Mayo overcame Kerry in the first of Sunday’s National Football League semi finals. Emmet Ryan looks back at the tactical battles that dominated the day.
Mayo repeat Dublin formula
Playing a high line and working on isolating the ball carrier worked a treat for Mayo against Dublin and they started with the same approach in Croke Park on Sunday.
Kerry’s success in winning ball at midfield through Anthony Maher and Bryan Sheehan was largely negated as Mayo players swarmed around them at speed, removing opportunities for either to develop play.
James Horan’s team looked far more composed in attack. While also scorer-in-chief in the opening period, Conor Mortimer proved priceless as a play-maker as Mayo looked to develop attacks in the early going. Critically it was Mayo who dictated the pace of play inside the Kerry half during the early exchanges, forcing Jack O’Connor’s team to ultimately pull more men into defence.
This pass-first approach employed by Mayo early was efficient as Horan’s charges converted 7 of 8 scoring chances in the opening 25 minutes.
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Dropping deep aids Kerry attack
The Kingdom’s strength up front means Kerry can keep the scoreboard ticking over efficiently without a boatload of chances. Cork however had already shown that is was possible to throttle the supply to Kerry’s forwards to breaking point.
Mayo looked to succeed in this regard in the opening half. Colin Cooper’s first real chance came with his score on 14 minutes, with Kerry’s most potent weapon being kept out of the game up to that point. Cooper would fall victim to Mayo’s horde of defenders a minute later. Having sidestepped one potential blocker, Cooper was blocked by Colm Boyle when he tried to pull the trigger.
O’Connor’s team had to adjust and with Paul Galvin and Bryan Sheehan dropping deeper. Galvin, whose distribution was more down than up for most of the day, proved more effective at creating attacks starting from inside his own half. With Sheehan aiding more in defence, Kerry proved more capable of developing attacks from the back. Sheehan would draw Kerry level before the break but Mayo’s front line was still a threat. A slip by Galvin at the back let Andy Moran through on goal, for a chance he pointed, and Mortimer added another to ensure a two point lead at the break.
Loose lines put Mayo in peril
When a team deploys a strategy like Mayo’s, discipline in formation is absolutely vital to success. The placement of Kieran Donaghy up high as a target man in the second half placed a lot of pressure on Mayo’s last line.
Donaghy combined well with Darran O’Sullivan to create several scoring chances, with one of their links giving the Kingdom their first lead on 49 minutes. Donaghy would play a role in the opening goal on 53 minutes as he drew in James Vaughan, allowing James O’Donoghue to find the net on a first-time strike. While there was fortuitous element element to how the ball reached O’Donoghue, there was no element of chance to the substitute being left open to score.
In the first half Kerry couldn’t find any room up front but now, with Mayo’s formation losing cohesion, opportunities presented themselves during the first 20 minutes after the break. At the other end Kerry’s defence looked particularly organised through the positioning of Marc Ó Sé. The full back could not have dropped any deeper, almost operating as a second goalkeeper in terms of distribution. Even when he made a break up the right flank on 53 minutes, Ó Sé immediately sprinted back deep.
Mayo boss James Horan and Kerry counterpart Jack O’Connor shake hands after the game. Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Reshape and advance
Rather than push Kerry out of reach, the goal acted as a wake-up call to Mayo. The high pressure at midfield once again stifled Kerry’s effort to create attacks. Following O’Donoghue’s major, the only other score Kerry managed in regulation came from a Sheehan free from 49 metres.
The comeback lacked the composure of Mayo’s opening flurry but it was sufficient to keep them in the fight. With Kerry’s defence once again being crowded out, Mayo forced turnovers and with turnovers came chances to advance. Mortimer made his last contribution of the day with a score on 58 minutes but it was his supporting cast who would drag Mayo over the line. Alan Dillon won a penalty after Donaghy’s freakishly miss-hit pass back left him in on goal. Pat Harte subsequently converted and an injury time free by Cillian O’Connor would tie matters up.
The verdict
Mayo’s 0-6 to 0-1 run early would eventually prove vital in limiting the damage caused by their loss of shape after the break. With a manageable target Mayo re-organised and stifled Kerry’s ability to develop play. Depth appeared likely to win the game for Kerry in extra time as Barry John Keane found his shooting boots. Despite surrendering scoring chances to the Kingdom, Mayo was still doing enough to stay in the fight. The defence held firm and limited supply to Kerry’s front men. Mayo’s second goal, through Boyle, came out of a hopeful ball and required a fantastic finish but critically Mayo had done enough to be in with a shot for a last gasp effort to work. Then it was left to Richie Feeney to finish the job.
This brought an end to an unusual league campaign for Kerry. Despite losing just one of seven games through the regular season, the Kingdom’s frailties were plain to see. For all their talent in ball-winning, Kerry proved far too easy to close down. Jack O’Connor’s concerns about size at the back have been evident throughout the year with Sheehan and, moreso, Donaghy being called on repeatedly for deeper roles. Without the attacking strength of their big men, Kerry’s forward approach is slowed. In short, O’Connor’s squad has yet to truly adapt to the loss of depth over the last three seasons.
For Mayo the confidence boost of a Croke Park win over Kerry is obvious. Tactically they remain a work in progress, albeit one that is coming along nicely. Consistency in deploying the game plan will be critical for the final against Cork, a team who present an entirely difference strategic challenge to O’Connor’s men.
The west's awake: how Mayo saw off Kerry at Croker yesterday
Reproduced with permission from Action81
Mayo overcame Kerry in the first of Sunday’s National Football League semi finals. Emmet Ryan looks back at the tactical battles that dominated the day.
Mayo repeat Dublin formula
Playing a high line and working on isolating the ball carrier worked a treat for Mayo against Dublin and they started with the same approach in Croke Park on Sunday.
Kerry’s success in winning ball at midfield through Anthony Maher and Bryan Sheehan was largely negated as Mayo players swarmed around them at speed, removing opportunities for either to develop play.
James Horan’s team looked far more composed in attack. While also scorer-in-chief in the opening period, Conor Mortimer proved priceless as a play-maker as Mayo looked to develop attacks in the early going. Critically it was Mayo who dictated the pace of play inside the Kerry half during the early exchanges, forcing Jack O’Connor’s team to ultimately pull more men into defence.
This pass-first approach employed by Mayo early was efficient as Horan’s charges converted 7 of 8 scoring chances in the opening 25 minutes.
Dropping deep aids Kerry attack
The Kingdom’s strength up front means Kerry can keep the scoreboard ticking over efficiently without a boatload of chances. Cork however had already shown that is was possible to throttle the supply to Kerry’s forwards to breaking point.
Mayo looked to succeed in this regard in the opening half. Colin Cooper’s first real chance came with his score on 14 minutes, with Kerry’s most potent weapon being kept out of the game up to that point. Cooper would fall victim to Mayo’s horde of defenders a minute later. Having sidestepped one potential blocker, Cooper was blocked by Colm Boyle when he tried to pull the trigger.
O’Connor’s team had to adjust and with Paul Galvin and Bryan Sheehan dropping deeper. Galvin, whose distribution was more down than up for most of the day, proved more effective at creating attacks starting from inside his own half. With Sheehan aiding more in defence, Kerry proved more capable of developing attacks from the back. Sheehan would draw Kerry level before the break but Mayo’s front line was still a threat. A slip by Galvin at the back let Andy Moran through on goal, for a chance he pointed, and Mortimer added another to ensure a two point lead at the break.
Loose lines put Mayo in peril
When a team deploys a strategy like Mayo’s, discipline in formation is absolutely vital to success. The placement of Kieran Donaghy up high as a target man in the second half placed a lot of pressure on Mayo’s last line.
Donaghy combined well with Darran O’Sullivan to create several scoring chances, with one of their links giving the Kingdom their first lead on 49 minutes. Donaghy would play a role in the opening goal on 53 minutes as he drew in James Vaughan, allowing James O’Donoghue to find the net on a first-time strike. While there was fortuitous element element to how the ball reached O’Donoghue, there was no element of chance to the substitute being left open to score.
In the first half Kerry couldn’t find any room up front but now, with Mayo’s formation losing cohesion, opportunities presented themselves during the first 20 minutes after the break. At the other end Kerry’s defence looked particularly organised through the positioning of Marc Ó Sé. The full back could not have dropped any deeper, almost operating as a second goalkeeper in terms of distribution. Even when he made a break up the right flank on 53 minutes, Ó Sé immediately sprinted back deep.
Mayo boss James Horan and Kerry counterpart Jack O’Connor shake hands after the game. Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Reshape and advance
Rather than push Kerry out of reach, the goal acted as a wake-up call to Mayo. The high pressure at midfield once again stifled Kerry’s effort to create attacks. Following O’Donoghue’s major, the only other score Kerry managed in regulation came from a Sheehan free from 49 metres.
The comeback lacked the composure of Mayo’s opening flurry but it was sufficient to keep them in the fight. With Kerry’s defence once again being crowded out, Mayo forced turnovers and with turnovers came chances to advance. Mortimer made his last contribution of the day with a score on 58 minutes but it was his supporting cast who would drag Mayo over the line. Alan Dillon won a penalty after Donaghy’s freakishly miss-hit pass back left him in on goal. Pat Harte subsequently converted and an injury time free by Cillian O’Connor would tie matters up.
The verdict
Mayo’s 0-6 to 0-1 run early would eventually prove vital in limiting the damage caused by their loss of shape after the break. With a manageable target Mayo re-organised and stifled Kerry’s ability to develop play. Depth appeared likely to win the game for Kerry in extra time as Barry John Keane found his shooting boots. Despite surrendering scoring chances to the Kingdom, Mayo was still doing enough to stay in the fight. The defence held firm and limited supply to Kerry’s front men. Mayo’s second goal, through Boyle, came out of a hopeful ball and required a fantastic finish but critically Mayo had done enough to be in with a shot for a last gasp effort to work. Then it was left to Richie Feeney to finish the job.
YouTube credit: Mayo GAA Blog.
This brought an end to an unusual league campaign for Kerry. Despite losing just one of seven games through the regular season, the Kingdom’s frailties were plain to see. For all their talent in ball-winning, Kerry proved far too easy to close down. Jack O’Connor’s concerns about size at the back have been evident throughout the year with Sheehan and, moreso, Donaghy being called on repeatedly for deeper roles. Without the attacking strength of their big men, Kerry’s forward approach is slowed. In short, O’Connor’s squad has yet to truly adapt to the loss of depth over the last three seasons.
For Mayo the confidence boost of a Croke Park win over Kerry is obvious. Tactically they remain a work in progress, albeit one that is coming along nicely. Consistency in deploying the game plan will be critical for the final against Cork, a team who present an entirely difference strategic challenge to O’Connor’s men.
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The Morning Score: Monday
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