Hurling’s a game of inches. And in hindsight, it’s a game of ifs.
One miss-hit shot, in the dying moments of the game, does not change my opinion that he’s a good man to hit a free with conviction. Unfortunately, he’d need to cement his place onto the team before he’s considered a viable option though.
Heard good things about Casey…
What age is he?
Looking at the final play we had yesterday. McDonald won it and looked for Jacko running through. Liam Og was in 20 square yards of space just behind Mac and a simple pop pass to Liam Og would have given him the easiest inter county point he’d had ever had. What could have been.
He was on the under 21 team last year
Aaron Gillane’s freetaking style looks bit awkard at times in my opinion but he gets them
He doesnt have an orthodox grip though like all the ones above. He holds right hand on top swinging on his left which is an altogether different technique. The importance of that technique is the impact connection and follow through. Some lads start differently and run straight to the ball, others to the side. Its prone to errors too as it is not as simple when lifting the ball as an orthodox stance.
Look at Chins stance, his shoulders are twisted one way, his hips the opposite way and his feet are one behind the other. It is by far the worst I’ve seen in a long time and despite having a success rate against Dublin, the way he takes them does not lend itself to consistency. He must have missed about 9 frees in a club game a month or so ago, again on a really windy day. So that may be an issue moreso than anything with him too. His attempt against Kilkenny in the 65 shootout in the Walsh cup summed it up.
Completely agee. He’s not a particularly brilliant striker of the ball from open play either, his strengths lie in other areas.
I’d be of the opinion that your free taker should be your best striker of the ball and, in that regard, it’d have to be Rory O’Connor. It’d be worth actually trying to develop the skill with him and spending some time on it.
I’d prefer to see Paudie on the long frees as well and Fanning on the penalties.
O Connor can take frees too, its not as if it is something new to him. He took them all the way along through underage for club and county so certainly worth persisting with.
Chins run up is like that of a fella going for a point from 100 yards every time. He tries to lash them always, regardless of distance. If you look at the great free takers, it’s like they’ve barely struck them. Chin is pure power over technique. Bizarre someone hasn’t tried to improve it. The fact that he missed a 65 in that 65 shootout a while back without reaching the 21 is all you need to know about it really. Pressure comes on, technique is poor so the whole thing falls apart.
They could do worse than getting in someone like Paul Codd to try to improve it. It’s costing them massively at the minute.
Paul Codd was a backhand freetaker… Different animal.
Paul Codd was an exceptional freetaker, he was natural, a cool customer. Ian Byrne to me is probably the best freetaker in the squad. @Bandage is correct in saying Chin stance is all wrong Ian Byrne and Roc are more natural freetaker and have a certain freetaking style.
Think it was @Gman making the point on his stance, but I agree.
In other news, lovely to see the local press stand firmly behind Davy today.
#SiegeMentality
Ian Byrne is a backhanded free taker too isnt he? Albeit he was quite good when on frees, he was pretty good from recollection against Tipp in the league. And when he was starting in the championship in 2015 or so. No reason backhanded free takers cant work though, similar to Codd. The best one though was Conor McDonald who alternates from back handed to orthodox on frees and on sidelines. Although not a reliable free taker either.
McDonalds style is horrible. For a lad who is so talented he can’t even rise the ball in a straight vertical lift. Often rises the ball away from him which makes it impossible to control.
PC was an exceptional freetaker – but I think you need a forehand freetaker to coach a forehand freetaker.
Did he get things sorted with the farm?
Yeah apologies, I didnt mean best as in quality. Just the fact he didnt have a preferred strong side and alternated between a left and right sided free taking stance.
he still has some potato farming on the go though, wouldnt know a whole lot more about it.
Ian Byrne came on for Ferns tonight so might be an option for the Carlow game.
Kevin codd of duffry rovers is/was an outstanding free taker.