All-Ireland Group Stage Opening Round Reaction From Diarmuid Connolly

We have analysis and reaction to the All-Ireland group stage opening round weekend from BoyleSports ambassador Diarmuid Connolly.

The first ever All-Ireland group stages kicked off with a bang this weekend and the big match on Saturday was Kerry v Mayo in Killarney. Kerry went into the game heavily fancied but it was Mayo who would emerge victorious by five points in the end.

There was also another big game in Salthill between 2022 All-Ireland Finalists Galway and 2021 Champions Tyrone. Six-time All-Ireland winner Connolly gave us his reaction to both games and his analysis of what each team’s prospects are looking forward this summer.

Mayo Dominate Kerry In Killarney

Diarmuid Connolly, speaking to us here at BoyleSports, was very impressed by Mayo’s performance on Saturday:

“1-19 was a huge score for Mayo to put up, especially down in Kerry where they were 39 matches unbeaten in the Championship. So that’s a massive statement from Mayo.”

“They have had five or six weeks probably to work on the fine details and every single one of them to a man, even those who came on as a sub, were hopping off the ground. They looked like they could have blown Kerry out of the water and got three or four goals in that first half and put them to bed very, very early.”

Connolly pinpointed the middle area of the field as being crucial to Mayo’s success in Killarney:

“Kerry stuck at it, but they really didn’t look like they were going to beat this Mayo side, who were running all over them. I’ve been very impressed throughout the league and even last year with the middle five or six – Matthew Ruane, Jack Carney and Jordan Flynn really drove it forward.”

The Mayo forward line was on top form in this game and the Dublin legend singled out two players in particular for praise along with highlighting the strength of Mayo’s bench this year.

“Ryan O’Donoghue, he’s the man to put the points on the board and Aidan O’Shea gives you that different option inside. He just disrupts the play around there. And even the subs that came in; Eoghan McLaughlin, Enda Hession, Tommy Conroy and Stephen Coen were all getting starts last year and they made a massive impact, so it’s looking good for Mayo.”

Kingdom must go back to the drawing board

The loss to Mayo in Killarney will have come as a shock to Kerry folk given that the county hadn’t lost a Championship game there in 28 years. The defending All-Ireland Champions looked nothing like the team that won Sam Maguire last year.

Connolly suggests it’s time for The Kingdom to go back to the drawing board and picked out one line in particular that is an area of weakness in this team.

“It’s back to the drawing board for Kerry, but I still think they’ll probably come second in this group with Louth and Cork to come. They cantered through Munster fairly handily, but they came up against a Mayo side that really wanted this one. For me they are weak in the half-back line position and they’re not as strong as they were coming into the All-Ireland last year.”

Paudie Clifford has become Kerry’s primary playmaker and is crucial to launching attacks for The Kingdom but he wasn’t able to have his usual impact on the game against Mayo.

“Paudie Clifford is the guy that makes the half-forward line tick. He brings his brother into it a lot and he just links from back to forward. But I thought Mayo just did a great job on him. They shut him down early, didn’t let him get on the ball and dictate play.”

“When you can do that you can shut down Kerry’s main players. Kerry not getting a goal in a Championship game is very rare and you can’t rely on David Clifford to do everything for you either. You need the guys around him to rally too.”

Galway Have The Best Forward Line in the Country

The other big game this weekend involved another Connacht team as Galway welcomed Tyrone to Pearse Stadium. This was a game between two serious All-Ireland contenders and it was the home side who prevailed as the final scoreline read: Galway 0-16 0-13 Tyrone.

The westerners were in an All-Ireland Final last year and Connolly believes that they have improved this year.

“Galway just kept Tyrone at arm’s length and never really got out of second gear. They were the finalists last year and they’ve added layers to their game this season.”

One of the standout performers on the evening was 2022 Footballer of the Year nominee Cillian McDaid who Diarmuid Connolly singled out for praise. The six-time All-Ireland winner also declared that the Tribesmen have the best forward line in the country.

“Cillian McDaid was a real leader and that forward line can score from everywhere. Galway are really top of the ground and probably boast the best forward line in the country at the minute. They’ll be there or thereabouts come the business end.”

Tyrone Leaning on Stalwarts

A massive factor in the game between Galway and Tyrone was indiscipline on the part of the Ulster team which saw them reduced to 14 men after 20 minutes following a red card for Frank Burns.

“I don’t even think the Tyrone players know what they’re going to get when they come out onto the field and they didn’t help themselves with two men on the sideline after 25 or so minutes. Niall Morgan got a black card for verbals, but he’s probably lucky to stay on the pitch at the end after an awful tackle on Damian Comer.”

Connolly went on to highlight that this Tyrone team is relying on some veteran players.

“They are relying on the old stalwarts like Darren McCurry, Peter Harte, Conor Meyler and even Mattie Donnelly. They’re all heading towards the end of their tenure I think.”

For the latest All-Ireland odds and chances of each county check out our All-Ireland Football Odds 2023 post.

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