The most bonkers moments in GAA

[seafoid]

Laois and Westmeath bitchslapping the Dubs around and winning Leinsters in the 00s and the traffic cone Dub defence in 05 for Mugsy's goal.
That was when the county board of the Galactic Empire decided to get funded. The rest is history. 6 in a row this year.

[BennyCake]

Laois and Westmeath bitchslapping the Dubs around and winning Leinsters in the 00s and the traffic cone Dub defence in 05 for Mugsy's goal.
That was when the county board of the Galactic Empire decided to get funded. The rest is history. 6 in a row this year.

But it's good for the game, don't ya know?

[From the Bunker]

McEniff spent a Sunday night after losing a semi final to Galway in 83 wondering how Donegal could win Sam.

They did the job in 92. After that McHugh could never buy his own dinner in New York.

He probably spent a Sunday night after winning the semi final to Mayo in'92 still wondering the same thing.

God, that must have one of the worst AI semi finals since the emergence of TV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ5DJfvK01Q

[seafoid]

McEniff spent a Sunday night after losing a semi final to Galway in 83 wondering how Donegal could win Sam.

They did the job in 92. After that McHugh could never buy his own dinner in New York.

He probably spent a Sunday night after winning the semi final to Mayo in'92 still wondering the same thing.

God, that must have one of the worst AI semi finals since the emergence of TV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ5DJfvK01Q

93 was worse

[BennyCake]

Aye, John Duffy got 2 late points. We blew it that day.

Think that was his first senior championship game too.

And yes, Armagh blew it! We were fairly poor. Think we got two early goals in the replay which ended the match.

We also got two early goals in Ballybofey in '99 which you came back from and which arguably was the launch of that Armagh team.

Yes, think it was 2-4 to 0-0 after about 10 minutes, and game over.

I do recall Houli scoring a goal second half and climbing the wire to celebrate... We were only about 24 points behind at this stage 

I think we were behind on a similar scoreline in 1999 too. Tony Boyle scoring a screamer, but we came storming back, and probably should have won on the day.

[From the Bunker]

McEniff spent a Sunday night after losing a semi final to Galway in 83 wondering how Donegal could win Sam.

They did the job in 92. After that McHugh could never buy his own dinner in New York.

He probably spent a Sunday night after winning the semi final to Mayo in'92 still wondering the same thing.

God, that must have one of the worst AI semi finals since the emergence of TV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ5DJfvK01Q

93 was worse

92 was worse because both teams were sh1te. At least Cork were decent in '93.

[sid waddell]

McEniff spent a Sunday night after losing a semi final to Galway in 83 wondering how Donegal could win Sam.

They did the job in 92. After that McHugh could never buy his own dinner in New York.

He probably spent a Sunday night after winning the semi final to Mayo in'92 still wondering the same thing.

God, that must have one of the worst AI semi finals since the emergence of TV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ5DJfvK01Q

93 was worse

92 was worse because both teams were sh1te. At least Cork were decent in '93.

Winning the semi-final in that manner was the best thing Donegal ever did. They hit 18 wides and still won with a modicum of comfort despite themselves. Brian Murray's infamous comedy wide with his left foot sticks out more than anything else from that match. The GAA equivalent of Geoff Thomas's scuffed chip for England against France earlier the same year. Dublin thought they only had to turn up to win the All-Ireland. All those Donegal wides went over in the final.

[seafoid]

McEniff spent a Sunday night after losing a semi final to Galway in 83 wondering how Donegal could win Sam.

They did the job in 92. After that McHugh could never buy his own dinner in New York.

He probably spent a Sunday night after winning the semi final to Mayo in'92 still wondering the same thing.

God, that must have one of the worst AI semi finals since the emergence of TV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ5DJfvK01Q

93 was worse

92 was worse because both teams were sh1te. At least Cork were decent in '93.

Winning the semi-final in that manner was the best thing Donegal ever did. They hit 18 wides and still won with a modicum of comfort despite themselves. Brian Murray's infamous comedy wide with his left foot sticks out more than anything else from that match. The GAA equivalent of Geoff Thomas's scuffed chip for England against France earlier the same year. Dublin thought they only had to turn up to win the All-Ireland. All those Donegal wides went over in the final.

Dublin were unlucky from 91-94 . It was a relief when Charlie Redmond finally won his medal.

[J70]

McEniff spent a Sunday night after losing a semi final to Galway in 83 wondering how Donegal could win Sam.

They did the job in 92. After that McHugh could never buy his own dinner in New York.

He probably spent a Sunday night after winning the semi final to Mayo in'92 still wondering the same thing.

God, that must have one of the worst AI semi finals since the emergence of TV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ5DJfvK01Q

93 was worse

92 was worse because both teams were sh1te. At least Cork were decent in '93.

Winning the semi-final in that manner was the best thing Donegal ever did. They hit 18 wides and still won with a modicum of comfort despite themselves. Brian Murray's infamous comedy wide with his left foot sticks out more than anything else from that match. The GAA equivalent of Geoff Thomas's scuffed chip for England against France earlier the same year. Dublin thought they only had to turn up to win the All-Ireland. All those Donegal wides went over in the final.

Difference in psychology in both games. We were the favourites in that semi. We'd never won one. We'd blown our two most recent ones against Meath in 1990 and Galway in 1983. Lads were afraid to shoot. When they did, they were either too careful and dropped it short or hit a ridiculous wide. Until Manus came on in the second half and steadied the ship with his ice-cool head, we had no belief, despite being the superior team.

The final when Dublin were favourites... when you think you only have to turn up, you forget that your opponent played you off the park in a league quarter final that spring (only for you to win with two very late, fortunate goals), you forget your opponent beat a strong Derry team when a man down in the Ulster final, and you forget that your own semi win over Clare was far from giving you legitimate grounds for complacency, its hard to pick it up when you suddenly find yourself in a game against a team running at you from all angles and with three quality, ball-winning, scoring forwards, all on form.

Not a criticism of Dublin BTW - many Donegal teams, including some featuring many of the same players, have been caught out, unable to raise it when they met a hungry, quality team. Before McGuinness, I used to dread games where we'd be going in after beating some noted team.

[J70]

McEniff spent a Sunday night after losing a semi final to Galway in 83 wondering how Donegal could win Sam.

They did the job in 92. After that McHugh could never buy his own dinner in New York.

He probably spent a Sunday night after winning the semi final to Mayo in'92 still wondering the same thing.

God, that must have one of the worst AI semi finals since the emergence of TV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ5DJfvK01Q

93 was worse

92 was worse because both teams were sh1te. At least Cork were decent in '93.

Winning the semi-final in that manner was the best thing Donegal ever did. They hit 18 wides and still won with a modicum of comfort despite themselves. Brian Murray's infamous comedy wide with his left foot sticks out more than anything else from that match. The GAA equivalent of Geoff Thomas's scuffed chip for England against France earlier the same year. Dublin thought they only had to turn up to win the All-Ireland. All those Donegal wides went over in the final.

Dublin were unlucky from 91-94 . It was a relief when Charlie Redmond finally won his medal.

Was that the day he neglected to leave the field after getting the line?

[sid waddell]

McEniff spent a Sunday night after losing a semi final to Galway in 83 wondering how Donegal could win Sam.

They did the job in 92. After that McHugh could never buy his own dinner in New York.

He probably spent a Sunday night after winning the semi final to Mayo in'92 still wondering the same thing.

God, that must have one of the worst AI semi finals since the emergence of TV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ5DJfvK01Q

93 was worse

92 was worse because both teams were sh1te. At least Cork were decent in '93.

Winning the semi-final in that manner was the best thing Donegal ever did. They hit 18 wides and still won with a modicum of comfort despite themselves. Brian Murray's infamous comedy wide with his left foot sticks out more than anything else from that match. The GAA equivalent of Geoff Thomas's scuffed chip for England against France earlier the same year. Dublin thought they only had to turn up to win the All-Ireland. All those Donegal wides went over in the final.

Difference in psychology in both games. We were the favourites in that semi. We'd never won one. We'd blown our two most recent ones against Meath in 1990 and Galway in 1983. Lads were afraid to shoot. When they did, they were either too careful and dropped it short or hit a ridiculous wide. Until Manus came on in the second half and steadied the ship with his ice-cool head, we had no belief, despite being the superior team.

The final when Dublin were favourites... when you think you only have to turn up, you forget that your opponent played you off the park in a league quarter final that spring (only for you to win with two very late, fortunate goals), you forget your opponent beat a strong Derry team when a man down in the Ulster final, and you forget that your own semi win over Clare was far from giving you legitimate grounds for complacency, its hard to pick it up when you suddenly find yourself in a game against a team running at you from all angles and with three quality, ball-winning, scoring forwards, all on form.

Not a criticism of Dublin BTW - many Donegal teams, including some featuring many of the same players, have been caught out, unable to raise it when they met a hungry, quality team. Before McGuinness, I used to dread games where we'd be going in after beating some noted team.

Dublin were poxed to win that league quarter-final alright. I can still remember the shock on the faces of the Donegal supporters around me. That was another result which ultimately stood to Donegal and against Dublin, because it reinforced a sense of entitlement.

In 1992, even with Down winning the previous year, there was still an idea that Ulster and Connacht teams were a soft touch. The message about Ulster in particular hadn't quite gotten through to the rest of Ireland yet. Cork and Meath were the pre-championship favourites. They were both taken out on the same afternoon in May, and the opinion in Dublin then was that the road to the All-Ireland had opened up in a big way, with only Kerry and Down presenting possible hurdles. When they too were taken out, and Derry for good measure, it was considered a fait accompli that Dublin would win it handily.

Donegal were seen as over the hill, with several fairly old players, and certainly a distinct downgrade on Down who had thrashed them the previous year, or even Derry. But Dublin didn't realise that Down's victory the previous year had changed everything. I remember a non-Ulster poster on An Fear Rua referenced that '91 final as the most important GAA match of all time, because it changed the mindset of counties throughout Ireland in both football and hurling. He wasn't far wrong. Nobody down south gave Down a chance. And nobody gave Donegal a chance in '92 either, least of all Dublin. There was no disappointment in Dublin after that final, only a feeling that Dublin had been cocky and complacent and had got their comeuppance. So in a way that sense of entitlement actually continued after the defeat. The team copped on full well that Ulster was now the standard bearer, but Dublin supporters were still sure the team would set the record straight, as they saw it, against Derry in '93. Really only in '94 did the Dublin public fully realise what they were up against with the Ulster challenge. And by '95 there was almost a fatalism about it.

[Main Street]

The ref who ended up being pushed into a car boot by players of the losing team and dumped someplace remote.   
Normal by Wicklow standards I suppose  but has to be a contender for a bonkers moment in nationwide GAA.

[caprea]

Any time a game goes to extra time with players sent off in normal time but teams are allowed to restore themselves to the 15 in extra time because it's a "new game". I'd love to have been in the room when the rules makers thought that was a good idea.

[BennyCake]

Any time a game goes to extra time with players sent off in normal time but teams are allowed to restore themselves to the 15 in extra time because it's a "new game". I'd love to have been in the room when the rules makers thought that was a good idea.

Didn't Liam Hayes come back on for Meath in ET after being sent off in normal time? Or did I dream that?

[caprea]

Any time a game goes to extra time with players sent off in normal time but teams are allowed to restore themselves to the 15 in extra time because it's a "new game". I'd love to have been in the room when the rules makers thought that was a good idea.

Didn't Liam Hayes come back on for Meath in ET after being sent off in normal time? Or did I dream that?

I don't know to be honest but I didn't think that was legal but maybe the rule was tweaked. That's truly hilarious if it did happen.

Like on the other side if it's truly a new game then players should be allowed to re enter the game if they were sent off for two yellows. The fact that they aren't means the law is an ass.