The MLR assessment.
By Leo McGough
– MOUNT LEINSTER RANGERS –
DEAN GRENNAN: Features four times in the ’Scores by the Clock’, puck-outs and clearances of varying lengths yielding four points, a huge contribution, also did well to handle a tricky James Doyle shot on goal.
MICHAEL DOYLE: Mopped up a few messy situations using his goalkeeper to effect but it was two stand your ground tackles one after the other late in the second half that served the cause the most.
MICHAEL JOYCE: Cool and calm in the last line of defence, nothing spectacular his defensive nous forced St Mullins to try an number of players on the edge of the square, no score resulting.
SEAN JOYCE: Picked up ‘Mouse’ early on, did well, proceeded to play a very useful game, a speedy lift-and-strike delivery coupled with a speedy lift-and-handpass the ‘assist’ to two valuable points.
EVAN KEALY: James Doyle probably saw the net dancing before taking the first half shot that the goalkeeper caught but the forward misfired due to a timely Kealy covering tackle, the yellow carded No 5 also made a point with a clever delivery.
KEVIN McDONALD: A massive, massive game, won a good bit of loose possession in the first half when reading St Mullins long ball game well, the No 6 was deeply involved in the ‘assists’ to no less than 1-4 of the first half tally, had two more point assists in the second half (one a crafty line-cut to Chris Nolan, the other that run and flick with a broken stick. He also piloted over a free from inside his own half part altogether from relentless defensive work. Talk about a Captain’s part.
TONY LAWLOR: His superb long range point from half-way in the 55th minute looked a potential winner, reward for a lot of good on the ball work, tidy runs, good clearances and fouled for a pointed free.
JON NOLAN: A brace of beatuiful points from the 50m range, two brisk clever cross-field deliveries that yielded two more points, fouled for a converted free the highlights of an industrious performance.
RICHIE COADY: In our preview with a difference match report of the final we wrote ‘Speaking of old, let’s first salute Richie Coady. The Rangers were winning their 12th title, Richie was winning his 12th medal on the field of play. Not as a ‘bit player’ brought on for nostalgic reasons when the game was won, not in a position where covering ground could be kept to a minimum but here was Richie in the mid-field engine room and doing well, a real play-maker.” We got the winning part wrong but the rest was 100% correct, Richie directly responsible for four Mount Leinster Rangers points with crafty ‘assists’, one of which also doubled as a point-preventing block, a block that eventually led to Tony Lawlor’s point.
CHRIS NOLAN: Two points from play, albeit two typically terrific scores would be a low return for this sharpshooter but consult the ‘Scores by the Clock’ and you will learn that that he was involved in the assists to 1-3 and was fouled for a pointed free. Not a bad day’s work after all.
TED JOYCE: Probably his best game ever in the red and black jersey, 0-7 in total, two beauties from play, five from frees one of which he won himself. People are often quick to ‘condemn’ free-takers’ as men looking for their names in the paper and these same people conveniently forget and ‘donkey work’ done by the designated placed ball taker. In this case Ted’s hard work yielded 1-2 in assists, assists that involved a mixture or brain and brawn.
DEAN TOBIN: Again people who judge players, forwards in particular, by their scores from play will see the duck-eggs after Dean’s name and the lazy analysis will conclude he had a bad day at the office, especially as he scored well en route to the final. Yes Dean hit a few wides but be never stopped working and one chase and hook in a tight was every bit as important as a score on the board. Made way for Diarmuid Byrne in the 49th minute.
CIARAN KAVANAGH: A dream start to a county final a goal after 13 seconds, his first time pull rattling the net. He kept plugging away for the rest of the half, did his but before making way for Conaill Fitzpatrick at half-time.
EDDIE BYRNE: ‘Feathers’ was flying, scored 1-2, involved in the ‘assist’ to 1-1, fouled for a pointed free, that adds up to 2-4, a massive contribution from the veteran raider whose experience of county final day and the cutting edge required ensured the Rangers had that cutting edge in front of goal.
15. DONAGH MURPHY: Four sensational points from play, all scores of the highest quality, a fabulous finisher, he was buzzing in attack all day was the stylish All-Ireland colleges medal winner with St Kieran’s.
Subs: CONAILL FITZPATRICK; Came on at half-time did the teenager for his first experience of a county senior final and got stuck in straight away, fouled for a converted free awarded when the daring Conaill made determined tracks towards the scoreboard end posts in pursuit of a goal.
DIARMUID BYRNE: In contrast to Conaill, Rangers second sub was playing his 10th country final and ’Sledge’ also got stuck in straight away, stuck into Jack Kavanagh to be more precise. That meet-and-greet over Diarmuid, operating in attack but tracking back gave the deft lift-and-hand-pass that led to Tony Lawlor’s point.
