Three years for Teege is a real vote of confidence, it has given me absolute belief that we will win an AI in the next few years.
The preparation of the team has been excellent. Played four games, three against top opposition, had the winning of all of them. Small things stopped us against Cork & KK and you would go out the next day confident of getting a result against anyone. Team and management know they can win, itâs reflected in how the team has lined out - there was no stifling the oppositionâs centre-back, no third midfielders, sweepers, we played to our own strengths, with players playing in their best positions.
When you look at bolstering the panel, you look at the team structurally and the age profile of the players. The defence and midfield is largely older, Hickey, Condon, OâMahoney and James Ryan from the 2005 minor team, Wayne Mac a year older again, they are at the age now where they are at their prime. The half-back line is the line that needs most attention. Youâd love the luxury of playing Hickey at centre-back but itâs his man-marking qualites that stood supreme this year, he had Pat Horgan, TJ Reid and Liam Ăg McGovern all in his arse-pocket, which is some going in fairness. I also think the altitude limit put on him as a corner-back does him the world of good as he is liable to take too much out of the ball. Wayne Mac has improved this year in that sense - always chosing to look up and deliver good ball direct to the forwards. POB and GOM endured the most criticism and it was warranted. I was surprised that Tom Ryan didnât see action in the half-back line at some stage, would like to see a good bit of himself, Dempsey, Morrissey, James OâBrien and Richie English in the league. We have very little cover across the full-back line actually, Steve Walsh was good when he came on against Wexford but is older than any of the the current incumbents. No one else has seen enough action at this level.
In the forwards Hannon, Dowling, Downes and Mulcahy would have been members of the 2011 U21 side and all have time on their side from that point of view. The edge of the square role depends on how Downes shapes up next year. Accuracy and touch, both of which he has had in spades in previous years, departed him in 2014. Lacks that bit of cuteness that Dowling has to wrong-foot a full-back but has bags more pace to roast one if isolated. A very powerful runner, he should be positioned and encouraged to turn and put the head down as much as possible tbh, in the Wexford match in particular he was too eager to fire over the point, snatched at shots and didnât get on the score-sheet at all. He can play corner-forward, but I donât think being on the wing suits him at all - if you bring him out of the full-forward line it has to be to 11. Hannonâs improvement over the course of the season bodes very well for our chances in the coming years and he repaid in spades the faith that TJ showed in him after the Munster Final. Mulcahy has had a very good year: playing almost as a midfielder within the forwards, he is superb at getting onto broken ball and can be brave as hell to get up to break it himself against much bigger men. Pops over scores with ease, great man to keep the score-board ticking over. Of the rest, OâGrady probably doesnât have very long left, will be up to himself as to whether he stays on for another go. Breen does have a few years still to go and had a good year overall. A pity he doesnât play forwards for the club as more than anyone this year he showed an instinct and ability to run at goals but doesnât have the shot to bury the chances enough of time. Think we were unlucky with the forward cover this year as both Reidy and Adrian Breen got injured? I didnât see Allis in the league, was abroad for the duration, struck me as an excellent player underage but hasnât transferred it to senior. Missing an athlete in the half-forward line, someone who will just run all day, as well as an out-and-out goal-scorer closer to the posts.
Goals. We have to start scoring goals.
