I was just thinking about Fermanagh's big chance in 2004 to reach a first All Ireland final. And it got me thinking about All Ireland finals that nearly happened, if one (or two) losing semi finalist had actually won.
What would have been the most unusual AI final pairing?
Here are a few I thought of...
1992 - Donegal v Clare
1994 - Down v Leitrim
1997 - Cavan v Offaly
2004 - Fermanagh v Derry
Tyrone v Armagh 2003 was at least as unusual as any of those possible pairings.
What about Monaghan V Mayo in 1985 (both drew their semi finals against giants Kerry and Dublin respectively that year).
Quote from: Sidney on October 05, 2013, 03:11:23 PM
Tyrone v Armagh 2003 was at least as unusual as any of those possible pairings.
one all ireland between the 2 of them at the time so very unusual. Arrivistes. Cavan v offaly in 97 would have had a good few more.
Quote from: T Fearon on October 05, 2013, 03:37:30 PM
What about Monaghan V Mayo in 1985 (both drew their semi finals against giants Kerry and Dublin respectively that year).
Who would have won that final though?
Quote from: GalwayBayBoy on October 05, 2013, 07:14:05 PM
Quote from: T Fearon on October 05, 2013, 03:37:30 PM
What about Monaghan V Mayo in 1985 (both drew their semi finals against giants Kerry and Dublin respectively that year).
Who would have won that final though?
Monaghan of course, Mayo don't final ffs
Quote from: seafoid on October 05, 2013, 06:54:59 PM
Quote from: Sidney on October 05, 2013, 03:11:23 PM
Tyrone v Armagh 2003 was at least as unusual as any of those possible pairings.
one all ireland between the 2 of them at the time so very unusual. Arrivistes. Cavan v offaly in 97 would have had a good few more.
Yes, but it was a rarity that both were provincial champions that year.
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on October 05, 2013, 07:24:52 PM
Quote from: GalwayBayBoy on October 05, 2013, 07:14:05 PM
Quote from: T Fearon on October 05, 2013, 03:37:30 PM
What about Monaghan V Mayo in 1985 (both drew their semi finals against giants Kerry and Dublin respectively that year).
Who would have won that final though?
Monaghan of course, Mayo don't final ffs
In fairness back in 1985 Mayo weren't known for losing finals.
Quote from: Captain Obvious on October 05, 2013, 07:42:09 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on October 05, 2013, 07:24:52 PM
Quote from: GalwayBayBoy on October 05, 2013, 07:14:05 PM
Quote from: T Fearon on October 05, 2013, 03:37:30 PM
What about Monaghan V Mayo in 1985 (both drew their semi finals against giants Kerry and Dublin respectively that year).
Who would have won that final though?
Monaghan of course, Mayo don't final ffs
In fairness back in 1985 Mayo weren't known for losing finals.
They were keeping that dirty little secret for later. Went to the 06 final and swore I'd never go back to a final which include Mayo until the have won the fi'ing thing. They are my second county after Tyrone and they even frustrate the sh1t out of me.
00 Armagh vs Kildare
98 Derry vs Kildare
One of the things about winning an all Ireland is the huge gulf in terms of attention between the winners and the losers.
10 of the Galway players from the 98 final have Wikipedia entries and only Christy Byrne of the Kildare team has
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_All-Ireland_Senior_Football_Championship
Quote from: SkillfulBill on October 05, 2013, 08:31:14 PM
Quote from: Captain Obvious on October 05, 2013, 07:42:09 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on October 05, 2013, 07:24:52 PM
Quote from: GalwayBayBoy on October 05, 2013, 07:14:05 PM
Quote from: T Fearon on October 05, 2013, 03:37:30 PM
What about Monaghan V Mayo in 1985 (both drew their semi finals against giants Kerry and Dublin respectively that year).
Who would have won that final though?
Monaghan of course, Mayo don't final ffs
In fairness back in 1985 Mayo weren't known for losing finals.
They were keeping that dirty little secret for later. Went to the 06 final and swore I'd never go back to a final which include Mayo until the have won the fi'ing thing. They are my second county after Tyrone and they even frustrate the sh1t out of me.
Try having them as your first. :(
Quote from: seafoid on October 05, 2013, 09:08:32 PM
00 Armagh vs Kildare
98 Derry vs Kildare
One of the things about winning an all Ireland is the huge gulf in terms of attention between the winners and the losers.
10 of the Galway players from the 98 final have Wikipedia entries and only Christy Byrne of the Kildare team has
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_All-Ireland_Senior_Football_Championship
Who de f**k is Christy Byrne? ;)
Quote from: seafoid on October 05, 2013, 09:08:32 PM
00 Armagh vs Kildare
98 Derry vs Kildare
One of the things about winning an all Ireland is the huge gulf in terms of attention between the winners and the losers.
10 of the Galway players from the 98 final have Wikipedia entries and only Christy Byrne of the Kildare team has
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_All-Ireland_Senior_Football_Championship
Six Kildare players have Wikipedia entries.
Maybe not in the category of nearly happened, but a Down v Derry All Ireland final could have happened in 1994 had the back door been around then. Probably the two best teams in the country that year.
Quote from: BennyHarp on October 06, 2013, 12:00:20 AM
Maybe not in the category of nearly happened, but a Down v Derry All Ireland final could have happened in 1994 had the back door been around then. Probably the two best teams in the country that year.
On that note...
1998 Galway v Mayo.
My money wouldn't have been on us. :(
Quote from: BennyHarp on October 06, 2013, 12:00:20 AM
Maybe not in the category of nearly happened, but a Down v Derry All Ireland final could have happened in 1994 had the back door been around then. Probably the two best teams in the country that year.
Tyrone had Derry weighed up by then. We would have took you. We were determined you would not double up... Still are
1991 Roscommon v Down
In the AI semi final we were leading Meath by 5 points with 15 mins to go and missed at least 2-5 but ended up losing by one point.
1998 Galway campaign should have ended in Tuam v us but Mr Prior had other ideas. Would we have beaten Derry or Kildare? probably not as we tend to over celebrate Connacht title wins.
It is generally accepted if we had won the semi-final in 1979 (lost to Dublin by one point) we would have had an even better chance of winning the final in 1980.
Quote from: muppet on October 06, 2013, 06:59:56 PM
Quote from: BennyHarp on October 06, 2013, 12:00:20 AM
Maybe not in the category of nearly happened, but a Down v Derry All Ireland final could have happened in 1994 had the back door been around then. Probably the two best teams in the country that year.
On that note...
1998 Galway v Mayo.
My money wouldn't have been on us. :(
Not a hope, Mayo have a 100% victory record over the Heron Chokers in Croke Park. Do not fear the Maroon and White at HQ, there we have their number ;)
London v New York
Quote from: BennyHarp on October 06, 2013, 12:00:20 AM
Maybe not in the category of nearly happened, but a Down v Derry All Ireland final could have happened in 1994 had the back door been around then. Probably the two best teams in the country that year.
That final did happen in '94, they just played it at the start of the competition!!!
Quote from: BennyCake on October 05, 2013, 02:50:17 PM
I was just thinking about Fermanagh's big chance in 2004 to reach a first All Ireland final. And it got me thinking about All Ireland finals that nearly happened, if one (or two) losing semi finalist had actually won.
What would have been the most unusual AI final pairing?
Here are a few I thought of...
1992 - Donegal v Clare
1994 - Down v Leitrim1997 - Cavan v Offaly
2004 - Fermanagh v Derry
"Nearly happened" - sure Leitrim were destroyed in the semi final by Dublin nearly as badly as Mayo by Cork the year before. Connacht football was at a low ebb those days.
Down v Galway 1992..Hurling.
Is this the most pointless thread of all time?
Yes Ross but its October and we're bored as we can't give out any more about Mayo.
I'm dragging the arse outta the Marsden v Jordan issue again instead