone our way. That’s just the way the game is.”
Goggin has featured in nine of Munster’s 13 games this season, seven of them starting on the right wing or in either of the centre positions. He knows that every match point counts as they head to Kingspan Stadium this evening for a clash with Ulster [KO 7.35pm, Eir Sport 1 and Premier Sports].
“There are only seven points between the six teams in our Conference. Everyone’s losing games, everyone’s winning big games and it’s incredibly tight on our side.
“It’s hard not to notice the other Conference as well and watching Leinster try to push away in that. So you try and keep a focus on that and those games and teams on that side.
“The only thing we can do is preview the games, review the games we played and try to do better week-on-week,” added Goggin, who has been named among the Munster replacements for tonight’s game.
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All the pressure on Offaly today and they were well deserved winners. Hopefully they will progress to senior level and they’ll compete in the All-Ireland series in 4/5 years time. Congratulations from a KK supporter
@Niall Egan: Fancied Offally to win this. Especially after the heartache of losing a minor and under 20. Some very good hurlers coming through.
@Ray Ridge: Brilliant
What a team…the most likeable team in the gaa at the moment.. thank you Leo..
There won’t be a bunker raked in esker hills tomorrow
Some group of hurlers just shows what can be done when everyone is on the same page, Workrate, teamwork, determination, skill and bottle in abundance they have it all.
Go on The Faithful county
Congrats to Offaly. They completely out hurled Tipp and could have won by much more.
Screeney is a class act and we all know that already. Dan Bourke was my man of the match. Imperious at centre forward. His goal put the game to bed just when Tipp had responded well to the first Offaly goal and looked like the game would go to the wire.
The joke among Tipp fans leaving the ground was at least the traffic won’t be bad leaving with all the Offaly fans celebrating back on the pitch.
It was the best atmosphere at a game in years thanks to the great Offaly support.
Enjoy the celebrations in Birr, Banagher, Tullamore and the rest of Offaly. Third time is a charm as someone else posted and this team are great champions.
Super atmosphere in KK,the place was mega.great game of hurling and Offaly never looked like they were going to come 2nd this evening.commiserations to a very good Tipperary team who had us on the edge of our seats at times alright but congratulations to the Faithful ! Up Offaly
Delighted for Offaly and Leo as well. Great stuff!
A Limerick man over a swashbuckling Offaly side winning an AI, Leo should get the senior job in a few years time with the majority of that side breaking through.
@colmkearney39@hotmail.com: the legend Eamon Cregan was also an adopted Limerick man and wiped the floor with his own county to bring glory to the Offaly senior team.
Better team won, no complaints, hopefully a few players from both set ups make the step up to senior level over the next few years.
What a brilliant atmosphere at the game, despite being on the losing side, just home watching the Saturday game, could have done with more coverage, interviews etc.