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You are > Home > When it pays to read the small print
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Wednesday, March 31, 2010
When it pays to read the small print
BY ANTHONY HENNIGAN
IT was with mild shock I learnt only on Friday last that scores for and against would not be the first differential used to determine what team will contest the National League football final should two teams finish all-square on league points. It pays to read the small print sometimes.
It means that if Mayo and Dublin finish level behind Cork in the table after next Sunday week’s last round of Division 1 games, then it’s the Metropolitans who will advance to the final based on the head-to-head meeting of the two teams in Castlebar.
Given the strange results and oft times distorted score-lines the National League can throw up, the head-to-head method is probably the fairest it just never seems that way when working against you. However, unlikely as it may seem given Dublin’s necessity to beat a still relegation threatened Tyrone team in Omagh, if Mayo were to miss out on a National League final appearance, they would only have themselves to blame given the woeful nature of their shooting in the one point defeat to the boys from the capital. All the more reason then for Mayo to go and win in Cork, just like on their last visit in 2007.
It was that victory, secured by a late Aidan Kilcoyne point, which was pivotal in the Green and Red reaching that year’s League final. Will history repeat itself ? Who knows, but it’s ironic that Kilcoyne, recovered from injury, could be in line for his first appearance of the year when the teams line out in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. By virtue of their head-tohead record versus Dublin, Cork are now sure of their place in the Division 1 final even if losing to Mayo. Question is, who would the Leesiders rather play in the decider and will that determine their level of performance against their western visitors next Sunday week?
Just a thought...
THIS writer has a habit of always seeking positives first, so in reviewing Mayo’s struggle with Monaghan last Sunday you might consider the following.
Of the home team that finished last Sunday’s game, only six of that fifteen started the Green and Red’s last championship outing against Meath. Is it a sign then of just how far a still developing Green and Red outfit has come this season that there was still all-round disappointment with a performance that had twice as many Mayo players score (10) than Monaghan, that reaped the side’s joint-second biggest National League score of the season, a score that included 2-9 from play compared to the opposition’s 05 and a score that was the biggest racked up by any of the teams in Division 1 last weekend?
Where’s the joined-up logic?
Q: What do football games and housing estates have in common?
A: We can plan neither.
TWO Castlebar schools play two Down schools in All-Ireland senior football semi-finals on the same day yet despite all that education, the powers that be cannot arrange for both games to be played as a double-header at the one venue. How hard could it be?
In the case of St Gerald’s and Davitt College, some families had an involvement with both teams and whilst the same crossover did not apply between St Colman’s, Newry and St Malachy’s, Castlewellan, theirs was the same problem as that of Castlebar’s schools in that the loyalties of local GAA clubs were tested unnecessary, ie, what team and which of our players do we go and support on the day? The O’Connor brothers of Ballintubber, Cillian and Diarmuid, were particularly compromised when playing for Gerald’s and Davitt respectively.
Less than 20 miles separate St Colman’s and St Malachy’s, I doubt 20 pitch lengths separate St Gerald’s and Davitt College, yet last Saturday the four teams were made play in venues 75 miles apart. Worse still, the games were fixed for exactly the same time.
And so it was that half of Castlebar travelled to Blacklion in Cavan and half to Longford.
Planning, it seems, is not this country’s forte.
Kerry wisdom
“MOVE up Kevin, Kevin move down.” So urged a Kenmare supporter wishing to see Kevin O’Sullivan move up the field, or was that down?
The wing-forward set aside any confusion to help the Munster champions to victory over Gortnor Abbey in Saturday’s All-Ireland Colleges final in Ennis, denying Mayo a third football triumph over Kerry in as many weeks following the National League wins of the county’s men and women.
The Spillane brothers, Pat, more vocal than most, and Tom, were among the excited observers at Cusack Park as the Kerry greats watched their sons line out at wing-back and midfield for the impressive winners. Indeed the entire Kenmare starting 15 comprised of players from just two clubs, An Neidín (8) and Teampall Nua (7). In contrast, six clubs were represented on Gortnor Abbey’s selection: Crossmolina (2), Knockmore (2), Ballina (1), Moygownagh (4), Lahardane (4) and Ardagh (2). Gortnor lost nothing in defeat but perhaps this was one occasion where quality won out over quantity.
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