Overheard in the Snug: April 10th

Missed you last week

I was busy moving last Sunday so I didn't have time to eavesdrop in the snug. Instead I was moving heavy boxes and complaining to anyone who'd listen. Now that the complaints are out of my system I'm able to focus on an important final week of the League. I'm starting to think the League is more important than most will admit. Most shrug off the League as the time to get your house in order for the summer by trying new people in new positions. The increasingly professional approach to the game by players and management means the League is starting to be more important. Dublin have laid down a marker this spring with 6am training sessions and an undefeated campaign to show for their efforts. With the importance of the League in mind here are my points for the week.

Cork, Kerry or Down
A place in the Division One final against Dublin is up for grabs today. Cork can decide their own fate as a win for them means a place in the final. However a Cork loss opens up the possibility of Kerry or Down sneaking into the final. Last year's All-Ireland Final loser would enjoy the boost of confidence and a chance to hoist some silverware. For Kerry, it's probably best for them not to have too much success with the form they've been showing. They've avoided relegation after a difficult first few weeks of the League. In fact, they were lucky not to start with three losses. Any of these three could beat Dublin which would be quite a knock to Pat Gilroy's men. The papers have Dublin as the team to beat this summer but they forget...good form in March doesn't guarantee anything in September.

Fermanagh Uprising
We are going to see more and more uprisings like the one in Fermanagh this spring and Cork last year. The nature of authority is changing. Players aren't happy to take orders blindly. Collaboration and joint decision making is the norm at home and in the work place. Ruling with an iron fist isn't the way to maximise production. This poses a unique challenge for managers. Push too hard and there's a revolt. Go soft and players won't do what they're told. Any imbalance in the command structure weakens the team. Knowing the game isn't enough. Managers now have to delicately manage egos as well. We'll see more of this until managers understand the need for this balance.

Division Two Madness
No one could have predicted the results in Division Two. Last year's Leinster Champions Meath are poised for relegation. Laois were undefeated after four matches, then lost two straight. Derry have underachieved while Tyrone have shown dreadful form at times. Kildare haven't seen the success I predicted and are poised to fall further from the form of the last few years after the loss of All-Star midfielder Dermot Earley for the year to a knee injury. The biggest surprise of all though is Donegal at the top of the table looking down on all these bigger names. They have a massive point differential at +28. Donegal will be looking to make some serious gains in Ulster this summer...then again spring form doesn't always translate into summer glory.