Messages

HS is an entirely different proposition in every sense. My comments extend to here. I can't think of anything constructive I could say about that site, or anything honest that wouldn't get me into trouble.

Sligonian, no doubt you'll be calling by. Why should your anonymity be an issue. Surely if you have an opinion, it is worth expressing. Most of us know who each other are. If folk can only comment behind a psuedenom, then maybe they should be elsewhere

I look forward to revisiting this conversation in about 40 weeks from now

Hmmm - must be December, and it's snowing

Murphy delivered - not likeable but delivered.

Personally don't know any of the three as administrators so can't commenty but had heard it said that Queenan was in the mix again? Wouldn't be in favour but heard it said?

Sligonian, don't visistr the board that often but man you are wayyy off the mark on a number of counts here. Meath people are embarrassed by the concept of being regarded as physical. Meath teams of the past were - not these babies. They might have a few long fellas but not strong. Maybe Banty will fix that but they're soft at the core in the eyes of Meath people whpo feel they have a long way to go.  Kildare play at a high tempo and play through the ball which I agree Sligo don't do... but they are not particularly strong - well conditioned yes but that is a different thing.

As for the point about starting slowly, well frankly that is not worth debating. The ONLY way that this Sligo team will maintain its progress is by making sure it stays in Div 2. so that it is guaranteed a decent standard of football in every game that it plays over a period of years - not a few weeks over the summer.  If they don't get a good start, that is in serious question - look at TYrone and Derry last year if you need guiodance and I shouldn't even mention Westmeath... Fine, the league fianl might be overcooking expectations but if they don't start with that ambition, they will have problems. I would completely agree re finding a CHB - which is the biggest by far of our problems - there are options elsewhere but believe me, from experience, 2011 is ALL about the league. Winning Connaught and then looking towards 2012 in Div 3 is failure.

Sligonian - neither Meath nor Kildare would be regarded as physical teams.  Kildare play at a decent tempo but Meath are eminently beatable on any pitch. Sligo have started the last two league campoaigns slowly - something that they need to correct this time out.

I agree with Ross4life thet that last game against Kildare could be critical but I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it ended up as a shoot out for a promotion and League final place

Westie - congrats to yer ladies. Rem being in Downhill for yer dinner dance in '98 and think they were just taking off then... must have been a frustrating time since then?

[He certainly can't be any worse than what we've witnessed over the last 4 years]

Unbelievable opprobrium being heaped on Lyons, it would have been ludicrous to go down the road of Maughan again, that well has been drained enough. Lyons deserves his chance, his record is far from atrocious and he does have a genuine passion for Mayo.  He certainly can't be any worse than what we've witnessed over the last 4 years. Good to see others from outside the county having a guffaw, they all have such stellar men in charge themselves.

Really?! Sorry but we're talking complete spoofer here

It was a better than average championship but a just about average final - certainly no more. It didn't feel like a one point game today and that says it all.

Really not a very good game or a particularly enjoyable event.  Cork were awful in the first half and Down had a good spell in the middle of it but the half time lead felt very fragile to me. Cork should have been well ahead after five minutes but I feared that their sloppiness in front of goal would cost them. Thought Down were more composed in possession at that stage and played some great football but overall it was ordianry. Cork's introduc tion of Murphy at HT was crucial. They won so they won't worry but I thought that he shopuld have been in 15 minutes before HT/ The timing of Canty's introduction worked a treat too and although his direct influence only lasted for about 15 / 20 minutes, it was central to the turnaround. The man that drove that turnaround thought has Kerrigan whose running forced the spaces and the chances.  For me the m-o-m is between him and O'Connor who really had Gordon in trouble from the first minute - if Cork had kept feeding him, they would have been comfortable a lot earlier.  There was a lot of talk on radio about Goulding. Yes he got 9 points but personally, I don't agree with giving m-o-m awards to guys who score frees - particulalry when they do little else. On the whole I can away from the day feeling rather underwhelmed... a friend declared that it was a victory for machismo over any semblance of football ability, and I tend to agree with him... with the caveat that there was some football played on both sides but nowhere near enough.

Finally, listened to Micheal O'M today as I watched, as I had done in the hurling final. I think he is wise in stepping down while folk see him as being ahead. He really does struggle to keep up with the game, continuously calls the players wrong and often is unable to explain what has happened when there is a break in play. Given that most listeners aren't actually watching the game, it may not make much difference, and maybe he was always missing things but he is right to go now...

70minutes of the championship to go and I have to say that I can hardly wait for Sunday's game. I see it as a major clash of styles that will make for a classic game.

At the beginning of the year I had a fancy for Down to be involved in the August shakeup but I then downgraded their chances after the cave in against Tyrone. By the time they got as far as the Kerry game though, my sense that they had something going for them was restored and they have justified that expectation.

They have a really well organised defence in whiuch there is no 'star' but a great work ethic and co-ordinated response. I read somewhere that they conceded less scores than any other team in the league and the meanness has continued through most of the championship. They have a big ball winning, space dominating midfield that can play ball as well and a mercurial set of forwards that combine flair and grind – tons of natural football and a well developed  variety in their game.  Clarke and Coulter are well celebrated but Poland's probing and Hughes' pace are equally vital while McCummiskey is delivering consistently – it is a good balance.

Cork too have many merits.  Their size and strenght is well documented and they have one of the most forceful half back lines around, all of whom are a threat in attack as well as strong under the ball.  Again big strong midfielders are four a plenty.  Up front, Cork has a different style of forward than Down – there is more stong running and individual rather than team plays.

Looking a bit more critically, I think that there are two ways to make inroads to the Down defence – either work the ball slowly up a wing and then switch flanks quickly as they play a 'last man around' defensive system that is vulnearable to that quick switch in the point of attack. That though does require that the Cork FF line raise their game and show and win their own ball – more than we have seen this year so far.  The other big play is to 'clear out' the centre of the Down defence and get Kelly and Kerrigan (and probabaly Sheehan and Walsh) coming onto ball  through that central corridor.

At the other end getting Clarke, Poland and Hughes on the ball and playing football going forward is the big challenge for Down. They will have an advantage on their defenders in terms of mobility and pace but will not want to be fighting for dirty ball themselves too often if they are to be available to cause damge to Cork with the ball.

For Cork to win, they have to deliver up front and combine to punch holes, get in between the Down backs and isolate them in one on ones rather than get swallowed up in a well balanced and practiced defence.  For Down to win they have to hold the ball and be patient as the chances will come if they make sure to have the ball to take them.

In getting this far, Tyrone apart, Down has progressed from game to game and have impressed most in the last three games. Question is have they played to their limits or is there more to come? Cork on the other hand have progressed without impressing once. There is potentially a lot more to come and if it does it could be irresistable. I backed Down to beat Kerry and think that they have the game to win an All Ireland but they have to maintain an already high standard. Cork have a lot of ground to make up. If they get it right, could blow anyone away.  I have a slight (very slight) preference for Down but I've backed the draw at 8/1

Any ideas? Smartarse answers welcome too.

PM Tony Fearon, he knows the way!!!!

yeah but was he not there last weekend?

and that's coming from a Meathman?!

In fairness, if you did an analysis like that on ANY game there would be 5 - 6 minutes injury time at the end