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Post by southward on Jul 25, 2024 9:22:31 GMT
Those calling for the return of Eamon Fitzmaurice might want to ponder on how we went backwards from 2015 Final to the nadir of 2018 (excluding the anomaly that was the 2017 League Final). Aside from matters on the pitch, I recall Fitzmaurice being quite disparaging towards Kerry supporters in the latter part of his tenure. At one point, he referred to us as "every Tom, Dick and Harry"...whose "opinions don't count". Now, big deal, I hear you say, you're not on the panel and your opinion really doesn't carry weight. Fair enough but you'd imagine any management team would at least pay lip service to relations with the fanbase and there's no need to be insulting at any rate. Worse still was his exit after the Super 8s in 2018. It was claimed he was standing down to protect players from alleged abuse by Kerry fans. I think he had a box at home with letters or something. This led to a media-led frenzy of ill-will towards Kerry supporters, animals was the least of it. However in an interview a few days later, Fitzmaurice let it slip that he had always planned to leave at the end of the season no matter what. He also admitted that no player had been bothered by anything. It all pointed to Kerry fans being thrown under the bus to deflect from a poor campaign. That's a hard one to get over in the context of any future return.
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Post by thehermit on Jul 25, 2024 22:47:26 GMT
Those calling for the return of Eamon Fitzmaurice might want to ponder on how we went backwards from 2015 Final to the nadir of 2018 (excluding the anomaly that was the 2017 League Final). Aside from matters on the pitch, I recall Fitzmaurice being quite disparaging towards Kerry supporters in the latter part of his tenure. At one point, he referred to us as "every Tom, Dick and Harry"...whose "opinions don't count". Now, big deal, I hear you say, you're not on the panel and your opinion really doesn't carry weight. Fair enough but you'd imagine any management team would at least pay lip service to relations with the fanbase and there's no need to be insulting at any rate. Worse still was his exit after the Super 8s in 2018. It was claimed he was standing down to protect players from alleged abuse by Kerry fans. I think he had a box at home with letters or something. This led to a media-led frenzy of ill-will towards Kerry supporters, animals was the least of it. However in an interview a few days later, Fitzmaurice let it slip that he had always planned to leave at the end of the season no matter what. He also admitted that no player had been bothered by anything. It all pointed to Kerry fans being thrown under the bus to deflect from a poor campaign. That's a hard one to get over in the context of any future return. All very valid analysis Southward. And it all comes back to the Elephant that seems to have suddenly/miraculously appeared in the room for some Kerrymen involved on the sideline over the last few years. And I going to give my opinion on that "Elephant" (which is another fine member of the ANIMAL kingdom) as someone who can count on one hand the number of Kerry championship games I've missed since 09 at least (outside Covid restrictions)* Longford, Pearse Park, 2009; Sligo, ASP 2009 (weekend job in UCD), Tyrone, Killarney 2012, Clare, Killarney 2016, Mayo, Croke Park 2022, Derry, Croke Park 2024 and FYI I was one of the 500 that got in for the Munster Final in 2021 (I can supply ticket/match program and/or photo evidence for anyone that doubts it ) - Ok so I've a six fingered hand but you get the drift. ANYWAY: Are Kerry supporters not the best at travelling during the Championship - YES Was it always that way - YES Why - Yep journey time, expense of Dublin etc and the fact we are so reliant on jobs from agri/tourism/service sector. BUT it is also that we except to be in finals so semi-finals are par for the course and are not going to get the mojo flowing unless its something special. Do we have good support overall - YES - look at the amount of us that go up and down the country for the likes of the League. I'd go to 5-6 League games home and away every year and we'd always be as numerous (if not more) on our travels than our opponents coming to Tralee/Killarney. AND (not to be rude) BUT if you were given the choice of going to Clones/Roscommon/Ballybofey/Castlebar v Tralee or Killarney for a weekend, I think Kerry supporters do a great job going away than the others coming down to enjoy the Kindgom. So Jack and Eamon, as Dara said lately, you know the gig. And as someone that spends so much money and gives up so many weekend traipsing after Kerry teams shut the F up!!! One final NB point, Kerry fans don't suffer fools gladly -, we don't accept mediocrity, we don't eulogise heroic defeats, we don't put nearly runs on pedestals. We are ANIMALS, we are savage critics after defeat, we are completely impossible to please and that is why our county has 38 football titles. Go to Mayo is you want to celebrate failure.
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Post by tralee58 on Jul 26, 2024 8:29:30 GMT
Haven’t visited here for a while folks but thought I’d post the following after reading some comments I honestly think sometimes people over analyse a loss .. especially the most winninest teams like Kerry. There was a the kick of a ball between Kerry being in the final and pages full of praise & hope instead of lament, recriminations & a multitude of ideas on how to “fix” the problem Sometimes it’s just someone else’s day Personally I’m all up for seeing a new(ish) team win the AI …. That goes for the Hurling as well. Next year will be here in a flash …. And as per usual Kerry will be a favourite to win it ….. and it takes the losses to make the wins all the sweeter Nice philosophical points. Kerry’s talented players Were stifled the team seemed to be playing with fear and lacking courage when the match intensified. That is nothing to do with it being another teams day. It natural to have a look closely. If any performers don’t perform and you have travelled paid good money and there has not been a performance you query it, natural. Beaten by an excellent team like Dubz at their best you accept it take it on the chin. Taking nothing away from Armagh wish them well but Kerry fans know they should be in that final Sunday.
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Post by Annascaultilidie on Aug 1, 2024 11:19:29 GMT
Oisín McConville said on a podcast that Armagh were ten points better than Kerry in the semi-final.
One for the dressing room wall.
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Post by shannonsider on Aug 1, 2024 12:06:54 GMT
Oisín McConville said on a podcast that Armagh were ten points better than Kerry in the semi-final. One for the dressing room wall. On BBC social or somewhere else Annascaul? That’s a ridiculous statement if true.
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Post by thehermit on Aug 1, 2024 12:28:58 GMT
What is it about the Ulster teams they just can't help themselves! Just like their selector's comments before the final. No humility at all despite having 36 titles less than the county they're speaking about.
Hopefully our paths cross in the knock out stages next summer. Wouldn't mind taking Armagh and Dublin on the way to title 39! (Hoping Down might be in our group too so we can end that ridiculous record).
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Post by Annascaultilidie on Aug 1, 2024 13:12:31 GMT
Oisín McConville said on a podcast that Armagh were ten points better than Kerry in the semi-final. One for the dressing room wall. On BBC social or somewhere else Annascaul? That’s a ridiculous statement if true. BBC Social. And he wasn't joking. I was surprised.
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Post by Annascaultilidie on Aug 1, 2024 13:13:15 GMT
What is it about the Ulster teams they just can't help themselves! Just like their selector's comments before the final. No humility at all despite having 36 titles less than the county they're speaking about. Hopefully our paths cross in the knock out stages next summer. Wouldn't mind taking Armagh and Dublin on the way to title 39! (Hoping Down might be in our group too so we can end that ridiculous record). I think this ten points thing is off the wall but agree with the selector.
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Post by southward on Aug 1, 2024 21:40:06 GMT
I couldn't care less what people say about Kerry. However, it'd be hard to take McConville seriously as a pundit if he's coming out with stuff like this. Even allowing for parochial exhuberance in the aftermath, that's a crazy take on the game.
Armagh rode their luck that day and profited from Kerry wastefulness. In fact, if we hadn't passed up 2-4 in the third quarter, having already been 5 up at the break, it's quite conceiveable that Kerry could have won the game by 10 or more. In the end, as in the final, it was Armagh's superior efficiency in front of the posts that won the day. But only just.
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Post by dc84 on Aug 2, 2024 8:06:59 GMT
I do love this stuff of this team was better by x more than another or for whole reason for playing a match is to determine who was the better team. Armagh were 2 points better than us this year and that is a fact !
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Post by tralee58 on Aug 2, 2024 9:34:06 GMT
Was chatting to a few Clare hurling fans before the hurling final in Dublin on Sunday and they just couldn’t believe how much Kerry have gone away from playing the Kerry way. They loved the Gooch, Donaghy, Tomas O’se etc. What is the identity of this current Kerry team? Kieran Donaghy I think would motivate that dressing room in 2025. I saw him below in Castleisland at the basketball over Xmas and he is just a leader in everyway. Agree 👍
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