Second season syndrome

Very few things in sport annoy me in quite the same manner as sporting clichés do.

All Sports produce them and they pop up every year. How often have we heard the term ‘golden generation’ in relation to the current Irish rugby team? The ‘managerial Merry-Go-round’ has just started within soccer circles again. And The GAA has the usual cliché of ‘Kerry are a different team in Croke Park’. But the one that grinds my gears the most is ‘second season syndrome’.

We all use it. Anytime a team or sports star has an impressive first season, but struggles the second year; we throw the label ‘second season syndrome’ at them, faster than Joe Brolly can blow kisses at his adoring public.

Unfortunately, it’s one of the most common phrases used when discussing the Donegal GAA team this year. “They were good last year, but I see them struggling this year; sure everyone knows what they’re up to now” appears to be the common sentiment. I don’t really understand it. Is it ignorance or just a defeatist attitude? Yeah, there are problems; I’m not disputing that fact, but we start the defence of our Ulster crown on Sunday; at a time when our main challengers are not at their best. Tyrone and Armagh are rebuilding, Derry’s form has been indifferent; while the loss of Benny Coulter is a massive blow for Down.

Coulter’s Down suffered form ‘second season syndrome’ last year, apparently. They reached the All-Ireland final in 2010, but struggled in 2011, exiting the championship rather tamely. So, nothing to do with a lack of commitment or Martin Clarke’s impending return to Australia? Javier Hernandez of Manchester United has just been diagnosed with it too. Only a shadow of himself they say, so nothing to do with the number of injuries he picked up during the season, or failing to get a consistent run in the team, because of Danny Welbeck’s form. It’s just pure, and utter laziness in my opinion; a failure to understand the reasons behind why there has been a sudden drop in form, so just labelling it as ‘second season syndrome’. It’s a cliché that sounds great from the bar stool.

Donegal find themselves with the label, mainly due to their mediocre form at the start of the year. But is it simply as easy to say they’re just not the same team as last year? They played the majority of the league without Colm McFadden and Michael Murphy, our two most potent attackers. Strip Mayo of Andy Moran and Alan Dilion, and Cork of Colm O’Neill and Donncha O’Connor, would they have fared so successfully in the league? I doubt it.

Others may point out the absence of Kevin Cassidy, and this does significantly weaken us; but I have always been a supporter of Leo McLoone, and I believe he is an adequate replacement. He has a superb underage record with Donegal and he captained the University of Jordanstown in the Sigerson Cup this year. Adrian McGuckin, the UUJ manager; simply doesn’t give responsibility like that to average players.

Recently on the Irish Examiner’s watercooler blog, John Fogarty rated the favourites for Sam; in order of Kerry, Dublin; Cork, Tyrone; Mayo, Kildare and finally Donegal. Seventh favourite was the unanimous agreement. Now maybe, I’m compromised; but considering we have beaten each of the four sides above us in that list in the last 12 months, is that not a little unfair? It is also worth remembering that we were only a kick of the ball away from an All-Ireland final last year.

On Sunday, we start off Championship 2012 in Breffni Park against Cavan. It’s been a turbulent year. We’ve had the lows of the media coverage of the team’s performances last year, along with Kevin Cassidy’s exclusion; mixed in with the highs of winning Ulster and the sheer ecstasy of the night we beat Kildare. I just hope this year, we can go about our business unnoticed. And with the game not televised on RTE, this might be possible at the early stages of the championship.

Cavan haven’t had an easy start to the year either. Terry Hyland has replaced Val Andrews mid-season, while the Seanie Johnston saga has been an unwelcome distraction for them. They have named five championship debutants, and only six of the team that started in their nine-point defeat to Donegal last year; retain their place this year. Cavan have had a lot of success at underage level recently, and they are a coming force; but realistically, they are a team that Donegal should beat comfortably.

Michael Murphy is a huge loss, but his absence provides Paddy McBrearty with an opportunity to firmly grasp a starting jersey. He had a fantastic game against Cavan last year, but faded away later in the championship. Sunday is the perfect time to show Ulster his undoubted county credentials. The one position that remains a worry for me, is centre half-forward. This position is the fulcrum of the attack, and if Donegal are going to be successful, this position is crucial. Michael Hegarty has retired and I have my doubts on whether or not Ryan Bradley can fill the jersey effectively. Martin O’Reilly is too young to be trusted with the role yet. I hope I am wrong, but I foresee this position causing problems as the summer progresses.

I think we will defeat Cavan (by 5 points) on Sunday, and I also think we can defeat the ‘second season syndrome’ claim too. Newcastle United were labelled with the phrase in the Premier league at the start of the season and finished up with a Europa league spot, which most definitely defeats the argument against them. The same was said of Kieran McGeeney’s Kildare side when they first rose to prominence, and their second syndrome season never materialised either.

So, if Donegal do win on Sunday; please don’t say, ‘we’ll only take it one game at a time’. Or, if we draw; roll out the old classic, ‘they had their chance today, they’ll never beat us the next day”. Or, if the worst was to happen, and we were sent crashing to our Ulster Championship death, please, I’m begging you, don’t blame it on ‘second season syndrome’.