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James Horan: "Dublin almost over-analysed Donegal defeat"

Ex-Mayo manager James Horan was on Off The Ball as always on a Thursday and in our preview of the...



James Horan: "Dublin almos...
Football

James Horan: "Dublin almost over-analysed Donegal defeat"

Ex-Mayo manager James Horan was on Off The Ball as always on a Thursday and in our preview of the Mayo v Dublin semi-final, he analysed the changes - if any - that Dublin have made this season.

"I saw a lot of Dublin during the league and I think they almost over-analysed what happened against Donegal last year because every interview, every paper you picked up, everything that a player said, they were saying how many lessons they learned.

"Really, they've tweaked things a little bit and they have tried John Small there quite a bit during the league and really as a centre half-back that drops back ahead of the ball so he's always a kick ahead of the ball. 

"So he's dropping back to the full-back line and you have one of your wing forwards or midfielders dropping to centre half-back and I think that's what they are doing with Cian O'Sullivan.

Dublin's Jonny Cooper ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan

"The way I see it playing out is I think Rory O'Carroll will pick up Aidan O'Shea and I think you'll have Cian O'Sullivan, every time the ball is kicked in, just in front of the two of them - with Rory making sure he's goal-side of Aidan.

"If you look at Paul Fynn, I think in his role this year, his kicking has been a little bit off but Paul is playing a lot deeper role and cutting back into that centre half-back role when Cian drops back.

"But two guys for me on the Dublin this year that are really standing out are Ciaran Kilkenny, who has been on the scene a few years but is still a young guy and is fulfilling his potential, and the other player is Jonny Cooper.

"Jonny Cooper is playing like a man possessed this year. He's got that real fire and drive about him that is inspirational for the guys around him and if you look at all the championship games this year, he's the guy that's leading the line and carrying the flag. He's a real driving force for Dublin, so that's another interesting subplot there and you might have Jonny Cooper picking up Cillian O'Connor." 

James was speaking on Off The Ball:

 

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