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Analysing Dublin's kickouts - 2013 All Ireland SFC Final
- A master class by Stephen Cluxton
Introduction:
2013 All Ireland Senior Football champions Dublin have taken Gaelic Football kickouts to an extraordinary new level. Media shy and 5 time all-star winning goal keeper Stephen Cluxton has been the architect of this system that continued to improve game on game.
In another analysis article prior to the final, we reviewed how Dublin's kickouts could be counteracted by the opposition. Cluxton and co. however took their kickout strategy to yet a new level on the 4th Sunday of September 2013!
In this analysis article, we will review the kickouts from a number of perspectives: Statistically, By pitch area and lastly we will look at Video footage of each of Dublin's 22 kickouts.
Statistical Breakdown:
Kickouts by Pitch Area:
Video Analysis:
Conclusion:
In a game separated in the end by a single point, Dublin winning 86% of their own kickouts was undoubtedly a critical ingredient in their All Ireland final victory. Interestingly, the 3 kickouts lost by Dublin were all lost within an 8 minute period in the first half. Of these 3 kickouts, one of those lost was for an innocuous tackle on Mayo's Donal Vaughan where Dublin can definitely count themselves unlucky. After Stephen Cluxton kicked his 8th kickout of the evening directly over the sideline in the 15th minute, Dublin won all of their 14 subsequent kickouts.
This exhibition of kickouts should act as a template to Gaelic Football goalkeepers everywhere, on how to use kickouts as a platform for their team's success. The vision, composure and skill demonstrated by Stephen Cluxton on All Ireland Final day was undoubtedly of the very highest standard.