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| Wanna Talk Football? |
The main issues of the week were player transfers and Galway's impending collapse. With so much going on I've had a hard time limiting myself to only three topics this week. My own bravery aside, here are my points...
Tyrone Need a Win
Having been relegated from Division 1 last year, Tyrone were expected to be a powerhouse in Division 2. Not the case so far. The Red Hand County have lost to Derry and Donegal. During the Donegal match they managed only 0-5 and looked lost for long stretches of time. Tyrone spent the entire match chasing and reacting.
This is particularly worrying from a side which usually dictates tempo and surround the opponent like a swarm of wasps on the pitch. Tyrone have already been through a lot emotionally with the loss of Michaela Harte. Thankfully for the Ulster side, they meet Sligo next week and should get in the win column and avoid whispers of back-to-back relegation league campaigns.
Bernard Brogan's Passing Brilliance
In their first of four home games in Croke Park, Dublin looked impressive against defending League and All-Ireland Champions Cork. They seemed to feed off the atmosphere and play with confidence and aggression. That aggression led to three goals.
Bernard Brogan's role in the three goals was sublime. He assisted on all three. His unselfish play was perhaps a new dimension to the 2010 Player of the Year. As recently as last summer Brogan would have shot at least two of the three possessions he turned into goals for teammates. If Brogan is going to use the attention he draws to create opportunities for others, Dublin's attack is going to be even stronger than in 2010.
The Line Between a Yellow and a Foul
The Mayo v Kerry match in Castlebar was a messy affair. The conditions were terrible. The play was not exactly graceful. Mayo looked like they were going to take it but Kerry substitutes made the difference. Mayo subs had little impact while the green and gold were able to bring on fresh legs and up the pressure.
In roughly the 65th minute, I was out of my chair with disappointment. Not because of a quality score or bit of skill but because of a great example of the inconsistency with which the game is refereed. Kevin McLoughlin played a solid match. He moved well with and without the ball and was cunning enough to dodge a totally unnecessary and out of control shoulder/elbow from Tomas O'Se.
Anyway he must have lost his temper while chasing the speedy Darren O'Sullivan. As O'Sullivan's pace carried him away, McLoughlin quit chasing and deliberately kicked O'Sullivan near the ankle. The kick knocked the legs out from under O'Sullivan and he smashed into the ground at full speed. It was a deliberate act of violence in a moment of frustration. The referee only gave him a yellow.
This kind of thing must be a red card. The range of foul that leads to a yellow card is too wide. Pulling a jersey can have a player seeing yellow. Complaining can lead to a yellow. An accidental collision can lead to a yellow. Purposely kicking someone to make them fall has to be red. If the referee isn't going to protect the players, the players will protect themselves.
I want Brogan's babies.
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