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Post by baurtregaum on Apr 30, 2015 21:19:03 GMT
On that note, any opinions Mick or others on who was 'team of the 60s'? And would that judgement be ultimately decided by playitfair's belittled national league achievements? Or was it simply the case that Kerry were 'the team', given they won 2 and lost 4 All-I finals? Whilst Down 'did a Tyrone on it', and Galway only appeared in one final apart from the 3 they won.[/quote]
Interesting point. In terms of consistency it would be Kerry, but they were well beaten by the other two in the big games. Kerry seemed to have an average enough team in those days despite the presence of a few great players. Down were a great team I would say, they seemed to have came from nowhere and won a double. No mean feat. Galway managed a 3 in a row, given that they have won just two AIs since at senior level It is a great achievement.
In Micko's book he said that Down would beat Galway because Down were a bit harder and more cynical.
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fitz
Fanatical Member
Red sky at night get off my land
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Post by fitz on Apr 30, 2015 22:59:06 GMT
I thought Cork would win on Sunday, based on form . It was the wrong form I was looking at. Now c'mon Rashers what 'other things coming together' can you fathom? The discovery of belief that three demolitions in a row when cups were on the line fosters? To name a few - coach, backroom team (including psychology), county board, fixture management, overall treatment and handling of players, emphasis not so much on hurling/against football, injuries (and how handled). Football is very much mainly West Cork right? Would it be idle speculation or even fantasy to say that the mentality isn't exactly a ruthless determination to win and to dominate at all costs? I thought that the standard of football played by Cork in the era from about 2003-2013 was often not great. If anything it was at its worst in 2010, but other factors helped produce an All-I win. The two significant factors that cleared the road for their 2010 win that came together were Down shifting us out of the road and Ross McConnell collapsing on Colm O'Neill, when Dublin had the winning of the game. It was a courageous comeback by Cork but Dublin looked likely to see it out if not conceding the peno needlessly. Both of those were out of Cork's control. You're points are well made but apart from the dual code angle could still apply to almost every other county. So we could all benefit further from these factors coming together On what we've seen from Cork especially against Dublin and Kerry in trophy deciding games since start of 2014, a case can't be made for them winning an AI. Personally I would write them off now. That performance was insipid last Sunday when they should have been like rabid dogs trying to avenge that mauling Dublin served them in second half of last year's league final. 10 points up, lose by 7. 2-13 to 0-2 in 30 mins. They have nothing like the forward firepower of Dublin or Kerry. I think only Hurley would be considered for either team, O'Neill decent but not mobile enough. Fintan Goold is around 10 years, a good footballer but a half forward, now converted to a midfielder. I think that necessity is symbolism of their lack of real quality in key positions. This is somewhat reaping what was sewed by Counihan in having a huge solid squad that make them formidable opponents but always lacking the cream to really compete for Sam in August/September year on year.
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kot
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Post by kot on May 1, 2015 11:00:43 GMT
Playitfair, and Kot, Mick had started a discussion/made a statement about "team of the decade", whereupon an tUasal Kot said about the 70s. If the discussion had been about "great teams of decades/eras", that would be a point. My post was in the context of Mick's post(s), and naturally I assumed Kot's was too. Perhaps to be as open-minded as possible about it, in the context of Mick's "team of the decade" comment which provoked my post and subsequently Kot's post, the statement by Kot regarding the 70s could only be taken, I felt, two ways: namely either A. Kot is asking me whether "Dublin were the team of the 70s" (if such a title could exist); or B. that there is an argument about who was "the team of the 70s". Given that Kot subsequently clarified that, in fact, "We (Kerry) came out on top (in the 70s)", one is left to assume that he meant neither of those meanings that I could only fathom from his post. It seems that there exists a third possible meaning, according to Kot's last post, to the effect that, and representing an almost utopian belief, there can be two 'teams of the decade' (or theoretically more), thus in one fell swoop proposing a solution to the endless bickering about the last decade? Either way, please clarify and explain your opinion Kot. On that note, any opinions Mick or others on who was 'team of the 60s'? And would that judgement be ultimately decided by playitfair's belittled national league achievements? Or was it simply the case that Kerry were 'the team', given they won 2 and lost 4 All-I finals? Whilst Down 'did a Tyrone on it', and Galway only appeared in one final apart from the 3 they won. No No, personally . . . I hate all this "team of the decade" stuff. I only replied to with "we came up trumps" as I thought you were asking me to compare Kerry Vs. Dublin in that whole decade. I think as mentioned already, all that kind of talk does is try to belittle one teams achievements over anothers. I was referring to that comment "Having a decade". I mean, no matter what happened with anybody else - the noughties were a bloody good decade for me personally following Kerry, I don't care how many counties broke their duck. And that decade included the worst hiding I have ever seen Kerry get up in HQ, 3 All Ireland defeats and a semi defeat! So in that regard I was surprised you didn't think Dublin "had a decade" in the '70s because Dublin & Kerry were synonymous with football in that period. So regardless of grand totals or whatever, I would say most Dubs would look back on the '70s with general fondness irrespective of what others did.
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Post by Dermot on May 1, 2015 14:13:51 GMT
Yeah, they really were 2 great teams .. And it was certainly a unique experience for us in Tyrone anyway !! ... A lot of old men thought they'd never see it .. and a lot of young ones too to be honest, myself included .. Just thought it would never happen but thank God it did !! .. And with any luck it might even happen again some day That's a filthy mouth you have, Dermot. I've never heard the likes I only said it " Might" happen again Ard Mhacha .. No need to fret just yet lol ...
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Post by Dermot on May 1, 2015 14:24:36 GMT
Youse lads just cant stop talking about this "Team of the Decade" stuff can yez? and yez tried to blame me lol
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inchperfect
Senior Member
No longer active member.
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Post by inchperfect on May 1, 2015 17:05:07 GMT
Who was Team of the 90's? Meath? Down?
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fitz
Fanatical Member
Red sky at night get off my land
Posts: 1,719
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Post by fitz on May 1, 2015 23:43:56 GMT
Who was Team of the 90's? Meath? Down? Down were class. Linden/ McCartan lethal, Peter Withnell (and I), Meath were very solid too. Derry Donegal, then Mayo, Kerry, Cork, and Galway. A very competitive decade. I'd go with Down.
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on May 2, 2015 8:01:42 GMT
The GAA is planning a major event to commemorate the 1916 Easter Rising next year. It will take place in Croke Park on April 24 - the date the Rising commenced at various locations around Dublin city 100 years earlier. In a timely coincidence, Sunday, April 24 next year is the date for the Allianz League Division 1 and 2 football finals in Croke Park, which enables the GAA to link the commemorative event with two big games. It will also provide the GAA public with an opportunity to mark the Easter Rising commemoration in the Association's spiritual home. The attendance at the last five football league finals has averaged 32,500 but the special significance of next year's final is likely to spark a major crowd surge. Clubs and counties nationwide can also expect to be involved in the event which will probably take place between the two games. The full day's programme will be shown live on TG4. It's expected that much of the focus will be on Hill 16, which was built from rubble transported from O'Connell Street to Croke Park after the 1916 Rising. Croke Park also featured prominently in the War of Independence when, tragically, 14 people including Tipperary footballer, Michael Hogan, were shot dead during a Dublin-Tipperary game in November 1920. An artistic director will be appointed shortly to work on the project with GAA president Aogán ó Fearghail and director-general Páraic Duffy. It's understood that as well as marking events of 100 years earlier, there will be big emphasis on looking forward to the GAA's role in the Ireland of the future. To further honour the occasion, the GAA has commissioned a history of its role in Irish life in the 1913-23 period. It will consist of 10 academic essays by various individuals, edited by Professor Gearóid ó Tuathaigh (NUI Galway). A series of history seminars will accompany the launch of the book later this year. It's also planned to create an online digital archive, which will allow people worldwide to gain access to GAA library documents relevant to the period. It will contain digitised minute books, charting activity at national, provincial and county board level. In addition to the Easter Rising anniversary event, the GAA is also planning to bring the World GAA Games to Ireland in 2016 in order to give the diaspora a chance to mark the special year. This year's event, staged in Abu Dhabi in March, was a massive success. It will have an August setting in Ireland next year. Irish Independent Ah jaysus, we'll have to go and win it again next year so! Can't be having some other county taking over the Hill on that day of all days.
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on May 2, 2015 8:40:45 GMT
Playitfair, and Kot, Mick had started a discussion/made a statement about "team of the decade", whereupon an tUasal Kot said about the 70s. If the discussion had been about "great teams of decades/eras", that would be a point. My post was in the context of Mick's post(s), and naturally I assumed Kot's was too. Perhaps to be as open-minded as possible about it, in the context of Mick's "team of the decade" comment which provoked my post and subsequently Kot's post, the statement by Kot regarding the 70s could only be taken, I felt, two ways: namely either A. Kot is asking me whether "Dublin were the team of the 70s" (if such a title could exist); or B. that there is an argument about who was "the team of the 70s". Given that Kot subsequently clarified that, in fact, "We (Kerry) came out on top (in the 70s)", one is left to assume that he meant neither of those meanings that I could only fathom from his post. It seems that there exists a third possible meaning, according to Kot's last post, to the effect that, and representing an almost utopian belief, there can be two 'teams of the decade' (or theoretically more), thus in one fell swoop proposing a solution to the endless bickering about the last decade? Either way, please clarify and explain your opinion Kot. On that note, any opinions Mick or others on who was 'team of the 60s'? And would that judgement be ultimately decided by playitfair's belittled national league achievements? Or was it simply the case that Kerry were 'the team', given they won 2 and lost 4 All-I finals? Whilst Down 'did a Tyrone on it', and Galway only appeared in one final apart from the 3 they won. No No, personally . . . I hate all this "team of the decade" stuff. I only replied to with "we came up trumps" as I thought you were asking me to compare Kerry Vs. Dublin in that whole decade. I think as mentioned already, all that kind of talk does is try to belittle one teams achievements over anothers. I was referring to that comment "Having a decade". I mean, no matter what happened with anybody else - the noughties were a bloody good decade for me personally following Kerry, I don't care how many counties broke their duck. And that decade included the worst hiding I have ever seen Kerry get up in HQ, 3 All Ireland defeats and a semi defeat! So in that regard I was surprised you didn't think Dublin "had a decade" in the '70s because Dublin & Kerry were synonymous with football in that period. So regardless of grand totals or whatever, I would say most Dubs would look back on the '70s with general fondness irrespective of what others did. That goes without saying. As does the fact, for example, that the first half of the 90s (and the late 80s) was relatively very successful for us, even though we only bagged one Sam. But the discussion was about 'team of the decade', so I wasn't in any way belittling or minimising what was achieved in the 70s, the best era we had since the 1910s into the early 1920s. But as well as winning one more All-I (albeit the first one in 1970 with a substantially different team from the later part of the decade) Kerry won the 70s era head-to-head 3-2, including, as Mick reminded me, the inaugeral Con Houlihan cake-baking competition
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on May 2, 2015 8:53:42 GMT
Who was Team of the 90's? Meath? Down? Down were class. Linden/ McCartan lethal, Peter Withnell (and I), Meath were very solid too. Derry Donegal, then Mayo, Kerry, Cork, and Galway. A very competitive decade. I'd go with Down. Meath sort of had two teams in that decade, and appeared in 4 finals, winning two. Down won the two they reached but they had a tougher route to get there with so many top teams in Ulster (mind you Meath didn't have it at all easy with Dublin & Kildare being very strong, and Offaly and Laois pretty good). I would say that Meath team would have beaten Down but for fatigue after so many games that summer and O'Rourke's injury/illness. Both Down's wins were very hard won, whereas Meath got a fairly handy one (if that's possible!) in 1999. In fact the only really outstanding team they had to beat in 96 and 99 was Dublin in the 96 Leinster Final. Which we threw away. And Mayo should have beaten Meath in 96. Dublin appeared in 3 finals, winning won, and also won 2 national leagues (don't think Meath or Down won any). We also lost a semi-final by one point to the eventual winners (a brilliant Derry team), and the 4 game saga against Meath by one point. Cork also appeared in 3 finals, winning one. And two semi-finals. And won at least one national league.
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on May 2, 2015 11:23:02 GMT
Cork have given us our fill of it over the years, and then more Mick. If you think that they have heaped a fair amount of hurling pain on us recently, and always down the years on the rare occasions we played them, and then, in their second sport, they beat us (both times in soul-destroying games where a good lead was lost) in 1989 & 2010 in All-I semis, 1990 & 99 in league finals, whilst since 1983 our only major win was the 1995 All-I semi (until the Qtr final in 2013, and the league final this year). Furthermore in that 1983 semi they well had the beating of us and let it slip. An All-I final between Dublin & Cork is very long overdue.............
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Post by Mickmack on May 2, 2015 11:26:25 GMT
Rashers, You're a cute hoor all the same! You diverted the team of the current decade away to the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s but you have to admit that Dublin are in the yellow jersey at the half way stage in this decade and are unlikely to be caught. 2 All Irelands and 3 leagues .... can you see anyone catching them? Or matching them?
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Post by kerrygold on May 2, 2015 11:30:54 GMT
Kerry could be going for three in a row in September 2016.
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Post by kerrygold on May 2, 2015 11:33:40 GMT
The GAA is planning a major event to commemorate the 1916 Easter Rising next year. It will take place in Croke Park on April 24 - the date the Rising commenced at various locations around Dublin city 100 years earlier. In a timely coincidence, Sunday, April 24 next year is the date for the Allianz League Division 1 and 2 football finals in Croke Park, which enables the GAA to link the commemorative event with two big games. It will also provide the GAA public with an opportunity to mark the Easter Rising commemoration in the Association's spiritual home. The attendance at the last five football league finals has averaged 32,500 but the special significance of next year's final is likely to spark a major crowd surge. Clubs and counties nationwide can also expect to be involved in the event which will probably take place between the two games. The full day's programme will be shown live on TG4. It's expected that much of the focus will be on Hill 16, which was built from rubble transported from O'Connell Street to Croke Park after the 1916 Rising. Croke Park also featured prominently in the War of Independence when, tragically, 14 people including Tipperary footballer, Michael Hogan, were shot dead during a Dublin-Tipperary game in November 1920. An artistic director will be appointed shortly to work on the project with GAA president Aogán ó Fearghail and director-general Páraic Duffy. It's understood that as well as marking events of 100 years earlier, there will be big emphasis on looking forward to the GAA's role in the Ireland of the future. To further honour the occasion, the GAA has commissioned a history of its role in Irish life in the 1913-23 period. It will consist of 10 academic essays by various individuals, edited by Professor Gearóid ó Tuathaigh (NUI Galway). A series of history seminars will accompany the launch of the book later this year. It's also planned to create an online digital archive, which will allow people worldwide to gain access to GAA library documents relevant to the period. It will contain digitised minute books, charting activity at national, provincial and county board level. In addition to the Easter Rising anniversary event, the GAA is also planning to bring the World GAA Games to Ireland in 2016 in order to give the diaspora a chance to mark the special year. This year's event, staged in Abu Dhabi in March, was a massive success. It will have an August setting in Ireland next year. Irish Independent Ah jaysus, we'll have to go and win it again next year so! Can't be having some other county taking over the Hill on that day of all days. Has to be a Kerry Dublin League Final in 2016 in front of 82,000 people. It would be nice if the Dubs were there, I'm putting money on Kerry to reach the league final next year.
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on May 2, 2015 13:59:11 GMT
Rashers, You're a cute hoor all the same! You diverted the team of the current decade away to the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s but you have to admit that Dublin are in the yellow jersey at the half way stage in this decade and are unlikely to be caught. 2 All Irelands and 3 leagues .... can you see anyone catching them? Or matching them? Where's your post about Cork gone?? I'm still waiting for your answer about the 1960s........ As for this decade, long long way to go yet. I did mention, which you studiously ignored, that the Rebels already have a strong record this decade. And that if Kerry do the back-to-back this year they are already level with Dublin for All-Is with 4 more years to come and possibly the youngest panel. You gave no response to that either.
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on May 2, 2015 14:02:42 GMT
Ah jaysus, we'll have to go and win it again next year so! Can't be having some other county taking over the Hill on that day of all days. Has to be a Kerry Dublin League Final in 2016 in front of 82,000 people. It would be nice if the Dubs were there, I'm putting money on Kerry to reach the league final next year. We let yis have the GAA Centenary All-I, handy, and the Millenium one, the least yis could do if yis have any decency at all is let us have the feckin 1916 centenary national league! We might just have to make Dermo captain as well..................
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Post by Mickmack on May 2, 2015 14:09:25 GMT
Rashers, You're a cute hoor all the same! You diverted the team of the current decade away to the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s but you have to admit that Dublin are in the yellow jersey at the half way stage in this decade and are unlikely to be caught. 2 All Irelands and 3 leagues .... can you see anyone catching them? Or matching them? Where's your post about Cork gone?? I'm still waiting for your answer about the 1960s........ As for this decade, long long way to go yet. I did mention, which you studiously ignored, that the Rebels already have a strong record this decade. And that if Kerry do the back-to-back this year they are already level with Dublin for All-Is with 4 more years to come and possibly the youngest panel. You gave no response to that either. do Dublins league wins not matter in the evaluation.
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on May 2, 2015 14:25:23 GMT
Where's your post about Cork gone?? I'm still waiting for your answer about the 1960s........ As for this decade, long long way to go yet. I did mention, which you studiously ignored, that the Rebels already have a strong record this decade. And that if Kerry do the back-to-back this year they are already level with Dublin for All-Is with 4 more years to come and possibly the youngest panel. You gave no response to that either. do Dublins league wins not matter in the evaluation. I addressed that in the wording, look again. Still waiting your responses
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Post by Mickmack on May 2, 2015 14:27:42 GMT
ah jaysus rashers, this like sitting a feckin exam!
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on May 2, 2015 14:45:33 GMT
ah jaysus rashers, this like sitting a feckin exam! Yer a great man for the questions all the same, and then claiming I hadn't answered yours! I'd say when you did exams you'd be asking the invigilator more questions than you'd ever be answering in the exam.......
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Post by Mickmack on May 2, 2015 16:29:28 GMT
Ulster Finals
1971 Down 4–15 Derry 4–11 1970 Derry 2–13 Antrim 1–12 1969 Cavan 2–13 Down 2–06 1968 Down 0–16 Cavan 1-08 1967 Cavan 2–12 Down 0–08 1966 Down 1–07 Donegal 0-08 1965 Down 3–05 Cavan 1-08 1964 Cavan 2–10 Down 1–10 1963 Down 2–11 Donegal 1-04 1962 Cavan 3-06 Down 0–05 1961 Down 2–10 Armagh 1–10 1960 Down 3–07 Cavan 1-08 1959 Down 2–16 Cavan 0-07 1958 Derry 1–11 Down 2–04
Down were in nearly every Ulster for 14 years. 3 All Irelands.
They obviously were some outfit. Did the team change much in that 14 years?
Galway seemed to come with a great team in the mid 60s and go away again quickly.
Kerry didn't seem to be very strong in that period despite have the two Mickos.
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Post by Ard Mhacha on May 2, 2015 17:29:11 GMT
Rashers, Meath won 2 NFLs in the 90s. They beat us in 94 and I'm nearly sure they beat Down in 90.
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on May 2, 2015 18:15:42 GMT
Rashers, Meath won 2 NFLs in the 90s. They beat us in 94 and I'm nearly sure they beat Down in 90. Fair enough! Speaking of teams in decades/eras, that Armagh team from the later 90s til about 2007 or 2008 won a lot and were in a lot of major games. They won more Ulsters than Tyrone and as well as taking Sam in 2002 they lost an All-I final and, I think, 3 semi-finals, often by very narrow margins. Regarding the 1960s it goes to show how talk of 'decades' makes less sense than 'eras'. For example Kerry were a serious team in the mid to late 50s and were possibly the same team, in decline, when Down broke through in 1960. Then it was possibly a much changed Kerry team that won All-Is at the end of the 60s and 1970. Like Armagh recently, Dublin in the 50s and early 60s were also, as often forgotten, almost a great team, winning 2 All-Is in 5 years, and losing in a final and in at least one semi-final. It wasn't all about the 1955 'lesson' from the masters! They also beat that great Galway team in 1963, something that neither Kerry nor the great Down team did in the Galway 1960s era. So that muddies the waters a bit more..........
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Post by Mickmack on May 3, 2015 10:28:45 GMT
COLM OROURKE
The main message from last weekend's football league finals was their basic unimportance. This is especially true of the Division 1 decider.
Whose bright idea was it to have semi-finals in Division 1? If teams in the lower divisions had an opportunity of playing in Croke Park it would make more sense as they are very unlikely to have the chance in the summer. Giving more games to Cork and Dublin just takes away another weekend which would be valuable for club activity in those counties. They are going to get plenty of big games in the summer in Croke Park, so league semi-finals are completely irrelevant.
And it is not that there were no club games going on in those counties. There were, but clubs have almost no access to their own players during this time of year, and adding an extra unnecessary round of games only exacerbates the problem.
As part of a comprehensive solution to club and county fixtures there must be accommodation for clubs. Not just a situation where no county matches are going on, but a guarantee that clubs can use their players in all competitions.
As it is, Dublin got the best of everything from the league again. Not only winning it but also picking up a few new players on the way. Eoghan O'Gara is a significant loss for the summer campaign, but there is some compensation. Tomás Brady, Shane Carthy, Emmet O Conghaile, Brian Fenton and John Small, among others, have all featured and are additions to Jim Gavin's squad. Ciaran Kilkenny is back and so the team that probably needed least, got most. There is another long shadow being cast but it was the same this time last year and all it takes is one bad day, or someone like Donegal to set them a different type of puzzle.
Cork did not exactly die with their boots on, a failing from last year which has not been exorcised. They have plenty of good players but nothing like the bite or cohesion of Dublin. Formations are all fine until a team like Dublin come along who can get the numbers from defence to attack quickly. Last year was more a case of individual players not doing their job in defence rather than a complete systems malfunction. A simple truth still applies for defenders: mark your man. Some Dublin defenders seemed to think last year that it did not apply to them. This year it will probably be very different.
Where Cork go now is hard to answer. They would have been better off getting beaten in the semi-final than getting this mauling. Even the minibus carrying their supporters did not seem to travel last Sunday, so the most unloved team in the country were exposed without even any comfort from their own.
There is no time for remodelling at this stage. With 15 minutes to go in some big game in the months ahead there will be the suspicion now that Cork have a soft centre. That will last until they prove otherwise. The Munster championship is a big test of their manhood as much as their football. Brian Cuthbert has a huge job, one I do not envy.
The big winners were the other three division winners, Roscommon, Armagh and Offaly. According to John Evans, Roscommon will be winning the All-Ireland soon. It would be great to think he is right. Kipling wrote that "if you can dream and not make dreams your master" you are on the way to becoming a man, and Roscommon are on that road. However, without raining on their parade, it has to be stated that the football in that final and what Dublin showed are more than a country mile apart. The match also took a significant turn in their direction when the referee decided a phantom foul from Brendan McArdle deserved a second yellow card. Hard to credit that something so simple could be got so wrong with major implications for the game.
Armagh probably feel they are only getting back to their rightful place and can't be ruled out of the Ulster title race, which will be a giant mauling contest. Division 2 next year is about as unattractive as you could get, with five Ulster teams involved, although it is good to see Offaly back. Too long down on the side streets for a county with such rich tradition.
Fergus set the standard for all of us
I would like to thank the huge numbers of people who attended the funeral of my brother Fergus in Dunshaughlin. It has been a great source of comfort to all his family.
Fergus was the eldest of 12 —eight boys and four girls — and was the leader of our family. He set the standards for all of us. He got a scholarship to University College Cork in the early 1960s when farmers’ sons from Leitrim, or anywhere else for that matter, did not go to university. The rest of us followed in his path. He got his degree too. At that time there was no such thing as arriving home saying you did not like the course or that you needed a year out to find yourself. There were harsher realities to life.
Like most families of the time, our parents did not know much about what any of us were studying except that you were to get on with it and get a job afterwards.
Fergus played for Leitrim, and again that set the mark in our house in football terms. He was 14 years older than me and I wanted to play football like him, just in the way all older brothers have an influence in every family. He bought me my first pair of football boots and when he was working he was exceedingly generous to all his siblings.
Fergus was lucky in having a lovely wife, Aidie, and four children, Tiernan, Brian, Breffni and Fergus. With the addition over time of in-laws and grandchildren he had a close family unit that always sustained him.
When we moved to Meath in 1966 he continued to play for Leitrim, even though he was playing club football with Skryne. This involved long car journeys from work in Cork, in bad cars and on even worse roads, but he had a sense of loyalty to where he came from and that great love of Leitrim never left him.
I started playing for Meath in 1975 so he was just finished playing for Leitrim. If both counties played after that time I would not like to ask Fergus who he was supporting, some questions are better left unanswered.
He won senior club championships in both Leitrim and Cork and lost two finals in Meath. Winning or losing never defined him or any other footballer for that matter, he was warm, generous, always good-humoured and loved people.
Obviously thousands thought the same of him and for that we are very grateful.
Sunday Indo Sport
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on May 3, 2015 22:29:09 GMT
Again I have to challenge COR's piece there. Yes most people don't really 'rate' the leagues. But it's a very sad state of affairs for inter county tournaments when a national competition played out over 7 or 8 or 9 games is labelled as "unimportant" and "the boring elephant in the room" by two major newspapers/journalists, whilst the competition that at best gives 2 or 3 games to the vast majority of teams in the best months of the year, with one or more of those games being a cakewalk for many of the better teams, is seen as the be-all and end-all. Bit of a mad state of affairs really.
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Post by Mickmack on May 4, 2015 11:21:08 GMT
Again I have to challenge COR's piece there. Yes most people don't really 'rate' the leagues. But it's a very sad state of affairs for inter county tournaments when a national competition played out over 7 or 8 or 9 games is labelled as "unimportant" and "the boring elephant in the room" by two major newspapers/journalists, whilst the competition that at best gives 2 or 3 games to the vast majority of teams in the best months of the year, with one or more of those games being a cakewalk for many of the better teams, is seen as the be-all and end-all. Bit of a mad state of affairs really. But they are in a sad state in football. The best GAA is to be found at club level and Colleges level. All winter TG4 brought us brilliant fare at club and colleges level (and Sigerson). Key is that they were "do or die knockout" as Annascaul said in another thread. Then they start showing poor fare in the inter county National football league apart from one or two games (Kerry-Donegal) when teams wanted to lay down markers for the championship. The Kerry-Tyrone game was great because it was like a winner takes all championship game. Most championship fare between now and the august weekend will be one sided, or will lack intensity. I don't think any of the three teams that has won SAM in 2014, 2013 or 2012 should have a back door route. That might level the playing pitch a bit and add a bit of bite to proceedings between now and august. Would you agree?
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on May 4, 2015 12:26:17 GMT
I agree that the fixture issue is hard to deal with but when most people want to see their county side in action, in a very meaningful way, then clearly we need a competition that offers more than a couple of games to most counties, and a knockout for all after July. I don't know how it can be done, but something needs doing to make the leagues mean more or the championship much more in-depth, whatever way you want to look at it, whilst not taking away from other competitions
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Post by Mickmack on May 4, 2015 17:08:51 GMT
There isn't anything wrong with things for August weekend on. 4 QFs, 2 S/Fs and a final.
It takes 3 months to arrive at a final 8 that most of us could name right now.
So the problem is the process of arriving at the final 8.
What do you think of my idea of denying the three most recent winners the back door route?
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Post by sinkthelead on May 4, 2015 18:16:15 GMT
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on May 4, 2015 19:17:34 GMT
Why should success be punished? Has to be a level playing field in terms of competition rules. I do believe in home games for 'designated counties', or whatever they might be called these days, playing against, say, League 1 teams, for argument's sake. In championship that is. I agree there's nothing much wrong with qtr finals on, except of course that provincial winners don't get a 2nd chance. League and earlier championship could be combined but I think there have to be sub-competitions on some sort of basis in order for weakest teams to have something to aim for, just as middle-ranking teams have a very outside chance of winning an All-I, or at least getting to a final maybe (Galway 1998, for example? Offaly 1997 was a near example).
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