Before Kerry’s tie against Galway last weekend, Tomas O Se pointed out that quarter-finals are always viewed in the Kingdom as a potential banana skin. It’s always their first visit to Croke Park of the summer and they can be undercooked after Munster. You could make the same argument for Dublin now. They’ve breezed through Leinster with 43 points to spare, winning by 11, 16 and 16-point margins. Monaghan are certainly more battle hardened. Still, you’d have to give any benefit of the doubt here to Dublin and suggest they won’t take the game lightly.
2. Monaghan’s field of dreams
There’s been surprisingly little talk about the value of Monaghan’s first win at Croke Park in 84 years. Before beating Kildare, they hadn’t won there in the Championship since 1930. Back in April, Dick Clerkin admitted the record was ‘embarrassing’ and ‘doesn’t sit well with any of us’. So one would have expected a bigger reaction to it. Behind the scenes, it would be surprising if Malachy O’Rourke wasn’t hammering home the point to his players that they now know how to win at Croke Park. That little piece of knowledge could prove crucial if things are tight in the second-half against Dublin.
3. Dublin’s perfect preparation
Outside of Monaghan, the general consensus is that Dublin will march on to an All-Ireland semi-final clash with Donegal. If they do then this should be perfect preparation for them, giving them an insight into northern football and what they can expect from the 2012 champions. Monaghan have many leaders, they are physically robust and quite experienced, all the qualities that Dublin will meet if they play Donegal. Up to now, Dublin have met sides that played football in an orthodox fashion. Monaghan do too but they can defend better than Laois, Wexford or Meath who were all trounced by the Dubs.
Presseye / Russell Pritchard/INPHO
Presseye / Russell Pritchard/INPHO / Russell Pritchard/INPHO
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4. The seven-day turnaround
It’s a huge ask of Monaghan to pick themselves up after 90 minutes of action with Kildare, particularly when they’re facing Dublin. But that’s how the Championship is scheduled for now. Monaghan’s medical and strength and conditioning experts will have earned their corn this week, suggesting various strategies for speeding up the recovery, refuelling and rehydration processes. All the stats suggest that teams playing a week later generally lose. In fairness, most of those stats relate to losing provincial finalists so their psychological conditioning wouldn’t have been as good. Monaghan, presumably, are buoyed by the big win over Kildare and buzzing for action. Ultimately, it’s hard not to imagine their legs will tire in the second-half when Dublin put their famed squeeze on.
5. Exactly how good are Monaghan?
It’s an obvious question to ask but the answer isn’t immediately apparent. To push on this year, they needed to at least retain the Ulster title. They didn’t and you could argue a more street wise Kildare side would have beaten them last weekend. So a question mark hangs above Monaghan, even if they have made progress of sorts by winning at Croke Park. Individual players will be keen to step up now. Dick Clerkin, Vinny Corey and Paul Finlay mighn’t get this chance again. Likewise, can Conor McManus deliver against the Dubs? Can Colin Walshe, Drew Wylie and Dessie Mone stifle Dublin’s attack. Monaghan have many questions to answer. Dublin less so.
Dublin v Monaghan Talking Points: Farney know how to win in Croker now... but can they do it again?
1. Dublin’s lack of competition so far
Before Kerry’s tie against Galway last weekend, Tomas O Se pointed out that quarter-finals are always viewed in the Kingdom as a potential banana skin. It’s always their first visit to Croke Park of the summer and they can be undercooked after Munster. You could make the same argument for Dublin now. They’ve breezed through Leinster with 43 points to spare, winning by 11, 16 and 16-point margins. Monaghan are certainly more battle hardened. Still, you’d have to give any benefit of the doubt here to Dublin and suggest they won’t take the game lightly.
2. Monaghan’s field of dreams
There’s been surprisingly little talk about the value of Monaghan’s first win at Croke Park in 84 years. Before beating Kildare, they hadn’t won there in the Championship since 1930. Back in April, Dick Clerkin admitted the record was ‘embarrassing’ and ‘doesn’t sit well with any of us’. So one would have expected a bigger reaction to it. Behind the scenes, it would be surprising if Malachy O’Rourke wasn’t hammering home the point to his players that they now know how to win at Croke Park. That little piece of knowledge could prove crucial if things are tight in the second-half against Dublin.
3. Dublin’s perfect preparation
Outside of Monaghan, the general consensus is that Dublin will march on to an All-Ireland semi-final clash with Donegal. If they do then this should be perfect preparation for them, giving them an insight into northern football and what they can expect from the 2012 champions. Monaghan have many leaders, they are physically robust and quite experienced, all the qualities that Dublin will meet if they play Donegal. Up to now, Dublin have met sides that played football in an orthodox fashion. Monaghan do too but they can defend better than Laois, Wexford or Meath who were all trounced by the Dubs.
4. The seven-day turnaround
It’s a huge ask of Monaghan to pick themselves up after 90 minutes of action with Kildare, particularly when they’re facing Dublin. But that’s how the Championship is scheduled for now. Monaghan’s medical and strength and conditioning experts will have earned their corn this week, suggesting various strategies for speeding up the recovery, refuelling and rehydration processes. All the stats suggest that teams playing a week later generally lose. In fairness, most of those stats relate to losing provincial finalists so their psychological conditioning wouldn’t have been as good. Monaghan, presumably, are buoyed by the big win over Kildare and buzzing for action. Ultimately, it’s hard not to imagine their legs will tire in the second-half when Dublin put their famed squeeze on.
5. Exactly how good are Monaghan?
It’s an obvious question to ask but the answer isn’t immediately apparent. To push on this year, they needed to at least retain the Ulster title. They didn’t and you could argue a more street wise Kildare side would have beaten them last weekend. So a question mark hangs above Monaghan, even if they have made progress of sorts by winning at Croke Park. Individual players will be keen to step up now. Dick Clerkin, Vinny Corey and Paul Finlay mighn’t get this chance again. Likewise, can Conor McManus deliver against the Dubs? Can Colin Walshe, Drew Wylie and Dessie Mone stifle Dublin’s attack. Monaghan have many questions to answer. Dublin less so.
Here’s this week’s GAA TV and Radio coverage
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Comp:All-Ireland Senior Football Championship All-Ireland Senior HC World Cup 2014 Dubs GAA Dublin Monaghan