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Post by MrRasherstoyou on Aug 12, 2007 8:32:07 GMT
A good win, the lads were very nervous today, alot of basic errors that wont happen the next day. Also they showed the effects of no game for 4 weeks, and probable over-training. Thought Derry played very well, they knocked over some great points, even in the last few minutes, the sort of long-range scores even from tight angles that Dublin dont have the ability to do Also Derry were physical, big, and marked very tight - on several occasions Dublin forwards with good possession had the ball knocked away. Derry were still running & powerful right to the very end - Dublin were struggling, and the lack of score in the last 15-20 minutes shows that, while Derry scored 4 points. I believe Dublin will be much sharper & last the pace much better next time out for the benefit of having had this game Very worrying signs for Dublin: Griffin was way too far off his man, Henno struggled against a big strong forward; Ross doesnt command the backlines, leading to uncertainty & hesitancy all round - and all his time & effort the next day will be filled with the monumental task of Star Donaghy. Can Dr Bill Cullen stop the flow of possession that runs through the centre of Dublin's halback line? And at the same time can he get forward for scores, as he is the only player apart from Keaney who can kick big points for Dublin.......
Thought Catser Cahill played well, and he will be hugely important the next day, he needs to be man-of-the-match defensively & carrying the ball forward & distributing it for Dublin to have any chance of beating Kerry.
Midfield: Cleaned out in the last 20-25 minutes. Whelo seemed to struggle after a knock, but Derry swamped the mid and where was Dublin's answer? Often two to three Derry lads going for the ball with just Whelo for Dublin - Collie Moran should be in there helping out, he's a big lad. The Rhynos contribution to winning ball was negligble all day - he needs to be a raging bull again, like last year, and his distribution & lack of scoring ability are weaknesses. In an ideal world we would have an experienced full-back & Ross McConnell would be in mid-field, Ryan at half-back instead of Casey.
Up front, I feel that Keaney needs to have a huge game the next day. B Brogan - looks the real deal. Mossie Quinn needs to come back in, he is better at winning ball & taking scores than Jayo. Vince Vaughan needs to take more responsibility from play up front - I admire his work ethic around the field, but he's a big strong lad, he needs to win possession up front & hold it & lay off. If that means not busting a gut chasing out-rushing defenders all over the palce, then so be it. Dublin will need the long ball against Kerry, & he & keaney & A Brogan & Quinn are all good ball-winners I would be thinking about Bonner coming in also, as a hard ball-carrier. Moran would go into the half-backs in place of Casey, and that would stregthen that area alot also. Then again I've been screaming that for months...........
Overall, just delighted to be through, and all the pressure now on Kerry for a change. There will be massive build up & fun around a Dubs-Kerry semifinal, pity it's only 2 weeks, 3 would be ideal. The atmosphere will be incredible. Some great 1:1 clashes await, with Dara O'Se-Whelo being likely the pick. Shane Ryan needs to be our Paul Galvin the next day, expect a few physicals between those two.......Barry Cahill needs to be our Aidan O'Mahoney. Brian Cullen needs to be our Pony, our Tomas O'Se Does the Dublin defence, midfield, half-forwards have the meanness, the hardness to match Kerry's mean, hard, battle-winning players? It's a big question An interesting factor will be the other semi - depending which of Cork & Meath win will have a major affect on the added incentive of Dublin & Kerry to get to the final
Still, overall, I cant wait, it's a game I've waited a long time to see, since 2001 (I dont count 2004, as we were in disarray by then) - this is the best of what Dublin can do with this team & management, and hopefully after today it will be up against a great Kerry team, in Croker. Will that strangely comfortable win for Kerry in Parnell Park in the spring be significant should the semi-final go to the wire?
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Post by Mickmack on Aug 12, 2007 8:52:53 GMT
Good post rashers.
What did you make of the substitutions by Dublin?
Dublin didnt look like all ireland champions against Derry but as you say the long lay off may have been a factor.
Still........ when that period in the game arrived when one or other was going to take command of the game......... it was Dublin who did it...... as they have done in all their matches so far this year.
You dont have to be perfect to win it.............
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Post by kerrygold on Aug 12, 2007 9:09:06 GMT
Good post rashers,i always admire and repect your accurate and honest opionions on games,well said,hopefully we can complete the dream semi final later today.
ps.i told you bernard brogan was the real deal earlier in the year didnt i ,when he wasnt even on the dublin team,i only saw him play once in a leinster u21 final v kildare on the tv.
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on Aug 12, 2007 10:06:25 GMT
Good post rashers. What did you make of the substitutions by Dublin? Dublin didnt look like all ireland champions against Derry but as you say the long lay off may have been a factor. Still........ when that period in the game arrived when one or other was going to take command of the game......... it was Dublin who did it...... as they have done in all their matches so far this year. You dont have to be perfect to win it............. Cheers Mick, we all felt that again Pillar is too slow/indecisive. But we all know his policy - to give players every chance to step up to the challenge, and not haul them off at the sign of weakness. On the other hand, there is the question, where are the replacements? Nobody for Ross, unless Paddy Christ makes a miraculous resurrection; many of us would have had Shaughnessy in for Griffin yesterday, and possibly move Casey back to swap with Henry. At mid I would have brought on Magee or O'Mahony when it became clear that Whelo was struggling, either for him or for Ryan. We need 3 lads in the middle, I personally would like to see Moran in there, but I dont get any support for that view I agree, Dublin are in control of all the games, that's a hopeful sign for us, but we havent faced the best opposition yet. Still, assuming it's Kerry, I think that Dublin will benefit alot from being underdogs, and no matter what you try to say between now & then, Kerry will be very warm favourites
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on Aug 12, 2007 10:09:08 GMT
Good post rashers,i always admire and repect your accurate and honest opionions on games,well said,hopefully we can complete the dream semi final later today. ps.i told you bernard brogan was the real deal earlier in the year didnt i ,when he wasnt even on the dublin team,i only saw him play once in a leinster u21 final v kildare on the tv. Thanks KG, and I can say ditto for you. Jaysus, what's all this mutual respect? There wont be much of that over the next two weeks, or.............. You did indeed spot the junior Brogan. I can also take a small POTB from having suggested earlier in the year that it didnt bother me he wasnt in the team during the League, that he would be just right to spring in the Championship. Still, it's fortunate for us to discover him this year, along with a free-taker
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on Aug 12, 2007 10:33:49 GMT
PS Good luck today, nothing against Monaghan, but it has to be a Dubs-Kerry showdown at the Croker Corral ;D
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Post by sullyschoice on Aug 12, 2007 21:28:48 GMT
Rashers I was talking to the trainer of Oliver Plunketts about 18 months ago and he told me that Bernard Brogan was going to be the real deal..great on the ball and better at taking scores than Alan. I thought Bernard really came of age yesterday, super stuff.
Dubs made it a bit hard for themselves in the end, should have been out of sight by then.
At halftime today in the Kerry game they had games of rounders on the hallowed turf. What next, cricket. Better surface than Dalymount
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Post by Mickmack on Aug 12, 2007 23:00:06 GMT
Has Dermot Connolly been dropped from the squad because he wouldnt forego a chance to win an all ireland u21 hurling medal
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on Aug 13, 2007 23:17:11 GMT
Has Dermot Connolly been dropped from the squad because he wouldnt forego a chance to win an all ireland u21 hurling medal Something like that. I have said all along that he would be a great asset, despite his inexperience and somewhat casual approach, he has no fear, and can distribute the ball and make space like no other on this team. Opponents fear him, you can see how they stand off.
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on Aug 13, 2007 23:19:23 GMT
and all the pressure now on Kerry for a change. I'm not so sure about that! So far, every pundit I've seen has predicted Kerry have too many flaws to iron out, and Dublin will open the defense up. The pressure is most definitely on the Dubs! I think the result of this weekend will add to the hype in one or the other camp - if Meath win as I think they will, then the Dub press will go mad on a Meath-Dub All-Ireland final. I meant the pressure was all on Kerry to beat Monaghan and get through to play Dublin, where before it had often been on us! In one way I would be delighted to see Meath in the final, as it would be a great incentive to our lads. But in another way, it would totally sicken me to see them do better than us this year
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Post by buck02 on Aug 14, 2007 8:52:54 GMT
Can anybody confirm what connection Aidan Mangan has with Dublin. Because he gave them absolutely everything on Saturday. Dublin got two points in the first half courtesy of his decisions, one where Whelan picked the ball off the ground and the other where he blew the Derry guy for two hops, when the first "hop" was him robbing the Dubs of posession.
Maybe Tom Humpries has him on commission for every one of the Kerry v Dublin books thats sold over the next two weeks!!!
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Post by Mickmack on Aug 14, 2007 18:42:19 GMT
Hope Aidan Mangan has the backbone for the Colloseum that will be Croke Park in saturday........... a lot of big calls have gone Dublins way in Croke Park so far this year ............... especially "square ball goals". Buck........ you cant say i didnt warn you....... Did any of ye read the piece in mondays examiner by the lad who captained Galway in 1998........ name escapes me now......... He says that refs are afraid to give calls against dublin in croke park. If it was dublin that scored that goal into the hill on sunday instead of Kerry would it have been disallowed........... it wouldnt. And John Bannon is the ref the next day..................
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Post by kerrygold on Aug 14, 2007 18:47:46 GMT
Ray slike was the captain in question from '98,a very lucky guy,he captained his club to the all-ireland club final on paddys day and in september of the same year captained galway to the senior all-ireland final,what a double honour in the same year.
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Post by Mickmack on Aug 14, 2007 19:35:14 GMT
By Martin Breheny Monday August 13 2007
WHEN veteran war horses emerge in unison to announce the arrival of a new stable star, it’s best to check with the trainer and the head lad.
Dublin awoke yesterday to jangling endorsements from, among others, Paidi O Se, Liam Hayes and Colm O’Rourke, a trio who were so fiercely impressed by the win over Derry that they took off on giddy solo runs, informing the Blue Boys that they had finally received planning permission to build a mansion on the promised land.
O Se was “confidently predicting that Dublin’s name is on the Sam Maguire Cup for 2007”. Hayes asserted that Dublin were “10 per cent better than last year” and also declared that “it will take something exceptional to knock this team off its stride”.
O’Rourke, the most cautious of the trio, outlined some Dublin deficiencies, but tempered them with a prediction “that if Dublin ever learn to play for the last 10 minutes of a big game, they will skate home”.
Back in the stable, the trainer and head lad were ignoring the glowing whispers.
Paul Caffrey spoke of the need for improvement while Colin Moran noted that Dublin were now back at the same fence where they fell last year, only this time they hoped to remain foot-perfect.
The reality is that either a glowing report or a negative appraisal of Dublin's performance is half-wrong and halfright.
They were excellent in phases, like when they scattered the sandcastle Derry had playfully built in the first 10 minutes and for 25 minutes of the second half which Dublin won 8-3.
But what of the sluggishness of the first and last 10 minutes, a joint period they lost 9-2?
And what if Eoin and Paddy Bradley had deployed poise not power with three goal chances?
Eoin’s double miss in the third quarter really was inexcusable. Stephen Cluxton may very well be the best goalkeeper in the game which makes it all the more imperative for finishers to apply a slick touch.
Bradley’s attempts were of the hit-and-hope variety, ignoring the indisputable law of physics that it’s impossible to drive a ball straight through a body.
Paddy’s late grab for salvation was diverted to safety by a courageous dive from Barry Cahill, but it was made easy for him by the predictability of the shot. Contrast it with Peter Canavan’s goal against Kerry in the 2005 All-Ireland and you have a clear explanation why Derry remain no more than decent journey-men fighters who can’t step up when the big belts are at stake.
It may seem unfair to blame Paddy Bradley for anything, given that he kicked five points from play and was the best forward on view, but it’s a harsh world at this level and the truth is that he had a good chance to level the tie and failed.
The number of goal chances created by Derry will leave the Dublin strategists thumbing their defensive clipboards.
Cluxton’s shot-stopping expertise is a marvellous asset, but he would prefer less eye-toeye contact with marauding snipers.
Dublin had some goal chances too, but failed to see any home and with the points meter busily clicking up through the numbers, it didn’t matter.
Jason Sherlock had one of his better days, but still left Dublin supporters pining for the Jayo of 1995 whose teenage nose sniffed goals all the time. Back then, he rode high on the thrill of the stock market, blanking his mind to the possibility of a crash; nowadays, he deposits in the Post Office.
It’s safe and secure, but the return isn’t as high. For all that, he remains a seriously competitive figure and with the Brogans buzzing around him, Conal Keaney capable of a whole lot more than he delivered on Saturday,
Mark Vaughan making longrange frees and ’45s look like tap-overs and Colin Moran bringing his busy lifestyle to bear in various sectors, Dublin have an impressive attack which has registered 35 scores in their last two games.
Most important of all, they have pace and if Ciaran Whelan and Shane Ryan can keep the production lines clear from midfield the chances will continue to flow.
Some of Whelan’s fetching was absolutely spectacular — indeed his demeanour all season speaks of a man who is carefully working out the Lotto numbers for a hit on the big September jackpot.
Dublin have four numbers in place after the wins over Meath, Offaly, Laois and Derry and, if everything goes to plan the sixth — and final — number will come to them in a flash of inspiration on September 16.
Still, as every Lotto player knows, the last two numbers are the most difficult of all to get right.
Still, it’s nice for Dublin to have four up and a full two weeks to contemplate their options for a fifth.
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Post by MrRasherstoyou on Aug 14, 2007 23:08:12 GMT
Can anybody confirm what connection Aidan Mangan has with Dublin. Because he gave them absolutely everything on Saturday. Dublin got two points in the first half courtesy of his decisions, one where Whelan picked the ball off the ground and the other where he blew the Derry guy for two hops, when the first "hop" was him robbing the Dubs of posession. Maybe Tom Humpries has him on commission for every one of the Kerry v Dublin books thats sold over the next two weeks!!! Yis obviously werent watching for the final 25 minutes, or do yis only notice the frees given to one team?
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Post by buck02 on Aug 15, 2007 10:12:53 GMT
Yis obviously werent watching for the final 25 minutes, or do yis only notice the frees given to one team? Well Rashers when your team is playing badly (in the last 15 mins in ye're case the last day) you tend to blame the ref during these periods of play. I was an objective observer of this game and I'll stick with that my assertion of Mangan. May I remind folk that this was the same guy who sent of the Down player (McCartan??) v Tyrone in 03 for pushing the ball into the Tyrone guy.
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