Three things we learned from the Football League Division 1 final
By Peter McNamara
Kilmacud Crokes’ Cian O’Sullivan is a pillar of consistency for Dublin.
Since arriving on the senior inter-county scene in the capital, O’Sullivan has rarely disappointed in a blue jersey.
Of course, he is more readily known as a midfielder.
Yet, Jim Gavin has correctly realised he can be even more effective as a sweeping centre-back and O’Sullivan is thriving at No 6.
He is - for all intents and purposes - an understated quarterback, one minus the razzmatazz and excessive admiration.
His ability to link the play from a deep-lying position as well as develop counter-attacks so the likes of James McCarthy and Jack McCaffrey can shift through the gears and channels before them is becoming an integral aspect of Dublin’s envious arsenal.
McCaffrey was magnificent for Gavin’s side again yesterday, but O’Sullivan was outstanding too.
Operating in that particular role at present there is no other player better than O’Sullivan.
Of course, if Dublin meet, say Kerry, in the latter stages of the championship, O’Sullivan might have to focus more so on defending against possibly Colm ‘Gooch’ Cooper.
That task will test his rearguard resolve to the limit but O’Sullivan, for now, is a key operator.
Explosive Jack McCaffrey is a relentlessly positive performer for Dublin and, currently, is arguably the most accomplished footballer in the country.
People talk of Diarmuid Connolly as being the code’s best player but McCaffrey, following a taxing season last year, has rekindled the fire inside of himself to drive the Metropolitans on to even greater heights.
He ticks every box required and bonus boxes at that and if Dublin are to land Sam Maguire the Clontarf player will surely be pinpointed as their leading light assuming, of course, he maintains such brilliant form.
The question all-comers will be asking is, how exactly do you contain the dynamic operator?
Effectively, the only way this could be achieved is by detailing a rapid, defensive-minded player to man-mark him and encourage that player to simply focus on disrupting his support runs, particularly from wide areas.
This will be vital for Dublin’s opponents, especially in the Leinster championship as McCaffrey is not only a threat as a support player to their attack but also a serious goal threat.
He thumped the post with a stinging shot at headquarters yesterday and has raised green flags previously.
Éamonn Fitzmaurice would have noted in the league decider how easily Dublin broke through Cork’s defensive lines, especially around their half-back line.
Kerry will expect to meet Cork in the Munster SFC final again this year - no disrespect whatsoever to the other competing counties in the southern province - who will be keen to exploit the Rebels in a similar manner.
Dublin aimed to deactivate the Leesiders’ rearguard via powerful runs through the channels between their players and they located the password to achieve that objective all too early for Brian Cuthbert’s liking.
A lot has been made of how much more defensive Cork are presently in contrast to Cuthbert’s maiden season at the helm.
However, due to the fact Dublin pressed them high up the pitch the spaces their marauding half-backs like to frequent in the hope of generating counter-punches at their opponents were suffocated constantly.
If Cork are to ensure Mark Collins is utilised to the effect he has been prior to yesterday their corner-backs, wing-backs and wing-forwards may have to play closer together in each line narrowing those gaps.
Collins, a clever roamer, has the tactical nous to locate the areas worth penetrating thereafter.
