Declan Dalton's free-taking: Why he's such an asset to Cork

Several times this year for Cork, Declan Dalton has taken frees.

He’s done it the few times Patrick Horgan has been withdrawn, but primarily, his involvement is from those extreme distances.

Frees from within Cork’s own half are given to the Fr O’Neill’s man, and that’s because of his technique. The way that he strikes the ball. It's what makes him such a unique free-taker.

For Denis Ring, who coached him with the Cork U21s in 2017 and 2018 and the Cork minors before that – it’s a style that very few players have.

“Both his free-taking and shooting from play, he rifles the ball,” he begins. “He hits it at a low enough trajectory, so whether it’s with the wind or against it, it doesn’t really matter.

It’s like an arrow.

“John Fenton had that in his free taking, Deccie is the only fella I’ve seen since Fenton like that.

“He’s unbelievably brave in the air, and his hand; he’s a fantastic puck-out target.

“I don’t know how many times Cork have got scores this year with Patrick Collins hitting it direct to Dalton, and Dalton putting it over the bar. His accuracy is unreal.” 

While in the past Ring would have had the benefit of Dalton on his side, this year his Imokilly outfit had to deal with him on the opposing team.

“When Imokilly were playing Fr O’Neill’s – a lot of our talk was how to minimise and curtail his influence.

“Ciarán Joyce was effective in that role this year, but that’s what it takes.

“It takes a player of that calibre to be anywhere near curtailing his influence,” he says. “Even at that, Deccie will still score. It’s very hard to eliminate his contribution.” 

Of his performances under Denis Ring – there is one that stands out above all.

“Against Wexford, in the All-Ireland semi-final of the U21 campaign in 2018.

PHENOMENAL

“He was absolutely phenomenal. It’s ironic actually, because with about eight minutes to go he picked up that bad knee injury which curtailed him going into the final.

“But his shooting was arrow like, and they couldn’t handle him on the day.

“They changed a couple of different players around to try and curtail him and deal with his aerial threat, but they couldn’t.

We played very well that day, but Deccie was absolutely phenomenal.

“When Deccie is on fire, his catching is clean, and that’s from his time as a goalkeeper. A lot of goalkeepers like to take a touch on the hurley, he would always go straight for it with the hand.

“That’s what made him such a big asset as a goalkeeper. The question mark really was whether he had the pace to play outfield at that level, and to be fair to him, he’s worked so much on his fitness and athleticism.

“Pat Ryan would have dealt very well with Deccie in terms of believing in him and having confidence in him. I think he’s responded very well to the faith Pat has shown in him.

“You look at the Fr O’Neill’s v St Finbarr’s game this year, what he does for a team. Every day Deccie goes out he’s the marked man, and he’s able to cope and deal with that.”