Issue link: http://digitaleditions.uberflip.com/i/1411448
INTERVIEW 10 | AUTUMN 2021 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie ANALYSIS OF THE GAME Kickouts Croke Park is a big pitch, yet Meath managed to press and disrupt Dublin's kickout superbly in the first 15 minutes of play. This led to Emma Duggan's long-range goal, but it also set the tone for the work-rate Meath continued throughout the game. To put this in context, in the 2020 final versus Cork, Dublin didn't lose a single kickout and achieved a 100 per cent kickout win percentage. In the 2021 Final, within the first 15 minutes they had already lost two kickouts in dangerous areas, both leading to scores. As a result, Dublin entered the water break with a kickout won percentage of just 67 per cent. In contrast, Monica McGuirk had plenty of options for short kickouts throughout the game and only lost one kickout on the break in the final quarter of the game, when Dublin finally forced her to go long. This gave Meath a 95 per cent kickout win percentage and a solid platform to develop their running style of play. Shots from play and attacks To look back at the 2020 final for context, Dublin had more shots (20 in 2021 vs 15 in 2020), a similar shot efficiency (45% in 2021 vs 47% in 2020) and similar number of attacks (36 in 2021 vs 25 in 2020). As a Meath's Key Players: What did they do with the ball? GAME PERIOD 1.1 1.2 2.1 2.2 Total Kickout % won 67% 80% 100% 100% 86.75% No. of shots 4 5 4 7 20 Shot efficiency % 75% 20% 50% 43% 45% Attack efficiency % 40% 63% 44% 78% 56% Turnovers 6 3 4 3 16 Unforced errors 5 3 4 3 15 GAME PERIOD 1.1 1.2 2.1 2.2 Total Kickout % won 100% 100% 100% 80% 95% No. of shots 5 2 1 3 11 Shot efficiency % 100% 100% 100% 67% 91% Attack efficiency % 71% 40% 11% 50% 41% Turnovers 4 2 4 4 14 Unforced errors 6 3 6 3 18 PLAYER 1.1 1.2 2.1 2.2 Total Emma Duggan 4 7 7 5 23 Fouled in possession 1 1 Pass lost 1 1 Pass retained 2 5 6 4 17 Shot on goal 2 1 1 4 result, they achieved a similar number of points in each final (12 in 2021 vs 13 in 2020). So, what changed? Well, the obvious answer is the opposition and how Meath attacked versus how Cork attacked in 2020. Meath had more attacks than Cork (27 vs 24), had more shots (11 vs 8) and, most importantly, had a significantly greater shot efficiency percentage (91 per cent vs 37.5 per cent). Dublin's style of attack didn't change all that much from 2020, they retained possession and remained patient in front of goal. Looking at the pitch maps, you can see how they target high percentage shooting areas. However, Meath understood this and allowed Dublin's lower percentage shooters to run with the ball until they eventually swarmed the player in possession, causing turnovers and unforced errors in the Dublin attack. Meath, on the other hand, kept their width brilliantly and although the stats may look like they only attacked down either sideline or centrally, they gave a masterclass at keeping their width and switching the play once they entered the 45m zone. This usually left an open runner on the far side of field for a high percentage shooting opportunity. In most instances, Emma Troy was on the end of most of these moves and the corner back took each opportunity to keep the scoreboard ticking over. PLAYER 1.1 1.2 2.1 2.2 Total Vikki Wall 5 4 6 8 23 Fouled in possession 2 1 1 3 7 Lost in contact 1 3 4 Pass lost 2 1 3 Pass retained 1 1 2 5 9