Steven Poacher analysed Dublin’s four-point win over Meath, how the Royals set up, the wing-backs and wing-forwards set-up that Galway will have to deal with this weekend, and the cover Jonny Cooper gives to the full-back line.
Dublin travel to Pearse Stadium in Galway this Sunday with an outside chance of regaining the National League title.
The hosts can also lift the crown, but both sides will first be hoping that Kerry stumble against Donegal on Saturday evening.
Last Saturday evening at Parnell Park, the Dubs beat Meath by four points but there were signs that the capital can be got at.
Andy McEntee’s men turned over the men in blue on a number of occasions, and managed to rack up a scoreline of 0-19 (to 1-20).
“There’s a system of play ingrained in them from Jim Gavin and I think Dessie Farrell would be mad to change it overnight,” says ex-Carlow coach Steven Poacher. “Maybe over time he’ll put his stamp on it.
“I was chatting to Colm Nally (the Meath coach), and he was very frustrated.
“Meath had kicked 11 wides and they had created two or three goal chances, which Colm said is unheard of against Dublin.
“They don’t give up goal chances that often. The last team to beat them in championship was Donegal in 2014 and they scored three goals.
“I said last week that Meath needed two goals at least, and if they got them they might have won.
“What Colm said is that Meath played a spine of three forwards and it got Dublin’s defensive line turned,” he adds.
Poacher takes to the tactics board to display the Dublin set-up, including the two banks protecting the defence, and the role played by Jonny Cooper.
Click play on the video at the top of the page to watch the discussion, the tactical breakdown, and a debate about how far both Meath and Dublin can go.
FIXTURES
Saturday 24 October
FL Division 1 round 7
Kerry v Donegal, Austin Stack Park, 2pm – eir Sport1
FL Division 2 round 7
Cavan v Roscommon, Kingspan Breffni, 2pm – TG4
Clare v Armagh, Cusack Park, 2pm
Kildare v Westmeath, Newbridge, 2pm
Fermanagh v Laois, Brewster Park, 2pm
FL Division 4 round 7
Antrim v Waterford – game off, points to Antrim
Sligo v Limerick, Markievicz Park, 2pm
Wexford v Wicklow, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 2pm
Sunday 25 October
FL Division 1 round 7
Galway v Dublin, Pearse Stadium, 2pm – TG4
Mayo v Tyrone, Castlebar, 2pm – Deferred coverage on TG4/Live on TG4 Player
Monaghan v Meath, Clones, 2pm – Deferred coverage on TG4
FL Division 3 round 7
Longford v Cork – game off, points to Cork
Louth v Down, Drogheda, 2pm
Leitrim v Tipperary, Carrick-on-Shannon, 2pm
Offaly v Derry, Tullamore, 2pm
