A big wave?
Fracking?
A plague?
Play a Rest of Ireland selection against them.
Nothing. :-[
One bad performance will stop Dublin.
Them's the margins
Mayo. Derry were out of their depth and made Dubs look better than they are. Our backs would not give them as much space and we have the power and pace in the middle third to pressurise their backs. Would not fear them but we would have to hit last years qtr and semi form
Quote from: INDIANA on April 27, 2014, 10:42:09 PM
One bad performance will stop Dublin.
Them's the margins
Dublin will have to have a very bad at the office in order to get beaten.
And the team that beats them will have to get all the breaks.
Dublin's to lose.
Can't see Kerry or Mayo stopping them. If Cork got their act together and give a full 70 minutes performance, they'd be capable of beating them.
There was talk in early summer last year that Donegal were unbeatable and no one could match their system. That Dublin team are highly impressive when on top and things going well but are far from unbeatable. As champions they'll have a lot of tough questions to answer come August and September if get that far. A walk through Leinster wouldn't do them any favours.
Quote from: Redhand Santa on April 27, 2014, 10:52:59 PM
There was talk in early summer last year that Donegal were unbeatable and no one could match their system. That Dublin team are highly impressive when on top and things going well but are far from unbeatable. As champions they'll have a lot of tough questions to answer come August and September if get that far. A walk through Leinster wouldn't do them any favours.
Realistically what teams are going to ask the serious questions of Dublin ?
Mayo will ride the hole off them. They will need Cavilon cream when we are finished with them.
Yiz are not thinking outside the box here. No man of woman born can harm the Dubs in 2014. Sure even when Cork were walloping them, the Dubs were smirking at each other and decided to play ball when it reached tipping point. They're in Harlem Globetrotting territory here.
Can the elections have an impact? Or the World Cup?
Quote from: Mayo Mick on April 27, 2014, 10:43:26 PM
Mayo. Derry were out of their depth and made Dubs look better than they are. Our backs would not give them as much space and we have the power and pace in the middle third to pressurise their backs. Would not fear them but we would have to hit last years qtr and semi form
Disagree. We might hit the championship a different animal than we were in the league and I expect we will but we don t have enough depth and quality in some areas. Our backs are there for the taking if we lose midfield and especially so if likes of Barrett and Cunniffe are out injured - and lets face it they usually are. Dublin forwards are in rude good health while I believe we have returned Conroy and Brian Gallagher to their clubs with a thank you note. A player of real ability like Adam Gallagher has n t been seen since the floods. Maybe he s injured? Maybe he s being kept dry for more serious days.
Clearly we were better off losing to Derry because on current form today would have been a mess. We re only a week away from a championship and I never believed Horan really wanted to win the league bullshit. As well as that it s no harm for other counties to get the
'shit the nest' experience 8) Hope ye enjoyed it ;)
Must say that expression is more sickening than anything you can experience in sport.
Quote from: orangeman on April 27, 2014, 10:54:25 PM
Quote from: Redhand Santa on April 27, 2014, 10:52:59 PM
There was talk in early summer last year that Donegal were unbeatable and no one could match their system. That Dublin team are highly impressive when on top and things going well but are far from unbeatable. As champions they'll have a lot of tough questions to answer come August and September if get that far. A walk through Leinster wouldn't do them any favours.
Realistically what teams are going to ask the serious questions of Dublin ?
I'd say the likes of mayo Kerry cork and even tyrone or maybe an improving Monaghan could cause them plenty of problems come summer. Dublin will not walk their way to Sam this year. I'm going to stick my neck out and say they'll get caught somewhere from the quarters on. Meath Kerry and mayo gave them tough games last year in championship football.
Quote from: babarino on April 27, 2014, 10:47:38 PM
Can't see Kerry or Mayo stopping them. If Cork got their act together and give a full 70 minutes performance, they'd be capable of beating them.
t
What act?
Cork could not even manage a functional midfield in the league when it kinda got half serious. 2 class forwards but apart from that they are limited apart from the confidence that is always hardwired into Cork teams.
The only thing that could stop this Dublin juggernaut is Seamus Aldridge announcing his return to refereeing.
Quote from: Donnellys Hollow on April 27, 2014, 11:11:34 PM
The only thing that could stop this Dublin juggernaut is Seamus Aldridge announcing his return to refereeing.
Not so sure. Dublin have serious momentum alright but they need likes of Cluxton, McAuley and Flynn to make it tick. If those 3 remain fit and healthy only a fool would bet against them. A couple of injuries though and everything changes as we well know.
I still think they can be caught on a one off game, but the team against them got to be dogged and still hang in there when Dublin threaten to hand out a trimming, the first 15mins are vital when dublin come on strong, if a team can stick with them to the 55min mark when Dublin tend to kick for home they have a chance, though maybe only a slight chance, A injury to a few key players later in the year might affect them.
In short, they probably the biggest favourites for an all-ireland in a long long time but i feel if Cork, Mayo, Donegal and Maybe Tyrone could stick with them they have a chance.
Derry were just like a rabbit in the headlights the day,
Only global warming can stop them now.
Super-volcano in Iceland?
Quote from: Jinxy on April 27, 2014, 11:50:21 PM
Only global warming can stop them now.
Global warming will not flood Croke Park til 2018.
Too late.
The Jones Road residents association.
Bertie Aherne.
A rule to make Dublin players use their weak foot. On seconds thoughts that rule wouldn't even work.
Love Ulster
Goals count the same as points for Dublin.
But the opposition get 3 for a point and 10 for a goal.
And Cluxton isn't allowed to play during the game but can kick about at half time in Cumann na mBunscoil game.
Quote from: Donnellys Hollow on April 27, 2014, 11:11:34 PM
The only thing that could stop this Dublin juggernaut is Seamus Aldridge announcing his return to refereeing.
Foul all day, don't know what Paddy Cullen was complaining about (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuOZxMw_5iI)
QuoteA big wave?
Fracking?
A plague?
Garth Brooks ... after Garth and his 400,000 strong following are finished with Croker, it won't be fit for any fancy football from August onwards ... it will be set up for a cart horse of a team to take the All Ireland ;D
Play a game or two outside Croke Park.
anyone?
As someone mentioned this Dublin team are starting to look like Kilkenny when they were in their pomp.
Having said that there will be a day when they are just not firing on all cylinders and one of the better teams could have a good day and beat them. The likelihood is of course very small and it would have to happen in the Quarter Final on as I don't think it would happen twice in a season.
For me it's Cork and Monaghan and at a push Mayo who could do it. Neither of these teams are as good as the Dubs but if they click and Dublin falter slightly there is a chance.
The rest are a good bit behind, Donegal are finished, Kerry, Kildare and Tyrone are in transition as are Derry.
There is quite a gulf then behind that where you're looking at Down/Westmeath/Laois etc.
An outbreak of Foot and Mouth at Dublin Zoo.
the only team who could really give Dublin their fill of it imo would be Cork if they gell well in the championship and meet Dublin who have maybe lost a couple of key men to injury. Talk of Mayo or especially Donegal beating them is was off the mark. Both are on the wrong end of their repsective peaks. Donegal have lost that ferocious intensity and the subs they brought on yesterday, Brick withstanding wouldnt have the physique to compete with the Dubliners
Quote from: J OGorman on April 28, 2014, 11:25:49 AM
the only team who could really give Dublin their fill of it imo would be Cork if they gell well in the championship and meet Dublin who have maybe lost a couple of key men to injury. Talk of Mayo or especially Donegal beating them is was off the mark. Both are on the wrong end of their repsective peaks. Donegal have lost that ferocious intensity and the subs they brought on yesterday, Brick withstanding wouldnt have the physique to compete with the Dubliners
Mayo beat them in 2012, lost by a point in 2013 and drew with them in Corker last month.
On any evidence we are very close.
Why so patronising towards us?
Quote from: muppet on April 28, 2014, 11:30:30 AM
Quote from: J OGorman on April 28, 2014, 11:25:49 AM
the only team who could really give Dublin their fill of it imo would be Cork if they gell well in the championship and meet Dublin who have maybe lost a couple of key men to injury. Talk of Mayo or especially Donegal beating them is was off the mark. Both are on the wrong end of their repsective peaks. Donegal have lost that ferocious intensity and the subs they brought on yesterday, Brick withstanding wouldnt have the physique to compete with the Dubliners
Mayo beat them in 2012, lost by a point in 2013 and drew with them in Corker last month.
On any evidence we are very close.
Why so patronising towards us?
if I am coming across as patronising, I dont mean to be. I've alot of time for Mayo, outside of our boys, I'd love to see you boys win Sam, beating Dublin in the process, but I cant see it with both counties current crop of players and levels they are playing at. Dublin seem a good level above ALL other counties looking a tilt at the AI but as stated above, for me, Cork are the ones who could maybe unhinge them this year
Goals are the only thing that will beat them IMO. Derry had numerous chances to work a goal yesterday, the Dublin fb line is the only weak line, only problem is they have the best shot stopper in Ireland behind them. Dublin's to lose.
Quote from: moysider on April 27, 2014, 11:21:59 PM
Quote from: Donnellys Hollow on April 27, 2014, 11:11:34 PM
The only thing that could stop this Dublin juggernaut is Seamus Aldridge announcing his return to refereeing.
Not so sure. Dublin have serious momentum alright but they need likes of Cluxton, McAuley and Flynn to make it tick. If those 3 remain fit and healthy only a fool would bet against them. A couple of injuries though and everything changes as we well know.
As good as the other 2 are , would say only Cluxton is irreplaceable because of the unique dimension he brings.
Get yer point though. Anything can go belly up during a high tempo winner takes all match. Opposing teams will be determined to take Dublin on and any drop in standards can leave us vulnerable.
Rightly favourites but will be more comfortable assessing in September than April
Quote from: muppet on April 28, 2014, 11:30:30 AM
Quote from: J OGorman on April 28, 2014, 11:25:49 AM
the only team who could really give Dublin their fill of it imo would be Cork if they gell well in the championship and meet Dublin who have maybe lost a couple of key men to injury. Talk of Mayo or especially Donegal beating them is was off the mark. Both are on the wrong end of their repsective peaks. Donegal have lost that ferocious intensity and the subs they brought on yesterday, Brick withstanding wouldnt have the physique to compete with the Dubliners
Mayo beat them in 2012, lost by a point in 2013 and drew with them in Corker last month.
On any evidence we are very close.
Why so patronising towards us?
Some of the posts are ridiculous - it's April for Christ sake.
Dublin have looked good (or been let look good) - people are forgetting we were well down against Cork & Mayo this year and narrow margins got us to the League final.
Could've easily been Mayo and in the final yesterday and we'd be talking about how this is Mayo's year and they've sorted their issues out.
Lots of great teams have been unable to retain the AI.
Question I'd have is how much of an impact would MDMA missing a match would have on their performances? He always seems to be the outfield driving force in a lot of Dublin's performances in the last 12 months.
Quote from: heffo on April 28, 2014, 11:44:45 AM
Quote from: muppet on April 28, 2014, 11:30:30 AM
Quote from: J OGorman on April 28, 2014, 11:25:49 AM
the only team who could really give Dublin their fill of it imo would be Cork if they gell well in the championship and meet Dublin who have maybe lost a couple of key men to injury. Talk of Mayo or especially Donegal beating them is was off the mark. Both are on the wrong end of their repsective peaks. Donegal have lost that ferocious intensity and the subs they brought on yesterday, Brick withstanding wouldnt have the physique to compete with the Dubliners
Mayo beat them in 2012, lost by a point in 2013 and drew with them in Corker last month.
On any evidence we are very close.
Why so patronising towards us?
Some of the posts are ridiculous - it's April for Christ sake.
Dublin have looked good (or been let look good) - people are forgetting we were well down against Cork & Mayo this year and narrow margins got us to the League final.
Could've easily been Mayo and in the final yesterday and we'd be talking about how this is Mayo's year and they've sorted their issues out.
Lots of great teams have been unable to retain the AI.
on the cusp of May Heffo, less than the week to the championship starts !
Mourinho's buses.
The Dublin players deserve huge credit.
In 2008 Tyrone beat them by 12 points. In 2009 Kerry beat them by 17 points.
Cluxton, Connolly, Alan Brogan & Bernard Brogan all played in both. They kept at it and with the introduction of new young players and a few years of hard work and not much opposition in Leinster, they are where they are now.
Hats off to them.
Injuries................................. Cork or Mayo could topple Dublin ..............................and as always and reliable Meath will give us a good kick up the hole in Leinster and on the day you never know
Quote from: Croí na hÉireann on April 28, 2014, 11:35:14 AM
Goals are the only thing that will beat them IMO. Derry had numerous chances to work a goal yesterday, the Dublin fb line is the only weak line, only problem is they have the best shot stopper in Ireland behind them. Dublin's to lose.
Dublin's fullback line looks weak because they play man on man with the defenders usually in front of the attacker so they can get bypassed at times....bear in mind that the only team to concede less than us in the league was Derry and they conceded only 1 point less.
Once our forwards/midfield put pressure on out the pitch it makes it far harder for the opposition to attack our fullback line
In his office, Jim Gavin gloats that there's no way Dublin can lose the Leinster final to Meath.
"Unless, of course, my 15 best players fall victim to 15 separate misfortunes and are unable to play tomorrow. But that will never happen.
Three misfortunes?
That's possible.
Seven misfortunes?
There's an outside chance.
But 15 misfortunes? I'd like to see that!''
(http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111118224736/simpsons/images/f/f2/Homer_at_the_Bat.jpg)
Let Don't Matter have his wish: split Dublin. Then maybe Dublin can stop Dublin.
Hypothetically if Dublin was to split, who would be stronger?
North or South?
Quote from: Walter Cronc on April 28, 2014, 03:39:31 PM
Hypothetically if Dublin was to split, who would be stronger?
North or South?
Northside far stronger in general, but would have a glaring weakness at midfield and possibly at full back too.
We do have this discussion most years. Except the team that can't be beaten changes colours every year.
----
Sure Tyrone were only coming into their prime in 2008, except for Dooher and Holmes. Turned out some of their younger players already had too many miles on the clock.
Kerry and the Twin Towers of 2009. Perhaps the best forward line of the past two generations, and one of the most balanced sides you'll ever see. It only took two of them to go to Oz to unbalance things.
Step forward Cork in 2010, when Counihan was just spoiled for choice. His bench was better than the starting team in 25 other counties. Nobody could complete with the Rebels' athleticism.
Dublin of 2011. They've finally kicked on and won the thing. And look at their profile, they're all children really; imagine what they'll be like when they come of age.
Donegal of 2012. The most clinical, disciplined and tactically astute team in the history of the world ever. There's just no breaking a team this focused. We might as well all give up now.
And now we start again with Dublin. Clinical, bla. Big squad, bla, bla. So athletic, bla, bla, bla.
----
Dublin are a tremendous team, and a joy to watch.
But for my money there's four teams in Ireland will give Dublin their absolute fill of it.
1. Kerry, just because they're Kerry, and when push comes to shove, they'll do whatever is necessary.
2. Donegal, who will simply play Dublin at their own game, and play 10 men back and hit counter attacks. Dublin would appear to be better at this, but on the day, things can happen.
3. Monaghan, who will find and apply the defensive shape needed to suffocate Dublin, and if both Finlay and McManus hit form on the same day, will be thereabouts.
4. Mayo, who are every bit as athletic as Dublin, and if they stay injury free, could almost go toe-to-toe. But confidence is always going to be a factor against.
Everyone else either won't have the defensive nous, or the athleticism to fend off Dublin once they get up a gear. But if any of those four get Dublin in a QF or SF, I'd be happy enough to see what price the bookies might be give for the upset.
Quote from: Hound on April 28, 2014, 03:50:12 PM
Quote from: Walter Cronc on April 28, 2014, 03:39:31 PM
Hypothetically if Dublin was to split, who would be stronger?
North or South?
Northside far stronger in general, but would have a glaring weakness at midfield and possibly at full back too.
Good man Hound. I know MDMA and the Kilmacud lads are South side and obviously the Vincents lads North side.
I take it the Brogans are North? Where would Flynn and O Garas clubs lie?
Quote from: Walter Cronc on April 28, 2014, 04:02:23 PM
Quote from: Hound on April 28, 2014, 03:50:12 PM
Quote from: Walter Cronc on April 28, 2014, 03:39:31 PM
Hypothetically if Dublin was to split, who would be stronger?
North or South?
Northside far stronger in general, but would have a glaring weakness at midfield and possibly at full back too.
Good man Hound. I know MDMA and the Kilmacud lads are South side and obviously the Vincents lads North side.
I take it the Brogans are North? Where would Flynn and O Garas clubs lie?
Northside team:
Cluxton
Daly - McMahon - Cooper
McCarthy- Brennan - McCaffrey
Fennell - McConnell :o
Andrews - Connolly - Flynn
Brogan - Brogan - Costello
Soutsiders:
Keeper (Supple, Savage, Currie all northsiders)
Nelson - O'Carroll - Fitzsimons
O'Sullivan - Devereux - Nolan
Macauley - Bastick
3 new half forwards
McManamon - O'Gara - Mannion
Dunno what all the complaining is about. We could split ye's up rightly ;)
Good man!!
P.s Costello ahead of Rock??
Cluxton Carty/Molloy
O'Brien McMahon Cooper Fitzsimons O'Carroll Nelson
McCarthy Brennan McCaffrey Nolan O'Sullivan Devereux
Flynn Brady McCauley Bastick
Cullen Kilkenny Connolly O'Conghaile Vaughan Mannion
A Brogan Andrews B Brogan Keaney O'Gara McMenamon
Edit: beat me to it Hound
Quote from: thewobbler on April 28, 2014, 03:59:49 PM
Dublin of 2011. They've finally kicked on and won the thing. And look at their profile, they're all children really; imagine what they'll be like when they come of age.
I think Dublin are coming of age this time. But we managed to annoy Cluxton when he was taking a kick out and I'm sure teams will do their utmost to get Connolly and a host of others sent off etc later on in the year.
f**k it.............
I'm gonna say it....................................................
I DON'T MIND THE DUBS
In answer to the above question it's going to take a fit disciplined team with a brave manager not afraid to push up on Dublin that can stop dublin.
They've showed at times over the last few years that they're brilliant when on top and on the front foot. But there have been serious weaknesses shown to when they've been put under pressure. They have problems in defence, even yesterday a Derry team far from their best could have hit 3 goals in the 1st half.
Watching the game yesterday and it was shown in last years final you can't sit back against Dublin and give them free men at kickouts. Yesterday Derry sat back and from the kickouts within 3 passes,Dublin had got a score without a finger put on them. Tyrone learned in omagh that they needed to drive Dublin back and put them under pressure.
Maybe it's even greater this year but there's been plenty of years were the prior year champs have been built up as being superior to everyone else only to fall come August.
Quote from: Redhand Santa on April 28, 2014, 10:12:36 PM
In answer to the above question it's going to take a fit disciplined team with a brave manager not afraid to push up on Dublin that can stop dublin.
They've showed at times over the last few years that they're brilliant when on top and on the front foot. But there have been serious weaknesses shown to when they've been put under pressure. They have problems in defence, even yesterday a Derry team far from their best could have hit 3 goals in the 1st half.
Watching the game yesterday and it was shown in last years final you can't sit back against Dublin and give them free men at kickouts. Yesterday Derry sat back and from the kickouts within 3 passes,Dublin had got a score without a finger put on them. Tyrone learned in omagh that they needed to drive Dublin back and put them under pressure.
Maybe it's even greater this year but there's been plenty of years were the prior year champs have been built up as being superior to everyone else only to fall come August.
Only Dublin can beat Dublin. And they may well do so in August. The mental challenge is the key- physically they are better then everybody else. But no back to back since 1990 with same manager for a reason........................................
To beat Dublin you need a bench of serious footballers. Thats how to beat them. Your top 6 subs have to be at least as good as those playing and maybe..............better
Quote from: INDIANA on April 28, 2014, 10:46:28 PM
Only Dublin can beat Dublin.
Without a doubt. The opposition simply not as good as they should be.
Kerry team recently had a great full forward line but O`Rourke, Stafford, Flynn would been the best full forward line i had seen playing
not only are the dubs the best team in ireland if there was a world championship they would win that also. believing their own hype is their biggest danger.
Quote from: rrhf on April 29, 2014, 07:00:49 AM
not only are the dubs the best team in ireland if there was a world championship they would win that also. believing their own hype is their biggest danger.
I think you are right, we'd run away with a world title.
London and New York are progressive teams but think we'd take them in a world decider.
I dunno. Them South African bucks that were here a few weeks ago would be a real danger. Mind you ye'd play them in Croke Park so ye'd have that advantage ;)
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on April 28, 2014, 11:49:33 PM
Kerry team recently had a great full forward line but O`Rourke, Stafford, Flynn would been the best full forward line i had seen playing
The Twin Towers term regarding Kerrys Full Forward line came about in 2008 and it was Tyrones own Twin Towers in the McMahon brothers who sorted that out.
Quote from: nrico2006 on April 29, 2014, 11:56:49 AM
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on April 28, 2014, 11:49:33 PM
Kerry team recently had a great full forward line but O`Rourke, Stafford, Flynn would been the best full forward line i had seen playing
The Twin Towers term regarding Kerrys Full Forward line came about in 2008 and it was Tyrones own Twin Towers in the McMahon brothers who sorted that out.
Harte cut out the supply to Donaghy and Walsh. If they had been left 1 v 1 they would have destroyed the Mc Mahons.
Correct. I remember that game and Kerry being unable to break the Tyrone line that was set up about 50 yards out, therefore Kerry pumped in ball from 60 yards out, instead of 45 yards out, and Conor Gormley I think it was ate it up.
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 29, 2014, 12:09:33 PM
Correct. I remember that game and Kerry being unable to break the Tyrone line that was set up about 50 yards out, therefore Kerry pumped in ball from 60 yards out, instead of 45 yards out, and Conor Gormley I think it was ate it up.
Or was it Enda McGinley?
Quote from: Walter Cronc on April 29, 2014, 12:02:03 PM
Quote from: nrico2006 on April 29, 2014, 11:56:49 AM
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on April 28, 2014, 11:49:33 PM
Kerry team recently had a great full forward line but O`Rourke, Stafford, Flynn would been the best full forward line i had seen playing
The Twin Towers term regarding Kerrys Full Forward line came about in 2008 and it was Tyrones own Twin Towers in the McMahon brothers who sorted that out.
Harte cut out the supply to Donaghy and Walsh. If they had been left 1 v 1 they would have destroyed the Mc Mahons.
There were a lot of one on ones that day, the McMahons wiped the floor with them.
The main issue I have with Mayo as contenders is that their defence seems to have taken a big step back this season. They aren't tracking back as much as they were and their use of supporting defenders isn't what it was. Cork have the makings of a contender but they look a year away from really putting it up to Dublin. The biggest advantage Dublin have is depth. They have a bench which enables them to play a far more pressing game from the off than most counties can chance.
Quote from: nrico2006 on April 29, 2014, 12:19:48 PM
Quote from: Walter Cronc on April 29, 2014, 12:02:03 PM
Quote from: nrico2006 on April 29, 2014, 11:56:49 AM
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on April 28, 2014, 11:49:33 PM
Kerry team recently had a great full forward line but O`Rourke, Stafford, Flynn would been the best full forward line i had seen playing
The Twin Towers term regarding Kerrys Full Forward line came about in 2008 and it was Tyrones own Twin Towers in the McMahon brothers who sorted that out.
Harte cut out the supply to Donaghy and Walsh. If they had been left 1 v 1 they would have destroyed the Mc Mahons.
There were a lot of one on ones that day, the McMahons wiped the floor with them.
There was not.
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on April 28, 2014, 11:49:33 PM
Kerry team recently had a great full forward line but O`Rourke, Stafford, Flynn would been the best full forward line i had seen playing
It was the full unit of 6 year that I'd say was as good as you'll see.
Kennelly - O'Sullivan - Galvin
Walsh - Donaghy - Cooper
There was absolutely everything in that forward line, and a growing Walsh apart, all pretty much at their peak.
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 29, 2014, 12:20:51 PM
Quote from: nrico2006 on April 29, 2014, 12:19:48 PM
Quote from: Walter Cronc on April 29, 2014, 12:02:03 PM
Quote from: nrico2006 on April 29, 2014, 11:56:49 AM
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on April 28, 2014, 11:49:33 PM
Kerry team recently had a great full forward line but O`Rourke, Stafford, Flynn would been the best full forward line i had seen playing
The Twin Towers term regarding Kerrys Full Forward line came about in 2008 and it was Tyrones own Twin Towers in the McMahon brothers who sorted that out.
Harte cut out the supply to Donaghy and Walsh. If they had been left 1 v 1 they would have destroyed the Mc Mahons.
There were a lot of one on ones that day, the McMahons wiped the floor with them.
There was not.
You were probably 10 sitting on your mammys knee!
Quote from: Walter Cronc on April 29, 2014, 12:34:27 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 29, 2014, 12:20:51 PM
Quote from: nrico2006 on April 29, 2014, 12:19:48 PM
Quote from: Walter Cronc on April 29, 2014, 12:02:03 PM
Quote from: nrico2006 on April 29, 2014, 11:56:49 AM
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on April 28, 2014, 11:49:33 PM
Kerry team recently had a great full forward line but O`Rourke, Stafford, Flynn would been the best full forward line i had seen playing
The Twin Towers term regarding Kerrys Full Forward line came about in 2008 and it was Tyrones own Twin Towers in the McMahon brothers who sorted that out.
Harte cut out the supply to Donaghy and Walsh. If they had been left 1 v 1 they would have destroyed the Mc Mahons.
There were a lot of one on ones that day, the McMahons wiped the floor with them.
There was not.
You were probably 10 sitting on your mammys knee!
I can remember the build up was all about the damage Walsh and Donaghy would cause, and in the final there was a lot of high ball pumped in and between the two McMahons and Gormley most of it was swept up. I would still view the 2005 forward line as the best:
Dooher, B McGuigan, R Mellon
P Canavan, S O'Neill, O Mulligan
Quote from: Donnellys Hollow on April 27, 2014, 11:11:34 PM
The only thing that could stop this Dublin juggernaut is Seamus Aldridge announcing his return to refereeing.
Never forgive him for '78, broke my heart that day. Should have been locked up for that one - WORSE THAN SLUDDEN!!!!
Quote from: aontroim abu on April 29, 2014, 04:28:40 PM
Quote from: Donnellys Hollow on April 27, 2014, 11:11:34 PM
The only thing that could stop this Dublin juggernaut is Seamus Aldridge announcing his return to refereeing.
Never forgive him for '78, broke my heart that day. Should have been locked up for that one - WORSE THAN SLUDDEN!!!!
Let's not get hasty now.
Quote from: nrico2006 on April 29, 2014, 02:10:16 PM
Quote from: Walter Cronc on April 29, 2014, 12:34:27 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 29, 2014, 12:20:51 PM
Quote from: nrico2006 on April 29, 2014, 12:19:48 PM
Quote from: Walter Cronc on April 29, 2014, 12:02:03 PM
Quote from: nrico2006 on April 29, 2014, 11:56:49 AM
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on April 28, 2014, 11:49:33 PM
Kerry team recently had a great full forward line but O`Rourke, Stafford, Flynn would been the best full forward line i had seen playing
The Twin Towers term regarding Kerrys Full Forward line came about in 2008 and it was Tyrones own Twin Towers in the McMahon brothers who sorted that out.
Harte cut out the supply to Donaghy and Walsh. If they had been left 1 v 1 they would have destroyed the Mc Mahons.
There were a lot of one on ones that day, the McMahons wiped the floor with them.
There was not.
You were probably 10 sitting on your mammys knee!
I can remember the build up was all about the damage Walsh and Donaghy would cause, and in the final there was a lot of high ball pumped in and between the two McMahons and Gormley most of it was swept up. I would still view the 2005 forward line as the best:
Dooher, B McGuigan, R Mellon
P Canavan, S O'Neill, O Mulligan
i agree on that forward line being the best but only for a couple more years,
As many have said...probably going to be themselves....
So Philly took Connolly down UFC style and nearly took the head off him off the ball in a Ballymun vs Vincents match last week. Philly obviously waited for payback from the county final replay last year when he was sent off for an altercation with Connolly.
I wonder who Gavin will cut from the squad in the next few weeks if there is a cull..... ::)
Quote from: ballinaman on May 06, 2014, 12:20:27 PM
So Philly took Connolly down UFC style and nearly took the head off him off the ball in a Ballymun vs Vincents match last week. Philly obviously waited for payback from the county final replay last year when he was sent off for an altercation with Connolly.
I wonder who Gavin will cut from the squad in the next few weeks if there is a cull.....
Cool!
Great to have an eye witness account to unearth the truth as the grassroots boys and other reports I heard said there was only a face-to-face confrontation with no blows thrown.
UFC style take down and the head nearly taken off him! Jayz, it'll be a race against time to be fit for the championship.
Quote from: Hound on May 06, 2014, 02:40:28 PM
Quote from: ballinaman on May 06, 2014, 12:20:27 PM
So Philly took Connolly down UFC style and nearly took the head off him off the ball in a Ballymun vs Vincents match last week. Philly obviously waited for payback from the county final replay last year when he was sent off for an altercation with Connolly.
I wonder who Gavin will cut from the squad in the next few weeks if there is a cull.....
Cool!
Great to have an eye witness account to unearth the truth as the grassroots boys and other reports I heard said there was only a face-to-face confrontation with no blows thrown.
UFC style take down and the head nearly taken off him! Jayz, it'll be a race against time to be fit for the championship.
Ha...true, maybe the player who was playing I was chatting to embellished the story a bit so, should be interesting to see how they get on over the summer!
Quote from: Hound on May 06, 2014, 02:40:28 PM
Quote from: ballinaman on May 06, 2014, 12:20:27 PM
So Philly took Connolly down UFC style and nearly took the head off him off the ball in a Ballymun vs Vincents match last week. Philly obviously waited for payback from the county final replay last year when he was sent off for an altercation with Connolly.
I wonder who Gavin will cut from the squad in the next few weeks if there is a cull.....
Cool!
Great to have an eye witness account to unearth the truth as the grassroots boys and other reports I heard said there was only a face-to-face confrontation with no blows thrown.
UFC style take down and the head nearly taken off him! Jayz, it'll be a race against time to be fit for the championship.
Sure I could have told you that I was at the game. You hardly expected media outlets to carry that as an account of the game?
As regards the aftermath it's not public knowledge yet. Somebody else can if they want.
so it was, or it was not, a UFC style tackle?
Dublin are 11/10 according to oddschecker. Bayern were nailed on as well, I remember.
What odds were Celtic to win the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup?
The difference between Celtic and their nearest contenders is far far bigger than Dublin and the other AI contenders.
Aye, but Celtic don't play all their games at Celtic Park ; ;)
Quote from: Hound on May 06, 2014, 04:41:04 PM
What odds were Celtic to win the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup?
The difference between Celtic and their nearest contenders is far far bigger than Dublin and the other AI contenders.
Yeah but Celtic players have not played at the level they're capable of... they haven't had to!
Dublin look to be pushing themselves to the limit in the last 2 games and there's no reason to think they won't do the same in the All Ireland. The best chance anyone has is for Dublin to have an off day and them to play unbelievably out of their skins... it also has to be a knockout game as if they get a second chance the rest of us won't have any!
Quote from: seafoid on May 06, 2014, 03:51:37 PM
Dublin are 11/10 according to oddschecker. Bayern were nailed on as well, I remember.
I really fancy cork this year. Obviously Dublin will be very hard to beat but cork have the forwards to do serious damage against anyone. It's all about peaking at the right time. Everyone else is an outsider at this stage with Mayo, Tyrone and Kerry next on the list.
Remember this time last year, Donegal were red hot favourites and looked what happened to them.
Donegal had a disastrous League last year, dont think many were tipping them as strongly as red hot favs.
Only weakness in this Dublin team is the poor post match speech they give.
Their mentality towards teams later on in the championship may prove to be their downfall.
Quote from: Armaghgeddon on May 06, 2014, 11:22:42 PM
Their mentality towards teams later on in the championship may prove to be their downfall.
in what way?
Quote from: Orangemac on May 06, 2014, 10:31:18 PM
Only weakness in this Dublin team is the poor post match speech they give.
Very true. :) Dublin Captains have yet to master the classic method. Start off calmly with a few thank you's , a round of hip hip hoorays and then gradually increase volume. Speech ends with a loud ,hoarse, inaudible shriek and a clenched fist. 'Gettysburg' , 'I had a dream' and 'O'Donovan Rossa' speeches pale into comparison to the great GAA acceptance speech.
Quote from: Johnnybegood on May 07, 2014, 12:09:00 AM
Quote from: Armaghgeddon on May 06, 2014, 11:22:42 PM
Their mentality towards teams later on in the championship may prove to be their downfall.
in what way?
Their mentality towards teams later on in the championship may prove to be their downfall.
in what way?
Yeah hardly a weakness. I'd have considered that one of the factors in winning the 2 AIs.
Antrim
Quote from: Thisonegoesto11 on May 07, 2014, 09:22:29 AM
Quote from: Orangemac on May 06, 2014, 10:31:18 PM
Only weakness in this Dublin team is the poor post match speech they give.
Very true. :) Dublin Captains have yet to master the classic method. Start off calmly with a few thank you's , a round of hip hip hoorays and then gradually increase volume. Speech ends with a loud ,hoarse, inaudible shriek and a clenched fist. 'Gettysburg' , 'I had a dream' and 'O'Donovan Rossa' speeches pale into comparison to the great GAA acceptance speech.
If its the Dubs, with their criminal class element, then surely it would be clenched fist screams of 'Attica' 'Attica'.
See yis all in Coppers. Yaaaaaay!
I have a friend in Kickhams and he says Phiily Mcmahon was thrown off the panel. Any truth? Did he give Dermot the syrups?
Well?
Quote from: ONeill on August 09, 2014, 07:29:46 PM
Well?
If Armagh hadn't caught us on an off day we'd have done it.
Hey, that's our line!
Quote from: heffo on August 09, 2014, 07:39:49 PM
Quote from: ONeill on August 09, 2014, 07:29:46 PM
Well?
Mayo
Nah.
Starting 15 struggling in a couple of positions and 2 favourite subs are the equivalent of having men sent off.
The question should be renamed to 'When will Dublin be stopped? This decade or the decade after?'
One word: Ebola
8)
Quote from: Farrandeelin on August 09, 2014, 07:53:26 PM
The question should be renamed to 'When will Dublin be stopped? This decade or the decade after?'
When players like Cluxton and Alan B no longer around.
Quote from: moysider on August 09, 2014, 08:12:57 PM
8)Quote from: Farrandeelin on August 09, 2014, 07:53:26 PM
The question should be renamed to 'When will Dublin be stopped? This decade or the decade after?'
When players like Cluxton and Alan B no longer around.
Sure Alan is only there to keep the spot warm for Kilkenny.
Quote from: Syferus on August 09, 2014, 08:20:22 PM
Quote from: moysider on August 09, 2014, 08:12:57 PM
8)Quote from: Farrandeelin on August 09, 2014, 07:53:26 PM
The question should be renamed to 'When will Dublin be stopped? This decade or the decade after?'
When players like Cluxton and Alan B no longer around.
Sure Alan is only there to keep the spot warm for Kilkenny.
Thought we handled Kilkenny ok last year. Before his later injuries Alan was often unplayable.
Quote from: moysider on August 09, 2014, 08:23:59 PM
Quote from: Syferus on August 09, 2014, 08:20:22 PM
Quote from: moysider on August 09, 2014, 08:12:57 PM
8)Quote from: Farrandeelin on August 09, 2014, 07:53:26 PM
The question should be renamed to 'When will Dublin be stopped? This decade or the decade after?'
When players like Cluxton and Alan B no longer around.
Sure Alan is only there to keep the spot warm for Kilkenny.
Thought we handled Kilkenny ok last year. Before his later injuries Alan was often unplayable.
Aye, but Kilkenny is still only a sprog of a lad. Has the potential to be better than Alan Brogan in the same sort of role.
I think Donegal will give them a tight enough game. There is more steel to them than Monaghan and they have leaders on the pitch that Monaghan didn't have today. Saying all that, it would be hard to imagine anything but a dublin win.
Quote from: mylestheslasher on August 09, 2014, 08:27:05 PM
I think Donegal will give them a tight enough game. There is more steel to them than Monaghan and they have leaders on the pitch that Monaghan didn't have today. Saying all that, it would be hard to imagine anything but a dublin win.
i doubt they'll stay with 10 pts. They will have had more rest than monaghan but that's about the only positive that I can think of. Donegal just about beat Monaghan and then Armagh. Dublin will struggle to work it out for a while but then it will all come together and the second half will be yet another stroll for them
At full capacity, with everyone playing at 100% & all the breaks going our way, then yes we would be in with a shout.
Hard to see it though.
New official theme tune of the Dublin football team:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq79iVVwJ1A
The only thing to stop this Dublin team would be a ebola outbreak in the capital
Quote from: BluestackBoy on August 10, 2014, 12:50:11 AM
At full capacity, with everyone playing at 100% & all the breaks going our way, then yes we would be in with a shout.
Hard to see it though.
Just don't see it either. MIGHT keep enough fingers in the dyke to stay in touch for 50-60 mins, but they'll pull away to win with a bit to spare in the end. The MIGHT is contingent on not conceding goals.
Unless Brendan Devenney knows something no one else does! :P
It's the depth of talent in Dublin that will see them win Sam the year. I think they are already odds-on for next year.
The only thing that can stop Dublin is an air strike from the IDF for waving those Palestinian flags.
What was evident from yesterday's game was that Monaghan didn't believe they could bet Dublin. The same applies to Wexford, Laois & Meath. If you don't believe you can beat Dublin then you are finished as they are ruthless & will exploit weakness.
What McGuinness has to do over the next 3 weeks is ensure that every player believes 100% that the gameplan he comes up with will work & that they will beat Dublin using it. This is McGuinness's stong suit. This is what he does for a living & so I look forward with interest to the semi final.
Now on it's own belief won't be enough, a lot of other things have to improve as well, shooting among them. But if Donegal play Dublin without 100% belief in what they are doing then what happened to Monaghan yesterday will happen to them.
Quote from: BluestackBoy on August 10, 2014, 10:43:50 AM
What was evident from yesterday's game was that Monaghan didn't believe they could bet Dublin. The same applies to Wexford, Laois & Meath. If you don't believe you can beat Dublin then you are finished as they are ruthless & will exploit weakness.
What McGuinness has to do over the next 3 weeks is ensure that every player believes 100% that the gameplan he comes up with will work & that they will beat Dublin using it. This is McGuinness's stong suit. This is what he does for a living & so I look forward with interest to the semi final.
Now on it's own belief won't be enough, a lot of other things have to improve as well, shooting among them. But if Donegal play Dublin without 100% belief in what they are doing then what happened to Monaghan yesterday will happen to them.
That's fairly accurate and reaosonable. Didn't think that was allowed on this forum :)
Has anybody suggested a controlled introduction of this Ebola virus into Northside Dublin perhaps? Could level the playing field somewhat.
Possibly some ancilliary social benefit also..
Even the Ebola virus would be wary of setting foot in the Northside of Dublin.
Quote from: Mike Sheehy on August 10, 2014, 05:53:31 PM
Even the Ebola virus would be wary of setting foot in the Northside of Dublin.
;D
Quote from: BluestackBoy on August 10, 2014, 10:43:50 AM
What was evident from yesterday's game was that Monaghan didn't believe they could bet Dublin. The same applies to Wexford, Laois & Meath. If you don't believe you can beat Dublin then you are finished as they are ruthless & will exploit weakness.
What McGuinness has to do over the next 3 weeks is ensure that every player believes 100% that the gameplan he comes up with will work & that they will beat Dublin using it. This is McGuinness's stong suit. This is what he does for a living & so I look forward with interest to the semi final.
Now on it's own belief won't be enough, a lot of other things have to improve as well, shooting among them. But if Donegal play Dublin without 100% belief in what they are doing then what happened to Monaghan yesterday will happen to them.
You've hit the nail on the head there. Good post!
According to Brolly, Dublin took their tactics from Crossmaglen, so I expect they'll go only succeed for about the same period as Crossmaglen.
I think yesterday's results worked out perfectly for Donegal. Dublin looked untouchable as they cruised to victory against a Monaghan side who Jimmy McGuinness was virtually doing somersaults after beating in the Ulster Final. Meanwhile Donegal themselves squeeze past a decent but very limited Armagh side by a solitary point, putting in a performance, which if repeated in the semi final, won't put them within an asses roar of Dublin. Now, the 2012 All Ireland Champions go into the semi final against the 2013 champions without anyone giving them a chance and being completely written off in some quarters, against a team already being touted as the greatest ever. (Paddy Power has Dublin 1/10 and Donegal 7/1) Jimmy will be rubbing his hands at this scenario. I remember Tyrone being written off in a similar fashion in 2008 in the lead up to their QF meeting with Dublin after they had sneaked past Mayo in the qualifiers and the Dubs had given Wexford a 23 point hammering in the Leinster final. A mate of mine said of Tyrone before the game that you should never write off a team of players who have All Ireland medals in their back pockets. Granted Dublin are much better than they were in 08 but I wouldn't be surprised that n a one off game, Donegal can turn the Dubs over. I'll have a small £10 bet at 7/1 anyway.
1-10 in all AI semi final ? They were better odds in their genes in Leinster which just shows how much better they've become since. Those might sound crazy odds but the 17 point demolition of Monaghan more than justifies the bookmaker's view.
The 4 semi finalists have turned out as most predicted. None of the 4 will have faced opponents as tough as each other so far in the championship. So for me previous form goes out window to an extent. Dublin have to beat two of Donegal/Mayo/Kerry. That still remains a tough ask regardless of what has gone on already. All 4 have planned to peak for the last weekends of August. These will be serious games and by no means a cake walk for anyone , including Dublin.
I now think Kerry have the best shot at beating the Dubs.
Best combination of all round football ability, scoring power plus tactical nous.
What a game it would be though.
Quote from: Jinxy on August 11, 2014, 09:39:47 AM
I now think Kerry have the best shot at beating the Dubs.
Best combination of all round football ability, scoring power plus tactical nous.
What a game it would be though.
The peoples final....
Quote from: Jinxy on August 11, 2014, 09:39:47 AM
I now think Kerry have the best shot at beating the Dubs.
Best combination of all round football ability, scoring power plus tactical nous.
What a game it would be though.
Don't see that at all. Provided Mayo avoid getting stage fright when faced with a Kerry jersey I'd expect them to make the final. In that scenario Mayo's final jitters will ensure that Dublin should cruise to back to back titles. I'd love to see Mayo winning it but I feel it might be better were they to lose in the semi than avoid the mental torture of losing 3 AI finals in a row. In any case I feel as though the AI title will be decided on 31 August between Dublin and Donegal. If McGuinness pulls this one off he deserves to be heralded amongst the managerial greats considering the gulf in ability between the sides, however he has defied the odds before.
I'm not saying Kerry will beat Mayo.
I'm saying that in a final, Kerry would have a better chance against Dublin than Mayo.
Forget about Donegal, Dublin will give them the same treatment Mayo did last year.
Quote from: Jinxy on August 11, 2014, 09:39:47 AM
I now think Kerry have the best shot at beating the Dubs.
Best combination of all round football ability, scoring power plus tactical nous.
What a game it would be though.
Mayo have a better shot in my view because they have a brilliant half back line and great fielding ability at midfield. That's why they caused us so many problems last year
Absolutely no cutting edge in the FF line though.
Quote from: Jinxy on August 11, 2014, 09:59:30 AM
Absolutely no cutting edge in the FF line though.
They need everyone chipping in. If they get that they can win.
Tactically they blew it last year by failing to notice Dublin had 14 men for the last quarter because EOG couldn't run and another player was concussed.
Only for that they could have won.
All 3 teams left can beat us. We've looked better then we are because none of the teams we have played are contenders .
Agree that Dublin-Donegal will be similar to Mayo-Donegal last year. Think Mayo best-placed to give Dublin something resembling a match - only team that can possibly compete with them in terms of pace and power. I look at the goal chances Kerry gave up to Galway, think of Dublin running at them, and come to the conclusion that in the long run, Kerry might be better off losing to Mayo.
Quote from: orangeman on August 11, 2014, 12:17:04 AM
1-10 in all AI semi final ? They were better odds in their genes in Leinster which just shows how much better they've become since. Those might sound crazy odds but the 17 point demolition of Monaghan more than justifies the bookmaker's view.
For bookies the odds don't necessarily reflect the likelihood of an event, they reflect where the money is going. So if all the money is going on Dublin then the bookies will look at the potential liability and will shorten their price and lengthen Donegal's to make a punt on Donegal more attractive and a punt on the Dubs less attractive.
Quote from: AQMP on August 11, 2014, 11:00:14 AM
For bookies the odds don't necessarily reflect the likelihood of an event, they reflect where the money is going. So if all the money is going on Dublin then the bookies will look at the potential liability and will shorten their price and lengthen Donegal's to make a punt on Donegal more attractive and a punt on the Dubs less attractive.
While Dublin are now a real certainty, in the past you could profit from betting by simply betting against Dublin as the weight of money was always on Dublin and the odds for the other team better as a consequence.
Quote from: INDIANA on August 11, 2014, 10:04:28 AM
Quote from: Jinxy on August 11, 2014, 09:59:30 AM
Absolutely no cutting edge in the FF line though.
They need everyone chipping in. If they get that they can win.
Tactically they blew it last year by failing to notice Dublin had 14 men for the last quarter because EOG couldn't run and another player was concussed.
Only for that they could have won.
All 3 teams left can beat us. We've looked better then we are because none of the teams we have played are contenders .
they actually only had 13 OCarroll was wandering around the hf line concussed before Ogara was injured.
Quote from: INDIANA on August 11, 2014, 10:04:28 AM
Quote from: Jinxy on August 11, 2014, 09:59:30 AM
Absolutely no cutting edge in the FF line though.
They need everyone chipping in. If they get that they can win.
Tactically they blew it last year by failing to notice Dublin had 14 men for the last quarter because EOG couldn't run and another player was concussed.
Only for that they could have won.
All 3 teams left can beat us. We've looked better then we are because none of the teams we have played are contenders .
You're good at giving us a false sense of hope! ;)
Wouldn't be overly surprised if Donegal beat them.
People forget only about 18 months back a lot of people were saying the Donegal machine is unbeatable and other than Mark Mc Hugh i canty think of anyone else is missing?Mc Faddens form is a worry but some other players are hitting form at the right time,Lacey,Mc Niallais and Mc Brearty for starters. Murphy will hopefully be left inside and i really do think Donegal will go close.
I would rate Ryan McHugh as a better footballer then Mark , more natural ability. Ryan Bradley and Ross Wherity were 2 other lads they don't have from last year, both players made impact from the bench. Bradley had a great year in 2012.
It would also be good to see Donegal win as there wouldnt be 1000 threads on Dublin on here all the time. They are a class side but the hype is annoying.
Quote from: beer baron on August 11, 2014, 08:26:14 PM
People forget only about 18 months back a lot of people were saying the Donegal machine is unbeatable.
We're they??
Quote from: rodney trotter on August 11, 2014, 08:31:59 PM
I would rate Ryan McHugh as a better footballer then Mark , more natural ability. Ryan Bradley and Ross Wherity were 2 other lads they don't have from last year, both players made impact from the bench. Bradley had a great year in 2012.
It would also be good to see Donegal win as there wouldnt be 1000 threads on Dublin on here all the time. They are a class side but the hype is annoying.
Where is Ross Wherrity this year ?
Quote from: rodney trotter on August 11, 2014, 08:31:59 PM
I would rate Ryan McHugh as a better footballer then Mark , more natural ability. Ryan Bradley and Ross Wherity were 2 other lads they don't have from last year, both players made impact from the bench. Bradley had a great year in 2012.
It would also be good to see Donegal win as there wouldnt be 1000 threads on Dublin on here all the time. They are a class side but the hype is annoying.
And who is fuelling the hype? It ain't us.
I disagree with you on the above. Mark is a far better player then Ryan in that particular role.
Ryan always looks like a half back to me. Still a very good footballer however.
It s a pity for Donegal Wherity went to NY.
Quote from: heffo on August 11, 2014, 08:32:58 PM
Quote from: beer baron on August 11, 2014, 08:26:14 PM
People forget only about 18 months back a lot of people were saying the Donegal machine is unbeatable.
We're they??
Yes
Quote from: heffo on August 11, 2014, 08:32:58 PM
Quote from: beer baron on August 11, 2014, 08:26:14 PM
People forget only about 18 months back a lot of people were saying the Donegal machine is unbeatable.
We're they??
They were indeed- mainly Ulster bucks on here.
They were also saying that Donegal were the only county team that could bate Crossmaglen ::)
Donegal's high intensity defensive tactics are hard to sustain and they haven't the depth to cover gaps. McFadden's loss of form is a problem for Donegal, as they don't have a ready replacement, Dublin wouldn't even notice someone losing form, they would just wheel in someone else.
Quote from: beer baron on August 11, 2014, 08:59:37 PM
Quote from: heffo on August 11, 2014, 08:32:58 PM
Quote from: beer baron on August 11, 2014, 08:26:14 PM
People forget only about 18 months back a lot of people were saying the Donegal machine is unbeatable.
We're they??
Yes
Can't say I noticed it tbh - pretty shrewd judges whoever they were
Quote from: Saffrongael on August 11, 2014, 08:35:46 PM
Quote from: rodney trotter on August 11, 2014, 08:31:59 PM
I would rate Ryan McHugh as a better footballer then Mark , more natural ability. Ryan Bradley and Ross Wherity were 2 other lads they don't have from last year, both players made impact from the bench. Bradley had a great year in 2012.
It would also be good to see Donegal win as there wouldnt be 1000 threads on Dublin on here all the time. They are a class side but the hype is annoying.
Where is Ross Wherrity this year ?
I think he played for New York in the championship
Quote from: rodney trotter on August 11, 2014, 08:31:59 PM
I would rate Ryan McHugh as a better footballer then Mark , more natural ability. Ryan Bradley and Ross Wherity were 2 other lads they don't have from last year, both players made impact from the bench. Bradley had a great year in 2012.
It would also be good to see Donegal win as there wouldnt be 1000 threads on Dublin on here all the time. They are a class side but the hype is annoying.
Yes but most of the threads are started by non Dubs. Dubs ourselves are not doing much hype. The word is used about Dublin regardless..
Quote from: heffo on August 11, 2014, 09:32:06 PM
Quote from: beer baron on August 11, 2014, 08:59:37 PM
Quote from: heffo on August 11, 2014, 08:32:58 PM
Quote from: beer baron on August 11, 2014, 08:26:14 PM
People forget only about 18 months back a lot of people were saying the Donegal machine is unbeatable.
We're they??
Yes
Can't say I noticed it tbh - pretty shrewd judges whoever they were
Brolly was one of them, called them a "football superbug".
Quote from: Saffrongael on August 11, 2014, 08:35:46 PM
Quote from: rodney trotter on August 11, 2014, 08:31:59 PM
I would rate Ryan McHugh as a better footballer then Mark , more natural ability. Ryan Bradley and Ross Wherity were 2 other lads they don't have from last year, both players made impact from the bench. Bradley had a great year in 2012.
It would also be good to see Donegal win as there wouldnt be 1000 threads on Dublin on here all the time. They are a class side but the hype is annoying.
Where is Ross Wherrity this year ?
In New York,
Article in the Examiner before they played Mayo
You may recall, in November 2012, Finance Minister Noonan was slated for having the audacity to suggest a lot of young Irish people had emigrated for "lifestyle reasons".
The remark caused outrage but it neatly explains why Ross Wherity finds himself wearing a red, white and blue jersey in Gaelic Park tomorrow rather than a yellow and green one in Celtic Park in three weeks' time.
Donegal has its virtues but then New York has too — and then some.
"It was more adventure for me, I think," he says. "You are moving to one of the best cities in the world, craziest cities in the world. You need football there in your life to keep you sane, I think. Out partying and all that kind of stuff, but to get back down to the hard work, it's good to be grounded and have the lads around you.
"It's a great network as well to have, to be able to rely upon all the boys there, jobs-wise it's good for that there as well, contacts in the city, there is a lot of influence within the football. It is a great thing to have.
"Football is the one thing you would miss from not being back home at the minute — the culture of football, being in and around the county set-up and looking forward to going training on Tuesday and Thursday. But with New York now, you have that there yourself and we are really looking forward to Sunday now to get a good crack at Mayo."
A goalscorer in Donegal's fever pitch win over Tyrone in Ballybofey 12 months ago, Wherity wasn't prepared to stay around and launch another Championship assault with a group several of whom will retire from inter-county football at the end of the year.
He wasn't alone. Ryan Bradley emigrated to the Middle East. With a law and economics degree from DCU in his back pocket, Wherity is now working with a financial company in New York and intends staying there for the foreseeable future. "I've applied for another visa, waiting on that. That'll be 50-50, otherwise I'll be going out to look for an American girl!"
The Letterkenny man is as much a character as a free spirit. "I suppose we are still amateur players at the end of the day and me, personally, I wouldn't feel that much pressure playing. Some guys kind of get wound up by it all and that kind of stuff."
His recollection of his brief flirtation with Australian Rules is colourful: "I was down for a year with Ricky Nixon, whenever he was having his debacle," he says referring to the infamous agent who has his accreditation suspended by the AFL after reports of an inappropriate affair with a 17-year-old girl.
Wherity bought into Jim McGuinness's strict doctrine, but only for a while. He might have stepped away from it but his appreciation for his set-up is just as strong as it was when he was part of it.
"Obviously, some people back home they don't like change, they're a bit insular like that. People look at Jim McGuinness and they said 'what's this guy playing at?' He managed to win an All-Ireland out of it and the next season everyone is copying his tactics.
"Monaghan turned the tables on us in the Ulster final, played an ultra-defensive game on us and we weren't even able to beat our system. People might have been giving out about it but they were looking at it, and they admired it as well in that sense."
Rory Kavanagh's red card didn't help but he was surprised they didn't beat Monaghan in last Sunday's Division 2 final, having spent time training in Portugal a week before the game.
He can draw parallels between Donegal and New York now, as they prepare to face Mayo.
"Obviously, Jim takes it to another level with tactics and the defensive side of things. Obviously, that's the way the game is going too. Ian [Galvin] has put a plan together in place to stop Mayo functioning as much as they would like.
"Obviously, probably looking at Jim McGuinness and even Dublin to an extent, these guys have brought the game to another level. That's what we want to try and do — implement our plan and try force Mayo to play in a style they don't want to play. Hopefully, that will reap dividends for us on the day and we put in a good performance.
"From the outset last year [before the Tyrone game], Jim McGuinness, he just kept reiterating 'May 26, May 26', to us, but it was the same over here — 'May 4, May 4'. Everything's geared towards that one day for us, especially over here where we don't have a competitive game or we don't have a backdoor system.
"It's really do-or-die on the day and putting it all into this one day it's the only reason why we are out there training in cold weather and the pissing rain. We are really looking forward to getting out there in the sunshine on Sunday and giving Mayo a good crack."
Wherity has more appetite than most to deliver against Mayo having been at the receiving end of Donegal's crushing 16-point defeat to them in last August's All-Ireland quarter-final. "They don't even have a plan in place if we win," he remarks.
So enthused is he by the prospect of revenge that he believes beating them would knock them out of the championship before being corrected (Galway's close shave in Gaelic Park in 2010 ensured the visiting Connacht team would get a second bite of the cherry). Does he genuinely feel New York can pull off a victory that would put everything fellow exiles London achieved last year firmly in the shade?
"I have to say yes, don't I?" he smiles. "You are not playing this game to go out and get hammered by Mayo. Looking at the last few years, I was surprised why the scores against the lesser teams were so bad, losing by 20-22 points.
"Mayo coming over here, it will really heighten our sense of the occasion. If you look back at the results, New York have played better against Galway and Mayo.
"It's the sense of occasion and they realise what's in front of them and what they really need to achieve and so it brings the best out of players, by all accounts."
We have our answer
Quote from: beer baron on August 31, 2014, 05:29:35 PM
We have our answer
Well at least that's the end of Don't Matter as a poster. Every cloud has a silver lining.
China
From today's Irish News
Dublin are blameless for GAA feeding their massive appetite by Cahair O'Kane
IF YOU keep putting a child out food, the child will keep eating. You set a box of biscuits and a few platefuls of sweets in front of a four-year-old and they won't last long.
A few years down the line, when the child reaches the point of no return, the gaze doesn't fall on them for eating. It's the fault of the guardians that fed them. Right now, Dublin are setting out their napkins for another feed. Last Sunday, they won their 13th consecutive National League game.
The reigning All-Ireland champions, the holders of Sam Maguire in 2013 and '11, are 70 minutes away from their fourth straight Division One title. That feat hasn't been achieved since the great Mayo team of the 1930s won six on the bounce.
This Dublin crop has lost one Leinster Championship game in 11 years. The production line behind them has produced six Leinster U21-winning teams in the last eight years and won four of the last seven Leinster minor titles. That's before you mention their progression in hurling.
The GAA's landscape is dangerously blue. If there is any county in Ireland that doesn't really need a leg-up at present, it's Dublin. Now, there's a consciousness of not becoming a Dublin-basher. This is certainly not a criticism of them. They have invested their funding very wisely.
Their county board deserves great credit for putting so much into the development of those teams and not squandering their cash reserves. But then you look at other counties and see that they simply don't have the same options.
Clare have come in for all sorts of criticism in the last few weeks for the job they did of redeveloping Cusack Park. From the lack of legroom between seats and building a press box that only gives a view of half the pitch to dabbing the entrance with Tipperary's blue and yellow rather than the reverse, their county board has come under fire.
In all, Clare spent €1.5m on the south stand at the ground as part of a €2.3m redevelopment of the ground as a whole. That sounds like a substantial sum of money but the ground was so dilapidated that they couldn't afford to rebuild the south stand. Instead, they tore the roof off, took the seats out and then reconstructed it as best they could.
The money didn't exist for anything grander: "If the budget allowed, you'd like to demolish the existing stand and rebuild the stand, but there are certain cost constraints," said county chairman Joe Cooney.
"We were working with the upgrade of an existing facility and governed by the existing profile of the stand, therefore governed by the existing treads and risers of the stand."
Clare's problem now stretches beyond supporters needing to go on extreme diet plans to fit in their seats. Their problem is that the €600,000 capital grant they received from Croke Park in 2015 is the biggest chunk of money they are going to see for a long time, and it is all buried in the concrete at Cusack Park.
That will not help their improving football team push on following promotion to Division Two. It will not provide the next band of young players who dream of being the new Gary Brennan.
The figure they received from Croke Park for Games Development last year was €47,400. As with all these figures, the comparison always goes back to Dublin, who received just over €1.46m to help improve the standard of the games in the county.
Dublin's capital grant of €7,483 for the year would almost look to have evened it out were it not for this new National Games Development Centre on the site of the National Sports Campus. The north-west corner of the Abbotstown site has recently been completed, handing over five playing pitches - four of them full size and all floodlit - a 3G pitch, gym, hurling wall, etc etc.
Even the covered stand that houses 400 people may not seem like much of an advantage, but the elevation it will allow Dublin's coaches to watch in-house games from is something few counties have. A total of €12m has been invested in the 25-acre centre.
Paráic Duffy has insisted all along that the centre is not Dublin's and that it belongs to everyone. Except, it's in Dublin and even their neighbouring counties appear none too set on using it.
It's a 90km round-trip from Kildare town; the same from Navan. It's 140km there and back from Wicklow. Good luck to the players trying to get away from work to make those trips three or four times a week.
"Have Dublin any special first say on it? The answer is no. Nor have they sought it to be fair to them. I'm sure they will use it," said Duffy at the venue's official opening last week.
"Our goal is to have teams of all shapes and sizes using it. I think clubs from all over the country will be thrilled with the opportunity of coming here for a weekend and maybe using the gym for a session, playing a match here. I think it will be used by all 32 counties, 2,000 clubs. That's what we want and I believe that will happen."
They would have been better if they'd just come out and said it was a new centre of excellence for Dublin. A few days after those statements were made, it emerged that Dublin had funded the on-site gym and that Bryan Cullen was overseeing the installation of equipment.
Abbotstown will become the base for Dublin GAA. It will be their centre of excellence. Dublin's conveyor belt, adding to their already successful football and hurling teams, will be sculpted in its luxury.
It's not Dublin's fault the GAA are feeding them. The guardians need to stop making excuses for it.
---------------------------
Who are the guardians and where are they from?
Of course for years the GAA powers that be have been saying we Dublin to be winning things to bring the crowds and keep the money rolling in which I can understand to some extent but when are they gonna admit that they could have a major problem in the hands.
Older people have told me there has always been an imbalance in money being poured into Dublin and even to Kerry years ago so they can have better training sessions etc and that they dominate for a while but then others catch up.
For years people have been saying with the population Dublin have they should be getting their house in order much better and have a much better quality player than other parts of the country.
Well it looks as if that has finally happened and Dublin has gone GAA crazy. The amount of kids at nursery groups each Sat around Dublin is amazing and you see much more kids now with GAA shirts and hurls that you would have years ago.
Rather than bash the "guardians" at this stage we would just like them to acknowledge what they have done and maybe correct it asap.
A lot of Dublin fans have already got so used to winning games easy that they say its already become a bit boring unless they're playing Kerry. It's already been said on here that Kerry v Dublin in the semifinal this year is really the final. Of course shocks can happen like Donegal's win against them in 2014 but it's happening less and less.
Is it Dublins fault? Who cares who's fault it is but lets admit it sooner rather than later and go about changing it before the who championship has become a non event.
The excitement of the GAA championship among gaels around the whole world gets us up at 4am in Australia to watch our team play. Many fly home for the All-Ireland final to see our team. If its Mayo v the Dubs this year in the final I wonder would many be bothered flying home any more.
If something doesn't change then it really will be Hill 16 is Dublin ONLY.
I
The monster has been created.
Now it is in danger of devouring its creator.
Time for GAA's elected officers to act now before it's too late.
Second year syndrome
the Dubs are far less ruthless than Kilkenny.
I think the crap standard in Leinster handicaps them making an ambush in August more likely
Would they get a better rattle in Connacht seafoid? Ye haven't exactly been sickening Mayo recently.
Quote from: seafoid on April 12, 2016, 11:25:32 AM
Second year syndrome
the Dubs are far less ruthless than Kilkenny.
I think the crap standard in Leinster handicaps them making an ambush in August more likely
My worry is that bar Monaghan, and maybe Cork for a half and Roscommon for 20 minutes, the teams we played in the league saved their worst performances for their games against the Dubs.
If you wanted to set the Dubs up for an ambush, this would be way to do it. 8 wins out of 8 and have mixed the good with the very mediocre.
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 12, 2016, 11:27:37 AM
Would they get a better rattle in Connacht seafoid? Ye haven't exactly been sickening Mayo recently.
4 counties have won connacht in the last 15 years in fairness. Leinster football is a shambles. Stockholm syndrome .
Mayo will be knocked off their f**king perch (copyright Ferguson) soon enough. I just wish they would win the all Ireland.
In the last 15 years? Meath, Westmeath, Laois have also won Leinsters in the last 15 years.
Quote from: seafoid on April 12, 2016, 11:49:07 AM
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 12, 2016, 11:27:37 AM
Would they get a better rattle in Connacht seafoid? Ye haven't exactly been sickening Mayo recently.
4 counties have won connacht in the last 15 years in fairness. Leinster football is a shambles. Stockholm syndrome .
Mayo will be knocked off their f**king perch (copyright Ferguson) soon enough. I just wish they would win the all Ireland.
And 5 counties in Leinster have won it in the last 16 years.
Dublin if they existed in Connacht would do the exact same and more. Meath/Kildare/Laois/Westmeath would have all flourished in Connacht. This isn't a Dublin problem, it's not a Leinster problem it's a GAA problem.
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 12, 2016, 11:54:18 AM
In the last 15 years? Meath, Westmeath, Laois have also won Leinsters in the last 15 years.
it is 3/5 over 10y vs 2/12 in Leinster
Even Kilkenny didn't win 10/11.
Quote from: seafoid on April 12, 2016, 11:57:06 AM
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 12, 2016, 11:54:18 AM
In the last 15 years? Meath, Westmeath, Laois have also won Leinsters in the last 15 years.
it is 3/5 over 10y vs 2/12 in Leinster
Even Kilkenny didn't win 10/11.
You're missing the point. Dublin would do exactly the same, or probably worse, in Connacht. If Offaly could escape into Connacht for Football, I bet you €100 they'd be in a Connacht Final within 5 years, at the very least.
Quote from: Dinny Breen on April 12, 2016, 11:56:06 AM
Quote from: seafoid on April 12, 2016, 11:49:07 AM
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 12, 2016, 11:27:37 AM
Would they get a better rattle in Connacht seafoid? Ye haven't exactly been sickening Mayo recently.
4 counties have won connacht in the last 15 years in fairness. Leinster football is a shambles. Stockholm syndrome .
Mayo will be knocked off their f**king perch (copyright Ferguson) soon enough. I just wish they would win the all Ireland.
And 5 counties in Leinster have won it in the last 16 years.
Dublin if they existed in Connacht would do the exact same and more. Meath/Kildare/Laois/Westmeath would have all flourished in Connacht. This isn't a Dublin problem, it's not a Leinster problem it's a GAA problem.
Dinny did the qualifier system contribute to the problem in Leinster?
Quote from: seafoid on April 12, 2016, 11:59:38 AM
Quote from: Dinny Breen on April 12, 2016, 11:56:06 AM
Quote from: seafoid on April 12, 2016, 11:49:07 AM
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 12, 2016, 11:27:37 AM
Would they get a better rattle in Connacht seafoid? Ye haven't exactly been sickening Mayo recently.
4 counties have won connacht in the last 15 years in fairness. Leinster football is a shambles. Stockholm syndrome .
Mayo will be knocked off their f**king perch (copyright Ferguson) soon enough. I just wish they would win the all Ireland.
And 5 counties in Leinster have won it in the last 16 years.
Dublin if they existed in Connacht would do the exact same and more. Meath/Kildare/Laois/Westmeath would have all flourished in Connacht. This isn't a Dublin problem, it's not a Leinster problem it's a GAA problem.
Dinny did the qualifier system contribute to the problem in Leinster?
In what way?
Galway would make bits of Dublin if they were in Leinster...
;D ;D ;D
Answer to this thread's question in one word is
KERRY
Quote from: Dinny Breen on April 12, 2016, 12:09:02 PM
Quote from: seafoid on April 12, 2016, 11:59:38 AM
Quote from: Dinny Breen on April 12, 2016, 11:56:06 AM
Quote from: seafoid on April 12, 2016, 11:49:07 AM
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 12, 2016, 11:27:37 AM
Would they get a better rattle in Connacht seafoid? Ye haven't exactly been sickening Mayo recently.
4 counties have won connacht in the last 15 years in fairness. Leinster football is a shambles. Stockholm syndrome .
Mayo will be knocked off their f**king perch (copyright Ferguson) soon enough. I just wish they would win the all Ireland.
And 5 counties in Leinster have won it in the last 16 years.
Dublin if they existed in Connacht would do the exact same and more. Meath/Kildare/Laois/Westmeath would have all flourished in Connacht. This isn't a Dublin problem, it's not a Leinster problem it's a GAA problem.
Dinny did the qualifier system contribute to the problem in Leinster?
In what way?
The earlier qualifier years helped provide momentum for Westmeath's breakthrough in 2004. Not sure if Laois would say the same thing regarding 2003 or not. Without the qualifiers Westmeath would have been out of the 2001 championship in early summer after a quarter final loss to Meath. In the end they finished the year believing they could have won the all-Ireland (rightly or wrongly).
It's not Dublin's fault that so many of the counties in Leinster are in a heap. However it must be bloody demoralising. Young players are getting preconditioned to being stuffed by Dublin at minor and u21, and it's hard to lift from that. As pointed out elsewhere, only Kildare look capable of stepping up to the challenge in the coming years.
Quote from: Dinny Breen on April 12, 2016, 12:09:02 PM
Quote from: seafoid on April 12, 2016, 11:59:38 AM
Quote from: Dinny Breen on April 12, 2016, 11:56:06 AM
Quote from: seafoid on April 12, 2016, 11:49:07 AM
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 12, 2016, 11:27:37 AM
Would they get a better rattle in Connacht seafoid? Ye haven't exactly been sickening Mayo recently.
4 counties have won connacht in the last 15 years in fairness. Leinster football is a shambles. Stockholm syndrome .
Mayo will be knocked off their f**king perch (copyright Ferguson) soon enough. I just wish they would win the all Ireland.
And 5 counties in Leinster have won it in the last 16 years.
Dublin if they existed in Connacht would do the exact same and more. Meath/Kildare/Laois/Westmeath would have all flourished in Connacht. This isn't a Dublin problem, it's not a Leinster problem it's a GAA problem.
Dinny did the qualifier system contribute to the problem in Leinster?
In what way?
They never won 10 Leinsters in 11 years when it was knockout. I dunno. what is driving the Dublin dominance. It can't just be money. there is a serious problem in Offaly, Meath and Kildare going on as well. er
Quote from: seafoid on April 12, 2016, 03:22:49 PM
They never won 10 Leinsters in 11 years when it was knockout. I dunno. what is driving the Dublin dominance. It can't just be money. there is a serious problem in Offaly, Meath and Kildare going on as well. er
Dublin reached six AI Finals in a row (1974 to 1979) long before "the money" and when all their Leinster games (apart from the Leinster Final) were played around Leinster.
Now they've bought into the ultra defensive system there will be little stopping them. . .
http://www.sportsjoe.ie/gaa/dublin-play-14-men-behind-the-ball-why-are-they-so-afraid-to-acknowledge-it/73783
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 12, 2016, 11:58:38 AM
Quote from: seafoid on April 12, 2016, 11:57:06 AM
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 12, 2016, 11:54:18 AM
In the last 15 years? Meath, Westmeath, Laois have also won Leinsters in the last 15 years.
it is 3/5 over 10y vs 2/12 in Leinster
Even Kilkenny didn't win 10/11.
You're missing the point. Dublin would do exactly the same, or probably worse, in Connacht. If Offaly could escape into Connacht for Football, I bet you €100 they'd be in a Connacht Final within 5 years, at the very least.
If you are talking about the last 15 or 10 years I don't think this is fair.
Mayo played the Dubs in 2006, 2011, 2013 & twice in 2015. In those games Mayo won 2, drew 1 and lost 2. No one comes near to that in Leinster in the same period, so I can't see the evidence that Dublin would do 'worse' in Connacht, especially seeing as they have won 10 of the last 11 Leinsters.
As for Offaly in a Connacht Final in 5 years, that would definitely be possible. But they would need to improve to be knocking out anyone from Galway, Roscommon or Mayo.
True, but Dublin would wear them down eventually with production lines. What's going on in Mayo is not sustainable in the same way what Dublin are doing is. It's not that way anywhere else. I worry less about the seniors than I do about U14s, 15s, 16, minors and 21s.
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 12, 2016, 03:49:35 PM
True, but Dublin would wear them down eventually with production lines. What's going on in Mayo is not sustainable in the same way what Dublin are doing is. It's not that way anywhere else. I worry less about the seniors than I do about U14s, 15s, 16, minors and 21s.
This is probably true. We seem to be happy enough to wait for a talented bunch to come along at minor or U-21 and hope for the best.
Quote from: muppet on April 12, 2016, 03:52:38 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 12, 2016, 03:49:35 PM
True, but Dublin would wear them down eventually with production lines. What's going on in Mayo is not sustainable in the same way what Dublin are doing is. It's not that way anywhere else. I worry less about the seniors than I do about U14s, 15s, 16, minors and 21s.
This is probably true. We seem to be happy enough to wait for a talented bunch to come along at minor or U-21 and hope for the best.
What kind of underage structure for development squads do Offaly, Meath and Kildare have ? Is there a n U17 competition in Lunster ?
Dublin really would have a case to answer imo anyway if other Leinster counties were tearing up trees in the qualifiers and also playing by and large in Divisions 1 and 2. Not the case and Dublin cannot be blamed for that.
Have fairly major respect for most Leinster counties who are knuckling down now with development squads, GPOs etc to improve their lot............. and improve they will.
Quote from: Canalman on April 12, 2016, 04:00:33 PM
Dublin really would have a case to answer imo anyway if other Leinster counties were tearing up trees in the qualifiers and also playing by and large in Divisions 1 and 2. Not the case and Dublin cannot be blamed for that.
Have fairly major respect for most Leinster counties who are knuckling down now with development squads, GPOs etc to improve their lot............. and improve they will.
Eh you do know Kildare have the 1st or 2nd best qualifier record in the country and that Kildare have been division 1/2 bar this years Division 3 Sabbatical for the past decade.
I'd be very interested to hear what strategic planning other Leinster counties have undertaken to bridge the gap. As far as I know the Offaly underage football development program is highly rated and Kildare are obviously doing something right, Longford too, but I'm not sure about the rest.
For me, the crucial period is 6-16. If you have clubs coaching players properly and developing technically proficient good decision makers then you should be able to compete. You don't need huge money to do this but you do need educated committed coaches in the clubs (of which I'm sure there are many) and county boards can help here.
I think counties like Kildare and Meath can certainly close the gap as they have substantial populations themselves but the likes of Laois and Offaly may only ever do so when they get an exceptional group. In saying that Dublin won't have a Cluxton, Connolly, Brogan in every team. There's hope for all teams but they need to take their player development seriously.
Money. In the end money is the washer on the population bolt. You can do a decent job trying to compete with a massive county at underage because money feeds into their development less, at least before they hit minor. But when you add money to it the connotion becomes toxic and everyone else is left chasing shadows and piling up debt trying to keep up.
Football is on the verge of disaster.
Quote from: Zulu on April 12, 2016, 04:59:54 PM
I'd be very interested to hear what strategic planning other Leinster counties have undertaken to bridge the gap. As far as I know the Offaly underage football development program is highly rated and Kildare are obviously doing something right, Longford too, but I'm not sure about the rest.
For me, the crucial period is 6-16. If you have clubs coaching players properly and developing technically proficient good decision makers then you should be able to compete. You don't need huge money to do this but you do need educated committed coaches in the clubs (of which I'm sure there are many) and county boards can help here.
I think counties like Kildare and Meath can certainly close the gap as they have substantial populations themselves but the likes of Laois and Offaly may only ever do so when they get an exceptional group. In saying that Dublin won't have a Cluxton, Connolly, Brogan in every team. There's hope for all teams but they need to take their player development seriously.
And as always that comes down to money..
Quote from: The Hill is Blue on April 12, 2016, 03:39:34 PM
Quote from: seafoid on April 12, 2016, 03:22:49 PM
They never won 10 Leinsters in 11 years when it was knockout. I dunno. what is driving the Dublin dominance. It can't just be money. there is a serious problem in Offaly, Meath and Kildare going on as well. er
Dublin reached six AI Finals in a row (1974 to 1979) long before "the money" and when all their Leinster games (apart from the Leinster Final) were played around Leinster.
6 is still.less than 10 at least in Euros
One of the big problems that faces counties in Leinster now is that the "casual" GAA supporter outside of Dublin is beginning to lose interest. Attendances are down an awful lot from the late 90s early 00s when there were four or five teams competing at a high level. The Leinster Council's insistence on playing games in Croke Park when the place is three quarters empty doesn't help to create any buzz or interest. Kildare are down to play Wexford at Croke Park this summer and the place will be dead. If it was fixed for Carlow or Aughrim it would at least generate a bit of an atmosphere.
If there is also a drop off in participation rates to go with the fall in attendance then the decline of Leinster football will be terminal.
Quote from: Dinny Breen on April 12, 2016, 05:17:14 PM
Quote from: Zulu on April 12, 2016, 04:59:54 PM
I'd be very interested to hear what strategic planning other Leinster counties have undertaken to bridge the gap. As far as I know the Offaly underage football development program is highly rated and Kildare are obviously doing something right, Longford too, but I'm not sure about the rest.
For me, the crucial period is 6-16. If you have clubs coaching players properly and developing technically proficient good decision makers then you should be able to compete. You don't need huge money to do this but you do need educated committed coaches in the clubs (of which I'm sure there are many) and county boards can help here.
I think counties like Kildare and Meath can certainly close the gap as they have substantial populations themselves but the likes of Laois and Offaly may only ever do so when they get an exceptional group. In saying that Dublin won't have a Cluxton, Connolly, Brogan in every team. There's hope for all teams but they need to take their player development seriously.
And as always that comes down to money..
Certainly a factor but Matt Connor wasn't produced by money, nor John Doyle or Mikey Sheehy for that matter. Fitting out a gym with the equipment to develop an athlete doesn't take huge money either (though I appreciate it wouldn't be small money for many counties). The point I'm making though is that developing young footballers that can kick left and right, make good decisions on the ball (maybe the most important factor that separates the elite from the very good), tackle well, have good control and are tactically aware is far more about the quality of coaching than it is about money. Counties should focus on increasing their base and with that they'll increase their likelihood of producing their own Connolly's or Flynn's.
The funding counties get has, of course, to be looked at and I've long felt the GAA should prioritise certain counties to help get them up to All Ireland level but counties can also do more to help themselves.
Quote from: Dinny Breen on April 12, 2016, 11:56:06 AM
Quote from: seafoid on April 12, 2016, 11:49:07 AM
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 12, 2016, 11:27:37 AM
Would they get a better rattle in Connacht seafoid? Ye haven't exactly been sickening Mayo recently.
4 counties have won connacht in the last 15 years in fairness. Leinster football is a shambles. Stockholm syndrome .
Mayo will be knocked off their f**king perch (copyright Ferguson) soon enough. I just wish they would win the all Ireland.
And 5 counties in Leinster have won it in the last 16 years.
Dublin if they existed in Connacht would do the exact same and more. Meath/Kildare/Laois/Westmeath would have all flourished in Connacht. This isn't a Dublin problem, it's not a Leinster problem it's a GAA problem.
Mayo have won the last five Connacht titles are you trying to convince people that if Meath/Kildare/Laois/Westmeath were in Connacht the last five years that those Leinster teams would have toppled Mayo? As for Dublin having it as easy in Connacht as had recently in Leinster well Mayo only lost the 2013 AI final to Dublin by one point and beat them in 2012 and brought the dubs to a replay last year.
If there is one team to stop Dublin this year I think it will be Mayo.
Quote from: Cunny Funt on April 12, 2016, 07:10:05 PM
If there is one team to stop Dublin this year I think it will be Mayo.
I probably should lie down for a while.... But I now hope they do. :o :-[
Quote from: Donnellys Hollow on April 12, 2016, 05:48:21 PM
One of the big problems that faces counties in Leinster now is that the "casual" GAA supporter outside of Dublin is beginning to lose interest. Attendances are down an awful lot from the late 90s early 00s when there were four or five teams competing at a high level. The Leinster Council's insistence on playing games in Croke Park when the place is three quarters empty doesn't help to create any buzz or interest. Kildare are down to play Wexford at Croke Park this summer and the place will be dead. If it was fixed for Carlow or Aughrim it would at least generate a bit of an atmosphere.
If there is also a drop off in participation rates to go with the fall in attendance then the decline of Leinster football will be terminal.
Dennis Connerton (manager of Longford) said that in January that 40% of the players invited to join the Longford county panel turned down the invitation. That one quote alone should be ringing massive alarm bells in Croke Park.
https://twitter.com/Gordon_Manning/status/684696837949886464/photo/1
http://www.balls.ie/gaa/longford-dilemma-points-to-a-very-worrying-trend-in-gaelic-football/320782
Never mind Longford! Was talking to a Carlow lad who said that its the same there. And has crept down to underage. Sure look at Armagh aka Cross players! Look at Galway aka Corofin players!
Just an interesting look at attendances in 1992, double header Leinster quarter finals containing Kildare vs Wicklow and Laois vs Louth bring a crowd of 40,374 to Croke Park. The semi final between Dublin and Louth played in Portlaoise for some reason has an attendance of 12,000. Interesting how times change, if the same 4 teams were brought to Croke park these days it would be a shock if they brought more than 15,000 while Dublin will never play a championship game in Portlaoise again.
Quote from: From the Bunker on April 12, 2016, 10:27:53 PM
Never mind Longford! Was talking to a Carlow lad who said that its the same there. And has crept down to underage. Sure look at Armagh aka Cross players! Look at Galway aka Corofin players!
Never been much of a problem here thankfully. But it speaks to how hopeless the world of IC football has become to most counties. GAA obsessed with the short term cash cow that is Dublin and ignorant of the long term damage they're doing to the sport itself.
Quote from: Syferus on April 12, 2016, 11:07:17 PM
Quote from: From the Bunker on April 12, 2016, 10:27:53 PM
Never mind Longford! Was talking to a Carlow lad who said that its the same there. And has crept down to underage. Sure look at Armagh aka Cross players! Look at Galway aka Corofin players!
Never been much of a problem here thankfully. But it speaks to how hopeless the world of IC football has become to most counties. GAA obsessed with the short term cash cow that is Dublin and ignorant of the long term damage they're doing to the sport itself.
The Gaa have been so caught up in making Gaelic football popular in Dublin, that it has forgot about all it's children. The Gas thing is that they have been so caught up filling Croker with Dubs that they forgot about the Counties they have to play. These counties are now staying away in their thousands and in turn the Dubs are beginning to stay away from early round bore fests.
Quote from: From the Bunker on April 12, 2016, 11:19:59 PM
Quote from: Syferus on April 12, 2016, 11:07:17 PM
Quote from: From the Bunker on April 12, 2016, 10:27:53 PM
Never mind Longford! Was talking to a Carlow lad who said that its the same there. And has crept down to underage. Sure look at Armagh aka Cross players! Look at Galway aka Corofin players!
Never been much of a problem here thankfully. But it speaks to how hopeless the world of IC football has become to most counties. GAA obsessed with the short term cash cow that is Dublin and ignorant of the long term damage they're doing to the sport itself.
The Gaa have been so caught up in making Gaelic football popular in Dublin, that it has forgot about all it's children. The Gas thing is that they have been so caught up filling Croker with Dubs that they forgot about the Counties they have to play. These counties are now staying away in their thousands and in turn the Dubs are beginning to stay away from early round bore fests.
I think Croke Park's intention was to improve hurling in the capital and Dublin GAA were smart enough to make sure that any investment in GPOs, etc. benefited football to the same extent, i.e. money was invested in both games as opposed to just hurling. Weaning Dublin off all these GPOs will now be an industrial nightmare.
I was at some many Dublin matches last year with my kids and even they were bored after 20 mins.
With the exception of Dublin, Kerry and Donegal in the last few years nobody else is getting close.
They wiped the floor with Cork & Monaghan with most fans going to the bar at half time and not coming back out for the second half.
Anyway I was wondering what did these three teams have that others didn't to give Dublin a good game.
Mayo could have beaten Dublin in the first game last year and in the replay they were level with Dublin last year up to the 53rd min. As I've said before once Dublin get a goal it seems to be curtains for the other team.
After 55 mins the score was Dublin 0-12 Mayo 1-12. Then B.Brogan scored 2.01 within 5 minutes and the game is over as a contest.
To me it seems that there is a lot of mental strength and self belief needed to beat Dublin or at least stay with them.
Once that first goal goes in, Dublin seem to hugely grow in confidence and start to play more champagne football with the huge Dublin support a huge bonus.
They played the final last year v Kerry very defensively and tactically I felt holding Kerry to 9 points whilst only scoring 12 themselves. They knew that if they let Kerry's forwards get up a head of steam then they too would benefit from the extra confidence. It reminded me a bit of the 2003 semifinal of Tyrone v Kerry where Tyrone never let Kerry get into their stride and make them frustrated.
I'm not sure but I think the last time Dublin were held goalless was when Donegal beat them in 2014.
Quote from: Croí na hÉireann on April 13, 2016, 09:42:04 AM
I think Croke Park's intention was to improve hurling in the capital and Dublin GAA were smart enough to make sure that any investment in GPOs, etc. benefited football to the same extent, i.e. money was invested in both games as opposed to just hurling. Weaning Dublin off all these GPOs will now be an industrial nightmare.
I don't think they can or will wean them off them. The genie is out of the bottle and, there is no putting it back in now.
Dublin have over 100 full time GPO's assigned to clubs. They earn 28,000 per year. Half of that is paid by the Co Board, presumably with a dig out from HQ. Half is paid by the club they are assigned to. If the co board got no more dosh...2 things would happen.
- Two clubs would combine their resources to come up with the 28K to pay their GPO's wages. That GPO splits his time between two clubs. That means the county would still have over 50 full time GPO's. Ok, so 50 lads lose their job, but no other county can come close to having that many games promotion officers.
- Clubs go on a fund raising drive to raise the another 14K to make up the shortfall from the co board. Given the size of a lot of them, that would be no real hardship....a racing night, a Strictly night, squeeze some of the local businesses a bit harder and bobs your uncle. The 100 GPO's stay put for the most part & it's all club financed. No one from HQ, or anywhere else, can touch them.
How can a Carlow or a Longford hope to compete with any of that?
Kildare making a start?
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