After watching yesterdays final I think Eamonn Fitzmaurice's ratings have plummeted. Pat Spillane defended him big time but his decision making on the line was bizarre. For instance...
1: He took off both Geaney and O'Donoghue who were the only 2 forwards I remember to score from play for Kerry.
2: He could and probably should have started Donaghy or at least left O'Donoghue on beside him. Wet day may not have suited Donaghy but the conditions didn't suit defenders either.
3: What exactly was Colm Cooper's role ? A day later and I still can't figure it out. He ended up defending half the time.
4: Sacrificing your star midfielder for a player who retired some years ago. Bizarre decision unless he was injured and even then had Kerry no one else except a guy over the hill? Didn't show a lot of faith in the younger panel.
5: What was the row between himself and Diarmuid Murphy?
6: All of the subs were for guys who arguably are past their peak. Sheehan, Donaghy, O'Sullivan and Galvin. Looked like he was giving them one last run out in Croke Park. Did he not take the final seriously?
If this was Mayo he would be lynched in the media and online. Personally I thought he was lucky last year.
Was he found out this year?
Quote from: Nihilist on September 21, 2015, 02:02:39 PM
After watching yesterdays final I think Eamonn Fitzmaurice's ratings have plummeted. Pat Spillane defended him big time but his decision making on the line was bizarre. For instance...
1: He took off both Geaney and O'Donoghue who were the only 2 forwards I remember to score from play for Kerry.
2: He could and probably should have started Donaghy or at least left O'Donoghue on beside him. Wet day may not have suited Donaghy but the conditions didn't suit defenders either.
3: What exactly was Colm Cooper's role ? A day later and I still can't figure it out. He ended up defending half the time.
4: Sacrificing your star midfielder for a player who retired some years ago. Bizarre decision unless he was injured and even then had Kerry no one else except a guy over the hill? Didn't show a lot of faith in the younger panel.
5: What was the row between himself and Diarmuid Murphy?
6: All of the subs were for guys who arguably are past their peak. Sheehan, Donaghy, O'Sullivan and Galvin. Looked like he was giving them one last run out in Croke Park. Did he not take the final seriously?
If this was Mayo he would be lynched in the media and online. Personally I thought he was lucky last year.
Was he found out this year?
To be fair to fitz maurice he got an awful lot out of that team which are not a particularly brilliant bunch. He made a lot of mistakes yesterday but regardless dublin were the stronger and pacier team.
David Moran has been off the pace this year. The relative lack of underage success over last decade is showing. Interesting to see how they do at u21 the next few years .
Is the role of the manager overhyped?? There seems to be a "cult" of the manager being built up in a lot of cases but how many of these tactical coups are just a case of getting lucky? Fair enough, preparation for big game and pre-planned strategies (e.g. McMahon going forward yesterday and in the replay) are worked out by the management team in advance but very often during the match, it's things outside the manager's control that really decide the game.
Donaghy being sent on with 5 minutes to go in the SF last year won the All Ireland for Kerry. It turned out to be an inspired move but it looked like deperation at the time.
Donegal beating Dublin last year was hailed as a tactical masterclass from McGuinness but if Dublin had taken a couple of early goal chances, they would have been out the gate.
Dublin were floundering against Mayo after 50 minutes until a stray shot from Fenton was brilliantly diverted by BB, I don't think Gavin had any massive impact on the game at that point.
McMenaman being sent on against Kerry and scoring crucial goals, not exactly rocket science
Players win games, not managers. However Managers have to put the right players in the right positions to give them a chance to go and do their thing.
McMahon bombing on yesterday and pulling Gooch with him was under instruction.
Gooch not being taken off him was also down to a management call.
QuoteIs the role of the manager overhyped??
Absolutely, a team can't lose a game without a manager being 'tactically exposed', there is an awful lot you can't control and the team with the better players will win more often than not. I thought some of the substitutions were odd yesterday but I didn't see any major tactically issue for Kerry the same as there wasn't anything major with Mayo against Dublin.
QuoteMcMahon bombing on yesterday and pulling Gooch with him was under instruction.
Gooch not being taken off him was also down to a management call.
But McMahon always pushes up into the attack and I don't think you can move a forward off a defender if the opposition want the defender to stay marking him. There was no place Kerry could have moved Cooper to that McMahon wouldn't have been happy to follow.
No but you can 'pass' him off when he goes forward. Say Johnny Buckley, if McMahon bombs on, Gooch will call you onto McMahon, and you take him.
Eamonn Fitzmaurice is a good manager and one loss doesn't change that.
After the semi final last year Gavin got lambasted for his teams tactics against Donegal but he learned from it . . . I'm sure Fitzmaurice will do the same!
Quote from: macdanger2 on September 21, 2015, 02:57:55 PM
Is the role of the manager overhyped?? There seems to be a "cult" of the manager being built up in a lot of cases but how many of these tactical coups are just a case of getting lucky? Fair enough, preparation for big game and pre-planned strategies (e.g. McMahon going forward yesterday and in the replay) are worked out by the management team in advance but very often during the match, it's things outside the manager's control that really decide the game.
Donaghy being sent on with 5 minutes to go in the SF last year won the All Ireland for Kerry. It turned out to be an inspired move but it looked like deperation at the time.
Donegal beating Dublin last year was hailed as a tactical masterclass from McGuinness but if Dublin had taken a couple of early goal chances, they would have been out the gate.
Dublin were floundering against Mayo after 50 minutes until a stray shot from Fenton was brilliantly diverted by BB, I don't think Gavin had any massive impact on the game at that point.
McMenaman being sent on against Kerry and scoring crucial goals, not exactly rocket science
I'm finding myself agreeing with you a lot lately macdanger2.
I suppose it's a mixed bag. As the cliche goes, you need a luck on your side but I do think the managers have a critical job in putting the plan in place and convincing the 20 odd men involved to follow orders.
From the opening piece, I'm not sure of the relevance of what Fitzmaurice and Murphy were saying is. It was a ten second exchange that happened to be caught on camera.
Yeah, it was just a bad day at the office all around, and as others have said, players lost individual battles.
Sorry AZ I get you now, though to be fair that's easier said than done. The fundamental issue though is there is not always tactical solutions to the problems your team face and there is still a large element of individuals winning their own battles. Kerry lost so many yesterday that there was little the management could have done to make any material difference.
Yeah, I agree. That's what I'm saying. You have a plan, based on how you play, and how you want to play this opponent. Then you have a plan B ideally, at least. The players all understand it, and you practice and coach it.
Then when the game starts, you can only do so much. The players win the games, the manager just tries to put them in the positions to do so, and if they are being beaten in their own battles, or not doing their jobs, you can't really do much except try a few switches.
Quote from: screenexile on September 21, 2015, 03:17:28 PM
Eamonn Fitzmaurice is a good manager and one loss doesn't change that.
After the semi final last year Gavin got lambasted for his teams tactics against Donegal but he learned from it . . . I'm sure Fitzmaurice will do the same!
He's a good manager but that Kerry team is in decline.
Made a bad mistake bringing Galvin back. At that level of football you don't take a year out in your 30's.
Half forward line were awful yesterday and he waited far too long to change it.
He left Cooper on when his form didn't merit it.
Tactically the long ball into Geaney was a disaster as he's unsuited to it.
Quote from: INDIANA on September 21, 2015, 03:25:12 PM
Quote from: screenexile on September 21, 2015, 03:17:28 PM
Eamonn Fitzmaurice is a good manager and one loss doesn't change that.
After the semi final last year Gavin got lambasted for his teams tactics against Donegal but he learned from it . . . I'm sure Fitzmaurice will do the same!
He's a good manager but that Kerry team is in decline.
Made a bad mistake bringing Galvin back. At that level of football you don't take a year out in your 30's.
Half forward line were awful yesterday and he waited far too long to change it.
He left Cooper on when his form didn't merit it.
Tactically the long ball into Geaney was a disaster as he's unsuited to it.
Agree with most of that, apart from the last line. Geaney is actually a very good primary ball winner, but yesterday was going to be very hard to make anything stick. I thought they should have brought Donaghy in earlier, and tried to cause havoc with the slippy ball breaking and have Geaney and O'Donoghue trying to sweep up, old-school style.
Johnny Buckley contributed nothing. Donnacha Walsh very little. Gooch nothing in that role. Galvin coming on was very strange.
A forward line of
O'Brien Gooch Darren O'Sullivan
Geaney Donaghy O'Donoghue
would, I think, have caused Dublin problems, even in those conditions.
Quote from: AZOffaly on September 21, 2015, 03:30:08 PM
Quote from: INDIANA on September 21, 2015, 03:25:12 PM
Quote from: screenexile on September 21, 2015, 03:17:28 PM
Eamonn Fitzmaurice is a good manager and one loss doesn't change that.
After the semi final last year Gavin got lambasted for his teams tactics against Donegal but he learned from it . . . I'm sure Fitzmaurice will do the same!
He's a good manager but that Kerry team is in decline.
Made a bad mistake bringing Galvin back. At that level of football you don't take a year out in your 30's.
Half forward line were awful yesterday and he waited far too long to change it.
He left Cooper on when his form didn't merit it.
Tactically the long ball into Geaney was a disaster as he's unsuited to it.
Agree with most of that, apart from the last line. Geaney is actually a very good primary ball winner, but yesterday was going to be very hard to make anything stick. I thought they should have brought Donaghy in earlier, and tried to cause havoc with the slippy ball breaking and have Geaney and O'Donoghue trying to sweep up, old-school style.
Johnny Buckley contributed nothing. Donnacha Walsh very little. Gooch nothing in that role. Galvin coming on was very strange.
A forward line of
O'Brien Gooch Darren O'Sullivan
Geaney Donaghy O'Donoghue
would, I think, have caused Dublin problems, even in those conditions.
Gooch may be done I'm afraid. It was a desperately bad knee injury he suffered. Doesn't seem to have the gas anymore.
JOD is just not a good enough winner of primary possession for a forward of his reputation. He needs to improve on that to join the elite forwards out there.
Defensively Kerry did quite well overall. Held Connolly and B Brogan very well.
from moran up outside Anthony Maher they had an absolute nightmare
Quote from: Nihilist on September 21, 2015, 02:02:39 PM
After watching yesterdays final I think Eamonn Fitzmaurice's ratings have plummeted. Pat Spillane defended him big time but his decision making on the line was bizarre. For instance...
1: He took off both Geaney and O'Donoghue who were the only 2 forwards I remember to score from play for Kerry.
2: He could and probably should have started Donaghy or at least left O'Donoghue on beside him. Wet day may not have suited Donaghy but the conditions didn't suit defenders either.
3: What exactly was Colm Cooper's role ? A day later and I still can't figure it out. He ended up defending half the time.
4: Sacrificing your star midfielder for a player who retired some years ago. Bizarre decision unless he was injured and even then had Kerry no one else except a guy over the hill? Didn't show a lot of faith in the younger panel.
5: What was the row between himself and Diarmuid Murphy?
6: All of the subs were for guys who arguably are past their peak. Sheehan, Donaghy, O'Sullivan and Galvin. Looked like he was giving them one last run out in Croke Park. Did he not take the final seriously?
If this was Mayo he would be lynched in the media and online. Personally I thought he was lucky last year.
Was he found out this year?
#1 - Donoghue was very poor and entitled to be taken off well before he was. Geaney likewise.
#2 Easy say that now
#3 Fully agree- last ten minutes and at one stage he was in the corner back position - think he should have been moved inside.
#4 Moran was only fair to middling yesterday and got caught in posession a couple of times. If Galvin is on the panel at all then surely he's entitled to be brought in - think the day suited him.
#6 Think thats a very unfair point. 2 points down on a soggy day in the All Ireland final against the Dubs in Croke Park - not a place to introduce youngsters.
I think he should have brought in Galvin and Donaghy earlier if anything.
The day did not suit good footballers with all due respect to the Dubs - Kerry have the more natural fooballers and I think they would have won it on a dryish day. Dublin were all over Kerry and still only won by three. If they had snuck a goal in the end I think it would have been a role reversal of the 2011 final when Kerry were coasting until an error in the last few minutes.
Quote from: INDIANA on September 21, 2015, 03:36:39 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on September 21, 2015, 03:30:08 PM
Quote from: INDIANA on September 21, 2015, 03:25:12 PM
Quote from: screenexile on September 21, 2015, 03:17:28 PM
Eamonn Fitzmaurice is a good manager and one loss doesn't change that.
After the semi final last year Gavin got lambasted for his teams tactics against Donegal but he learned from it . . . I'm sure Fitzmaurice will do the same!
He's a good manager but that Kerry team is in decline.
Made a bad mistake bringing Galvin back. At that level of football you don't take a year out in your 30's.
Half forward line were awful yesterday and he waited far too long to change it.
He left Cooper on when his form didn't merit it.
Tactically the long ball into Geaney was a disaster as he's unsuited to it.
Agree with most of that, apart from the last line. Geaney is actually a very good primary ball winner, but yesterday was going to be very hard to make anything stick. I thought they should have brought Donaghy in earlier, and tried to cause havoc with the slippy ball breaking and have Geaney and O'Donoghue trying to sweep up, old-school style.
Johnny Buckley contributed nothing. Donnacha Walsh very little. Gooch nothing in that role. Galvin coming on was very strange.
A forward line of
O'Brien Gooch Darren O'Sullivan
Geaney Donaghy O'Donoghue
would, I think, have caused Dublin problems, even in those conditions.
Gooch may be done I'm afraid. It was a desperately bad knee injury he suffered. Doesn't seem to have the gas anymore.
JOD is just not a good enough winner of primary possession for a forward of his reputation. He needs to improve on that to join the elite forwards out there.
Defensively Kerry did quite well overall. Held Connolly and B Brogan very well.
from moran up outside Anthony Maher they had an absolute nightmare
I think you're being harsh on O'Donoghue. He kicked 3 points from play, and was battling away. It was a backs day, which is why Brogan won hardly any ball either. It was too slippy for long ball to stick.
As for Gooch, he's certainly lost a step, and he hates going backwards. I said that back when Tipp played them in Thurles. He just doesn't have that in his game. All the more reason to let him operate as a link man in around where Cian O'Sullivan was operating. Buckley offered nothing there, and Gooch may have at least tried to string a few moves together. At times yesterday Dublin had completely bottled the Kerry forwards up, and Moran, Maher, Young et al just went laterally. If they could have linked in with Gooch, he might have got on more ball and started to dictate the attacks. As it was he was an outmatched and outplayed forward going in the wrong direction.
Quote from: AZOffaly on September 21, 2015, 03:49:25 PM
Quote from: INDIANA on September 21, 2015, 03:36:39 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on September 21, 2015, 03:30:08 PM
Quote from: INDIANA on September 21, 2015, 03:25:12 PM
Quote from: screenexile on September 21, 2015, 03:17:28 PM
Eamonn Fitzmaurice is a good manager and one loss doesn't change that.
After the semi final last year Gavin got lambasted for his teams tactics against Donegal but he learned from it . . . I'm sure Fitzmaurice will do the same!
He's a good manager but that Kerry team is in decline.
Made a bad mistake bringing Galvin back. At that level of football you don't take a year out in your 30's.
Half forward line were awful yesterday and he waited far too long to change it.
He left Cooper on when his form didn't merit it.
Tactically the long ball into Geaney was a disaster as he's unsuited to it.
Agree with most of that, apart from the last line. Geaney is actually a very good primary ball winner, but yesterday was going to be very hard to make anything stick. I thought they should have brought Donaghy in earlier, and tried to cause havoc with the slippy ball breaking and have Geaney and O'Donoghue trying to sweep up, old-school style.
Johnny Buckley contributed nothing. Donnacha Walsh very little. Gooch nothing in that role. Galvin coming on was very strange.
A forward line of
O'Brien Gooch Darren O'Sullivan
Geaney Donaghy O'Donoghue
would, I think, have caused Dublin problems, even in those conditions.
Gooch may be done I'm afraid. It was a desperately bad knee injury he suffered. Doesn't seem to have the gas anymore.
JOD is just not a good enough winner of primary possession for a forward of his reputation. He needs to improve on that to join the elite forwards out there.
Defensively Kerry did quite well overall. Held Connolly and B Brogan very well.
from moran up outside Anthony Maher they had an absolute nightmare
I think you're being harsh on O'Donoghue. He kicked 3 points from play, and was battling away. It was a backs day, which is why Brogan won hardly any ball either. It was too slippy for long ball to stick.
As for Gooch, he's certainly lost a step, and he hates going backwards. I said that back when Tipp played them in Thurles. He just doesn't have that in his game. All the more reason to let him operate as a link man in around where Cian O'Sullivan was operating. Buckley offered nothing there, and Gooch may have at least tried to string a few moves together. At times yesterday Dublin had completely bottled the Kerry forwards up, and Moran, Maher, Young et al just went laterally. If they could have linked in with Gooch, he might have got on more ball and started to dictate the attacks. As it was he was an outmatched and outplayed forward going in the wrong direction.
A question for someone who was at the game please. When Kerry were attacking and Cian O Sullivan was playing as a sweeper, who marked Johnny Buckley?
It was hard to pick up from the TV
Quote from: time ticking away on September 21, 2015, 06:06:55 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on September 21, 2015, 03:49:25 PM
Quote from: INDIANA on September 21, 2015, 03:36:39 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on September 21, 2015, 03:30:08 PM
Quote from: INDIANA on September 21, 2015, 03:25:12 PM
Quote from: screenexile on September 21, 2015, 03:17:28 PM
Eamonn Fitzmaurice is a good manager and one loss doesn't change that.
After the semi final last year Gavin got lambasted for his teams tactics against Donegal but he learned from it . . . I'm sure Fitzmaurice will do the same!
He's a good manager but that Kerry team is in decline.
Made a bad mistake bringing Galvin back. At that level of football you don't take a year out in your 30's.
Half forward line were awful yesterday and he waited far too long to change it.
He left Cooper on when his form didn't merit it.
Tactically the long ball into Geaney was a disaster as he's unsuited to it.
Agree with most of that, apart from the last line. Geaney is actually a very good primary ball winner, but yesterday was going to be very hard to make anything stick. I thought they should have brought Donaghy in earlier, and tried to cause havoc with the slippy ball breaking and have Geaney and O'Donoghue trying to sweep up, old-school style.
Johnny Buckley contributed nothing. Donnacha Walsh very little. Gooch nothing in that role. Galvin coming on was very strange.
A forward line of
O'Brien Gooch Darren O'Sullivan
Geaney Donaghy O'Donoghue
would, I think, have caused Dublin problems, even in those conditions.
Gooch may be done I'm afraid. It was a desperately bad knee injury he suffered. Doesn't seem to have the gas anymore.
JOD is just not a good enough winner of primary possession for a forward of his reputation. He needs to improve on that to join the elite forwards out there.
Defensively Kerry did quite well overall. Held Connolly and B Brogan very well.
from moran up outside Anthony Maher they had an absolute nightmare
I think you're being harsh on O'Donoghue. He kicked 3 points from play, and was battling away. It was a backs day, which is why Brogan won hardly any ball either. It was too slippy for long ball to stick.
As for Gooch, he's certainly lost a step, and he hates going backwards. I said that back when Tipp played them in Thurles. He just doesn't have that in his game. All the more reason to let him operate as a link man in around where Cian O'Sullivan was operating. Buckley offered nothing there, and Gooch may have at least tried to string a few moves together. At times yesterday Dublin had completely bottled the Kerry forwards up, and Moran, Maher, Young et al just went laterally. If they could have linked in with Gooch, he might have got on more ball and started to dictate the attacks. As it was he was an outmatched and outplayed forward going in the wrong direction.
A question for someone who was at the game please. When Kerry were attacking and Cian O Sullivan was playing as a sweeper, who marked Johnny Buckley?
It was hard to pick up from the TV
Would love to tell you BUT what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch
Quote from: redcard on September 21, 2015, 07:21:59 PM
Quote from: time ticking away on September 21, 2015, 06:06:55 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on September 21, 2015, 03:49:25 PM
Quote from: INDIANA on September 21, 2015, 03:36:39 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on September 21, 2015, 03:30:08 PM
Quote from: INDIANA on September 21, 2015, 03:25:12 PM
Quote from: screenexile on September 21, 2015, 03:17:28 PM
Eamonn Fitzmaurice is a good manager and one loss doesn't change that.
After the semi final last year Gavin got lambasted for his teams tactics against Donegal but he learned from it . . . I'm sure Fitzmaurice will do the same!
He's a good manager but that Kerry team is in decline.
Made a bad mistake bringing Galvin back. At that level of football you don't take a year out in your 30's.
Half forward line were awful yesterday and he waited far too long to change it.
He left Cooper on when his form didn't merit it.
Tactically the long ball into Geaney was a disaster as he's unsuited to it.
Agree with most of that, apart from the last line. Geaney is actually a very good primary ball winner, but yesterday was going to be very hard to make anything stick. I thought they should have brought Donaghy in earlier, and tried to cause havoc with the slippy ball breaking and have Geaney and O'Donoghue trying to sweep up, old-school style.
Johnny Buckley contributed nothing. Donnacha Walsh very little. Gooch nothing in that role. Galvin coming on was very strange.
A forward line of
O'Brien Gooch Darren O'Sullivan
Geaney Donaghy O'Donoghue
would, I think, have caused Dublin problems, even in those conditions.
Gooch may be done I'm afraid. It was a desperately bad knee injury he suffered. Doesn't seem to have the gas anymore.
JOD is just not a good enough winner of primary possession for a forward of his reputation. He needs to improve on that to join the elite forwards out there.
Defensively Kerry did quite well overall. Held Connolly and B Brogan very well.
from moran up outside Anthony Maher they had an absolute nightmare
I think you're being harsh on O'Donoghue. He kicked 3 points from play, and was battling away. It was a backs day, which is why Brogan won hardly any ball either. It was too slippy for long ball to stick.
As for Gooch, he's certainly lost a step, and he hates going backwards. I said that back when Tipp played them in Thurles. He just doesn't have that in his game. All the more reason to let him operate as a link man in around where Cian O'Sullivan was operating. Buckley offered nothing there, and Gooch may have at least tried to string a few moves together. At times yesterday Dublin had completely bottled the Kerry forwards up, and Moran, Maher, Young et al just went laterally. If they could have linked in with Gooch, he might have got on more ball and started to dictate the attacks. As it was he was an outmatched and outplayed forward going in the wrong direction.
A question for someone who was at the game please. When Kerry were attacking and Cian O Sullivan was playing as a sweeper, who marked Johnny Buckley?
It was hard to pick up from the TV
Would love to tell you BUT what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch
Ah gwan gwan
Did the Kerry forward line end up being Galvin, Sheehan, Darren O'Sullivan, Gooch and Donaghy? All they needed was to bring on Tommy Walsh and they'd virtually have the forward line from 7 years ago. That's a poor situation for a team of Kerry's resources.
Quote from: BennyHarp on September 21, 2015, 09:34:13 PM
Did the Kerry forward line end up being Galvin, Sheehan, Darren O'Sullivan, Gooch and Donaghy? All they needed was to bring on Tommy Walsh and they'd virtually have the forward line from 7 years ago. That's a poor situation for a team of Kerry's resources.
Darren was excellent when he came on. Sheehan is too heavy to play at this level.
Quote from: INDIANA on September 21, 2015, 09:36:14 PM
Quote from: BennyHarp on September 21, 2015, 09:34:13 PM
Did the Kerry forward line end up being Galvin, Sheehan, Darren O'Sullivan, Gooch and Donaghy? All they needed was to bring on Tommy Walsh and they'd virtually have the forward line from 7 years ago. That's a poor situation for a team of Kerry's resources.
Darren was excellent when he came on. Sheehan is too heavy to play at this level.
I'm always amazed how Darran O'Sullivan isn't starting more often. He always runs at defences and pops up with a score or two as well. Did well yesterday when he was brought on.
Quote from: INDIANA on September 21, 2015, 09:36:14 PM
Quote from: BennyHarp on September 21, 2015, 09:34:13 PM
Did the Kerry forward line end up being Galvin, Sheehan, Darren O'Sullivan, Gooch and Donaghy? All they needed was to bring on Tommy Walsh and they'd virtually have the forward line from 7 years ago. That's a poor situation for a team of Kerry's resources.
Darren was excellent when he came on. Sheehan is too heavy to play at this level.
He was good to be fair, but it's strange that a county of Kerry's talent is still returning to effectively a forward line that wasn't good enough 7 years ago.
Quote from: BennyHarp on September 21, 2015, 09:34:13 PM
Did the Kerry forward line end up being Galvin, Sheehan, Darren O'Sullivan, Gooch and Donaghy? All they needed was to bring on Tommy Walsh and they'd virtually have the forward line from 7 years ago. That's a poor situation for a team of Kerry's resources.
Declan O'sullivan retired last year. Only for that it definitely would have been.
It doesn't really bode well for Kerry if a rake more of the go - this year.
E.g. take your pick -
Marc O'Sé (35), A O'Mahony (35), P Galvin (35), C Cooper (32), K Donaghy (32).
Quote from: BennyHarp on September 21, 2015, 10:05:44 PM
Quote from: INDIANA on September 21, 2015, 09:36:14 PM
Quote from: BennyHarp on September 21, 2015, 09:34:13 PM
Did the Kerry forward line end up being Galvin, Sheehan, Darren O'Sullivan, Gooch and Donaghy? All they needed was to bring on Tommy Walsh and they'd virtually have the forward line from 7 years ago. That's a poor situation for a team of Kerry's resources.
Darren was excellent when he came on. Sheehan is too heavy to play at this level.
He was good to be fair, but it's strange that a county of Kerry's talent is still returning to basically a forward line that wasn't good enough 7 years ago.
That's because they are the best available I'm sure. Even Kerry don t have many players that can perform in Aug./Sept. Dublin's forward line is well battle hardened now as well. Both Brogans in their 30s?
Players that can perform at that level are few and far between even in the stronger counties. There is no guarantee that Kerry will get any top players from these minor teams either. They are well prepared by a top coach in JOC but we ve seen other counties produce hot-house flowers that wilt in the transition to adult football.
Quote from: time ticking away on September 21, 2015, 06:06:55 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on September 21, 2015, 03:49:25 PM
Quote from: INDIANA on September 21, 2015, 03:36:39 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on September 21, 2015, 03:30:08 PM
Quote from: INDIANA on September 21, 2015, 03:25:12 PM
Quote from: screenexile on September 21, 2015, 03:17:28 PM
Eamonn Fitzmaurice is a good manager and one loss doesn't change that.
After the semi final last year Gavin got lambasted for his teams tactics against Donegal but he learned from it . . . I'm sure Fitzmaurice will do the same!
He's a good manager but that Kerry team is in decline.
Made a bad mistake bringing Galvin back. At that level of football you don't take a year out in your 30's.
Half forward line were awful yesterday and he waited far too long to change it.
He left Cooper on when his form didn't merit it.
Tactically the long ball into Geaney was a disaster as he's unsuited to it.
Agree with most of that, apart from the last line. Geaney is actually a very good primary ball winner, but yesterday was going to be very hard to make anything stick. I thought they should have brought Donaghy in earlier, and tried to cause havoc with the slippy ball breaking and have Geaney and O'Donoghue trying to sweep up, old-school style.
Johnny Buckley contributed nothing. Donnacha Walsh very little. Gooch nothing in that role. Galvin coming on was very strange.
A forward line of
O'Brien Gooch Darren O'Sullivan
Geaney Donaghy O'Donoghue
would, I think, have caused Dublin problems, even in those conditions.
Gooch may be done I'm afraid. It was a desperately bad knee injury he suffered. Doesn't seem to have the gas anymore.
JOD is just not a good enough winner of primary possession for a forward of his reputation. He needs to improve on that to join the elite forwards out there.
Defensively Kerry did quite well overall. Held Connolly and B Brogan very well.
from moran up outside Anthony Maher they had an absolute nightmare
I think you're being harsh on O'Donoghue. He kicked 3 points from play, and was battling away. It was a backs day, which is why Brogan won hardly any ball either. It was too slippy for long ball to stick.
As for Gooch, he's certainly lost a step, and he hates going backwards. I said that back when Tipp played them in Thurles. He just doesn't have that in his game. All the more reason to let him operate as a link man in around where Cian O'Sullivan was operating. Buckley offered nothing there, and Gooch may have at least tried to string a few moves together. At times yesterday Dublin had completely bottled the Kerry forwards up, and Moran, Maher, Young et al just went laterally. If they could have linked in with Gooch, he might have got on more ball and started to dictate the attacks. As it was he was an outmatched and outplayed forward going in the wrong direction.
A question for someone who was at the game please. When Kerry were attacking and Cian O Sullivan was playing as a sweeper, who marked Johnny Buckley?
It was hard to pick up from the TV
The Dublin middle third picked up Walsh - he wasn't marked for the most part as he was deep.
By the end of the Tyrone Game Fitz had played all his cards. In order to surprise he went a bit mad as he had no surprises left. I do think that after two years he has been
brilliant and his decision making has been first class but Sunday was one game too many. I expect him to look at a constant first 15 next year.
What's the Kerry starting 15 next year?
Keally
Murphy Young maybe? Enright
Lyne Crowley Fitzgerald
Moran Maher
O'Brien Gooch Buckley/Walsh?
O'Donoghue Walsh Geaney
1. Billy Courtney Dr. Crokes
2. Darren Brosnan Gneeveguilla
3. Jason Foley Ballydonoghue
4. Tom O'Sullivan Dingle
5. Jack Morgan Austin Stacks
6. Andrew Barry Na Gaeil
7. Gavin White Dr. Crokes
8. Mark O'Connor (C) Dingle
9. John Mark Foley Kilgarvan
10. Brian Ó Seanacháin Ballydonoghue
11. Sean O'Shea Kenmare
12. Brandon Barrett Ardfert
13. Michael Foley Spa
14. Bryan Sweeney Listowel Emmets
15. Conor Geaney Dingle
Quote from: BennyHarp on September 21, 2015, 10:05:44 PM
Quote from: INDIANA on September 21, 2015, 09:36:14 PM
Quote from: BennyHarp on September 21, 2015, 09:34:13 PM
Did the Kerry forward line end up being Galvin, Sheehan, Darren O'Sullivan, Gooch and Donaghy? All they needed was to bring on Tommy Walsh and they'd virtually have the forward line from 7 years ago. That's a poor situation for a team of Kerry's resources.
Darren was excellent when he came on. Sheehan is too heavy to play at this level.
He was good to be fair, but it's strange that a county of Kerry's talent is still returning to effectively a forward line that wasn't good enough 7 years ago.
Jesus Christ. . . it was good enough in the intervening years to compete in 4 finals and win two of them while Tyrone... well youse did beat Monaghan and Sligo this year I suppose!
It's at the back where Kerry are goosed going forward. O'Mahony and O'Se are still two very important players for them and will likely call it a day. Young is hitting near 30 as well. Crowley is the only one of the younger generation I rate and I felt he looked well off his 2014 form this year.
I don't think Crowley is a centre back. There was a weakness at the centre of that Kerry defense all year. Killian Young might have to go back into full back for a year or two. He used to play in the corner fado fado, so maybe he'd be able to adapt.
Quote from: AZOffaly on September 22, 2015, 01:42:04 PM
I don't think Crowley is a centre back. There was a weakness at the centre of that Kerry defense all year. Killian Young might have to go back into full back for a year or two. He used to play in the corner fado fado, so maybe he'd be able to adapt.
Young is a decent player but he's a wing back. Have they anyone would be comfortable marking guys like Murphy, O'Shea, O'Gara on the edge of the square if O'Mahony retires?
Young used to play in the corner, I'm nearly sure. He's from the same club as my wife below in Renard, but I'm nearly sure I saw him play with South Kerry in the corner. That said, I'm not sure how he would react to full back alright.
Quote from: AZOffaly on September 22, 2015, 02:36:10 PM
Young used to play in the corner, I'm nearly sure. He's from the same club as my wife below in Renard, but I'm nearly sure I saw him play with South Kerry in the corner. That said, I'm not sure how he would react to full back alright.
Young has and can definitely play in the corner, I just feel he's more suited and more comfortable in the half back line. There seems to be a big absence of natural defenders down the middle with Kerry at the minute which is why they split open when teams run at them.
I think Fitz got a little bit confident with his tactics, especially now that they are comparing him to Billy Morgan and his records as manager. Fitzmaurice shouldn't be complacent, though.
There's legit criticism to be thrown at Eamonn after Sunday, but some of the nonsense I'm reading here.. ::)
"Young at fullback"? Jesus AZ I thought you'd know better than that? His disastrous stint as a corner back almost ruined his county career. He is not a good man-marker. I thought after the way he ended 2014 Killian was going to kick on again but he hasn't. Was poor in the 2 biggest games unfortunately.
Il Bomber cracks me up..doesn't rate Paul Murphy or Shane Enright apparently?
Enright could end up fullback, unless they decide to work on Griffin or something.
Pa Kilkenny is a fine player but needs to put on a bit of bulk. Paul Murphy has been plagued by injury this year and hasn't been great, he'll be back. There are several decent young backs from the Junior All Ireland winning squad like David Culhane and Gavin Crowley who will get a run soon.
Then on top of that you have the likes of Cormac Coffey from last years minors along with Andrew Barry, Darren Brosnan and Jason Foley from this years minors who all look like they will push into Senior squad in 2-3 years or so.
Next 2 years at u21 level will hopefully be a launching pad we've lacked for several years..since 2008 in fact.
Wouldn't be ideal alright, but I think he'd be worth looking at for more mobile full forwards. It's probably Griffen or Enright.
Quote from: Ciarrai_thuaidh on September 23, 2015, 01:54:18 AM
There's legit criticism to be thrown at Eamonn after Sunday, but some of the nonsense I'm reading here.. ::)
"Young at fullback"? Jesus AZ I thought you'd know better than that? His disastrous stint as a corner back almost ruined his county career. He is not a good man-marker. I thought after the way he ended 2014 Killian was going to kick on again but he hasn't. Was poor in the 2 biggest games unfortunately.
Il Bomber cracks me up..doesn't rate Paul Murphy or Shane Enright apparently?
Enright could end up fullback, unless they decide to work on Griffin or something.
Pa Kilkenny is a fine player but needs to put on a bit of bulk. Paul Murphy has been plagued by injury this year and hasn't been great, he'll be back. There are several decent young backs from the Junior All Ireland winning squad like David Culhane and Gavin Crowley who will get a run soon.
Then on top of that you have the likes of Cormac Coffey from last years minors along with Andrew Barry, Darren Brosnan and Jason Foley from this years minors who all look like they will push into Senior squad in 2-3 years or so.
Next 2 years at u21 level will hopefully be a launching pad we've lacked for several years..since 2008 in fact.
Murphy doesn't have the physicality for the the top level forwards, just look at what happened when McBrearty came on last year, with a few minutes he had a couple points off him and had to be switched. He's decent if he's up against some one of his own stature even though young Bradley gave him a horrid time of it in the semi. He also picks up an awful lot of black cards as he gets caught the wrong side a lot.
Enright is not very good at all and Kerry are in trouble if he is the main man in the full back line. If Brogan could hold on to the ball on Sunday he would have destroyed him as he was out in front for every single ball.
Kerry loose 1 game in 2 years and all the muppets are saying Fitzmaurice is overrated. Absolutely ridiculous.
All the "expert" tacticians now know where it all went wrong. Hindsight makes everyone think they are a tactical expert. The reality is that Fitz remains the best manager in the country and Kerry would be my favs to win the All-Ireland in 2016 with Dublins hunger reduced for another while.
Fitzmaurice remaining at the helm for Kerry is a massive boost and should not be underestimated.
Quote from: ck on September 23, 2015, 09:43:28 AM
Kerry loose 1 game in 2 years and all the muppets are saying Fitzmaurice is overrated. Absolutely ridiculous.
All the "expert" tacticians now know where it all went wrong. Hindsight makes everyone think they are a tactical expert. The reality is that Fitz remains the best manager in the country and Kerry would be my favs to win the All-Ireland in 2016 with Dublins hunger reduced for another while.
Fitzmaurice remaining at the helm for Kerry is a massive boost and should not be underestimated.
He's a good manager, and has got far more right than wrong, but I think it's reasonable to question a couple of things from the final, and the year in general. I'm certainly not calling him overrated, but I do think he'd probably do a couple of things differently if he had to do it all again tomorrow.
In fairness calling him the best manager in Ireland is as ridiculous as calling him overrated. Who's to know who is the tactical brain in a managerial set up? The manager automatically gets the credit or blame but I'm sure most managerial set ups are a collective and different people may come up with the primary tactical approach in different games just by virtue of having suggested something the others felt was the best way. Besides, give any half tuned in manager one of the best squads and he'll go close every year, give them one of the worst and no manager will look very astute.
Quote from: Il Bomber Destro on September 22, 2015, 01:11:20 PM
It's at the back where Kerry are goosed going forward. O'Mahony and O'Se are still two very important players for them and will likely call it a day. Young is hitting near 30 as well. Crowley is the only one of the younger generation I rate and I felt he looked well off his 2014 form this year.
I think the problem in the backs is more an issue with Kerry not having full and corner backs, but having more in the way of natural half-backs. For me Fitzgerald and Murphy are better half-backs, while Crowley, Young and Lyne are all half-back men - I think Crowley would be more suited to being a wing-back than a centre-back (he seems to roam a bit much for my liking for a centre-back spot, but is probably the best for the spot in terms of what's available) Enright is the only one who is likely to be there who I would say is a natural corner man. Griffin is surely likely to come into the reckoning if/when O'Se and O'Mahoney depart
I was very impressed with the Kerry minor backs this year - they will take a bit of time to come through but looked like some very serious prospects there.
Quote from: Zulu on September 23, 2015, 11:22:57 AM
In fairness calling him the best manager in Ireland is as ridiculous as calling him overrated. Who's to know who is the tactical brain in a managerial set up? The manager automatically gets the credit or blame but I'm sure most managerial set ups are a collective and different people may come up with the primary tactical approach in different games just by virtue of having suggested something the others felt was the best way. Besides, give any half tuned in manager one of the best squads and he'll go close every year, give them one of the worst and no manager will look very astute.
He clearly has a seriously decent tactical understanding - his columns in the Examiner when he was writing for them were really top notch stuff. Also I've heard lots of very positive stuff about his man-managing ability which is always going to be vital in a county like Kerry, where managing the lads who aren't getting game-time is a huge part of the gig. Put those two abilities together and you're a long way along the road to having the makings of a decent manager.
Probably worth having a look at the list of who Kerry lost in the last few years
Declan O'Sullivan 2014
Paul Galvin - missed 2014
Colm Cooper missed 2014
Tomas O'Se - 2013
Eoin Brosnan - 2013
Seamus Scanlon -2012
Tom O'Sullivan -2012
Tommy Griffin -2012
Mike McCarthy -2011
Darragh O'Se - 2010
That's a serious chunk of quality experienced to lose out of a squad - odds are I'm forgetting about a couple of squad players. In championship terms under Fitzmaurice Kerry have won it one year, lost a final and lost a final to the winners which is fairly solid stuff, especially when you consider the number of players he has brought through.
Odds are you will have Marc O'Se, Aidan O'Mahoney and Paul Galvin all joining that list for 2015. Looking at that you wouldnt have fancy a challenge game between a retired Kerry lineup and the current one in a few months.
Quote from: twohands!!! on September 23, 2015, 12:32:18 PM
Quote from: Il Bomber Destro on September 22, 2015, 01:11:20 PM
It's at the back where Kerry are goosed going forward. O'Mahony and O'Se are still two very important players for them and will likely call it a day. Young is hitting near 30 as well. Crowley is the only one of the younger generation I rate and I felt he looked well off his 2014 form this year.
I think the problem in the backs is more an issue with Kerry not having full and corner backs, but having more in the way of natural half-backs. For me Fitzgerald and Murphy are better half-backs, while Crowley, Young and Lyne are all half-back men - I think Crowley would be more suited to being a wing-back than a centre-back (he seems to roam a bit much for my liking for a centre-back spot, but is probably the best for the spot in terms of what's available) Enright is the only one who is likely to be there who I would say is a natural corner man. Griffin is surely likely to come into the reckoning if/when O'Se and O'Mahoney depart
I was very impressed with the Kerry minor backs this year - they will take a bit of time to come through but looked like some very serious prospects there.
Quote from: Zulu on September 23, 2015, 11:22:57 AM
In fairness calling him the best manager in Ireland is as ridiculous as calling him overrated. Who's to know who is the tactical brain in a managerial set up? The manager automatically gets the credit or blame but I'm sure most managerial set ups are a collective and different people may come up with the primary tactical approach in different games just by virtue of having suggested something the others felt was the best way. Besides, give any half tuned in manager one of the best squads and he'll go close every year, give them one of the worst and no manager will look very astute.
He clearly has a seriously decent tactical understanding - his columns in the Examiner when he was writing for them were really top notch stuff. Also I've heard lots of very positive stuff about his man-managing ability which is always going to be vital in a county like Kerry, where managing the lads who aren't getting game-time is a huge part of the gig. Put those two abilities together and you're a long way along the road to having the makings of a decent manager.
Probably worth having a look at the list of who Kerry lost in the last few years
Declan O'Sullivan 2014
Paul Galvin - missed 2014
Colm Cooper missed 2014
Tomas O'Se - 2013
Eoin Brosnan - 2013
Seamus Scanlon -2012
Tom O'Sullivan -2012
Tommy Griffin -2012
Mike McCarthy -2011
Darragh O'Se - 2010
That's a serious chunk of quality experienced to lose out of a squad - odds are I'm forgetting about a couple of squad players. In championship terms under Fitzmaurice Kerry have won it one year, lost a final and lost a final to the winners which is fairly solid stuff, especially when you consider the number of players he has brought through.
Odds are you will have Marc O'Se, Aidan O'Mahoney and Paul Galvin all joining that list for 2015. Looking at that you wouldnt have fancy a challenge game between a retired Kerry lineup and the current one in a few months.
You forgot to mention that Kerry won the All Ireland in 2014 without the 2 payers mentioned above.
They were back this year along with Tommy Walsh and Darren O'Sullivan
If anything he had a better squad this year than before.
Quote from: Il Bomber Destro on September 23, 2015, 09:06:32 AM
Quote from: Ciarrai_thuaidh on September 23, 2015, 01:54:18 AM
There's legit criticism to be thrown at Eamonn after Sunday, but some of the nonsense I'm reading here.. ::)
"Young at fullback"? Jesus AZ I thought you'd know better than that? His disastrous stint as a corner back almost ruined his county career. He is not a good man-marker. I thought after the way he ended 2014 Killian was going to kick on again but he hasn't. Was poor in the 2 biggest games unfortunately.
Il Bomber cracks me up..doesn't rate Paul Murphy or Shane Enright apparently?
Enright could end up fullback, unless they decide to work on Griffin or something.
Pa Kilkenny is a fine player but needs to put on a bit of bulk. Paul Murphy has been plagued by injury this year and hasn't been great, he'll be back. There are several decent young backs from the Junior All Ireland winning squad like David Culhane and Gavin Crowley who will get a run soon.
Then on top of that you have the likes of Cormac Coffey from last years minors along with Andrew Barry, Darren Brosnan and Jason Foley from this years minors who all look like they will push into Senior squad in 2-3 years or so.
Next 2 years at u21 level will hopefully be a launching pad we've lacked for several years..since 2008 in fact.
Murphy doesn't have the physicality for the the top level forwards, just look at what happened when McBrearty came on last year, with a few minutes he had a couple points off him and had to be switched. He's decent if he's up against some one of his own stature even though young Bradley gave him a horrid time of it in the semi. He also picks up an awful lot of black cards as he gets caught the wrong side a lot.
Enright is not very good at all and Kerry are in trouble if he is the main man in the full back line. If Brogan could hold on to the ball on Sunday he would have destroyed him as he was out in front for every single ball.
As twohands (who probably, you know, actually watches games) notes above..Murphy is a natural half-back. Shouldn't have been doing a man-marking job on a good inside forward like McBrearty. Your "analysis" of the final last year conveniently ignored how good Murphy was for a lot of the game though, not to mention how well he did for most of last year.
Your stupid sweeping statement on Enright is hilarious, especially given the form Enright is in. Work away though. Keep writing lads off as much as you want.
Murphy was motm in last year's ai final and enright was the second best corner back in ireland this year!
Bb got out in front of him... He gets out in front of everyone.
Fitzmaurice is a good manager but no more than that. He's certainly not the genius he's been hailed as.
It's all about narrative.
The narrative last year was that Fitzmaurice pulled a master stroke by bringing on Donaghy in the drawn game with Mayo. The reality was that it was an act of desperation similar to bringing on Galvin in this year's final, but one which got lucky. Donaghy had barely featured all year for Kerry.
The narrative in the final was that his tactics completely neutralised Donegal. The reality was that they got two flukey goals at vital stages - a deflected shot dropping into Geaney's arms and an unforced goalkeeping error from Durcan. If one of those, particlarly the second, hadn't happened Donegal would likely have gone on to win as they'd got to grips with the way Kerry were playing.
Kerry were unbelieveably lucky to win last year's All-Ireland. They got every break going. Keegan getting sent off, Mayo continually making naive tactical mistakes, Enright not being red carded, Aidan O'Shea and Cillian O'Connor crashing into each other, dodgy penalties in the Mayo replay, Dublin being beaten by Donegal, two flukey goals in the final.
Even this year, Kerry were lucky to get to where they got. Cork should certainly have beaten them the first day out and Tyrone could well have put them away with a bit more luck and/or assurance in front of goal.
Quote from: imtommygunn on September 23, 2015, 09:05:30 PM
Murphy was motm in last year's ai final and enright was the second best corner back in ireland this year!
Bb got out in front of him... He gets out in front of everyone.
No, he doesn't. Barrett had him for a lot of ball against Mayo the last day out. There were plenty of better corner backs than Enright this year - Ronan McNamee, McCarron, Philly McMahon, Dermy McBride, Ryan Wylie to name a few.
Murphy is only suited to a very specific type of player and I think Fitzmaurice knows this which is why he is not a guaranteed starter on a team with a pourous defence.
Quote from: sid waddell on September 23, 2015, 09:31:16 PM
Fitzmaurice is a good manager but no more than that. He's certainly not the genius he's been hailed as.
It's all about narrative.
The narrative last year was that Fitzmaurice pulled a master stroke by bringing on Donaghy in the drawn game with Mayo. The reality was that it was an act of desperation similar to bringing on Galvin in this year's final, but one which got lucky. Donaghy had barely featured all year for Kerry.
The narrative in the final was that his tactics completely neutralised Donegal. The reality was that they got two flukey goals at vital stages - a deflected shot dropping into Geaney's arms and an unforced goalkeeping error from Durcan. If one of those, particlarly the second, hadn't happened Donegal would likely have gone on to win as they'd got to grips with the way Kerry were playing.
Kerry were unbelieveably lucky to win last year's All-Ireland. They got every break going. Keegan getting sent off, Mayo continually making naive tactical mistakes, Enright not being red carded, Aidan O'Shea and Cillian O'Connor crashing into each other, dodgy penalties in the Mayo replay, Dublin being beaten by Donegal, two flukey goals in the final.
Even this year, Kerry were lucky to get to where they got. Cork should certainly have beaten them the first day out and Tyrone could well have put them away with a bit more luck and/or assurance in front of goal.
The bottom line is that Fitzmaurice took over a team in serious decline and overall has done a wonderful job. There are no such thing as geniuses in sports management. Fitzmaurice got plenty of luck the year he won all Ireland but he had the team in a position to benefit from that luck.
No one serious ever suggested he was a genius .
Quote from: Il Bomber Destro on September 23, 2015, 10:09:13 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on September 23, 2015, 09:05:30 PM
Murphy was motm in last year's ai final and enright was the second best corner back in ireland this year!
Bb got out in front of him... He gets out in front of everyone.
No, he doesn't. Barrett had him for a lot of ball against Mayo the last day out. There were plenty of better corner backs than Enright this year - Ronan McNamee, McCarron, Philly McMahon, Dermy McBride, Ryan Wylie to name a few.
Murphy is only suited to a very specific type of player and I think Fitzmaurice knows this which is why he is not a guaranteed starter on a team with a pourous defence.
No nepotism in there at all?
Enright is a very good corner back. Not sure why you don't see that. There are few better about.
I don't entirely disagree on murphy though you chose probably the best game he ever had as an example of why you think he was poor!
Quote from: imtommygunn on September 23, 2015, 10:12:49 PM
Quote from: Il Bomber Destro on September 23, 2015, 10:09:13 PM
Quote from: imtommygunn on September 23, 2015, 09:05:30 PM
Murphy was motm in last year's ai final and enright was the second best corner back in ireland this year!
Bb got out in front of him... He gets out in front of everyone.
No, he doesn't. Barrett had him for a lot of ball against Mayo the last day out. There were plenty of better corner backs than Enright this year - Ronan McNamee, McCarron, Philly McMahon, Dermy McBride, Ryan Wylie to name a few.
Murphy is only suited to a very specific type of player and I think Fitzmaurice knows this which is why he is not a guaranteed starter on a team with a pourous defence.
No nepotism in there at all?
Enright is a very good corner back. Not sure why you don't see that. There are few better about.
I don't entirely disagree on murphy though you chose probably the best game he ever had as an example of why you think he was poor!
I didn't say he was poor. I just pointed towards his defensive weaknesses as some are saying he is one of the main options for the Kerry full back line in the future with O'Se and O'Mahony likely to depart the scene. He will likely be playing in a position I think he will be a weakness in.
On Enright, I really don't get the hype about him. I've seen him live four times this year, twice against Cork and Tyrone and Dublin. He did a decent job on Hurley in one of the games against Cork but Hurley has been fairly routinely snuffed out by loads of corner backs in Championship football over the past few seasons. I felt McCurry got a lot of joy from play off him when Tyrone played Kerry and Brogan had him beaten to every single ball only that he was dealing with the ball like it was a bar of soap.
He also had that nightmare against Mayo in the replay last year and I recall him being taken ashore against Tyrone in the league game last year (where O'Donoghue destroyed us) in the first 20 minutes because McCurry was giving him the runaround. For me, he's only been talked about in high regard this year because he plays for a team who made it to an All Ireland final.
It's all about context, David Moran was favourite for POTY before going into the game on Sunday despite only have two good games all year round and one of them was a non-contest turkey shoot. I happen to think Enright is far removed from a top class corner back.