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Post by MrRasherstoyou on Jun 13, 2015 9:59:21 GMT
Laois. If Kildare win it's a great sign for them. Mayo narrowly or a draw. They are vulnerable but I don't know if Galway have the belief. Kerry should be well prepared for Tipp's current/recent higher profile. Cork. Westmeath on the up a little, Wexford not going well, and home advantage for Westmeath will swing it. Donegal, who will be better prepared for Armagh this year, who don't seem to have pushed on from last year yet. Only unknown is how Gallagher deals with any sort of tight game.
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Post by kerrygold on Jun 13, 2015 20:10:38 GMT
Leinster SFC quarter-final replay RES Laois 1-11 Kildare 3-18 O'Connor Park
Not surprised by the result, a little by the scale of the win, but Laois are Laois!
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Post by donegalman on Jun 13, 2015 20:24:35 GMT
Donegalman, what's your prediction for Sunday? My prediction, is a point win for either donegal or armagh, or a draw! Seriously I think if we get the ball into Murphy early he will be lethal tomorrow. I have some faith in our defense despite a few worrying signs v Tyrone. I expect Couldrick will be a busy boy. Tipp and Kerry will be close until the last 15 minutes. Galway will come up short in a serious way against Mayo. Enjoy the game Ard Macha, see you in ballybofey for the replay, or clones?
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Post by kerrygold on Jun 13, 2015 20:27:46 GMT
Where is the game being played tomorrow donegalman?
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Post by donegalman on Jun 14, 2015 4:14:58 GMT
Where is the game being played tomorrow donegalman? Game is on in Armagh. So excited I cant sleep. Worried too.
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Post by wideball on Jun 14, 2015 13:49:52 GMT
Armagh woeful in the first half... Really expected more from them... Donegal possibly more dangerous this year than last?
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Post by Ard Mhacha on Jun 14, 2015 16:19:41 GMT
Donegalman, what's your prediction for Sunday? My prediction, is a point win for either donegal or armagh, or a draw! Seriously I think if we get the ball into Murphy early he will be lethal tomorrow. I have some faith in our defense despite a few worrying signs v Tyrone. I expect Couldrick will be a busy boy. Tipp and Kerry will be close until the last 15 minutes. Galway will come up short in a serious way against Mayo. Enjoy the game Ard Macha, see you in ballybofey for the replay, or clones? I never thought we would win this. Maybe get within 3 or 4. People read too much into that QF last year. We are a long way behind Donegal (and Monaghan). Don't have the quality nor the know how to really test the big guns. I thought the game would have been entertaining, but we were abysmal. There's nothing more I can say than that. Donegal thoroughly deserving winners. Hope you enjoyed the occasion. All the best for the semi.
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Post by donegalman on Jun 14, 2015 16:46:36 GMT
I was at the game this afternoon, and there are a few things that the match highlighted. Division 3 v division 1 is no longer a runner, irrespective of province. There was a total mismatch this afternoon. This highlights the importance of playing first division football each year. I have never seen an Armagh team playing as badly as I saw today. McGeeney hasn't got it as a manager. He stuck to a blanket defense when he should have gone all out. What had he to lose? There are other things to consider in his decision making or lack of from the line, that I wont mention as it is quite pointless to at this stage. On a Donegal performance, we have improved since the Tyrone game. Our attacks were very direct and MCBrearty is a lethal option in the full forward line. Unfortunately it looks like he picked up a hamstring injury which leaves us in a bit of a corner for the next couple of games and thereafter. The defense did very well today in marshaling the Armagh attack, although it is difficult to gauge from a game like today. Discipline in the ranks is good, and there was much less verbally going on between the teams on the field, which gives cause for optimism. Ultimately, it was a good day for us in Armagh, although the injury to MCB is a big concern. A side issue is the allocation of season ticket seats. I was put nearly at the corner flag for my support all through the winter following Donegal around the country. I dont understand why this has to be the case, surly the season ticket holders should be given the better seats. Read more: kerrygaa.proboards.com/thread/5742/msfc-tipperary-kerry?page=5#ixzz3d3VXGO57
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Post by kerrygold on Jun 14, 2015 23:19:30 GMT
Big Donegal win. Donegal will be a blue chip Everest for which ever genuine contenders meet them in the All-Ireland series in Croker.
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Post by kerrygold on Jun 14, 2015 23:49:20 GMT
Cake on the Marty squad this evening, in reference to Mayo's possible ability/inability to bring their game to another level, spoke about scientists telling us that if we put fleas into a jar and put the lid on, left them for a time and eventually took the lid off the fleas would have been trained to fly at a certain level and would not exit the jar. He concluded by saying Mayo will not bring their game to a another level this summer and won't win the All-Ireland. I'd imagine his comments might cause a bit of an itch in Mayo this week. I suppose you cant have your cake and eat it.
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Post by wayupnorth on Jun 15, 2015 6:05:47 GMT
Cake on the Marty squad this evening, in reference to Mayo's possible ability/inability to bring their game to another level, spoke about scientists telling us that if we put fleas into a jar and put the lid on, left them for a time and eventually took the lid off the fleas would have been trained to fly at a certain level and would not exit the jar. He concluded by saying Mayo will not bring their game to a another level this summer and won't win the All-Ireland. I'd imagine his comments might cause a bit of an itch in Mayo this week. I suppose you cant have your cake and eat it. Heard this on the way back from Thurles. Surprised at how the media are now trashing their darlings of last year. I may be a conspiracy theorist but could it be that they are deliberately giving them "the itch" as they feel what brought us through in 2014 was the negative and dismissive press ("What do you think of that Joe Brolly!"). In contrast Kerry were praised way beyond their performance ("a bench worth millions in the Premier League"). Do they think that having reacted to the negativity we will now succumb to plamás? - They really don't know Kerry. But they're still hyping the Dubs to the extent that the whole Championship has to be changed just because they are again swanning through Leinster (on the evidence of one match).
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Post by glengael on Jun 15, 2015 8:55:04 GMT
Whoever creamed up the name the "Marty Squad" should be revising their CV. I can see what they were trying to do but the title alone is cat. They might as well have called it Marty in the Evening.
The big 4 are still standing and running according to the plan, so I'd imagine it's hard for the media to get new angles this year.
Any redepmtion at all for ye Ard Mhaca? Mc Geeney was entirely too vocal in the media this week so I had a feeling things might not go ye're way. Who is up next in the qualifiers?
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Post by kerrygold on Jun 15, 2015 9:14:56 GMT
You would have to wonder what can be done to address the quality of the Munster football championship, Tipp hammer Waterford and go out easily to Kerry, while Cork easily put Clare away with Limerick falling off the radar. The problem will continue while these counties continue to remain in div 3 & 4 of the NFL.
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Post by Annascaultilidie on Jun 15, 2015 9:18:25 GMT
You would have to wonder what can be done to address the quality of the Munster football championship, Tipp hammer Waterford and go out easily to Kerry, while Cork easily put Clare away with Limerick falling off the radar. The problem will continue while these counties continue to remain in div 3 & 4 of the NFL. Tipp should have been a lot closer yesterday or have even won. They must have kicked 12-15 wides and had a few extra goal chances too. I just hope that Tipp football regathers itself for the qualifiers.
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Post by kerrygold on Jun 15, 2015 9:26:42 GMT
You would have to wonder what can be done to address the quality of the Munster football championship, Tipp hammer Waterford and go out easily to Kerry, while Cork easily put Clare away with Limerick falling off the radar. The problem will continue while these counties continue to remain in div 3 & 4 of the NFL. Tipp should have been a lot closer yesterday or have even won. They must have kicked 12-15 wides and had a few extra goal chances too. I just hope that Tipp football regathers itself for the qualifiers. The ability to score, points in particular, is one of the core tenets of Gaelic Football. Tipp fell down on this aspect yesterday.
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Post by Annascaultilidie on Jun 15, 2015 9:29:06 GMT
Tipp should have been a lot closer yesterday or have even won. They must have kicked 12-15 wides and had a few extra goal chances too. I just hope that Tipp football regathers itself for the qualifiers. The ability to score, points in particular, is one of the core tenets of Gaelic Football. Tipp fell down on this aspect yesterday. They certainly did.
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Post by Ard Mhacha on Jun 15, 2015 10:35:02 GMT
Any redepmtion at all for ye Ard Mhaca? Mc Geeney was entirely too vocal in the media this week so I had a feeling things might not go ye're way. Who is up next in the qualifiers? I had a feeling walking to the ground that Murphy would run riot and we'd get a fair beating. But I still didn't predict it would've been as bad. We were in Div 3 though and struggled to put a few of them teams away. C'ship is different yes, but at least winning games should breed confidence. People got caught up in last years QF. One point between them, sure we're just as good as Donegal and we're at home etc etc... I knew all that meant diddly squat. Doing reasonably well one season guarantees feck all the next. I heard on radio sunday morning about Armagh possibly winning Ulster and I couldn't believe my ears. Winning ulster and we haven't even kicked a ball, we're up against the best side in the province and playing in Div 3. It was ridiculous. But, move on. Forget about it. Wicklow at home next. They put it up to Meath so they won't lie down like they did in 2013. Hopefully we can win this and after that, who knows? We won't win Sam obviously, but a couple of wins might help block out the Donegal nightmare.
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Post by givehimaball on Jun 15, 2015 13:50:06 GMT
Tipp should have been a lot closer yesterday or have even won. They must have kicked 12-15 wides and had a few extra goal chances too. I just hope that Tipp football regathers itself for the qualifiers. The ability to score, points in particular, is one of the core tenets of Gaelic Football. Tipp fell down on this aspect yesterday. The thing is that when you look at Tipp in the league and last year's championship they are well capable of putting up scores. They need to get out of Division 3 pronto next year if they are going to progress. With the age profile of their team they need to get up to Division 2 immediately. I can still see them making serious progress in the qualifiers.
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on Jun 15, 2015 13:53:02 GMT
Superb from Donegal, regardless of what division Armagh are in. The game was in Armagh, and Geeser prepares a serious team. However one thing it may well have proven again, is that Geeser is not a good head coach, nor tactician. And that Paul Grimley has been the brains behind alot of the really good things down the years. Only consolation currently for Armagh is their stadium looks the finest small to medium stadium in the country.
McBrearty now looks like a great forward. McNiallis gives them options, and with MM at his peak now, McFadden to come back in, maybe another big summer in him, that's a very serious forward division. Getting the backs and midfield right will be the big test. I think Donegal's underrage talent of the last few years was underestimated. Credit to Gallagher to for overseeing the transition well.......so far. The natural progression to a more expansive game is being continued. Interesting times ahead.
Mayo and Galway was mediocre, Mayo in 3rd gear, Galway continue to be the worst most talented team around, lacking leaders and intensity. Either Mayo are struggling to really get going or are saving themselves, or a bit of both. Saving themselves for a change makes sense to me. The new management should help them this year, if they are up to the job (the management). No sign of much of any breakthrough players though, they will need one or two new gamebreakers to get to the next level.
Lo and behold Laois thrashed by Kildare but seemingly nobody is worried about the state of Leinster football today. Dum te dum. In fairness I thought it was a good quality game, real pace to it, some great scores, good intensity. Laois undone by missing a penalty, and a very good goal chance, then conceding a calamity goal and another in quick succession. But Kildare finished them off impressively. They should be able to at least give us a contest, based on Laois giving us a decent game last year. Is this new Kildare coach emerging as someone to watch?
Meath have never lost to Westmeath in championship. Enough said. They will always believe they can win Leinster, no matter how bad they have been in the last year or two.
We are looking at a year that will quite possibly confirm an extraordinary dominance of the same 4 teams in the provinces. Mayo going for 5-in-a-row, and 6th in 7 years. Dublin also for a five-timer, and 10th in 11 years. Donegal going for their 4th in 5 years, which in Ulster is serious dominance, and Kerry are going for their 5th in 6 years.
As for 'the state of Munster football', when only one team other than Kerry or Cork has won the title since 1935, it's hardly a new issue, far, far from it.
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Post by givehimaball on Jun 15, 2015 13:59:43 GMT
Any redepmtion at all for ye Ard Mhaca? Mc Geeney was entirely too vocal in the media this week so I had a feeling things might not go ye're way. Who is up next in the qualifiers? I had a feeling walking to the ground that Murphy would run riot and we'd get a fair beating. But I still didn't predict it would've been as bad. We were in Div 3 though and struggled to put a few of them teams away. C'ship is different yes, but at least winning games should breed confidence. People got caught up in last years QF. One point between them, sure we're just as good as Donegal and we're at home etc etc... I knew all that meant diddly squat. Doing reasonably well one season guarantees feck all the next. I heard on radio sunday morning about Armagh possibly winning Ulster and I couldn't believe my ears. Winning ulster and we haven't even kicked a ball, we're up against the best side in the province and playing in Div 3. It was ridiculous. But, move on. Forget about it. Wicklow at home next. They put it up to Meath so they won't lie down like they did in 2013. Hopefully we can win this and after that, who knows? We won't win Sam obviously, but a couple of wins might help block out the Donegal nightmare. Watched the game back and for me the worrying sign for Armagh was that it looked scarily like a Kildare under Geezer performance, especially as regards clueless attacking play. Armagh got plenty of ball but the forwards made it way too easy for the Donegal defence overall. The offensive gameplan seemed to be limited to run straight at the Donegal defence and when bottled up, handpass it sideways or backwards. The discipline of the Donegal defence versus the Armagh defence in terms of conceding fouls was light years apart. That's not something that will change overnight, but at the moment Armagh don't even seem to realise it's an issue, in terms of being a top team.
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Post by Mickmack on Jun 15, 2015 17:35:54 GMT
Rewards Await Donegal As They Swap Genius For Common Sense
With just a few minutes of a largely forgettable All-Ireland final remaining, Kerry’s supporters, already teeming with anxiety, almost collapsed in unison as their team shovelled a few more pounds of tension upon them.
In 2011, the Kingdom elected to use listless, lateral handpassing in a bid to make those final few units of time ebb away without incident. Within minutes, the celebration of the county’s 37th All-Ireland title had been postponed until a later date.
On that occasion, Dublin seemed to recognise that they needed to score a few times. They also deduced that they required possession of the ball to do so. Three years on from that Newtonesque moment of clarity on Dublin’s part, Donegal were faced with the same puzzle.
The same listless handpassing unfolded before them. The same answers should have hammered through their door with a pickaxe, but never did. They sat back. They left possession with the Kingdom. They lost.
When Andy Dufresne finally made it through the sewer pipes leading away from the Shawshank Prison, he was greeted by the most melodramatic deluge of rain ever commissioned to the big screen. Eighteen years on from the heart-warming cinematic experience that was Shawshank, Jim McGuinness led Donegal through a very different sewer to claim their second All-Ireland title.
There was no rain awaiting McGuinness as his body exited the confines of the sewer pipe. Instead, there was praise. Lots of it. The kind of praise you would anticipate for a man or woman who has ended tyranny, cured the incurable, or arrived at the last decimal placing of Pi. Joe Brolly described the McGuinness system as ‘unbeatable’, ‘a superbug with no obvious cure’ and ‘ground zero for football’. As it turned out, Brolly was wrong.
McGuinness was a fine manager of a fine football team. But as enlightened as his system was, it was laughably distant from the ‘unbeatable’ status attributed to it. In July of 2013, our very core beliefs were defrocked as Monaghan had the audacity to beat Donegal in the Ulster final. Chillingly, not a mathematician or scientist was spotted within the Monaghan camp in the lead-up to their sublime triumph. They simply aped the Donegal system, and won.
The head of modern day Gaelic Football is rammed so far up its own rear passage that it is incapable of identifying a shocking lack of common sense in the systems devised by its managerial ‘geniuses’. Only Michael Murphy seemed to recognise the peril facing Donegal in those final few moments of the 2014 final, as he lunged towards goal and very nearly snatched a draw.
The three or four minutes prior to that had showcased a major, perplexingly obvious flaw in Donegal’s plan. Their stringent abidance to the plans of McGuinness prohibited them from contemplating what might roam outside the proverbial cardboard box.
Donegal had their system aped again in the 2014, and they collapsed many miles out from the line that would have provided answers. Some will have you believe that only an outrageous mistake from Paul Durcan separated the sides.
Anybody who did not recognised the Kingdom’s superiority in the 2014 final is probably guilty of the misdeed that has kept Kerry in business for over a century: failing to give them even a semblance of credit. Kerry’s shooting was uncharacteristically appalling in the final, and they should have slit Donegal’s neck long before the normally excellent Durcan misplaced his kick-out so fatally. The better team on the day won the match, without question.
If I seem harsh on Donegal, it’s not borne out of any kind of dislike, but more of a frustration at how they’ve chosen to use the talent at their behest without interrogation. Donegal are a fabulous outfit. Such is the overzealous belief within GAA circles in the abilities of our managers, we have pushed notion of crediting the game’s exponents to the wayside. Donegal possess some ridiculously good footballers.
Prior to yesterday’s game against Armagh, there was a genuine sense that Donegal were a team on the wane, at the mercy of a resurgent Orchard. Such an erroneous belief was consigned to the realm of the laughable within two minutes of their mismatch.
Rory Gallagher devised a game-plan that presented his Donegal team as a talented, exciting and potent outfit. Rather than being sytem-orientated, the plan accentuated the individual abilities of Donegal’s outstanding contributors. On the other hand, Armagh might as well have been presented as the ghost of Donegal past.
The opening goal illustrated quite vividly lessons that have been learned by Gallagher. Not too arrogant to snub a tactic as supposedly crude – but often effective – as the long kick to a target man at the edge of the square, Gallagher’s plan seduced the entranced Armagh gatekeepers away from the full back line, leaving the excellent Paddy McBrearty with James Morgan as his only issue once possession had been attained from an excellent Neil Gallagher delivery. It was uncannily similar to the opening goal for Kerry’s Paul Geaney in the All-Ireland final last September.
On that day, Donegal opted not to utilise the counter attacking game that has been the centrepiece of all their most illuminating performances, namely against Cork and Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-finals of 2012 and 2014.
Yesterday, their half back line was notably tuned towards a dual function that makes Donegal so difficult to resist. Their hand passing was as crisp and measured as it had ever been under McGuinness, unlike the inept exhibition of the core skill provided by their opponents.
Donegal’s movements were effectively carried out by groups of three, with the man in possession always flanked by at least two options of assistance. Armagh’s support play was awkward and hurried, their kick passing woeful on the rare occasion that it was implemented.
Conversely, Donegal were aided profitably by the long kick-passing provided by the triumvirate of MacNiallais, Gallagher and the inimitable Michael Murphy. The tactic had been largely ignored by McGuinness throughout his extraordinary reign, and watching the aforementioned trio yesterday has to leave contemplating why that was.
McGeeney’s appointment as Armagh’s manager has been greeted with a suspicious lack of suspicion. ‘Geezer’ was as influential a footballer as we have seen in the last twenty years, but while his time at the chessboard for Kildare produced a team to rival any other in terms of fitness, it failed to produce a unit fluent in the core skills of the game.
Armagh have some fine footballers, but if they had all taken to the field wearing Kildare jerseys yesterday you’d have the hook ripping through the roof of your mouth. They couldn’t kick from distance, they couldn’t take scores, and they had no obvious plan when mounting an attack.
The game of football has moved away from the notion that the game is a relatively simple one. When I watched last year’s final, I hoped that onlookers might read it for what it was: a showcase in all this is weak about the defensive, system orientated game, as opposed to its strengths.
Yesterday, Gallagher impressed in allowing his players to impress. Hearteningly for football, we might finally see how good his Donegal’s players really are this summer.
Pundit Arena
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Post by Mickmack on Jun 15, 2015 17:39:46 GMT
Givehimaball said;
Watched the game back and for me the worrying sign for Armagh was that it looked scarily like a Kildare under Geezer performance, especially as regards clueless attacking play.
That has always been Geezers Achilles heel
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Post by Mickmack on Jun 15, 2015 19:30:45 GMT
I cant see how Mayo are going to win the All Ireland in 2015 with that forward line
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Post by veteran on Jun 15, 2015 21:26:08 GMT
I noticed in the Galway/Mayo game that Aiden O'Shea inflicted a hand off to the face of a Galway player just as he did to JO'D in Limerick last year, ignored by the referee on both occasions. I would regard it as a red card offence.
It is a shame that Galway are uanble to cobble together a decent full back line.
On the evidence of the games seen so far, Dublin and Donegal seem to the front runners but a lot of balls remain to be caught and kicked, and hand passed I suppose, before one day in September.
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Post by kerrygold on Jun 15, 2015 22:20:05 GMT
Superb from Donegal, regardless of what division Armagh are in. The game was in Armagh, and Geeser prepares a serious team. However one thing it may well have proven again, is that Geeser is not a good head coach, nor tactician. And that Paul Grimley has been the brains behind alot of the really good things down the years. Only consolation currently for Armagh is their stadium looks the finest small to medium stadium in the country. McBrearty now looks like a great forward. McNiallis gives them options, and with MM at his peak now, McFadden to come back in, maybe another big summer in him, that's a very serious forward division. Getting the backs and midfield right will be the big test. I think Donegal's underrage talent of the last few years was underestimated. Credit to Gallagher to for overseeing the transition well.......so far. The natural progression to a more expansive game is being continued. Interesting times ahead. Mayo and Galway was mediocre, Mayo in 3rd gear, Galway continue to be the worst most talented team around, lacking leaders and intensity. Either Mayo are struggling to really get going or are saving themselves, or a bit of both. Saving themselves for a change makes sense to me. The new management should help them this year, if they are up to the job (the management). No sign of much of any breakthrough players though, they will need one or two new gamebreakers to get to the next level. Lo and behold Laois thrashed by Kildare but seemingly nobody is worried about the state of Leinster football today. Dum te dum. In fairness I thought it was a good quality game, real pace to it, some great scores, good intensity. Laois undone by missing a penalty, and a very good goal chance, then conceding a calamity goal and another in quick succession. But Kildare finished them off impressively. They should be able to at least give us a contest, based on Laois giving us a decent game last year. Is this new Kildare coach emerging as someone to watch?Meath have never lost to Westmeath in championship. Enough said. They will always believe they can win Leinster, no matter how bad they have been in the last year or two. We are looking at a year that will quite possibly confirm an extraordinary dominance of the same 4 teams in the provinces. Mayo going for 5-in-a-row, and 6th in 7 years. Dublin also for a five-timer, and 10th in 11 years. Donegal going for their 4th in 5 years, which in Ulster is serious dominance, and Kerry are going for their 5th in 6 years. As for 'the state of Munster football', when only one team other than Kerry or Cork has won the title since 1935, it's hardly a new issue, far, far from it. Cant see it, it will be like putting a hairy bacon rasher sandwich in to a kitchen blender and getting yoghurt out at the other end. Dublin most likely by 10 points plus.
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Post by Mickmack on Jun 15, 2015 22:44:43 GMT
Donegal are the most complete article we have seen so far but its a long way to September.
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Post by donegalman on Jun 15, 2015 22:51:38 GMT
Donegal are the most complete article we have seen so far but its a long way to September. Absolutely agree. The bookies have us as far out as 8/1 to lift sam, that is a big price, and it is correct factoring in how poor armagh were yesterday. Delighted with the result, and the performance was very easy on the eye, but it is a bit of an illusion considering how early and quickly Armagh threw in the towel. I wont pretend that we are not going in a good direction though. It is a great time to be a GAA supporter in Donegal, the popularity of Gaelic football is now considerably bigger than soccer judging by the number of youngsters who chose to wear county or club colors as opposed to premiership or SPL ones.
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on Jun 16, 2015 8:35:16 GMT
Superb from Donegal, regardless of what division Armagh are in. The game was in Armagh, and Geeser prepares a serious team. However one thing it may well have proven again, is that Geeser is not a good head coach, nor tactician. And that Paul Grimley has been the brains behind alot of the really good things down the years. Only consolation currently for Armagh is their stadium looks the finest small to medium stadium in the country. McBrearty now looks like a great forward. McNiallis gives them options, and with MM at his peak now, McFadden to come back in, maybe another big summer in him, that's a very serious forward division. Getting the backs and midfield right will be the big test. I think Donegal's underrage talent of the last few years was underestimated. Credit to Gallagher to for overseeing the transition well.......so far. The natural progression to a more expansive game is being continued. Interesting times ahead. Mayo and Galway was mediocre, Mayo in 3rd gear, Galway continue to be the worst most talented team around, lacking leaders and intensity. Either Mayo are struggling to really get going or are saving themselves, or a bit of both. Saving themselves for a change makes sense to me. The new management should help them this year, if they are up to the job (the management). No sign of much of any breakthrough players though, they will need one or two new gamebreakers to get to the next level. Lo and behold Laois thrashed by Kildare but seemingly nobody is worried about the state of Leinster football today. Dum te dum. In fairness I thought it was a good quality game, real pace to it, some great scores, good intensity. Laois undone by missing a penalty, and a very good goal chance, then conceding a calamity goal and another in quick succession. But Kildare finished them off impressively. They should be able to at least give us a contest, based on Laois giving us a decent game last year. Is this new Kildare coach emerging as someone to watch?Meath have never lost to Westmeath in championship. Enough said. They will always believe they can win Leinster, no matter how bad they have been in the last year or two. We are looking at a year that will quite possibly confirm an extraordinary dominance of the same 4 teams in the provinces. Mayo going for 5-in-a-row, and 6th in 7 years. Dublin also for a five-timer, and 10th in 11 years. Donegal going for their 4th in 5 years, which in Ulster is serious dominance, and Kerry are going for their 5th in 6 years. As for 'the state of Munster football', when only one team other than Kerry or Cork has won the title since 1935, it's hardly a new issue, far, far from it. Cant see it, it will be like putting a hairy bacon rasher sandwich in to a kitchen blender and getting yoghurt out at the other end. Dublin most likely by 10 points plus. The Lillies aren't known for rashers or dairy products really. "Kerry for Sam, Kildare for Ham". 7-10 points is my prediction, which would be real progress compared to the last two years. They have been strong at underrage the last few years but I have questions about Jason Ryan, did he really get the best out of that talented Wexford squad? When I think back they had golden chances to win Leinster between 2004 and 2010 and never even came close. He doesn't seem able to get a team defending really well, nor playing with the level of intensity (and fitness??) required. Funnily enough the best they did was against us in 2011, though we were poor that day, and a bit lucky.
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on Jun 16, 2015 8:41:58 GMT
Donegal are the most complete article we have seen so far but its a long way to September. Absolutely agree. The bookies have us as far out as 8/1 to lift sam, that is a big price, and it is correct factoring in how poor armagh were yesterday. Delighted with the result, and the performance was very easy on the eye, but it is a bit of an illusion considering how early and quickly Armagh threw in the towel. I wont pretend that we are not going in a good direction though. It is a great time to be a GAA supporter in Donegal, the popularity of Gaelic football is now considerably bigger than soccer judging by the number of youngsters who chose to wear county or club colors as opposed to premiership or SPL ones. Hopefully the legacy of the last 4 years is that they play to their traditional strengths (some great footballers, especially forwards) and with the belief and intensity and organisation that wasn't there before. They have great incentive this year, as they will feel they left last year's final behind them. And there's a great rivalry with Kerry building up, two very close, very intense games in the last 3 years, only a couple of points in it each way. Who'd have thought as Tyrone were on the wane that Donegal would be the next Ulster county to challenge for the All-I for several years?
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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 Jun 16, 2015 9:40:10 GMT
In its fully exposed light, the madness of McBrearty not starting last year's AI final
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