horsebox77
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Our trees & mountains are silent ghosts, they hold wisdom and knowledge mankind has long forgotten.
Posts: 2,339
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Post by horsebox77 on Nov 18, 2024 22:22:54 GMT
Nicky Quaid gone for Limerick with ACL injury. Big chance for someone else to step up. Playing five a side soccer, John Kiely will not be impressed |
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Post by royalkerryfan on Nov 18, 2024 22:55:21 GMT
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Post by john4 on Nov 18, 2024 23:59:23 GMT
Really fells like the end of an era at this point, Fitzsimmons and Cluxton will probably drift away aswell. Lots of gaps to fill. Fenton was a massive talent |
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Post by ciarraimick on Nov 19, 2024 1:25:39 GMT
Really fells like the end of an era at this point, Fitzsimmons and Cluxton will probably drift away aswell. Lots of gaps to fill. Fenton was a massive talent Fenton imo was the greatest midfielder since Jacko.A truly brilliant player and the player every county feared.Dublin will still be a force but the fear is gone now.Fenton and James McCarthy probably the two greatest driving forces behind Dublins success. |
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horsebox77
Fanatical Member
Our trees & mountains are silent ghosts, they hold wisdom and knowledge mankind has long forgotten.
Posts: 2,339
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Post by horsebox77 on Nov 19, 2024 8:13:55 GMT
Just reading through his CV.. some record, unbeaten from 2015 to 2021.... never lost a Leinster Championship Match, serious talent and will be spoken of in the same breath as other great midfielders.
Serious void for the Dubs, three of the key players have been Cluxton and Fitzsimons are reported to be following Fenton and McCarthy... there will be a serious rebuild.
If Kilkenny, Howard or any of the Smalls, move west, Dessie will be under serious pressure.
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Post by royalkerryfan on Nov 19, 2024 8:32:45 GMT
Just reading through his CV.. some record, unbeaten from 2015 to 2021.... never lost a Leinster Championship Match, serious talent and will be spoken of in the same breath as other great midfielders. Serious void for the Dubs, three of the key players have been Cluxton and Fitzsimons are reported to be following Fenton and McCarthy... there will be a serious rebuild. If Kilkenny, Howard or any of the Smalls, move west, Dessie will be under serious pressure. Mannion as well apparently. |
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horsebox77
Fanatical Member
Our trees & mountains are silent ghosts, they hold wisdom and knowledge mankind has long forgotten.
Posts: 2,339
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Post by horsebox77 on Nov 19, 2024 9:46:45 GMT
Still, there is no one equipped to capitalize in Leinster, Meath, Kildare, Wexford, Westmeath are all languishing in the lower divisions and in freefall... the only team making any inroads or on an upward curve are Louth.
Still, from the great team, a lot are retiring together. It's easier for a team to replace a player through naturally evolving the panel, one or two in one or two out, as we learned in 1987, when a great team eventually hits the wall, mass exodus can be crippling. At the time Cork were well equipped to capitalize, as I said above, not many in Leinster can step in .
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Post by sullyschoice on Nov 19, 2024 12:47:38 GMT
The word around town is that both Smalls are going, as is Mannion, Jack Mc.
Didn't hear anything about Fitzsimons or Cluxton but would.presume they may go too.
That's potentially a lot of boots to fill.
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Post by playitfair on Nov 19, 2024 13:52:45 GMT
Really fells like the end of an era at this point, Fitzsimmons and Cluxton will probably drift away aswell. Lots of gaps to fill. Fenton was a massive talent Such an elegant footballer that always seemed to have so much time on the ball which he never wasted. A pleasure to watch him over the years. |
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Post by Ballydonoghoor on Nov 19, 2024 14:19:08 GMT
It goes in cycles, 'sporadic' was how Paul Galvin once termed it - my concern is that Kerry will hobble along as opposed to nailing Sam!
Still we have every chance, but so we had this year too!
Just as well the bit of fine weather shortened the auld winter!
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Post by dc84 on Nov 19, 2024 14:28:21 GMT
Great player game is lesser without him, dublin have a bit of a problem at mf now..
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Post by veteran on Nov 19, 2024 20:50:12 GMT
Best wishes to Brian Fenton on his retirement . Great footballer and great sportsman. However, don’t let anybody try to convince you he was superior to Jacko. Even allowing for my bias, Jacko was numero uno.
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Post by royalkerryfan on Nov 19, 2024 20:59:58 GMT
Dublin are in real bother now.
Two leaders gone and more to follow.
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Post by john4 on Nov 19, 2024 21:30:58 GMT
It goes in cycles, 'sporadic' was how Paul Galvin once termed it - my concern is that Kerry will hobble along as opposed to nailing Sam! Still we have every chance, but so we had this year too! Just as well the bit of fine weather shortened the auld winter! it does go in cycles definitely. There's usually years when there's maybe 2 or 3 teams a clear distance ahead of the rest, but right now next year's All Ireland is impossible to call for me. I see this as an era of "soft All Irelands". |
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Post by ciarraimick on Nov 19, 2024 21:31:32 GMT
Best wishes to Brian Fenton on his retirement . Great footballer and great sportsman. However, don’t let anybody try to convince you he was superior to Jacko. Even allowing for my bias, Jacko was numero uno. Agree totally but he is the best ive seen since Jacko.I only saw Mick O Connell once as an old player in 74 so for me Of i was picking the greatest team I have seen I would have Jacko and Fenton midfield. |
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Post by veteran on Nov 19, 2024 22:24:45 GMT
I have never believed in this concept of a “soft All-Ireland”. I do agree that at this remove next year’s All-Ireland does not have an obvious favourite. You could nominate Armagh, Derry , Donegal, Galway, Dublin , Kerry. Currently these teams look to be of equal merit. If one could make a case for any of those to be champions in 2025 , and I think you could, how could you conclude that the winners would have won a soft one if it transpires that it is going to be as competitive as it promises it to be.
The tact that there does not appear to be a standout team does not mean that next year’s title will be easily won. If fhere was such a thing as a soft All-Ireland any team in the land would win them. We all know a considerable number of teams have no chance of being victorious. Soft All-Irelands are a Joe Brolly invention even though of course 1993 was the hardest won of all!
P.S. In case any of our Dublin brethren are still tuning into this site I offer them consoling words re Brian Fenton’s exit. I wouldn’t bet my house against Brian featuring for Dublin again in 2025 or 2026.
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Post by hurlingman on Nov 19, 2024 22:34:39 GMT
It goes in cycles, 'sporadic' was how Paul Galvin once termed it - my concern is that Kerry will hobble along as opposed to nailing Sam! Still we have every chance, but so we had this year too! Just as well the bit of fine weather shortened the auld winter! it does go in cycles definitely. There's usually years when there's maybe 2 or 3 teams a clear distance ahead of the rest, but right now next year's All Ireland is impossible to call for me. I see this as an era of "soft All Irelands". Hopefully it will be. Seeing as it seems only Kerry win "soft All-Irelands" |
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Post by ciarraimick on Nov 20, 2024 0:27:05 GMT
I have never believed in this concept of a “soft All-Ireland”. I do agree that at this remove next year’s All-Ireland does not have an obvious favourite. You could nominate Armagh, Derry , Donegal, Galway, Dublin , Kerry. Currently these teams look to be of equal merit. If one could make a case for any of those to be champions in 2025 , and I think you could, how could you conclude that the winners would have won a soft one if it transpires that it is going to be as competitive as it promises it to be. The tact that there does not appear to be a standout team does not mean that next year’s title will be easily won. If fhere was such a thing as a soft All-Ireland any team in the land would win them. We all know a considerable number of teams have no chance of being victorious. Soft All-Irelands are a Joe Brolly invention even though of course 1993 was the hardest won of all! P.S. In case any of our Dublin brethren are still tuning into this site I offer them consoling words re Brian Fenton’s exit. I wouldn’t bet my house against Brian featuring for Dublin again in 2025 or 2026. Well Id disagree Vet.Some All Irelands have an easier path to victory than others.Its like for years many other counties reckoned if you beat Kerry it was a really special All Ireland. I do think there were some soft All Irelands years ago before the back door surfaced.I consider it a fairly soft All Ireland if you win it without beating a top 3 or 4 contender. I think Kerry s victory in 97 was soft enough but we were so elated at the time we did nt think about it.Mayo were the only big team we beat and altho they were in previous final the main contenders for the All Ireland were Meath Dublin Tyrone and Cork and we did nt have to face any of them.In 97 we beat Tipp Clare Cavan and Mayo.Great but soft enough. Likewise I think Dubs won a soft All Ireland in 2020 (again no backdoor due to covid).The main contenders in 2020 after Dublin were Kerry and Donegal but both slipped up meaning Dubs had a semi final v Cavan after the usual Leinster cakewalk before facing Mayo who were nt the same as the Mayo team from 2012 to 2017. Dubs will def be weaker with Fenton gone but next years title will be hard won cos as you ve already stated there are a cluster of teams that could win it.In fact next years title might be the hardest to win in years. |
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Post by veteran on Nov 20, 2024 10:22:36 GMT
Ciarraimick respectfully tells me that you need to beat one of the “top two or three contenders “ to avoid your All-Ireland win being labeled a soft one, citing 1997 as an example, saying we only beat Clare, Cavan , Mayo. What happened the top two or three contenders that year? Did they not enter the race ? Perhaps they did enter the race but were beaten by a superior force on a particular day who were subsequently beaten by Kerry. If the 1997 win was so soft one is left wondering why Clare ,Cavan , Mayo didn’t win it, not to mention the top two or three contenders.
I have heard this cant before from a winning team that beating Kerry on the way makes it extra special. It is code for saying we are extraordinary champions because of that fact. Interestingly, I have never heard the converse expressed. In other words , I have never heard a title winning team lament that their achievement was lessened by the fact that they didn’t beat Kerry on the way.
No , there are no soft All-Irelands . It particularly inks me when a Kerry supporter suggests that one of our All-Irelands was handy one. Leave that nonsense to the Kerry begrudgers . There are plenty of them out there.
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Post by Ard Mhacha on Nov 20, 2024 10:44:37 GMT
Best wishes to Brian Fenton on his retirement . Great footballer and great sportsman. However, don’t let anybody try to convince you he was superior to Jacko. Even allowing for my bias, Jacko was numero uno. Agree totally but he is the best ive seen since Jacko.I only saw Mick O Connell once as an old player in 74 so for me Of i was picking the greatest team I have seen I would have Jacko and Fenton midfield. I loved watching Jacko play. He had everything. Anthony Tohill was the same. A great player. Both way ahead of Fenton in my opinion. |
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Post by royalkerryfan on Nov 20, 2024 11:45:13 GMT
Ciarraimick respectfully tells me that you need to beat one of the “top two or three contenders “ to avoid your All-Ireland win being labeled a soft one, citing 1997 as an example, saying we only beat Clare, Cavan , Mayo. What happened the top two or three contenders that year? Did they not enter the race ? Perhaps they did enter the race but were beaten by a superior force on a particular day who were subsequently beaten by Kerry. If the 1997 win was so soft one is left wondering why Clare ,Cavan , Mayo didn’t win it, not to mention the top two or three contenders. I have heard this cant before from a winning team that beating Kerry on the way makes it extra special. It is code for saying we are extraordinary champions because of that fact. Interestingly, I have never heard the converse expressed. In other words , I have never heard a title winning team lament that their achievement was lessened by the fact that they didn’t beat Kerry on the way. No , there are no soft All-Irelands . It particularly inks me when a Kerry supporter suggests that one of our All-Irelands was handy one. Leave that nonsense to the Kerry begrudgers . There are plenty of them out there. Absolutely Vet it's absolute BS to suggest any all Ireland is soft. It's a Dublin dig that you often hear.. For the record Mayo 97 were a top team considering they lost the previous years final after a replay to a great Meath team. There's no soft All Irelands. |
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Post by ciarraimick on Nov 20, 2024 11:57:31 GMT
Ciarraimick respectfully tells me that you need to beat one of the “top two or three contenders “ to avoid your All-Ireland win being labeled a soft one, citing 1997 as an example, saying we only beat Clare, Cavan , Mayo. What happened the top two or three contenders that year? Did they not enter the race ? Perhaps they did enter the race but were beaten by a superior force on a particular day who were subsequently beaten by Kerry. If the 1997 win was so soft one is left wondering why Clare ,Cavan , Mayo didn’t win it, not to mention the top two or three contenders. I have heard this cant before from a winning team that beating Kerry on the way makes it extra special. It is code for saying we are extraordinary champions because of that fact. Interestingly, I have never heard the converse expressed. In other words , I have never heard a title winning team lament that their achievement was lessened by the fact that they didn’t beat Kerry on the way. No , there are no soft All-Irelands . It particularly inks me when a Kerry supporter suggests that one of our All-Irelands was handy one. Leave that nonsense to the Kerry begrudgers . There are plenty of them out there. With all due respect Vet,sometimes the road is made easier than others.Sure often on here posters complain some teams got an easier draw.In 97 Clare beat Cork in a shock with a late goal.Cork were All Ireland contenders.Clare were not.Likewise in 2020 we were contenders and Cork beat us by a late goal.Cork were never contenders. If you think beating Clare and Cavan to get to a final is as tough as beating Cork and Dublin to get to a final thats fine.I think 1997 was a very easier rpute than say 2000 where we beat Cork Armagh in a replay and Galway in a replay. This is just my view.You dont agree thatd fine! |
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Post by veteran on Nov 20, 2024 19:21:18 GMT
Somebody told me just now that Tralee CBS got an unmerciful hiding today in the Harty Cup. Don’t know the score. I wonder are they ready for that level of competition? A beating like that will not instil confidence for the next game. What do our hurling aficionados think? Good or bad idea?
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Post by powerhurl on Nov 20, 2024 20:24:45 GMT
They were beaten 3.29 to 0.09
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horsebox77
Fanatical Member
Our trees & mountains are silent ghosts, they hold wisdom and knowledge mankind has long forgotten.
Posts: 2,339
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Post by horsebox77 on Nov 21, 2024 21:33:09 GMT
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Post by Ballydonoghoor on Nov 24, 2024 20:57:06 GMT
It goes in cycles, 'sporadic' was how Paul Galvin once termed it - my concern is that Kerry will hobble along as opposed to nailing Sam! Still we have every chance, but so we had this year too! Just as well the bit of fine weather shortened the auld winter! it does go in cycles definitely. There's usually years when there's maybe 2 or 3 teams a clear distance ahead of the rest, but right now next year's All Ireland is impossible to call for me. I see this as an era of "soft All Irelands". Not so sure that this is inevitable though '24 would support it alright and not that we weren't there but the final wasn't so great. In the absence of hot favourites you'd feel that the overall quality of games would be higher, plenty of contentious games and no dead rubbers - evenly matched opponents always make for a high 'muse' rating, i.e. amusement, entertainment. Maybe what I am trying to say is that we can either enjoy watching a brilliant team blow their opponents away in a one sided game or have two average teams go down to the wire in a hammer and tongs encounter. Ah, no pleasing us; well unless it is us who are blowing everyone else away and in which case little else matters! BTW Vets take on Fenton is gas - Jacko was better but don't be surprised if our Brian comes back to the rescue; regarding the latter one it will be interesting to see if it is the end of an era? Not so long ago we wanted to split them up, ah maybe they will now merge with Louth! |
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Post by hurlingman on Nov 24, 2024 21:14:52 GMT
Cillian O'Connor has retired. To be honest I thought he'd been gone from them with a few years.
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Post by The16thMan on Nov 24, 2024 22:10:01 GMT
Cillian O'Connor has retired. To be honest I thought he'd been gone from them with a few years. Apparently he's just stepped away for 2025, leaving the door open for his return in 2026. He's only 32 so I would imagine he doesn't quiet see eye to eye with McStay. Possible we could see him back when the next management come in. |
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Post by royalkerryfan on Nov 24, 2024 23:02:50 GMT
Cillian O'Connor has retired. To be honest I thought he'd been gone from them with a few years. Apparently he's just stepped away for 2025, leaving the door open for his return in 2026. He's only 32 so I would imagine he doesn't quiet see eye to eye with McStay. Possible we could see him back when the next management come in. I read that online and thought that was such nonsense. Opting out at 32 is retirement because you aren't getting any better at 33. Given the potential rule changes it would have really suited him like Murphy. |
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Post by john4 on Nov 24, 2024 23:36:14 GMT
Cillian O'Connor has retired. To be honest I thought he'd been gone from them with a few years. Apparently he's just stepped away for 2025, leaving the door open for his return in 2026. He's only 32 so I would imagine he doesn't quiet see eye to eye with McStay. Possible we could see him back when the next management come in. it's possible yes, but I'd say he's done. He came on late in a few matches this year but he's now a good bit off the player he was |
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