Messages

[Like most here, I think that Donegal have the legs and the system to deal with him]

I remember one of the Dubs v Kerry finals and poor aul Gooch spent half his day running after Philly McMahon, but the new rules allow Clifford to wait and see what comes his way.
Like most here, I think that Donegal have the legs and the system to deal with him (as best anyone can hope to) but there's others who can do damage. Kerry have more of an edge at the back too. They also have the ability to kick longer than most teams so it might pin Donegal back a bit.

On the flip some of the Kerry forwards will need to do more running towards their own goals than usual. You won't get David Clifford doing it, but Seanie O'Shea and Paudie Clifford might be dragged deeper.
Their fitness is insance and Murphy directing it all on the field is huge. They also can get scores from everywhere and their bench is awesome.

It's going to be brilliant.

Donegal are as porous at the back as anyone. They've had a serious deal of cards in the AI series so far, Kerry can will very likely cut through them time and time again on Sunday week

Donegal's only real tough game since winning Ulster was the versus Tyrone which they lost. This wont do them any favours when facing Kerry. Murphy has been lucky all year getting away with serious tackles and fouls, most recently taking out the Meath attacker without even so much as a ticking off. His luck might run out in the final.

Kerry wins this one in my opinion.

Guaranteed that the "Kerry Media Mafia" will be all over this in their columns this week and next

I'd say a few lads played themselves out of All-Stars at the weekend. The way the two games went it looks like 10-12 could come from the finalists.

Christ Almighty... I know it's not over yet, but when's the last time we've had a winning margin like this in a semi final?

Kerry Cork 2002 is all  I can recall (15 points)

Cork v Mayo in 1993 (20pts)
5-15 v 0-10

Did I see a Meath player with a hearing aid?

Think he had tucked his gun shield behind his ear

Kerry gonna rue these missed chances to keep the score board ticking over.

The way McCurry is going he might not see half time*..







*Guaranteed he scores 1-04 now.

An absolute shambles.

Kerr replaced in the line up.

How did Galway let them get the short kick away on that last play? Complete switch off.

Bad call on the advantage with Galway through on goal.

Bad call there. Definitely wide.

Derry v Dublin in Newry on  Saturday 14th @ 6.30pm

[Derry should be the front runners for the next two seasons.]

Tyrone fully deserved their win. On the balance of play 5 to 7 point margin would be a better reflection.  14 points separated the sides at the end with how ruthless Tyrone was and Louth far too wasteful. All the Tyrone players talked well after the match all knew they were in tough game regardless of the margin in the end, sounds very competitive at club and schools level and that keep them ticking over for the U20 grade. 

Should be another Ulster winner of this competition next year with the last two U17 All Ireland finals all Ulster finals. 

Tyrone's team over the next two years wouldn't stand out as much as the previous 4. Although Conor Devlin, Conor O'Neill and Ruairi McCullagh are still underage which is a good starting block. Derry should be the front runners for the next two seasons.

Derry are indeed the team to watch at this age group for 2026 and 2027.

Derry's two AI minor victories probably put them in the hotseat, but Monaghan, Tyrone and Donegal will all be ready to take on that mantle. 

If memory serves me right Tyrone probably should've beat Monaghan in their Ulster semi final (Minor 2023) but couldn't close out in normal time or extra time despite being 4/5pts up both times. And only lost on penalties. They'll be keen to right that wrong.

Monaghan will be out for revenge having lost the 2023 Ulster and AI finals.

Four Masters and Abbey Vocational have produced a couple of very good teams in the last two years, and almost took out Tyrone this year in the U20s.

So next year's Ulster will be ultra competitive.

I'd say the defender was as much to blame as the keeler for the second goal. He'd no need to be inside the arc and that definitely confused the keeper.

[We lost control at midfield when the changes were made and Derry went for goals.]

I wouldn't over analyse the last 10 mins of that game. We lost control at midfield when the changes were made and Derry went for goals. There are things the team can learn from that, but better it happened in a game that was basically done than getting mugged in a closer one. Happy enough where Armagh are at the minute.

The changes shouldn't have had that big an impact on the last ten minutes when you consider that the Armagh subs probably had more AI Final appearances between them that the Derry subs had C'ship appearances between them.