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The more I think about it, the more I'm annoyed that Cillian O'Connor started today. Before throw in I said it'd be a madness call if he started because he clearly couldn't be ready.

But even more than that, James Horans biggest and arguably only quality is that he brings through young players very well. So today he could've given Orme or Carney an opportunity and live or die by the outcome.

But no COC is back so he starts. He now knows he doesn't need to up his game at all because he's an automatic starter. He wasn't fit today, he contributed nothing, and took frees off our best forward because he is who he is.

He could've started a young player today and if it didn't work you have a fired up COC coming off the bench to earn his place. But instead COC is ineffective and you have no options off the bench.

One of the main things I can't get over is the 45s. He can't take them, whatever about the frees he kicked the easy ones and missed the big one but whatever he's kicked enough frees to earn a bit of leeway there. But he can't take 45s, he probably hasn't kicked one in 10 years. It would be okay if the frees were split between him and ROD based on ability. But COC has to take everything.

He'll start the next day. He knows that. So why push that extra yard?

What was McLaughlin booked for?

If that's not a black card then we can go home because the ref doesn't understand the basic rules of the game

6 points at half time, but not the worst given that we're missing half the team. Could be a lot closer if we'd taken some chances

No

Eoghan McLaughlin not on bench I don't think.

Oisín Mullin out, Rory Brickenden in.

If Kerry don't win today they can forget about this Summer.

A loss would probably benefit Kerry more than a win.
Trashing Tyrone and 5 other teams last year was no benefit to Kerry when it came to their first real Championship test.
If Kerry can get some fluidity in attack and get some game time for some of the players recently back from injury such as Gavin White, it would be a big positive.

I don't know about that, if they keep losing on these occasions it'll start to become a psychological weight

Massive game for Kerry imo, far more so than Mayo. It's time for the golden boys to start delivering. And it's actually a few years since Kerry have gone to croke park and beaten mayo, last time was 2011 technically. Whereas if mayo go out and hold there on then whatever, Kerry were favourites anyway and we move straight onto galway in a few weeks time.

I'm not sure it matters that much for either team. Both have won League finals in recent years and have still regularly fallen short when it's counted.

It's not the be all and end all but I think it wouldn't be good psychologically for Kerry to lose to Mayo in Croke Park again

Massive game for Kerry imo, far more so than Mayo. It's time for the golden boys to start delivering. And it's actually a few years since Kerry have gone to croke park and beaten mayo, last time was 2011 technically. Whereas if mayo go out and hold there on then whatever, Kerry were favourites anyway and we move straight onto galway in a few weeks time.

Full Time

Meath 2-11
Derry 1-16

Couldn't get it back in our favour. Battled well but didn't have enough in midfield and defense ultimately.

Well done Derry

Watching Sunday game there, seen something at the end but didn't properly see what happened. The ball was played back to the Meath goalkeeper and because he touched it a free in was given. They were saying he should've let it go for a 45 which makes sense. But what was the circumstances in which the keeper touching the ball equated to a free in?

I feel like when the dust settles we could be talking about David Clifford in the "best xv never to win an all Ireland" discussion

I would be shocked if Clifford retires without an All Ireland in all honesty.
With the talent they have coming through it's a matter of time.
Could well be 2022.

Saying this Kerry team need to improve defensively is like saying mayo need to improve at not f**king up in all Ireland finals. They've had the same problem every year, and they haven't improved this year, there's no sign they will

Jack O'Connor has a habit of winning the All-Ireland for Kerry the year after Tyrone won it. Kerry have a lot of improvement required in defence if they are to land Sam this year though.

It's coming every year, they don't have it in them to do it

I feel like when the dust settles we could be talking about David Clifford in the "best xv never to win an all Ireland" discussion

Bollox. Fair play to Kilcoo.