GAA.ie columnist Denis Bastick.
By Denis Bastick
It’s 12 years later, but the ‘Battle of Omagh’ between Tyrone and Dublin is something that still resonates with fans. And as we head into another defining clash between the teams this weekend it is interesting to see how the roles are now fully reversed.
Back then it was a young, eager and ambitious Dublin side who saw Tyrone as the ultimate benchmark, had suffered a scalding defeat at their hands previously and were desperate to lay down a marker. We’d got close to them in 2005 and took them to a quarter final replay, but they hammered us 2-18 to 1-14.
Last year a new-look Tyrone were supposed to ask serious questions of Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final - but were themselves left badly beaten and scarred by an exceptional Dublin display and went from being All-Ireland contenders to having their style and approach questioned.
Now Tyrone have Dublin coming to their back yard of Healy Park and on the back of an impressive Red Hand display in dispatching Roscommon. Confidence is up, the support will be out in force. There is talk that they have brought in the lines of the pitch to make it nice and tight.
Dublin are now the benchmark and the team with the cross hairs on their back and it is going to be a fascinating clash between Champions and Challengers.
The 2006 encounter will always be special for me. I was in my second year on the Dublin panel and it was my first big debut – and playing midfield beside the big man and an idol in Ciaran Whelan.
It would be wrong to say that the physical flash points of that day were pre planned – because they weren’t.
However, there was a defiant mood in that Pillar Caffrey camp that week. There was a lot of talk about no one taking a backward step, about being in this together and being there for each other and that we were not going to be pushed around.
Tyrone had a similar aggressive attitude and the result was a flashpoint that in truth looks worse in still imagery than it was on the day when it was a lot of pushing and shoving.
It’s hard to know how important it was for Dublin that day. We won the match 1-9 to, 1-6 and won it with a team of real unknown men like myself, Derek Murray and goalkeeper Paul Copeland involved. The dual star Dotsy O’Callaghan also featured.
Denis Bastick was red carded by Paddy Russell at Healy Park in 2006.
For all the thinking that we would go somewhere on the back of a win in Omagh we went out and lost at home to Monaghan in Parnell Park a week later.
But its true that Tyrone at that time were seen as the most impressive football force in the country and you could measure yourself against them.
In 2008 we suffered badly at their hands in another All-Ireland quarter final at a rain soaked Croke Park – that was to be Pillar’s last match.
Definitely when Pat Gilroy’s team got a win over Tyrone in an All-Ireland quarter final in 2010 through a great Eoghan O’Gara goal that felt like a turning point for us.
Our dismantling of Tyrone in the 2011 quarter final in the rain by 0-22 to 0-15 ranks as one of the best Dublin displays I was ever involved in. Tyrone scored 0-15, but much of this was down to the class of Stephen O’Neill on the day.
In truth we were a lot better than seven points ahead of them and on a personal level, having a decent game marking Sean Cavanagh that afternoon was crucial for me to prove my worth to Pat Gilroy.
Heading into this 2018 battle, I think Dublin are in a good place.
Their win over Donegal last week was a real professional type performance. I wasn’t worried about the missed chances. The chances were created and that’s the main thing and that can be fine-tuned. If you aren’t creating them that’s a bigger problem. We are talking millimeters and half seconds in the difference between shots converted.
If Donegal brought more I always felt Dublin had more in them too. The routine is different outside of Croke Park, but you play three or four League matches away from home each year so it’s not alien.
Looking back on my career, the games that stand out are not just the wins and the matches you might have played well in – but the big games that stick are the ones with big atmosphere and tension. That’s what Omagh will be alike and that’s what players will revel in being a part of.
Brian Howard is in excellent form for Dublin.
True, for some of the younger lads it will be different - but they are good players.
Tyrone will pay more attention to Niall Scully and Brian Howard than Donegal did. But the beauty of a big talented squad is that this creates room for someone else to prosper.
Tyrone were very impressive against Roscommon. No matter who the opposition are to score 4-24 is incredible shooting. It puts them right back to where they were a year ago – being talked about as serious contenders. But they have to back up the talk now.
Being defensive last year didn’t work. Can they go toe to toe in a shoot-out?
Tyrone need a lead. If Dublin get in front they know how to control the game. Tyrone getting a lead means taking Dublin on. Are they ready for that?
This is more important than the 2006 game which was only a league match. There is a do or die element to this, but I don’t believe it will be full of indiscipline. There’s too much at stake for that.
Ultimately I expect Tyrone to be better than they were last year, but Dublin will grind them down and they have the goal scorers to put the distance between the teams.
ROSCOMMON V DONEGAL
Donegal competed really well last week in Croke Park. That was a scorching hot day of end to end fast tempo football full of running off the ball.
When Donegal go to 60 minutes there is nothing left in the tank to push on but it was still a good display by Donegal with plenty of positives.
Roscommon coughed up 4-24 last week so it’s decision time for them. A week is not long enough to suddenly become a defensive team but they clearly have issues leaking at the back.
They have to bring a big display not just after last week’s disappointment but they are at home in front of their own and they will always have targeted this match as a must win.
Donegal just look too strong.
Kieran Donaghy can still play a vital role for Kerry.
**MONAGHAN v KERRY**
Have we been guilty of talking up Kerry based on their tradition?
Clare and Cork were not the tests they might have been but people disregarded that because it was Kerry and with their tradition they were granted a favourites tag.
Galway had way more substance to their form this year and they proved it by producing a very impressive display last week.
Kerry looked clueless when things were going wrong whereas Galway clearly had a plan and a structure they were sticking to and when the cracks appeared they took their big chances.
Clones will be a really tough place to go but the talent in the Kerry attack gives them an edge.
Kieran Donaghy has strong claims for a role this weekend – he’d certainly bring leadership and aggression that was missing the last day.
Monaghan will have to deal with being favourites – not something they’ve always handled well. The need is greater for Kerry. They cannot go home to a last match against Kildare with nothing to play for.
KILDARE v GALWAY
Galway are on a high and I was very impressed with the win last week. They knew what they were doing and they just need to maintain that now.
This won’t be about being fantastic early on, but rather about being solid do it well and grind out a win.
Kildare looked tired and when the pressure came on their option taking was really poor.
Playing in Newbridge gives them a chance, but Galway have their sights set on bigger things and after the big step taken last week they cannot afford to undo that progress by being caught out here.
