|
Post by dc84 on Aug 2, 2023 11:40:20 GMT
Yes agree. The home advantage in Championship games is big. Dubz have had great players and teams no question but to disregard the big advantage playing at home has is ridiculous. The familiarity. In some ways the successes of other counties particularly Kerry’s has camouflaged this blatant fact. You right the British public would find this strange. As they would Man U playing semis of finals at Old Trafford perhaps not a great analogy but you get my drift hopefully. They have not lost a final since 94. A major factor is home advantage. 14 or 15 of those years they weren't good enough to get to one in reality
|
|
|
Post by orangerhyme on Aug 2, 2023 11:50:15 GMT
Anyone got Dara's article in Irish Times today? You can use archive.ph to view articles behind a pay wall. Otherwise click the "X" in drop-down on right when it's loading.
|
|
|
Post by cliffy on Aug 2, 2023 12:06:00 GMT
Cheers
|
|
|
Post by homerj on Aug 2, 2023 12:06:55 GMT
re David. any notions about him trying to do too much...absolutely not. his misses were just misses, on another day, he should be walking out with 0-8, the shots were all scoreable bar 1. wet day, wind inconsistent, heavy ball. blanket defence.....i think ye are reading far too much into it.
1 of those goes over and one less mistake made by the other players...we would have won and no discussion about him. small margins, but people make big stories.
lets not forget, Con scored now. same for Costello and Kilkenny. it wasnt a day for large scores being put up
|
|
thepope
Fanatical Member
Posts: 1,278
|
Post by thepope on Aug 2, 2023 12:28:25 GMT
Regarding home advantage, Dublin shouldn't play in Croke Park before anyone else. The League Final, neutral group games, 1/4, semi and final is all that should be played there.
Have also felt for a while that counties need their own section of the ground. Give the Dubs the Hill and Hogan, give us, or competing team, the Canal and Cusack. Cud take a section out of each for dignitaries etc.
At a lot of Dub games you'd be surrounded by Dubs and if you open your mouth you get shouted down. Cud be more atmosphere if all kerry people were together, get more of a group effort at cheering team on.
Obviously you'll have a few strays into each section but that shouldn't be a big deal.
All of the above are not a comment on the final, Dubs had more ways to get scores in 2nd half than we did and we didn't execute on our chances created down the stretch.
|
|
|
Post by thechosenone on Aug 2, 2023 12:56:46 GMT
Darragh's Article
Experienced leaders gave Dublin that crucial extra edge
Anytime you lose an All-Ireland final there will always be some regrets, especially after winning the previous year, and I imagine Kerry will have quite a few after this one. Enough to mention anyway.
Take absolutely nothing away from Dublin. Champions again, and on merit, from the outset I felt they were going to be the team to beat this year. Players like James McCarthy and Brian Fenton and particularly Stephen Cluxton had nothing to prove to anyone. Still they made sure Dublin got over the line on Sunday, Jack McCaffrey also coming off the bench to pull some strings. The old band can still rattle out a good tune.
The wet conditions were always likely to make it a tight game, Dublin just about coming out the right side of it. But it was there for Kerry too, no doubt about that. Which is why they’ll feel this was one they may have left behind.
By that I mean Kerry left a lot of scores behind. They know that. They also let Dublin back in for a goal at a critical time in the game, on 45 minutes, not long after Con O’Callaghan fired his shot onto the crossbar. Even though Kerry went back in front, I soon felt the game was starting to go away from them.
That came down to a few things. Yes, David Clifford was held to some extent by Mick Fitzsimons, but he was there for Clifford’s two scores from play too. And it wasn’t just a one-man job. At times Fitzsimons had another Dublin player or two for support.
The first thing to say about that is David Clifford owes Kerry absolutely nothing. He won them the All-Ireland last year practically single-handedly. The same way Maurice Fitzgerald won it for us in 1997, or Michael Murphy did for Donegal in 2012.
Some of the scores Clifford did get were actually harder than some of the ones he missed. For whatever reason. You can’t blame shot selection, and he didn’t do anything different than he normally would. It was just one of those days where it didn’t always come off. So whatever postmortem is done in Kerry over the winter no one will be laying any fault on his doorstep.
Dublin just squeezed Kerry to such an extent that anytime Clifford got the ball, Fitzsimons was right there with him, with one or two more in close proximity. That ultimately choked up the space.
So Clifford didn’t have a bad game, he’s just a victim of his own high standards. The way Clifford was drifting across the lines, Fitzsimons had to be there 24/7 as well. That was clearly the war cry, for players to stick to Clifford as close as possible whenever he was on the ball. It worked a treat, especially the way Dublin squeezed the play in the second half, making sure Fitzsimons had those extra bodies.
Cluxton had a huge bearing on the game too. I said before the game he hadn’t been tested yet, and I didn’t think Kerry tested him on Sunday either. That first point he kicked, the 45, he ambled up as if he owned the place. I felt at least one or two of the Kerry players should have reminded him they were there as well, crash into him, whatever, just to send some sort of signal that he’s not going to get away with this nonsense. Get inside his cage and rattle it a little bit.
Now, he’s such a good kicker he probably would have kicked it anyway. At the same time, it was remiss not to test his pulse. His kick-outs were excellent too, just his chemistry with the likes of Brian Howard, who won something like eight kick-outs, then Seán MacMahon too when he came on.
Obviously James McCarthy got stuck in, and I’d never blame any player for that. Everyone could gauge after five minutes the way David Gough was going to let the game go, in part because of the conditions. It wasn’t a game he wanted to slow down, or in rain like that he could have been on the whistle all afternoon. He did his best to leave it go, and when that happens players will always push the boat out as far as it can go.
If anything, I’d blame the Kerry players for not throwing themselves around a little more, like McCarthy did. Like Fenton, he was leading the way for Dublin, in contrast to Kerry, who to me where short of more leaders like that.
As the second half progressed, I also felt Dublin were getting their scores that bit easier than Kerry. The Kerry ones took a much harder shift, going through loads of bodies to get into scoring positions. Okay Paudie Clifford kicked two super points in that period, but for all that effort, all that labour, it’s telling when the opposition then come down the field and kick a point almost at their leisure, with minimal fuss.
Like Fenton did in that second half. That really sucks the oxygen out of you, takes a lot of the good out of what you’ve done. Fenton and Howard both had big games in the middle. That’s what you need to win All-Irelands.
We saw that leadership from the Dublin bench as well, McCaffrey especially, his injection of pace on top of his decision-making on the ball a real fillip for Dublin, Dean Rock also showing his old experience in the end.
In contrast, some of the Kerry replacements made mistakes on the ball, ran into traffic, or got turned over, when simply keeping possession was paramount. Tom O’Sullivan also had a chance towards the end , but to me just didn’t look sure of his game. At that stage Dublin were making the better decisions, but I wouldn’t blame Kerry for not trying, they never stopped in their intensity and work-rate. Their regrets are elsewhere.
As for the season as a whole I wouldn’t say it was a poor championship. Part of the problem for the first few weeks was that it was being compared to the hurling. I certainly think there were enough good games to consider it a success. We saw some superb individual performances too, some very tight games as well in the likes of Kerry-Derry.
I’ve said before though, it needs more breathing space, get the month of August out if it anyway. Whereas he we are, all over by the end of July. Nothing to look forward to now until next year.
|
|
|
Post by thechosenone on Aug 2, 2023 13:01:03 GMT
Good point by Darragh re Cluxton. You'd love to see some Kerry player bundle him over when he is meandering up for that first free. Would be worth the yellow.
|
|
|
Post by tralee58 on Aug 2, 2023 13:51:02 GMT
Re: home advantage. Life isn't fair. Croke Park has to be somewhere. Isn't all the better to go up and beat them with that advantage? And right now it just stinks of sour grapes and a degeneration of their achievements. Having said that: I don't know is it right that they play their actual home games there. But the time to address this, in my opinion, is inside in the GAA and in the off season. Not after a loss. My opinion. 100%. The only solution is to make Croke Park a neutral venue and make Dublin play in Parnell Park which would probably need a big redevelopment. It's not impossible but not likely in the foreseeable future. Agree we’ll said
|
|
|
Post by Kerryman Randy Savage on Aug 2, 2023 14:52:00 GMT
Good point by Darragh re Cluxton. You'd love to see some Kerry player bundle him over when he is meandering up for that first free. Would be worth the yellow. I guarantee you that would be red. Also, I'm not a big fan of the hits outside the rules of the game, no matter how weak a hit is. I'm still bitter on Kennelly in 09.
|
|
|
Post by Kerryman Randy Savage on Aug 2, 2023 16:37:56 GMT
I think the issue isn't Croke Park the stadium, but the admin in Croke Park that appear to have rolled over to aid the neighbours in the city.
I'd move the senior GAA administrators out to some random spot in the midlands and wait on when noticeable additional benefits start going to that county. I think that the current lifers in Croker are oblivious to the preferential treatment of its current county. That's the real problem.
|
|
|
Post by taggert on Aug 2, 2023 17:23:47 GMT
I think Darragh is on the money with a lot of this and a point I made afterwards was the strong wall Dublin had across the pitch Kilkenny, McCarthy, Fenton, Small, Howard. And they were hitting very hard but fair. We lacked an abrasive presence in there - while Adrian Spillane btings that, he doesn't have the football of any of the above.
On Clifford shooting to excess, I think it is probably down to two things. The first is because he knows he has the ability but the second is because all the other 5 forwards alongside him are inconsistent and low scorers from play. Paul averages 1 or 2 scores, O'Brien and Paudie the same probably while Seanie can vary from 1 to 4 scores from play. Dara rarrly scores. There may be exceptions but the above has been a known and worrying trend. And frankly the lack of consistent scoring by other forwards from play is a real problem.
The more one considers things the more one feels Kerry put their eggs in two baskets on Sunday - not conceding a goal and David Clifford scoring 5 or more points from play. We were in control of the former until the second half abberation. Kerry came back to go 3 points up but Jack said it took a huge toll on the team and this showed in the last 15 when we lost control and composure. David had an off day with 3 or 4 efforts he would ordinarily score being missed - none of our other forwards ever looked like bridging that deficit.
3 of our subs made poor decisions leasing to - Spillanes bounce over the end line instead of fisting a point; Begley running into traffic and a turnover ball that led to Dublins point; and Breen with a high challenge for Rocks free. The composure of the Dubs and their subs was in marked contrast on the home straight.
|
|
|
Post by Annascaultilidie on Aug 2, 2023 17:30:14 GMT
I think Darragh is on the money with a lot of this and a point I made afterwards was the strong wall Dublin had across the pitch Kilkenny, McCarthy, Fenton, Small, Howard. And they were hitting very hard but fair. We lacked an abrasive presence in there - while Adrian Spillane btings that, he doesn't have the football of any of the above. On Clifford shooting to excess, I think it is probably down to two things. The first is because he knows he has the ability but the second is because all the other 5 forwards alongside him are inconsistent and low scorers from play. Paul averages 1 or 2 scores, O'Brien and Paudie the same probably while Seanie can vary from 1 to 4 scores from play. Dara rarrly scores. There may be exceptions but the above has been a known and worrying trend. And frankly the lack of consistent scoring by other forwards from play is a real problem. The more one considers things the more one feels Kerry put their eggs in two baskets on Sunday - not conceding a goal and David Clifford scoring 5 or more points from play. We were in control of the former until the second half abberation. Kerry came back to go 3 points up but Jack said it took a huge toll on the team and this showed in the last 15 when we lost control and composure. David had an off day with 3 or 4 efforts he would ordinarily score being missed - none of our other forwards ever looked like bridging that deficit. 3 of our subs made poor decisions leasing to - Spillanes bounce over the end line instead of fisting a point; Begley running into traffic and a turnover ball that led to Dublins point; and Breen with a high challenge for Rocks free. The composure of the Dubs and their subs was in marked contrast on the home straight. Regarding not conceding a goal, would you agree with me that this might have contributed to the lack of urgency in closing down Dublin shooters outside the D? Mind the house but not downtown?
|
|
|
Post by tralee58 on Aug 2, 2023 17:44:47 GMT
I think the issue isn't Croke Park the stadium, but the admin in Croke Park that appear to have rolled over to aid the neighbours in the city. I'd move the senior GAA administrators out to some random spot in the midlands and wait on when noticeable additional benefits start going to that county. I think that the current lifers in Croker are oblivious to the preferential treatment of its current county. That's the real problem. Yep 👍
|
|
|
Post by taggert on Aug 2, 2023 18:19:08 GMT
I think Darragh is on the money with a lot of this and a point I made afterwards was the strong wall Dublin had across the pitch Kilkenny, McCarthy, Fenton, Small, Howard. And they were hitting very hard but fair. We lacked an abrasive presence in there - while Adrian Spillane btings that, he doesn't have the football of any of the above. On Clifford shooting to excess, I think it is probably down to two things. The first is because he knows he has the ability but the second is because all the other 5 forwards alongside him are inconsistent and low scorers from play. Paul averages 1 or 2 scores, O'Brien and Paudie the same probably while Seanie can vary from 1 to 4 scores from play. Dara rarrly scores. There may be exceptions but the above has been a known and worrying trend. And frankly the lack of consistent scoring by other forwards from play is a real problem. The more one considers things the more one feels Kerry put their eggs in two baskets on Sunday - not conceding a goal and David Clifford scoring 5 or more points from play. We were in control of the former until the second half abberation. Kerry came back to go 3 points up but Jack said it took a huge toll on the team and this showed in the last 15 when we lost control and composure. David had an off day with 3 or 4 efforts he would ordinarily score being missed - none of our other forwards ever looked like bridging that deficit. 3 of our subs made poor decisions leasing to - Spillanes bounce over the end line instead of fisting a point; Begley running into traffic and a turnover ball that led to Dublins point; and Breen with a high challenge for Rocks free. The composure of the Dubs and their subs was in marked contrast on the home straight. Regarding not conceding a goal, would you agree with me that this might have contributed to the lack of urgency in closing down Dublin shooters outside the D? Mind the house but not downtown? Oh 100%. I think I said as much in an earlier post - Con, Costello scoreless from play and Basquel with 2 later scores from further out, evidence of that. Not unlike our structure v Derry when they shot and scored from distance against a "passive" Kerry. Why wouldn't Dublin have worked on doing the same. To be fair, we can't quench all fires but this is something I also mentioned regarding our in-game management - should we not have changed tack somewhat when the goal was scored? I guess we went three ahead and felt all was ok but they kicked their way back in front from distance under little to no pressure. Its a juggling act for sure and one we were lucky to escape with against Derry but sadly not this time. We should never have a game plan that relies on one forward scoring 5 or 6 from play.
|
|
|
Post by orangerhyme on Aug 2, 2023 18:42:49 GMT
I agree. He seems to get tunnel vision when he's on the ball and thinks he has to do something spectacular. It's important to take a second and assess options. He's not on social media and I hope he doesn't consume too much mainstream media as it won't help his game. Look David will hopefully learn from this. I called this out a few years ago and it was said I was anti David. Nothing could be further from the truth. I love David as a player and think he is the best I've ever seen. I picked him out to be a future star before he ever played Kerry minor but because of his brilliance sometimes he took too much on. If anyone watches 2020 nightmare game v Cork you will understand what I mean.David that eve had chances for handy points but went for goals and spectacular shots and it cost us in the end. I had many an arguement/debate with Kingdomboy on here and hoganstand about sometimes take the easy options or lay it off but Kingdomboy fair play to him said David s a maverick and let him at it. I argued he takes on very very low percentage shots sometimes but over time I realised he is the one player that us capable of scoring them. He scored a fab point outside the 45 v V Cork and for the few of us that travelled to Omagh David kicked one screamer of a point in first half that had the Tyrone crowd even clapping in awe. I have started coming around to Kingdomboys way of thinking while others now are thinking the other way. The facts are Yes sometimes he takes the wrong option but he is human. I was mad at David in 2020.Im not mad at him over Sunday. We would nt be there only for him. Sometimes victory masks errors and he had many v Tyrone too while being awesome v Derry Mayo Louth Clare etc. I think that Sunday will bring him on even more. I think he will learn more. I know we never get perfection and maybe I was looking for it but my favourite sport stars drive me crazy as I want more when I see them err. My favourite heavyweight boxer was Lennox Lewis and he used drive me crazy for being lazy at times. I told all my friend from the early days he will be champ and beat Mike Tyson but I wish I could take a few flaws away from him. Same with David. However I do think he is learning and even his tackling has improved no end. I genuinely think the big teams will dread David next Summer and Mick Fitz in particular if he hangs around. I hope David plays 3 or 4 league games not them all and take things easy. I posted a whole back that I've never ever ever seen a player in hurling or football being hyped up and spoken about so much before a final even Dessie and the Dubs(maybe method in their madness). The truth is he "smoked" Mick Fitz but his shooting was askew. Also if it was anyone else that did what he did Sunday most would say he had a great game. Mick Fitz did nt best him to one ball. Con Ó Callaghan has now been scoreless in two All ireland finals and he is a top player. Diarmuid Connolly (oozed class) and has been scoreless in 3 or 4 all ireland finals. David has been huge in all his finals. David is a gem in and off the pitch. He is a superstar and he is one of our own. Thank you David and nark my words "The BEST IS YET TO COME" He has no Sigerson next year, Fossa more than likely won't go far in Intermediate (no offense to Fossa but it's very competitive), so hopefully he can take time off in new year. There's no question about his talent or workrate or attitude or anything. The question is how to get the best out of him to give us the best chance of winning AIs. That's what everybody wants. I think he should use his teammates more for one-two passes in to space, or around on the loop. Messi could dribble past 3 or 4 players, but often just passed the ball off and looked for return into space. I think we're solid defensively now. We should work on attacking moves and patterns.
|
|
|
Post by kingdomgreenandgold on Aug 2, 2023 20:17:30 GMT
Anyone feeling any better yet? The disappointment and heartache is hard to shake off. Felt we were in such a good position compared to 19 and we left it behind us which makes it feel worse, and that we had the game in our grasp twice and let it slip. I’d almost rather if we had been bate with 10 minutes to go by a strong Dublin finish, but we handed it to them
|
|
|
Post by taggert on Aug 2, 2023 20:19:34 GMT
I'm just watching game again. You see more every time. On Geaney goal Clifford wrongfooted Fitzsimmons who expected Clifford to go on his left. Fitzsimmons did nt have any impact against Clifford in first half whatsoever. On Cons shot off the crossbar it originated from a free to Dublin in their own back line whick Kilkenny fisted it out.A free has to be kicked from the foot either from hands or ground but a handpass not a free. Would be a talking point of goal scored. If you can rewind also count the # of steps Con takes.....
|
|
|
Post by thehermit on Aug 2, 2023 21:13:05 GMT
Anyone feeling any better yet? The disappointment and heartache is hard to shake off. Felt we were in such a good position compared to 19 and we left it behind us which makes it feel worse, and that we had the game in our grasp twice and let it slip. I’d almost rather if we had been bate with 10 minutes to go by a strong Dublin finish, but we handed it to them As my father said to me walking out of the Hogan, it probably would have been better if Derry had beaten us
|
|
|
Post by orangerhyme on Aug 2, 2023 21:13:41 GMT
Anyone feeling any better yet? The disappointment and heartache is hard to shake off. Felt we were in such a good position compared to 19 and we left it behind us which makes it feel worse, and that we had the game in our grasp twice and let it slip. I’d almost rather if we had been bate with 10 minutes to go by a strong Dublin finish, but we handed it to them I still feel terrible. Like I'm grieving. This loss is one of the worst, maybe comparable to 2008, in that I wanted to get one over on a rival and felt we were good enough to beat them but we didn't play to our potential. I think the fact the game was played in July but it's rained every day has thrown my rhythm and energy. Apparently the Puffins on the Skelligs have left early. I might join them.
|
|
horsebox77
Fanatical Member
Our trees & mountains are silent ghosts, they hold wisdom and knowledge mankind has long forgotten.
Posts: 2,048
|
Post by horsebox77 on Aug 2, 2023 21:39:51 GMT
Anyone feeling any better yet? The disappointment and heartache is hard to shake off. Felt we were in such a good position compared to 19 and we left it behind us which makes it feel worse, and that we had the game in our grasp twice and let it slip. I’d almost rather if we had been bate with 10 minutes to go by a strong Dublin finish, but we handed it to them Ah ya, was back training and kicking ball tonight, was also back in Laune Rangers last night at the NK game, this along with club championship will focus the eye on player possibilities for next years league and McGrath Cup panel, earmarking players and see how they equip themselves in the county championship to gauge their capabilities has also been the best policy to get me over the hump. Being realistic, and grounding, I dropped my lads to the Tarbert Debs yesterday, seeing them all come home safely as opposed to the two young ladies up north, puts Sundays game very much in perspective for me... yes disappointing, yes gut wrenching and hard to swallow, but end of the day, it's only sport ... the tent will be open again next year, starting this weekend at the club championship
|
|
exiled
Senior Member
Posts: 319
|
Post by exiled on Aug 2, 2023 22:56:32 GMT
Has anyone who re-watched the game seen the stress/tension on Goughs face in the last few minutes. It seemed to me he was out on his feet and couldn't wait for it to be over. Hence not a second of additional time even though 4 stoppages during additional time
|
|
exiled
Senior Member
Posts: 319
|
Post by exiled on Aug 2, 2023 23:01:13 GMT
The olde adage about the home boxer comes to mind as regards the Dubs in Croker..you have to knock them out to get a draw. But in reality that's what drove us for years but now that we are in the MONEY times its the suits that rule.
|
|
|
Post by bishop on Aug 2, 2023 23:22:05 GMT
fair play to those looking back at the game, i couldnt and i never will. have seen a few momemts like the late misses with no Dublin player within an asses roar...its frustrating as it gets. Agreed, I would probably start welling up watching it back to be honest. The only time I ever brought myself to watch back a losing game was the 2011 final two years later and even then it was because my friend I was visiting twisted my arm to prove to me how much of a non free Cluxton's winning point was. Suffice to say I made sure I drank plenty of cans while watching it! Weather still atrocious, poetic I suppose. Thanks to Bishop for posting up Eamon's thoughts. Couldn't help think of Sylvia Plath's line after reading it; 'I talk to God but the sky is empty' - no divine interventions in sport or life. It would have been so wonderful to see the two Clifford boys raise Sam in unison in memory of their loss this summer. But the sky is empty or else God wears sky blue, given the luck they seem to always get just when they need it you'd seriously wonder!!! Very welcome Hermit. The Dubs certainly got over the line last Sunday. I just think that we seemed to lose our composure and assurance as a vital point in the game....we had weathered the storm after their goal, got the scores we needed to sew the seed of doubt back in Dublins mind, then just lost our composure a little by doing the wrong things (which, to be fair, happens the best of sportsmen). I would say that the rain was to blame for some of these decisions (Spillanes bounce etc), then just poor decision making for the others (Begley in to traffic, Tom skying the ball, Clifford taking a low % shot with Paudie in space). These lads might not make that number of unforced errors again in 2 or 3 games put together, it was just a pity that they all arrived in the same 15 minute period of an all-ireland final. And thats the killer. Also thought that, with Fitzsimons on yellow, we never tested his pulse much after that by isolating David (and Geaney) on the edge of the square ala Galway last year and go route one at times, especially with the amount of turnovers in the game with defences not readily set if we moved it quicker. One thing is for sure, they'll be back.
|
|
|
Post by Annascaultilidie on Aug 3, 2023 7:53:18 GMT
I have an irrational feeling that this Kerry team will in fact go on to do great things.
|
|
|
Post by glengael on Aug 3, 2023 8:54:17 GMT
As the second half progressed, I also felt Dublin were getting their scores that bit easier than Kerry. The Kerry ones took a much harder shift, going through loads of bodies to get into scoring positions. Okay Paudie Clifford kicked two super points in that period, but for all that effort, all that labour, it’s telling when the opposition then come down the field and kick a point almost at their leisure, with minimal fuss.
I agree with Darragh 100% on this. Dublin seemed to be able to almost saunter down and score when and from wherever they felt like it. Dispiriting for those of us towards sitting towards the Hill end of the Cusack. Every Kerry score seemed like a 3 part opera by contrast.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2023 9:13:50 GMT
Love em or loath em the Dubs are killers and the most intelligent footballers in the country, the likes Fitzsimons for example meant to be man marking Clifford still left him when there was danger elsewhere whilst getting the better of him at his age, Lee Gannon Taking out Shane Ryan was completely intentional anything to throw the opposition off. WIN AT ALL COSTS. on the flip side our half forwards and midfield look like a bunch of robots who are scared of their men and cant think for themselves weather its a lack of inexperience quality or bit of nastiness Kerry need to change something.
|
|
|
Post by john4 on Aug 3, 2023 9:30:58 GMT
As the second half progressed, I also felt Dublin were getting their scores that bit easier than Kerry. The Kerry ones took a much harder shift, going through loads of bodies to get into scoring positions. Okay Paudie Clifford kicked two super points in that period, but for all that effort, all that labour, it’s telling when the opposition then come down the field and kick a point almost at their leisure, with minimal fuss.I agree with Darragh 100% on this. Dublin seemed to be able to almost saunter down and score when and from wherever they felt like it. Dispiriting for those of us towards sitting towards the Hill end of the Cusack. Every Kerry score seemed like a 3 part opera by contrast. Haven't watched the match back and won't but my memory of the match is of Dublin full and half forwards aggressively chasing us down, getting hands on us around the middle of the field, doing enough to make any forward ball just that little bit more difficult. Incredible fitness levels to do this but that they had. In contrast, we seemed to retreat to our 45 and defend from there. We have more skillful, accurate kicking footballers than Dublin, but they've a harder working, more aggressive middle 8
|
|
|
Post by thehermit on Aug 3, 2023 10:10:51 GMT
I have an irrational feeling that this Kerry team will in fact go on to do great things. In fairness we did a clean sweep last year, McGrath, League, Munster and then won a brilliant All Ireland in a classic final, after a classic semi-final snatched by what will go down as one of the greatest moments in Kerry GAA history. Also there was no comparison between the atmosphere in that Dublin match last July and the one on Sunday. You could feel your hair moving from the noise vibrations from the Hill on that gloriously sunny day. Anyone that thinks Kerry's All Ireland last year is somehow tainted by being pipped on the line in another titanic battle in this year's decider is just a typical anti-Kerry begrudger. I've said it before, we were 6,7 points the better team than Dublin last year. They, as usual, got the lucky breaks to come back into it but the scoreline in the end massively flattered them. They had to get all the cavalry back this year and put everything into it and even then they just, just squeezed by us when the weather made it a total lottery. Play that game 10 times and Kerry would probably win it 6! Now maybe this is me on day 4 going through whatever stage of grief you get to by this stage but I'm confident - with some natural evolution and the uncovering of a few more starters - that Kerry will win 2,3 All Ireland's in the next 4-5 years. When you have a Davey and Seanie on your team everything is possible, we all know that. And in reality what is out there when you look at it: Dublin who are perfectly beatable is we play to our potential, Derry, Galway, Tyrone, Mayo?? Kerry on song would take any of them on any given Sunday. Alas its such a long wait now till the McGrath Cup all we can do for now is dream of better days to come.
|
|
|
Post by john4 on Aug 3, 2023 10:40:41 GMT
I have an irrational feeling that this Kerry team will in fact go on to do great things. In fairness we did a clean sweep last year, McGrath, League, Munster and then won a brilliant All Ireland in a classic final, after a classic semi-final snatched by what will go down as one of the greatest moments in Kerry GAA history. Also there was no comparison between the atmosphere in that Dublin match last July and the one on Sunday. You could feel your hair moving from the noise vibrations from the Hill on that gloriously sunny day. Anyone that thinks Kerry's All Ireland last year is somehow tainted by being pipped on the line in another titanic battle in this year's decider is just a typical anti-Kerry begrudger. I've said it before, we were 6,7 points the better team than Dublin last year. They, as usual, got the lucky breaks to come back into it but the scoreline in the end massively flattered them. They had to get all the cavalry back this year and put everything into it and even then they just, just squeezed by us when the weather made it a total lottery. Play that game 10 times and Kerry would probably win it 6! Now maybe this is me on day 4 going through whatever stage of grief you get to by this stage but I'm confident - with some natural evolution and the uncovering of a few more starters - that Kerry will win 2,3 All Ireland's in the next 4-5 years. When you have a Davey and Seanie on your team everything is possible, we all know that. And in reality what is out there when you look at it: Dublin who are perfectly beatable is we play to our potential, Derry, Galway, Tyrone, Mayo?? Kerry on song would take any of them on any given Sunday. Alas its such a long wait now till the McGrath Cup all we can do for now is dream of better days to come. Remember aswell that Dublin didn't play a division 1 team this year until Mayo in the QFinal, and Monaghan in the semifinal so they really only had to peak for July, and had all the signs of it.
|
|
|
Post by edgeofthesquare on Aug 3, 2023 11:04:27 GMT
As the second half progressed, I also felt Dublin were getting their scores that bit easier than Kerry. The Kerry ones took a much harder shift, going through loads of bodies to get into scoring positions. Okay Paudie Clifford kicked two super points in that period, but for all that effort, all that labour, it’s telling when the opposition then come down the field and kick a point almost at their leisure, with minimal fuss.I agree with Darragh 100% on this. Dublin seemed to be able to almost saunter down and score when and from wherever they felt like it. Dispiriting for those of us towards sitting towards the Hill end of the Cusack. Every Kerry score seemed like a 3 part opera by contrast. I felt our approach to the Dublin kick out contributed to this. It looked like we were trying to push up without fully committing to it, Shane Ryan was covering space and we’d Dublin forwards down the other end left unmarked yet Dublin were always able to get a short one away. It was very frustrating to look at, either fully push up and force them to go long or drop off and engage them at a certain point.
|
|