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Let the mind games begin

GAA.ie columnist Denis Bastick.

GAA.ie columnist Denis Bastick.

By Denis Bastick

It was Tommy Lyons who famously said the battle for Sam Maguire only starts at the All-Ireland quarter final stage.

That has never been more true than in 2018 with the eagerly anticipated start of the new quarter final format.

And from here on in I believe it will be the power of the mind that will have a crucial say in where the Sam Maguire is headed.

Making these ‘playoffs’ has been everyone’s goal since the season began and everything now moves up to a whole different level.

Even though it is a group stage and you are playing three quarter final matches – teams will still approach this as do or die championship football.

A defeat for Dublin to Donegal leaves them vulnerable heading up to what is always going to be a real dogfight against Tyrone in Omagh.

Likewise, the losers of Kerry-Galway both have difficult away trips in Monaghan and Kildare a week later.

It’s possible if a team wins their first two matches that they will look to manage their squad and not risk any injured players in the last round to the same extent you might in a knockout game – but don’t expect any phony wars in the quarter final play offs. This is serious football and there’ll be no holding back.

The run of games won’t be an issue. Teams are well used to this programme of matches from the Allianz League and while the intensity and importance of these games is more significant, the practicalities of preparation and recovery and what needs to be done to get ready for games in close proximity is well drilled into them.

Physically the eight teams left are all very similar. They’ve worked hard all year to get to this stage and with the intention of really showing their worth from now on.

Dublin manager Jim Gavin and prolific forward Dean Rock.

Dublin manager Jim Gavin and prolific forward Dean Rock.

The exception to this is Galway who had to peak at the very start of the summer in their opening round clash with Mayo and it will be interesting to see how they have coped with ratcheting up to this big battle with Kerry. They certainly have looked in peak physical condition.

Skill levels are also well spread out amongst the quarter finalists.

So, when it comes to finding an edge it will come down to how mentally ready teams are will be a crucial factor. That’s where the percentages will be.

Once these matches start it will be the ability to refresh, recharge and refocus that will be of benefit rather than getting boots back on out in the field. If ever there was a time when less was more – this is it.

There will be precious little space for hard training once the games start. Subs who are not used will have to do extra work to stay ready. But for the men who play, it will be all about trying to stay sharp.

Play well and you are buzzing, bouncing around training and cannot wait for the week to fly by.

Play poorly or are taken off and it’s an anxious week. Waiting for the tip on the shoulder to go ‘have a chat’, get the feedback and analysis on what went wrong.

That can be a torment if you let it. It takes experience and self-confidence to have a bad game and still be able to reset and refocus and zone in on the next game, next challenge and next opponent.

You can’t ever play that game again. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. Moving on mentally is easier said than done but top teams do a lot of work on that mental preparation piece now.

The mind can help a player carrying a knock to blot out the injury because he is zoned in on playing. It is amazing what a strong mental approach can do.

Galway manager Kevin Walsh after the Connacht Senior Football Final.

Galway manager Kevin Walsh after the Connacht Senior Football Final.

I spent the week of the 2011 All-Ireland final build up getting twice daily physio on a bad ankle injury that should have kept me out of the game.

On the treatment table beside me Paul Flynn was also struggling with injury and needed treatment. I always remember Flynner telling himself he was going to be ok to play and there was a force of willpower about him as he was getting his treatment and I remember taking a lot from it.

Dublin are blessed with players like Flynn, Stephen Cluxton and James McCarthy. They were, in my time, the three best Dublin players to train.Always switched on, always giving it everything. Always setting an example and pushing the bar in terms of standards.

Of the newer generation, Jonny Cooper would be a similar driven athlete who is never not pushing himself. When you get a group of players like that you cannot help but be inspired and you have got to take their lead and react and respond and that’s what drives a team like Dublin.

Mental strength is also what allows top players to dismiss a bad miss or a bad moment to recover and reset and go again. Dean Rock practices so much on his frees that if he misses one, he has the mental strength to back himself to stand over the next free and believe he will deliver – even though it might be from further out and a tighter angle.

Mentally the challenge is there for the entire squad and especially the players who don’t feature.

Over the course of what essentially amounts in total to 80 tough minutes rather than 70, there will be the maximum number of subs used.

If you don’t start you’ve got to be ready to come on and not just be happy to get on the pitch - but come in to make an impact and a contribution.

There’s a job of work to be done to mentally be ready to go from sitting in the Hogan Stand with thousands of others to, in a flash, being out in the thick of the action with your hands on the ball.

And if you don’t start or come on, there can be no room for sulking because with injuries surely inevitable and suspensions also possible, the depth of the squad will be crucial.

Donegal impressed in the Ulster Championship.

Donegal impressed in the Ulster Championship.

You can’t depend on superior fitness and skill from now on. They have all trained hard – but have they trained smart?

Have they trained at the right time and at the right tempo? Have they over trained?

The whole purpose of training is to get yourself into a position to perform on the big day. That big day is here this weekend.

DUBLIN V DONEGAL

I can’t imagine the Donegal players have been happy with the work of their county board in recent weeks and the campaign they have waged in the media objecting to Dublin playing at Croke Park.

It has brought unnecessary pressure and attention onto Donegal at a time when they didn’t need it.

Rest assured it won’t have registered in the Dublin camp where the focus on the job in hand is absolute. They will be relishing this test. Privately they will appreciate fully that this is Division 1 opposition and a major step up in class in terms of the teams they have faced in Leinster who were playing Allianz Division 3&4 this year.

Paddy McBrearty is a massive loss for Donegal. He caused Dublin no end of trouble in the league game earlier this year and was in the form of his career. It is a pity for the championship to see him out and as a cruciate victim myself, I wish him well on his road to recovery.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if Donegal opted to play Michael Murphy in a more forward role in McBrearty’s absence and rain high balls forward. To do that they need to win midfield however, and that means eclipsing Dublin’s man of the moment in Brian Fenton.

The better the opposition the better this Dublin team will play. I’m looking forward to seeing the Dublin team rise up to the level required. I think Dublin will soak up a lot of pressure and then force turn overs and attack quickly and pull away.

In form Roscommon attacker Diarmuid Murtagh.

In form Roscommon attacker Diarmuid Murtagh.

ROSCOMMON V TYRONE

Whoever loses here faces a real uphill battle given the tasks heading a week later. I fancy Tyrone because they are the more seasoned side, they are not reliant on any one player and won’t lose their nerve if the match is a dogfight.

KERRY V GALWAY

Everyone is really looking forward to this one. Kerry have been fantastic but the danger is in reading too much into big wins over really poor displays by Clare and Cork.

Tactically, Kerry were very good and they have such fire power and exciting talent in attack with Clifford, Geaney, O’Donoghue and O’Shea.

Galway will put out a tough-tackling defence that will ask new questions of Kerry but Kerry will still find a way to score. The question here is are Galway willing to commit four or five men themselves up front to ask questions of Kerry?

The Kerry defence has still to be proven but unless Galway commit bodies to ask the questions they will let Kerry off the hook so I envisage a Kingdom win.

KILDARE V MONAGHAN

Full credit to Kildare - they have kept the show on the road and are playing with massive confidence and have nothing to fear as the season has already turned for them.

Monaghan, however, are still righting the shock of letting an Ulster title chance slip from their grasp. They are more experienced, more settled and have the sharp shooters in McCarthy and McManus to hurt a Kildare team who have struggled to play well in Croke Park.