PAUL FLYNN IS confident that Dublin can handle whatever Donegal throw at them.
The sides meet on Sunday in the All-Ireland football semi-final, a repeat of their infamously dour clash at the same stage three years ago.
Donegal’s stifling tactics limited the Dubs to two points from play that day but couldn’t prevent an 0-8 to 0-6 defeat as the Boys in Blue went on to win their first All-Ireland in 16 years.
Jim McGuinness never lost his defensive roots although Donegal moved away from “puke football” to a more nuanced style in the seasons that followed and reaped the rewards with an All-Ireland of their own.
The high-scoring Dubs are preparing for all eventualities, including the possibility that Donegal might put 14 men behind the ball again this weekend.
“It was a difficult game, really difficult,” Flynn recalled. “Donegal went ultra-defensive — they’re not as defensive now as they were then.
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“There was a defining moment when [Colm] McFadden had a shot at goal and [Stephen] Cluxton saved and it went over the bar. If that had gone in, the game would have been different.
“It was difficult to get to grips with the fact that they played such a defensive system. Maybe you can anticipate it but it’s very hard to prepare for it.”
Flynn and Anthony Thompson went head-to-head in the semi-finals three years ago. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO
Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO
In terms of preparation, Dublin’s quarter-final earlier this month was as good a dry run as you can get.
Monaghan’s staunch defence subdued Jim Gavin’s men for the opening 20 minutes but — as has often been the case this summer — once the floodgates opened there was no stopping the deluge.
Two goals from Diarmuid Connolly and Bernard Brogan in the space of three first-half minutes paved the way for a lead which was nine points at the break and 17 at the final whistle.
“It gave us a bit of an eye-opener to how difficult it’s going to be,” Flynn said.
The first 20 minutes against Monaghan was tight. I imagine it’s going to be like that for the whole game next Sunday.
The buzzword, he agrees, is patience – ”and try to keep believing in your game-plan and keep working to implement it.
“Don’t try and change anything because of the fact that you’re playing something a bit different to what you usually play against.
Flynn: If Donegal go ultra-defensive, we have to be patient enough to find the holes
PAUL FLYNN IS confident that Dublin can handle whatever Donegal throw at them.
The sides meet on Sunday in the All-Ireland football semi-final, a repeat of their infamously dour clash at the same stage three years ago.
Donegal’s stifling tactics limited the Dubs to two points from play that day but couldn’t prevent an 0-8 to 0-6 defeat as the Boys in Blue went on to win their first All-Ireland in 16 years.
Jim McGuinness never lost his defensive roots although Donegal moved away from “puke football” to a more nuanced style in the seasons that followed and reaped the rewards with an All-Ireland of their own.
The high-scoring Dubs are preparing for all eventualities, including the possibility that Donegal might put 14 men behind the ball again this weekend.
“It was a difficult game, really difficult,” Flynn recalled. “Donegal went ultra-defensive — they’re not as defensive now as they were then.
“There was a defining moment when [Colm] McFadden had a shot at goal and [Stephen] Cluxton saved and it went over the bar. If that had gone in, the game would have been different.
“It was difficult to get to grips with the fact that they played such a defensive system. Maybe you can anticipate it but it’s very hard to prepare for it.”
In terms of preparation, Dublin’s quarter-final earlier this month was as good a dry run as you can get.
Monaghan’s staunch defence subdued Jim Gavin’s men for the opening 20 minutes but — as has often been the case this summer — once the floodgates opened there was no stopping the deluge.
Two goals from Diarmuid Connolly and Bernard Brogan in the space of three first-half minutes paved the way for a lead which was nine points at the break and 17 at the final whistle.
“It gave us a bit of an eye-opener to how difficult it’s going to be,” Flynn said.
The buzzword, he agrees, is patience – ”and try to keep believing in your game-plan and keep working to implement it.
“Don’t try and change anything because of the fact that you’re playing something a bit different to what you usually play against.
He added: “Every team sets themselves up in a way they feel will help them to win. That’s just football. That’s just the way you have to do it.
“Whatever way they set up will be the way they feel will most effectively nullify us and get the best out of themselves.
“But we just have to find holes in that and be patient.”
Jim McGuinness – It’s an “illusion” that Dublin are suspect at the back
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All-Ireland Senior HC Dubs v Donegal Jim Gavin Jim McGuinness Paul Flynn SFC 2014 Donegal Dublin