It all started so well for Tyrone…
Dublin are All-Ireland champions for the fourth year in a row following a 2-17 to 1-14 victory over a brave Tyrone side in Croke Park this afternoon.
The truth is Tyrone started the brighter of the two sides and led 0-5 to 0-1 after 15 minutes.
From there it all went downhill. Dublin eventually found their feet and rattled off two goals before half time to effectively kill the game off.
So how did this game go from potential shock, to inevitable outcome?
Simple answer: The kick-outs
It has been said before, maybe even overstated at times, but in the modern game a teams restarts are vital. It is all about retaining possession, and this starts with the goalkeeper’s kick-outs.
You have to win your own and Dublin’s comeback today couldn’t have illustrated this point more perfectly.
Dublin are four points down when Cluxton goes to take a quick restart and picks out Jack McCaffrey with an inch perfect pass. The Clontarf man moves the ball quickly up the field to Ciaran Kilkenny who’s on hand to score only their second point after 17 minutes of play.
This sparked the revival.
Ciarán Kilkenny with a fantastic score for @DubGAAOfficial pic.twitter.com/lfu3J0MARD
— The GAA (@officialgaa) September 2, 2018
Unfortunately for Tyrone, this was just the beginning as the Red Hand’s next three kick-outs led to Dublin scores.
First, Morgan spots a tiny cluster of Tyrone players in the centre of the park, unfortunately he scuffs the kick which sets Dublin on the attack and only 40 metres from goal.
This attack led to Paul Mannion winning a penalty, which the Kilmacud Crokes man tucked away himself.
Paul Mannion is fouled and blasts the penalty to the net himself to give Dublin the lead – Highlights on The Sunday Game tonight, 9.30pm @RTE2 #DUBvTYR #GAA pic.twitter.com/b4eRGNaPHx
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) September 2, 2018
The score is now level.
After the penalty is scored Morgan opts to go wide this time, kicking the ball towards the right hand touchline.
Tyrone are left with a two on one scenario and again Dublin start an attack high up the field, another score.
Dublin lead the match.
Only 30 seconds after the previous kick-out, Tyrone decide to hit the opposite wing. Unfortunately the same thing happens again. Fenton wins the break and drives forward to set up another score.
In the space of four minutes Dublin went from four points down to two points up. In those four minutes they scored 1-3 and each score came directly from a goalkeepers kick-out.
Spillane summed it up perfectly at half time.
"In the space of three minutes, three bad kickouts lead to 1-3. Game over" – Pat Spillane praises Tyrone for taking the game to Dublin but says the reigning champions showed great composure to take charge #DUBvTYR #GAA pic.twitter.com/2RSxEp7UaM
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) September 2, 2018
It would be unfair to place blame at any players feet, particularly Niall Morgan.
Dublin have implemented a game plan that makes it nigh on impossible for opposition ‘keepers to find their target, such is their extremely high-press.
What it does highlight though is the vital importance of retaining possession from one’s own kick-out.
If you can do it, it’s a platform to attack. If you don’t, you are immediately on the back foot.
The beauty of Cluxton’s kick-out to McCaffrey cannot be overstated though, when Dublin looked in trouble, it was a moment of excellence from their captain that was the catalyst for a revival.
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