Dublin v Mayo, Croke Park, March 20 (or maybe the 18th, you wouldn't know).

Cosmo Kramer · March 20, 2011, 03:40:47 PM

Hard to believe that there are still 20 minutes to go in this - 4-10 to 3-11 is crazy scoring.

put-it-up-again · March 20, 2011, 03:41:05 PM

Freeman and Connolly are on fire.

Anyone know what they have scored individually at this stage? Missed the first few minutes

randomtask · March 20, 2011, 03:46:10 PM

Connolly oozes class, dublin look more and more impressive every time i see them.

Cosmo Kramer · March 20, 2011, 03:46:56 PM

Lost midfield badly in the last 10 minutes. Kilcullen hasn't added much since he came in.

imtommygunn · March 20, 2011, 03:47:26 PM

These two defenses need to seriously tighten up prior to the summer...

Connolly has class but is far too nonchalant / lazy for my liking.

GalwayBayBoy · March 20, 2011, 04:00:33 PM

Both sides could easily have conceded another 2 or 3 goals each.

INDIANA · March 20, 2011, 04:02:13 PM

Happy with the win.

But that wasnt real Gaelic Football. Utterly highlighted why neither side has won All-Irelands recently.

Good to watch but zero defending at either end.

mannix · March 20, 2011, 04:12:19 PM

Mayo need a fire lit under them before going out to warm up, but at least they are competitive.

RMDrive · March 20, 2011, 04:15:15 PM

What ever about anything else it was great entertainment. Thank you to both teams for an enjoyable afternoon in front of the box.

Cosmo Kramer · March 20, 2011, 04:16:45 PM

A lot of positives we can take from that, but only if we learn a few things as well.

Worrying that we started and finished another game poorly, maybe this time the bad finish was a case of having given up too much in getting back from 14 points down to level and a bit of bad luck with the two goal chances.

But yet another awful start today and that has to be looked at. We've played five league games and started badly in them all, even against Galway. Something is not right about that.

Our approach to playing in Croke Park needs to be looked at as well. Its not like any other stadium and you have to adapt to playing in it, and against the best teams we don't seem to deal with the open spaces well.

Freeman and Doherty offer some amount of potential up front though, we have to come up with an attacking game plan that gets the best out of them.

Dublin won't win an All-Ireland until they either change the way they play or else become able to play that way for 70 minutes solid. I don't think they've actually developed much at all since the All Ireland semi in 2006, they're a great team but they're still too hot and cold to beat the very best.

RedandGreenSniper · March 20, 2011, 04:23:49 PM

What a game! To come from fourteen points down to level is Under 12 stuff! Mayo ought to be ashamed to have went so far behind, Dubs ought to be ashamed for letting that lead slip. Mayo lined out with a small full-back line and the Dubs exploited that well. A few other players really struggled in the physical stakes.

But when we stirred ourselves, thanks especially to Andy Moran, Alan Freeman and Jason Doherty, we looked like a serious attacking outfit. Freeman and Doherty especially have nailed down 14 and 15. Freeman is flying, every game he has played for Mayo since his c'ship debut has been an immense one (Sligo, Longford, Down and Dublin) and Doherty has been a great addition in the last three games, five goals in three games, what a contribution. Each one of those five goals was taken with a real goalpoacher's class. His goal today in the first half was pure class and how he found space for the second one was phenomenal. He actually missed the easiest one at the end - which would have meant two players scored hat-tricks which would do justice to the madness of the game.

I liked the cut of Hallinan when he came on. He should have started. Tom Cunniffe struggled today, so too Chrissy Barrett, Peadar and Caff. Only Higgins and Richie Feeney did well in defence. Why didn't Kilcullen start if he was fit to come on? Needed him more than Parsons today.

ross4life · March 20, 2011, 04:33:46 PM

Crazy game of football, great forward play awful defending i suppose the fans that went got their money's worth

Main Street · March 20, 2011, 04:37:37 PM

What about Horslips, how did they play?

Jinxy · March 20, 2011, 04:46:47 PM

Quote from: INDIANA on March 20, 2011, 04:02:13 PM
Happy with the win.

But that wasnt real Gaelic Football. Utterly highlighted why neither side has won All-Irelands recently.

Good to watch but zero defending at either end.

How many players that started against Cork in the All-Ireland semi started today?

INDIANA · March 20, 2011, 04:57:16 PM

Quote from: Cosmo Kramer on March 20, 2011, 04:16:45 PM
A lot of positives we can take from that, but only if we learn a few things as well.

Worrying that we started and finished another game poorly, maybe this time the bad finish was a case of having given up too much in getting back from 14 points down to level and a bit of bad luck with the two goal chances.

But yet another awful start today and that has to be looked at. We've played five league games and started badly in them all, even against Galway. Something is not right about that.

Our approach to playing in Croke Park needs to be looked at as well. Its not like any other stadium and you have to adapt to playing in it, and against the best teams we don't seem to deal with the open spaces well.

Freeman and Doherty offer some amount of potential up front though, we have to come up with an attacking game plan that gets the best out of them.

Dublin won't win an All-Ireland until they either change the way they play or else become able to play that way for 70 minutes solid. I don't think they've actually developed much at all since the All Ireland semi in 2006, they're a great team but they're still too hot and cold to beat the very best.

Dublin have at least 6/7 players to come back into that team. Dont think Mayo do

Not sure who bar Cork are the very best anymore.