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Post by Mickmack on Aug 9, 2019 14:58:34 GMT
Tomás Ó Sé's All-Ireland semi-final predictions Updated / Friday, 9 Aug 2019 09:45
Dublin and Mayo will battle it out for a place in the All-Ireland football final
This is guaranteed to be Dublin's biggest test at a packed Croke Park. There is a history of battles between these two sides and Mayo are the one side that have consistently pushed the Dubs to the limit.
Despite losing twice this season, Mayo are still standing and I guarantee you they will give it their all. Down, Armagh and Donegal could all have knocked them out and they failed to do so.
They do however have their issues with injuries. No sooner is Mattie Ruane back, then they lose Jason Doherty to a horrific injury. Will Diarmuid O’Connor start? Will Andy Moran start? Will it be Rob Hennelly or David Clarke in goals?
They have had matches in seven of the last eight weekends. Even last week against Donegal it was seven-day turnaround.
One area that must improve is their scoring rate. They have been getting one out of three shots, one in four in some matches. It will have to come down to one in two if they are to win on Saturday.
Will their defence cope with this Dublin forward line who are averaging 28 points a game?
I am one of the many who have said that the Dubs have improved, but what are we basing it on? They beat Meath, Cork and Roscommon, but they haven't been tested to the limit.
The Tyrone match was simply a dummy run.
This, however, is why this Dublin team are great in my eyes. They are capable of matching intensity and topping it when the need is greatest. They have been waiting for this and the five-in-a-row continues to be dangled.
Mayo will be ravenous and the whole country would love to see Dublin being beaten. If that doesn’t pump the Dubs up, nothing well.
I can see them raising the bar again this weekend. There is enough weakness in Mayo’s kickouts and I’m not sure the forward unit has enough to beat a motivated Dublin defence.
People tell me the Dubs aren’t playing well, but they will have the answers.
Verdict: Dublin
Kerry v Tyrone
There is a fair history between these two counties. A mutual respect on both sides, but definitely needle also.
I have heard it said that Kerry will struggle with Tyrone’s physicality and running game and it is an area that worries me from a green and gold perspective.
The Kingdom have to play it clever and stay out of contact. Mickey Harte’s template, outside of playing Cathal McShane and Richie Donnelly up front, has always been a solid defence, hunt in packs and run where necessary.
Donie Buckley was seriously involved in two Mayo teams that turned Tyrone over in 2013 and 2017 and it will make a difference. He knows how to set-up against them.
Peter Keane will have to prepare his team for the biggest game of their young lives. You could see from the second the ball was thrown in against Mayo, Kerry wouldn’t be beaten. That’s where they need to get to.
Shane Ryan will have to improve on his kickouts and you would back the Kerry forward line to take on a Tyrone defence I feel can be got at.
For Kerry to win, the threat of Mattie Donnelly, Cathal McShane and Peter Harte must be curbed. If those guys play well, Tyrone generally win.
Kerry are capable of winning this. And Tyrone are probably a safer bet, but I feel this could be a turning point for this Kerry team, provided they avoid contact and up their own levels of aggression.
This is the weekend Kerry have to step up.
Verdict: Kerry
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Post by ciarrai4sam on Aug 9, 2019 15:29:46 GMT
Anyone have Daragh O Se article from Irish times - have to have subscription to read. Cheap skate here
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Post by Annascaultilidie on Aug 9, 2019 15:30:26 GMT
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Post by wayupnorth on Aug 9, 2019 16:12:08 GMT
So the O’Sé brothers both go for a Dublin/Kerry Final. Coincidence or conspiracy?
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Post by stuckintipp on Aug 9, 2019 16:34:34 GMT
Anyone else hear rumblings McShane my be injured?
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Post by Annascaultilidie on Aug 9, 2019 16:57:29 GMT
Anyone else hear rumblings McShane my be injured? Nobody "inside" will be believing that.
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Post by The16thMan on Aug 9, 2019 17:55:58 GMT
Lower Cusack sold out, will be a crowd of close to 50,000 at the game I'd say
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Post by An Ciarraíoch Taistealaíoch on Aug 9, 2019 18:00:50 GMT
Where are the best pre match watering holes in Dublin these times? Have been at a bit of a loss ever since my beloved Sean O Caseys shut down Pretty sure it's reopened recently (albeit with a different name)
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Post by augustafield on Aug 9, 2019 18:17:38 GMT
It’s now called Pipers Corner .
The Palace Bar in Fleet Street good alternative . Plenty Kerry folk gather there.
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Post by sullyschoice on Aug 9, 2019 18:58:56 GMT
Pipers Corner is owned by a friend of mine. Good place for real traditional music sessions.
Palace is nice, so is Long Hall on George's St.
Harry Byrnes on Howth Rd (nearly in Fairview) is a top class pub as is Kavanaghs on Malahide Rd.
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Post by john4 on Aug 9, 2019 19:09:50 GMT
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Post by ballhopper34 on Aug 9, 2019 19:18:56 GMT
No selection surprises there.
Not that we believe that will be the actual starting 15.
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sambo
Full Member
Posts: 124
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Post by sambo on Aug 9, 2019 19:31:39 GMT
How are the 26 listed on the printed programme yet they are not revealed tonight???
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Post by piggott on Aug 9, 2019 19:32:11 GMT
Wouldnt be surprised if that actually was the starting 15.
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Post by john4 on Aug 9, 2019 19:34:03 GMT
Wouldnt be surprised if that actually was the starting 15. Thinking the same, a double bluff!
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Post by wayupnorth on Aug 9, 2019 19:37:04 GMT
Wouldnt be surprised if that actually was the starting 15. That’s what I thought last time but there were three changes. Guess it would be a double bluff to start without changes. Suppose there will be 15 changes on the Tyrone team.
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Post by Tadhgeen on Aug 9, 2019 21:43:30 GMT
Just listened to Colm Keyes and Austin n O’Malley on Radio 1.
Keyes gone for Tyrone because they are more battle hardened. No other worthwhile observations from him.
Both himself and Austin seem to think McShane is untouchable.
Tyrone are seriously up against it on Sunday. A serious youthful and footballing side from Kerry with astute management.
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Post by Annascaultilidie on Aug 9, 2019 22:17:19 GMT
Tyrone could lose by six points Sunday and next year they will yet again be trotted out as serious AI contenders... and Harte spoken about in the same breath as Cody.
Give me a break.
A very consistent team is all I see.
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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 Aug 9, 2019 22:26:23 GMT
Just listened to Colm Keyes and Austin n O’Malley on Radio 1. Keyes gone for Tyrone because they are more battle hardened. No other worthwhile observations from him. Both himself and Austin seem to think McShane is untouchable. Tyrone are seriously up against it on Sunday. A serious youthful and footballing side from Kerry with astute management. Battle hardened against Cork and Roscommon? Sure.
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Post by Annascaultilidie on Aug 9, 2019 23:11:36 GMT
Just listened to Colm Keyes and Austin n O’Malley on Radio 1. Keyes gone for Tyrone because they are more battle hardened. No other worthwhile observations from him. Both himself and Austin seem to think McShane is untouchable. Tyrone are seriously up against it on Sunday. A serious youthful and footballing side from Kerry with astute management. Battle hardened against Cork and Roscommon? Sure. ...and DESTROYED by Donegal in the Ulster Final. Smoke and Mirrors stuff. The Empire has no clothes. Kerry to win.
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Post by john4 on Aug 9, 2019 23:19:15 GMT
The way last year worked out, I'd imagine the most disappointing aspect of it for the players would be their regret in not performing when it was most required.
They will know that they were a much better team than Galway or Monaghan but just didn't perform when it mattered.
I just happened to be looking in the direction of David Moran as the Kildare game ended and he genuinely didn't know how things were playing out in Salthill. He was devastated when he was told the bad news.
Whatever else happens Sunday I hope that at the end of it that no one of our lads will have any regrets about how they performed. If we win, fantastic, but there's nothing worse than thinking or knowing you could have done better.
If they play to their full potential we should be better than Tyrone.
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Post by dc84 on Aug 9, 2019 23:19:42 GMT
Just listened to Colm Keyes and Austin n O’Malley on Radio 1. Keyes gone for Tyrone because they are more battle hardened. No other worthwhile observations from him. Both himself and Austin seem to think McShane is untouchable. Tyrone are seriously up against it on Sunday. A serious youthful and footballing side from Kerry with astute management. The lazy analysis i find funny Tyrone are that bit more experienced generally ie most of their best players are 28 plus.but I don't think that's what they mean it's that Tyrone had a tougher path so far which is laughable. It's like saying Tyrone had it tough they played Donegal and cork, whereas kerry ONLY played cork and Donegal! Ah Sunday will tell the tale ! Either way what a year so far by pk and co
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Post by The16thMan on Aug 9, 2019 23:37:36 GMT
I like seeing Kerry being wrote off, our best wins have been when we're done so. Dublin 09' Tyrone 12' Mayo & Donegal 14' and Mayo 19' also many people thought we'd loose to Donegal as well. It's when Kerry are overhyped we seem to loose or play extremely poor such as Tyrone 03' Down 10' Donegal 12' and Cavan 13' (even though we won that game we played sh*te) and Galway 18' I prefer it when we're being doubted as it seems to give the team that extra motivation and in may of those games we made a great start and that saw us through which makes the victory even sweeter. I'll never forget the Dublin game from 09', Tyrone 12' and Mayo this year as we just shot out of the blocks from the start and blitzed these teams which was a privilege to watch. I think we're capable of a start as good on Sunday and make Tyrone come out of their defensive shell, we could make it a long day for Tyrone if we play with high intensity and make full use of our attacking potential from the start. Feeling very excited about this one.
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Post by Annascaultilidie on Aug 10, 2019 0:11:24 GMT
Whatever pundits are saying, like the Mayo match, Kerry are favourites with the bookies.
Not very strong favourites, but favoured by the bookies.
Far more comforting than no-nothing pundits.
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Post by Ballyfireside on Aug 10, 2019 1:00:36 GMT
I have long been an admirer of Gavin Crowley and I can see a very interesting role for him in what lay ahead.
These will be remembered as truly amazing times in the evolution of Gaelic football and I believe we are witnessing the makings of a really great teams. Any team that beats us in the next 5 years will make for some spectacles, what with the talent that is out there. The only concern is that there are too many counties left behind and while crops of talent are sporadic, too many counties simply have no chance of competing through no fault of their own. That we meet supporters from these counties at games is testament to their 'vocation' and this should be reciprocated by the GAA with a master strategic plan to try to do what a handicapper does in horse racing, ie a blanket finish of all runners.
Anyway that's enough ideology,
Kerry by 4 and good luck to Jason, the two ends of a hoor of a footballer as John B would say, a Ballydonoghoor of a footballer as Ballythefireside says!
I did allude to a good team insulating a manager from crises and I can see Mayo letting someone else down for a change!
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Post by sullyschoice on Aug 10, 2019 1:30:44 GMT
Pundits going for Tyrone based on what. Same fellas who predicted we would be third in the super 8 group. We are a better team than them, we just need to play to our potential. I believe in this team.
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Post by onlykerry on Aug 10, 2019 8:31:34 GMT
Tyrone being tipped becasuse they have had big wins over us 10 years ago with a different team and they were in the All Ireland final (still scratch my head trying to figure how that happened) last year. Paper columns to be filled and countless radio/TV stations need to fill time and build the hype.
Pundits out - ring that bell and let the battle begin.
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Post by kingdomkerry on Aug 10, 2019 8:35:08 GMT
This game won't be easy on the eye. Forecast is bad. Tyrone play a defensive system which ruins the game as a spectacle.
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Post by greengold35 on Aug 10, 2019 8:36:55 GMT
Pundits going for Tyrone based on what. Same fellas who predicted we would be third in the super 8 group. We are a better team than them, we just need to play to our potential. I believe in this team.I agree wholeheartedly - I believe if Tyrone were swapped with Mayo in the groups they would not be in the semis today; we have been improving, we have winners from under age in our side and also experience with David Moran, Paul Geaney, Stephen O'Brien - the incentive is massive, 70 odd minutes away from a final - as everyone knows these days don't come around too often. Also, the addition of Donie Buckley to the backroom team is massive and most important at this stage of the competition - Donie knows how to set up teams to combat Tyrone from his previous experience in Mayo - this is a huge plus and I would think the mantra all the week has been about " patience and discipline" - its more cerebral than physical, using the brain, being smart in possession, decision making, being rational - sharpness and cuteness are called for in abundance tomorrow. Tyrone are being touted as possible favourites by some in the media because of Harte - but Harte doesn't have the marquee names of yesteryear like a Mulligan, Canavan, O'Neill - think that this is being overlooked and will eventually be their undoing. Its Kerry for me!
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Post by royalkerryfan on Aug 10, 2019 8:43:13 GMT
This game won't be easy on the eye. Forecast is bad. Tyrone play a defensive system which ruins the game as a spectacle. Think we will be ok weather wise, looks to be dry form 11 or so onwards in Croker.
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