All Ireland SFC SF: Dublin v Kerry

[Johnnyb]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news and all but here is the article:

"JOHN BANNON’S appointment as referee for the mouth-watering Dublin v Kerry All-Ireland SFC semi-final capped a great weekend for the Longford official following the birth of his second child.

Bannon, who took charge of the 1998 and 2002 All-Ireland finals, has been handed the plum tie at Croke Park on Sunday week and it marks another landmark fixture for Longford referees in 2007."

[Mickmack]

15 August 2007

Dubs can handle the hype, insists Casey

By Brendan O’Brien
PAUL CASEY insists the Dublin team is ready to deal with the hype surrounding their All-Ireland SFC semi-final clash against Kerry on Sunday week.


Since the magnificent clashes of the 1970s, this fixture has held a special place in the hearts of Gaelic football fans. This is the first time in 23 years that the pair have met at this stage of the campaign.

Kerry claimed a seven-points victory the last time they met in summer action back in 2004, and again three years previously in a memorable replayed encounter in Thurles.





But calling a winner in this latest meeting is far from easy.

Said Casey: “In 2004 we came through the back door and we weren’t expected to win.

“Everyone was looking forward to it last year, but they had to wait another 11 months for it to come around. There is going to be a lot of hype, but it’s up to ourselves to keep away from that.

“We have plenty to work on and to concentrate on to keep our minds off it. Everyone around the panel has plenty of experience of keeping away from this sort of thing.

“We’ll focus on the match and keep our feet on the ground, staying away from the build-up and all that goes with it.”

Though still rated as slight underdogs for the fixture with the bookmakers, the two quarter-finals last weekend have swung many neutrals towards the Dublin camp when it comes to predicting the outcome.

Dublin were impressive for all but 10 minutes of their tie against Derry while Kerry under-performed for all but 10 against Monaghan.

Agonisingly close to a first All-Ireland appearance in 11 years last season, there were few signs of progression in the Dublin team during this year’s league but that has all changed since the championship kicked into gear. “Every year we have gone back and, rather from starting from scratch, we have built on what we did the previous year. This is year three of three, we have built on the work we have done and we have made a few new additions to the panel.

“Ross (McConnell) came in at the beginning of last year on the back of a good Sigerson campaign and the other two (Bernard Brogan and Mark Vaughan) came up through the underage setup. We saw their progress in training, they’ve worked hard in training and they deserve everything they’re getting.”

The influx of the three youngsters isn’t the only reason for optimism as Dublin face Kerry.

When they fell to Mayo at the same stage last year, many pointed fingers at the relative ease of their progression up to then but that isn’t a factor this time.

“The whole campaign has been far better for us. The first two games against Meath were invaluable as the summer has progressed, not only for ourselves but for Meath also. Laois then asked a lot of questions of us in the Leinster final,’’ Casey reflects.

“We met a northern team who have knocked out some very good sides along the way as well. It’s great to have that experience of playing different teams and from different provinces. That should stand to us going into the next day.”

For Casey, any game against Kerry stands out on the fixture list. His father Mick hails from Portmagee, south of Cahirciveen and a stone’s throw from Valencia Island.

But there will be no divided loyalties in the household come the 26th.

“My dad is from Kerry but he is well and truly a Dub at this stage. I think we’ve converted him.

“It’s always an added dimension when Dublin play Kerry though, even in the National League.”

“Kerry have class all over the field, even with the subs they brought on (against Monaghan). Everybody is waiting for Kerry to come good and they did in fairness, just not in the way people might have expected them to. They produced the goods when it mattered. There was obviously a lot of rustiness there but they have time to work on things over the next few weeks.”

[Kingdomson]

There are an awful lot of spies in the camp, the Dubs have invaded us.

Oh’ well they won’t get any information here, sure they already know they’re best and favourites and rightly so too! There just unstoppable!

Sure we know we’re up against it – the Dubs are playing the best football in the country. There a really great, great, side, I hope we can stay close and make a game of it. I can’t see us marking the mighty Jayo or the Brogan’s for 70 minutes; sure they have to be hot favourites.

If any team ever deserved an All-Ireland it is this Dublin team, Ciaran Whelan is even better than Brian Mullins and Mark Vaughan is Jimmy Keavney mark II, and in Pillar we trust – his pure ice on the sideline.

The more I think about it, the more I think we’ll be hammered altogether. I mean like, in fairness most of our fellas are past their peak now and sure they’ve enough won, and some of our main stars have injuries. Anyway, all we can do is kick the ball in high – so my Dublin friends ye need not worry it is you're All-Ireland for the taking.

ps: To all the Dubs on this board the Kingdom salutes you!!!! ;D

[ardfertnarrie]

bigbrother said:

There are an awful lot of spies in the camp, the Dubs have invaded us.

Oh’ well they won’t get any information here, sure they already know they’re best and favourites and rightly so too! There just unstoppable!

Sure we know we’re up against it – the Dubs are playing the best football in the country. There a really great, great, side, I hope we can stay close and make a game of it. I can’t see us marking the mighty Jayo or the Brogan’s for 70 minutes; sure they have to be hot favourites.

If any team ever deserved an All-Ireland it is this Dublin team, Ciaran Whelan is even better than Brian Mullins and Mark Vaughan is Jimmy Keavney mark II, and in Pillar we trust – his pure ice on the sideline.

The more I think about it, the more I think we’ll be hammered altogether. I mean like, in fairness most of our fellas are past their peak now and sure they’ve enough won, and some of our main stars have injuries. Anyway, all we can do is kick the ball in high – so my Dublin friends ye need not worry it is you're All-Ireland for the taking.

ps: To all the Dubs on this board the Kingdom salutes you!!!! ;D

Ever hear of "Mocking is Catching"?

BTW, Dublin are favourites. They have everything to prove after last year, we don't.

[Kingdomson]

RE: ardfertnarie

Kerry have to try and prove it every year - thats why they've won 34.

[ardfertnarrie]

Thats true.

Lets hope that we are as hungry as the Dubs. I just hope that the prospect of back to back titles doesn't have any negative impact. I'm sure it won't, not against the old enemy.

[austinstacksabu]

Wasn't Bannon a linesman at the weekend?

[austinstacksabu]

gawksiegorman said:

Quick question : has anyone on the site been to Kerry training in recent weeks, or more particularly the backs and forwards element of it. One thing that struck me watching last Sunday was that the forwards didnt seem accustomed to ball that wasnt either being caught by star, or at least that wasnt breaking cleanly from him. If we remember a couple of years back to our first victory over Mayo......achieved by the simple realisation that Mayo had small forwards and that the backs wouldnt be used to any high ball being played in during practice...and consequently on All Ireland Day. My simple question is this : during practice did we "create" a situation where star didn't get /deliver clean ball...ie was a 6'4 lad put behind him and another in front (as the Farneys did on Sunday) so that the forwards would be accustomed to reacting to the consequences ?...........
I dont know the answer but from looking at the match and the kick around before hand, it seemed that Monaghan might have done to us what we did to Mayo...ie thought a bit outside the box and said what wouldn't we be used to in practice ?.....might the same have applied to Dara ?.....just a thought

Or was it that we weren't reading the situation on the pitch and on the sideline and continuing to send in poor ball which played into the Monaghan game plan?

[buck02]

The sideline have been slow in reacting to whats happening on the pitch as the Cussen move to midfield v Cork, the Galvin injury, the amount of time it took to change things up front the last day, the move of Finlay on Young and aiming their kickouts on him, the fact that our two tactics of kicking it in high or kicking it in higher werent working.

Perhaps they could do with somebody high up in the stand who can pass on info to one of the selectors. Or are they doing that already?

[Walter Mitty]

I did this before the Kerry Cork Munster final and it ended up with Kerry edging it!

Well, here it goes....i am assuming the same Dubs team and Sean Ban for Galvin..no other changes

Murphy vs Cluxton ------ Draw

Marc vs M Vaughan ------ Kerry
Tom Sullivan vs C Keaney, -------Dublin
Reidy vs J Sherlock, ----------Dublin

Young vs B Brogan; -------- Draw
Mahoney vs A Brogan, ------ Dublin
Tom Se vs C Moran, ---------Kerry

Scanlon O Se vs C Whelan, S Ryan; ----- Kerry

Sean Sullivan vs ;P Casey ------Dublin
Brosnan ,vs B Cullen, -----Dublin (altough past experiance suggest otherwise!)
Declan Sull vs B Cahill ------ Kerry

Gooch vs D Henry, ------- Kerry
Star vs R McConnell, ------ Kerry
MFR vs P Griffin; ------ Draw

Referree ----------- Dublin

Kerry 6
Dublin 6
Draw 3

Suggests a draw!

[Deleted]

Interesting Walter,

Would query a few of your decisions.
Main being Casey V Sean Sull. Casey is not playing well and I would expect whoever kerry have there to have the beating of Casey.
Midfield is a draw. Dara's lack of mobilty is worrying me a bit but I would never underestimate the man on the big occassion.

[thekingdom]

I'd agree.Any dubs Ive talked are very worried about there half back line especially casey and cullen. they are worried about McConnell as well but feel Dongahy will suit him. They all think Whelan will destroy Darragh.

[nv011956]

I'd be happy enough that Darragh will do the business the next day.Not sure about Whelan on the big stage.I won't be getting overly worried if we are 3/4 points down with 10 minutes to go the next day.
I watched the monaghan game again last night and I have to say it looked a bit better on second viewing.I felt Star did ok with the ball that went into him.On a few occassions I thought that Gooch and MFR were standing too close to him and therfore giving themselves little chance of winning the breaking ball.
The Dublin backs were marking the Derry forwards very loosely the last day.If they do that against the lads they'll be in trouble,but they know that I'm sure.That said we weren't too hot ourselves at the back at times and could have conceded another 1-2/1-3.
Is it my imagination or is Tom Sull after losing a bit of strength?I thought he was being pushed off the ball by his man a good bit the last day,maybe I'm seeing things!
I hope it's a dry pitch at least the next day.We could all do with a right good match,with hopefully the right result.

[micky35]

whelan will not destroy dara we all now dara spares his performances for d big occasion and remember ciaran is not young any more when did he last make a massive run and he will not compete in d air with dara . secondly he has only played against average midfielders this year

[Jo90]

Monaghan's midfielders would be considered as being average as well.

[len]

Just read in the evening herald that Galvin should be fit. Any other word? He'd want to be 100% 'cause ryan and co. won't spare him one bit! Wonder if the sideline had acted quicker would we be looking at this prediciment? Don't think so.

[mafi97]

I just LOVE the certainty with which some judgements are delivered on this Board.
"If Brosnan is not performing in the first 20 minutes etc etc" - "If MFR is not getting dug in in the first 20 minutes etc., etc."
What if in that first 20 minutes Brosnan is completely bypassed by the aerial onslaught from midfield - or if, as very often happens, the play just goes down different channels. It would be a different thing if his man was going on marauding runs with Brosnan just looking at his jet stream.
In my dim and distant youth, our "experts" response when 2 or 3 goals down was to take off the corner forward. Wonder have our "experts" changed.
Or is it more the spoiled child syndrome - in their mind's eye they see Brosnan cleaving through the opposition at speed before slotting home once again, and so they are continuously disappointed when he does'nt oblige in every game. Just how often did DJ Carey scorch through a defence before goaling. Once a season or 1.5 times every two seasons - or was it every match as your mind's eye (helped by a lazy Press) sugggests it to be.
Have you any idea of the awe in which Brosnan is held by the body of Inter-County players?? This is the ONLY measurement.
Perhaps Brosnan is off the peak of his game (I do seem to remember a beauty of a point) - I just dont know, because I am not an "expert".
In the 2001 Final, Galway were just on the point of taking off Padraig Joyce (Man of the Match).
In the 1998 Hurling Final, Offaly were on the point of taking off Brian Whelehan (Man of the Match).
So it is not an exact science - unless you are a George Hook. Maybe George is hiding behind some of the identities on this Board.
There is a type of consumer for whom instant gratification is too slow.
(BTW - I just happened to use Brosnan as a case in point. There are some other targets on this Board - both overt and covert.
"Yerra, I dont know if that ould Gooch is half as good as they make him out to be. Tis a long time since he scored two goals in a match".

[buck02]

mafi97 - i read with great interest your thoughts on both semi finals in the Kerry v Monaghan thread. From reading it theres no doubting your football knowledge - add into that you first saw Kerry win an all ireland in the early 1950's we're obviously looking at a man with a wealth of experience on football matters, especially in Kerry.

So I would be grateful if you could share YOUR opinion on the debate thats going on about Brosnan.

I can only assume that part of the tactic of hitting ball in early into our inside men if to get Eoin charging through to be on the receiving end of a pass in dangerous position. Why that didnt happen once (I think) against either Cork or Monaghan is a something I dont know. Thats my reading of it anyway. My opinion.

People give their opinions on this forum. I dont think many claim to be experts. If we were experts we'd be on the sideline in Croke Park, not in the stands.

[mafi97]

To buck02 re Brosnan.
I honestly dont know.
But I do know from within the Dublin camp (players) that Brosnan is held in the greatest esteem. You see there is no other centre-forward who has the POTENTIAL to go through a back line with the speed and control (soloing) of Brosnan. I dont think that there is another Brosnan out there, i.e. somebody with his particular mix. One way to look at this is to consider whether Paul Caffrey would prefer to have Brosnan starting or on the bench. Bryan Cullen was one of my favourite players and I constantly put the case for him to be sited at centre-back. I was wrong - if he is a centreback, he is an indulgent one - at his best doing a Beckanbauer when Dublin are six or seven point up. Not suggesting that Brosnan is a better player than Declan - but Caffrey would prefer to see Brosnan on the bench. Without question, Dublin will pull Moran back and pull Barry into Centreback (where he should be) and let Cullen sweep forward. This worked like a dream in the first half against Laois - but in the second half they all started "playing" and Laois started making clean inroads down the middle - in a game where they were being demolished. This is part of the Dublin enigma. Actually I dont really subscibe to this enigma notion. Dublin are just not well managed - too many cooks. They have sufficient players and oodles of experience - but create their own problems. I really rated Cullen and Griffin. Now I feel that Cullen has become extremely indulgent and while Griffin is very honest and has tons of speed, I feel that the edge is gone off his game this Summer. Of course he should really be wing back and given his head - his speed is unreal.
It is in that mix that I feel that Brosnan is well worth his place against Dublin. If there are to be changes in the half forward line, I would like to see Sean O'Sullivan on the left wing against Paul Casey. If Casey is on Galvin he will tough it out with him. But when somebody runs at him,he is all at sea. He is very honest player, but loses his bearings completley when turned. If we vary our forward play - we will beat Dublin. They will leave Griffin on Gooch as they will rely on his speed to negate Gooch's runs. If they worry about Brosnan's raids, they are paranoid about Gooch. All of which should allow us to isolate Donaghy on McConnell who I am sure is very good to his family - but he is not a fullback.

[martym]

what about Brosnans confidence at present ?. I think your analysis is fine but we need some one to win the ball first . In lasts years semi final and final we totally dominated the middle third in both games and set up the platform for victory . We need to get it right against the dubs or God help our fullback line

[Attacking Wing Back]

Watched the game on setanta again last night. I dont think i have ever seen the kerry team win less breaks in the last 3 or 4 years. While a lot of people seem to be of the opinion the tommy griffin should come in at centre back the next day i'd worry about the prospect of playing O'Mahony, O Se and Tom Sullivan in the full back line. Removing O Mahony from the half backline would leave a gaping hole at centre back an i wonder would tommy griffin be able to hld this line.
Also I think tommy isnt the fastest and tomas has lost a yard of pace. I just wonder with the pace the dublin forwards have would these two be able to come back to cover the breaks that will inevitablty happen from our full back line. Alos we will ose aidans ability to win the breaks from midfield. While tommy has a wealth of intercounty experience none of it is at centre back and with the constant rotation of the dublin forwards it sould be telling. That said however i think on sunday kerry shoud just go out and essentially play total football in the backline. Everyone picks up a man and follows him all over the field. Ideally marc will pick up brogan as he plays close to goal most of the time. Marc has the pce to stay with him and when he rotates to the centre forward area it will give marc a chance to attack. Tom should take vaughan. Tom is as tall as him and is not easily beaten, tom is agood ball player also and should have no fear tearing up the field. I thnk killian young should mark jayo as physically they are the same in stature and jayo plays nearly all his ball in the half forward line anyway so it would mae much adjustment for killian. I think mahony should in fact take conal keaney. O mahony has the physical power to match him but also dublin only really seem to play the high ball when hes around the house. Its under this high ball kerry are at their most vuerable so it would make sense to have o mahony back in the full back line when its coming in. I think tommy should take clly moran as hes only going to act as a sweeper anyway so it gives griffin a chance t play as a 3rd midifelder or an auxilarry full back if needed. Tom Se should jus pick up brogan junior and hit him hard and often. Brogam comes very deep sometimes and this wil either all tomas to attack or use his cuteness t act as a sweeper or pick up breaks.

Midfield should be left alone unless brosnan is played there to pick up ball from deep and attack cullen at speed. Also it will bring brosnan into the game as he wont be bypassed like the last day with high ball into the forwards. Forward should be the same unless brosnan moves out at which id put sheehna on and start him at full forward. Just to confuse the dubs. He could rotate in and out with star depending on the ball needed etc. Think kerry should play more low ball into the corners as dublin dont do a blanket defence. Or if sheehan starts play sheehan and star in thefull forward line and isolate them at some stage as dublinstruggle under high ball and they are two big men

[austinstacksabu]

Some good thoughts there AWB.....it's funny but I've heard similar rumblings coming from a few sectors at home since they watched the replay last night, with much the same calls on what to do for the Dublin game being made.

Good post.

[buck02]

The problem is that is Kerry go man-to-man with all the Dubs forwards as suggested by A.W.B. you could easily get a situation of Killian Young or Padraig Reidy being stood on the edge of the small square (in front of the hill probably) with Dublin having one of their famous "5 minute bursts" where they fire everything into attack.

What I would do is put Marc on Alan Brogan (Marc knows him well from college according to JOC) who is definately their most dangerous forward. At various times of the game Dublin will put Keaney, Sherlock & Vaughan full forward and I think Tom Sullivan should be able for those 3, with Keaney probably giving him the most problems due to his sheer strenght (although I must add in that if you put Keaney under any sort of pressure when kicking he's not accurate at all). I would actually put Killian Young man to man on the younger Brogan, I thought he played well the last day and feel he could cause problems for Tom Se if he ran at him. Otherthan that I wouldnt have anybody else going man to man with the Dublin forwards.

The rotation of forwards can cause confustion for backs for a minute or two, which can and does give the Dublin forwards to get a few quick fire scores. But it often causes too much confusion for their own lads too resulting in a lack of cohesion up front. Hopefully it'll be a case of the latter the nest day.

[Kingdomson]

Here is an article with a bit of wisdom from Pillar caffrey.

Pillar’s Dubs aim to reclaim past glories
16 August 2007

By Brendan O’Brien
IF anyone can appreciate how deep the Dublin-Kerry rivalry runs it is Paul Caffrey.
Brought up as one of seven siblings above a shop on Dorset Street in the 1970s, the Dublin manager lived literally a stone’s throw from Croke Park.

He was there when Kevin Heffernan’s team ended an 11-year search for Sam in 1974 and, by the time the green and gold crossed their paths the following year under Mick O’Dwyer, he was well and truly a foot solider of Heffo’s Army.

Great days, great memories but, as the current boss said yesterday, he won’t be sitting down to watch a rerun of the ‘77 semi-final any time soon.

Immersed in the history of it he might be, but interested in it he certainly isn’t. Not right now.

“Just thinking back to those days — six All-Ireland finals in a row — we thought it was going to be like this for life, winning three of them. For our dressing room now there’s a lot of young guys there and it means nothing to them. History is history and we’re trying to create our own piece.

“There will be a great build-up in terms of nostalgia and people talking about past games but the relevance to us is nil. There’s no All-Ireland champions in ‘07 (yet) but there are four teams left in it. We all have aspirations, claims, desires, wants and we’re one of those four.

“So, yeah, it’s great for those who remember the six All-Ireland finals in a row and the ‘77 semi-final, but we also remember the ‘84 and ‘85 games too and we don’t crow about them.”

That ‘77 encounter — widely talked of as being the greatest game played — stands as the last occasion Dublin won a championship encounter against their nemesis. Caffrey isn’t bothered by such statistics — or last weekend’s performances.

“It’s very important that we in Dublin — and I’m sure the three other teams — look forward and not back. Of course, you’re looking for areas where you didn’t play well and could have done better. There’s lots of areas that we could have done better but there’s also lots of areas that we are very happy with.

“We’ll be working hard on all those areas on the training field over the next two weeks. We’re eagerly looking forward to the semi-final and I’m particularly looking forward to this Dublin team playing well in the semi-final.”

Unlike last year, where they stepped up the challenge of Mayo after an all-too easy passage, Dublin have so far been tested by every opponent bar Offaly in the Leinster semi-final and Caffrey admits that will stand to them.

The double-header against Meath, in particular, has served them well, he believes although doubts persist. The emergence of Bernard Brogan and Mark Vaughan has silenced critics of Dublin’s attacking capabilities but the spotlight has merely switched to their defence. Though they were far more impressive against Derry than Kerry were against Monaghan, Dublin again displayed a brittleness by allowing Paddy Crozier’s side back into contention thanks to a poor final ten minutes.

Caffrey bats away such suggestions and he was unusually bullish yesterday about his team’s chances of playing an active part in the final.

“What I do know is that this Dublin team has trained and prepared very, very hard. They are in a good place and we did expect to be back in a semi-final. We are there and we expect two more games this year. The players and management expect us to play very well on August 26.”

The intensity of their training is, he says, “a sight to behold” and they approach the business end of the campaign with a clean bill of health, something Caffrey puts down to the team’s physical conditioning but to luck as well.

He tells a tale of one training session where Barry Cahill jumped up unopposed for a ball and tore his cruciate ligaments after twisting his knee and he realises misfortune could strike again.

“You have to take the luck when you have it. You could be five minutes into an All-Ireland semi-final and you could get a bad injury to one of your main players that changes things. These guys have really applied themselves well to the strength and conditioning work that they’ve done — and it’s not just over a period or one or two years, this goes back a number of years.

“A lot of them would be nearly at the peak this year, strength and conditioning-wise.”

[ardfertnarrie]

spailpin.blogspot.com/2007/08/dont-buy-snake-oil-at-dublin-v-kerry.html

Here's a great take on the Kerry-Dublin 'rivalry'.

Heres just a taster:

"This means that Dublin have two victories to show for seventy-three years of this so-called greatest rivalry in Gaelic football. That’s not a rivalry by any definition of the word – as baseball historian Richard Johnson said about the relationship between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, it’s only a rivalry if you consider the hammer and the nail to have a rivalry." ;D

[Jo90]

The Kerry backs should pay particular attention to Bernard Brogan. After all he did score the vital goal in the last semi-final between the teams!

[metro]

LOL thats right, its gonna be all eyes on cooper, he'll have to step up to the plate, its going to b a good tussle between him and griffin

[austinstacksabu]

Very bullish by Mr. Caffery.....I can't remember the last time I saw a fella so confident ahead of a big game like that. It certainly is refreshing but I can't understand how he is so confident.

Sure that'll only encourage the Kerry lads to prove him wrong.....

[metro]

YE was outta the BLUE alright, hes breaking the mould but will he end up with egg on his face.
dont know why hes confident dublin have struggled all year and havent come up against v1 decent team yet, save meath who missed their chances

[buck02]

The PR people behind the Dublin team (I wonder is it Monica Leech's Consultancy firm?) have an obvious plan up their sleeve. Check out the headline on the news section of www.gaa.ie. Pillar warning his players about how good Meath are!