GAA:DUBLIN AND Donegal are similar in many facets of their play, match statistics indicate, although the Leinster champions higher scoring return justifies their three-point handicap with the bookmakers.
The two counties meet this Sunday in front of an 82,300 capacity Croke Park in an All-Ireland semi-final that will decide who shall face Kerry on September 18th.
Statistics provided by vodafone shows how both teams’ patient build-up and rigorous defensive structures have got them to the penultimate stage of the 2011 championship.
Donegal’s approach under new manager Jim McGuinness has come in for criticism, particularly from RTÉ pundit Pat Spillane, for an overemphasis on funnelling players back behind the ball.
In their respective provincial finals, against Wexford and Derry, both counties won with only 45 per cent of possession. This was addressed come the All-Ireland quarter-finals with a slender majority attained by both sides which led to the same two-match average of 48.5 per cent.
Basically, they can win games without the lion’s share of possession.
In their past two matches, Donegal only conceded 49 frees to Dublin’s 57.
Both teams also have a small number of long-kick passes, Dublin on 25 and Donegal 28, but that’s where the in attacking similarities cease.
Donegal are a hand-passing side. Deliveries totalling 350 went through the fists in the past two games to Dublin’s 286.
Dublin, under Pat Gilroy, have embraced the short-kick passing skill with 131 punts to Donegal’s 88.
Both teams have made huge strides in trying to perfect the art of turnovers.
Dublin have made 50 to Donegal’s 56 although Gilroy’s men clearly protect the ball better with only 30 turnovers against Wexford and Tyrone while Derry and Kildare combined to pilfer Donegal carriers on 38 occasions.
Perhaps crucially, Dublin are more capable of scoring from distance with 56 shots from outside the 21-yard line to Donegal’s 44 (and that includes 20 minutes of extra-time against Kildare).
Donegal have the greater propensity to solo the ball with 157 carries to Dublin’s 107 in the past two games.
Shots inside the 21-yard line? Dublin have taken 11 to Donegal’s 10.
The results have yielded a 11-point higher scoring return for Dublin, who have registered 2-34 against Tyrone and Wexford with 18 wides. Donegal have 2-23, again, including the extra-time, and 20 wides.
This is as much down to a superior spread of scorers with Bernard Brogan on 0-19, Dermot Connolly’s 0-7 return against Tyrone bringing him up to 1-10 for the summer and Alan Brogan’s excellent form seeing him gather 0-11 for a 1-40 total (there is also the valuable weapon of goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton’s eight points from long range frees and 45s). Donegal’s primary target men, Colm McFadden and Michael Murphy, have combined for 2-23 with another 1-5 from teenager Paddy McBrearty.
Croke Park yesterday confirmed the first full house of the year for the repeat of the 1992 All-Ireland final. It is a substantial leap from the previous best of 58,723 that attended the Leinster semi-final between Dublin and Kildare.
Dublin’s most recent championship meeting with Donegal was the 2002 All-Ireland quarter-final replay.
Survivors from that day are Cluxton, Barry Cahill and Alan Brogan while Paul Casey is still on the Dublin panel.
Donegal manager Jim McGuinness lined out at midfield in the comprehensive 1-14 to 0-7 defeat, but the Ulster champions edge the experience stakes as Kevin Cassidy, Christy Toye, Rory Kavanagh, Michael Hegarty and Colm McFadden also featured.
