Jamesie O'Connor
GAA Expert & Columnist
Jamesie O'Connor: Galway's defence will struggle to contain Kilkenny
Last Updated: 03/07/15 6:26pm
Jamesie O’Connor believes Galway’s in-form forwards will ask serious questions of Kilkenny, but doubts remain over the Tribesmen’s defence.
Anthony Cunningham’s side have scored 8-47 in their last two championship games and travel to Croke Park in confident mood as they target a first victory over Kilkenny in five attempts.
However, while O’Connor expects Galway to ask questions of Kilkenny full-back Joey Holden, the Sky Sports GAA pundit is unsure whether they can contain the Cats at the other end of the pitch.
O'Connor said: “Credit to Joey Holden, I thought he did well against Wexford, but Wexford failed to ask serious questions and I don’t think he was put under the kind of pressure that he’s likely to face at the weekend.
“Holden is a good player. He has massive boots to fill in terms of JJ Delaney but he has two top-class, experienced corner-backs alongside him and a system that will be designed to offer him the maximum protection.
If you’re a Galway player you’re taking heart from the fact that Tommy Walsh, Brian Hogan and JJ Delaney aren’t on the field.
Jamesie O'Connor
“I don’t see Kilkenny doing a Cork on it and allowing themselves to be dragged all over the field, and that really is the challenge for Galway. Can they create the space inside and get fast ball into their inside line? Because Galway are going to need goals to win this game.
“If you’re a Galway player you’re taking heart from the fact that Tommy Walsh, Brian Hogan and JJ Delaney aren’t on the field. All of those guys started in the Leinster semi-final replay last year and made major contributions.
“I think Galway will be coming with a plan and with a lot of confidence that they didn't have last year. But the questions marks are at the other end as to whether their defence can cope with the movement, the pace and the class that Kilkenny showed in spades two weeks ago.”
Competition
O’Connor was taken aback by the high level of performance Kilkenny produced against Wexford and feels it underlines the competition for places, with every player under pressure to perform.
“I heard one of the Dublin footballers alluding to it,” said O’Connor, a two-time All-Ireland winner with Clare in 1995 and 1997.
“You’re not as nervous about the opposition as you aware about your own performance and the opposition. I was surprised by how sharp they were against Wexford. I thought they played to an exceptionally high level.”
O’Connor believes Galway will be happier at the prospect of facing the Cats in the open spaces of Croke Park, but he is unsure whether that will work in their favour.
“To me, positions will mean absolutely nothing on Sunday,” he said. “On the evidence of what I saw at Nowlan Park, the Wexford defence were bamboozled as to who they were supposed to be picking up.
"They were being dragged all over the field and that is something the Galway management will have to put a lot of thought into.
Difficult
“For example, Richie Hogan was everywhere. He drifted out to midfield and got points from long range. He went in on the edge of the square, was on the end of Michael Fennelly’s pass for the first goal, and he set up Ger Aylward for his first goal and TJ Reid for the penalty. He was exceptionally difficult to mark.
“That’s something that Galway are going to have to have worked out. Do they play a sweeper, a zonal system, or go man for man? If you don’t mark these guys tightly they’ll crucify you, but if you allow yourself to be dragged out the field and leave space in behind, they’ve got the players, pace and experience to exploit it. It’s a huge challenge.
“Daithi Burke is a bit fillip to have back. He’s a guy who’s got the discipline to pick up a player like Reid or Hogan. It’ll be interesting to see if they deploy him in that capacity.
“Johnny Coen is in good form while Padraig Mannion has been the find of the summer so far. He has been excellent and is growing in confidence with every game. Even John Hanbury has answered most of the questions asked of him to date, but Sunday is a different test, one he hasn’t faced up to now.
“If those guys can survive at the back, Galway have a brilliant opportunity, but I just don’t know if the Galway defence is strong enough, especially now David Collins looks to be out with a hamstring injury.
“I just don’t know if they have strength in depth at the back to contain that Kilkenny attack in the form it’s in."
