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Probably a fair result . Roscommon far closer to mayo than two years ago at the same venue and similar conditions.  AC can take credit for that with far more organisation particularly in defence. .
How much of that closeness is mayo going back v ros going torward is another matter .

That was one isolated incident. Mayo on the otherhand

Pulling and dragging can't be compared to intentionally trying to inflict a serious eye injury on an opponent. (And then jumping on the ground like you've been shot)

Are you with eir sport?

Smith should have seen red 100% anf deserves a ban . But why did the tv slow mo that part of the incident and not the possible head butt ??

Showed it at half time and the (Dublin) analyst said there was nothing in it

Yes. Thats my point .
From what I saw it was a head butt. But it wasn t scrutinised . It absolutely should have been

That was one isolated incident. Mayo on the otherhand

Pulling and dragging can't be compared to intentionally trying to inflict a serious eye injury on an opponent. (And then jumping on the ground like you've been shot)

Are you with eir sport?

Smith should have seen red 100% anf deserves a ban . But why did the tv slow mo that part of the incident and not the possible head butt ??

Really stupid sending off.

It was but if the umpires saw the punch then they saw the Galway player dragging him back in the first place and yet no black card shown there - Why?

Galway getting a lot of the decisions here.

Yellow card for Donoghue when Conroy got away with a similar slide along the ground (The fact he injured himself is irrelevant).

Roscommon had 2 poor wides and they were from Kilroy and Fintan Cregg and neither of them were just after half time, the rest were from difficult angles and outside the D.

Roscommon didn't score from play in the final 50 minutes and only mustered a one free in that time, they really struggled to create good scoring opportunities.

All Shane Walsh's free's were close to the 21 as were all the points from play in that 2nd half apart from Walsh's 1st point of the 2nd half.

It really doesn't fit the narrative that Roscommon threw the game away, they put themselves in a great position at half time but thats about it. There was a huge gulf in the teams in that 2nd half.

Galway with plenty of work to do going forward but at the beginning of the season if you'd told me we'd go unbeaten in the league and get to the league final and then beat Mayo and win the Connacht title beating the Rossies I'd be absolutely delighted.

Roscommon absolutely threw the game away. Most of the shots taken were absolutely from scoreable positions.
Murtagh + Smith both had shot from round 50 yards that they should really have put over. Devanney took one with his right too quickly under no pressure. Harney took a shot that dropped wide that should really have split the post.

Kilroys miss was straight in front of the posts - terrible miss.
Fintan Creggs worse and by rights should have handpassed into Diarmuid Murtagh who would have been in for goal chance.

Donie Smith snapped at a shot which on another day would have went over. If Roscommon had got three of those 7 opportunities at those times in the game then I think they would have pulled away and won by the three or four points - those are the margins.


Referee: I wouldn't have huge issues with the ref overall. Donie Smith got a free in the second half for absolutely nothing  but then again Galway got a free for nothing in virtually the same spot.
Either the full back or Kyne made third man tackle on Donie Smith for a free in the first half but no black card.  I also counted two other blatant and another not quite as blatant third man tackle on Roscommon runners not punished.

Comer could have had a penalty in the first half with the shot that went wide but that would have been balanced by the foul on Diarmuid Murtagh when (Kyne or O Ceallaigh clearly had his arm around him in the air).
Flynn should possibly have had a yellow card for the incident for Roscommon penalty but I think he shouldn't have gotten yellow for the foul on Kilroy a few minutes earlier.
Comer should either have gotten a red card or nothing - happy enough with that - he may have known what he was doing but the TV pictures are definitely inconclusive so free out is the only correct call there.
Thought Stack should have had a free late in second half - whereas Galway got two softish frees - one with three around the attacker and another where Domnican fouled . D Murtagh should have been given one at the other end but think it wasn't given as it was inside the penalty area.

From a Roscommon point of view - they definitely kicked it away - great position at half time but failed to convert the chances they had in the second half - as I said you would have favoured one from the two 50 yard shots, both Kilroy and Creggs chances and a another out of Smiths 2 and Devanneys one to be converted.

When Galways chances came - they took them.


I don't think Galway have the ability to progress in the same manner as their 1998 team for example. Roscommon need to get a handy run in the qualifiers (they're due a handy draw to be fair) if they're to build but questions would have to be asked of managements changes or lack there of. Particularly the room given to Walsh

Its not really an issue. A child will be in the custody of one parent mainly to facilitate school so I would imagine that is where they would be best to join. Mostly it seems to be the mother that is the guardian. If the child stays for large parts of the summer holidays with the other parent then they would be entitled to train with them and I suspect play in blitzes as well up to U10 level though not 100% on this last part.

But they cannot play competitively - U12 up - for more than one club.

Let's say he clears a quarter of a million from this event, can he avail of the small gift scheme where any person can gift another up to €3k tax free in a year. If each individual was said to be gifting him the €500 then he could effectively walk away with all of the proceeds less whatever he gives to the 2 charities. It would make a huge difference to the total amount he will be able to trouser from running the event.

Colm Cooper won't have to pay tax on the money raised from his upcoming testimonial dinner.

It was reported yesterday that the Revenue Commissioners will not tax the estimated €250,000 that will be made from the event, which is the first of its kind for a GAA player. The cost of booking a table of 10 for the dinner on Friday, October 27 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Ballsbridge is €5,000.

Revenue confirmed money earned is not taxable where the player was not obliged - either "contractually or by custom" - to hold a testimonial.

Some of the proceeds from the event, which many see as another step on the road to a professional game, will go towards the Kerry Cancer Support Group and Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin.

http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=276148

Em . . . Though I'm not a qualified accountant I'd be 99.999% sure that this is complete and utter horseshite.
Whatever is earned here will of course be taxed. Its income pure and simple.

In simple terms I could receive €20000 as a gift when I retired as club chairman after 42 years in the job. I have not contract, there is no custom of giving such gifts - that does not mean I'm exempt from same.
The one situation where I think there is a blind eye turned is whereby someone receives money towards cancer treatment or similar >> and often times a charity is set up which is exempt from tax AFAIK.

But If Cooper earns €150000 then he'll have to pay the tax man €75 000 of that approximately...

[But all the attention falls on the mayo full back who held his man to a point .]

this must be one of the Greatest GAA PR coups of all time
Kerry full back line were a shambles , a forward subbed off after 20 mins a midfielder and Full back at half time a penalty denied to mayo for handling in the Small square
But  all the attention falls on the mayo full back who held his man to a point .

is it because the only players most people are aware of are Donaghy and Aidan  O Sé.

1. With all due respect if your putting that spin on it then maybe its beyond explanation for you

2. Mayo should NOT have had a penalty. As already explained here, COC should first have been called for square ball and a free out given.

If Mayo are to win the replay they need to lose this obsession with Kieran Donaghy. Apart from fielding some high balls, when did this otherwise moderately talented 33 year old become the reincarnation of Maurice Fitzgerald.

I don't believe anyone has said he is. By moderately talented what do you mean? He is one of the best fielders of the ball, has excellent vision and very quick hands. He can take his own score and is an excellent team player who is as happy setting up scores as taking them.

He has made huge impacts to several high profile / important games including last Sunday despite not playing as well as he's capable of. Rochford showed a lack of respect putting AOS on him seeming to think he only has aerial ability.

His aerial ability has destroyed mayo in the past so from that point of view putting o'shea on him was a big success. o'shea's poor tackling was in the spotlight at full back though and his positional concentration was also poor at times. I don't think it was disastrous for mayo though and it wouldn't surprise me if they persisted with him back there. The long ball to donaghy is a big tactic for kerry and it took that away from their game.

I don't think its that big a tactic, like they don't persist with it ad nauseum its something they do from time to time but the fact that they have the best full forward under a high ball possibly in the history of the game means that when successful it means goals  and the percentage of success is quite high.

I don't think the article defending Rochford is looking at all the angles. The weather and Mayos pressure on the kickers in the middle third did most of the limitation. Even with AOS there I think Donaghy will beat him under a high ball as he'll attack it but not at maximum height - rather jumping and catching it with his arms out in front of him. Donaghy also set up another goal chance that should have been scored, missed a point with his own poor shot and then ballooned another attempt albeit one of the five he was involved with as it was scored by Geaney I think.
From the article "And yet, people expect Aidan O'Shea to dominate a man mountain like Donaghy in a wide open game, without giving Donaghy credit for being way more than just a target man." Again its not that there was an expectation anyone would dominate Donaghy - its the fact he was no where in the vicinity of putting pressure on Donaghy throughout the game - it wasn't even a contest. Vaughan for one would certainly have been closer and managed to restrict the amount of influence from Donaghy. If there was an aerial threat then again I would submit Vaughan would have done as well as O'Shea would do in this situation.
I think its a disaster waiting to happen for Mayo.

On the flip side was part of the reason Moran and Doherty made hay because O Se didn't hold up the ball as much - not sure whether it was on here that suggestion was made but I think its an interesting observation.

If Mayo are to win the replay they need to lose this obsession with Kieran Donaghy. Apart from fielding some high balls, when did this otherwise moderately talented 33 year old become the reincarnation of Maurice Fitzgerald.

I don't believe anyone has said he is. By moderately talented what do you mean? He is one of the best fielders of the ball, has excellent vision and very quick hands. He can take his own score and is an excellent team player who is as happy setting up scores as taking them.

He has made huge impacts to several high profile / important games including last Sunday despite not playing as well as he's capable of. Rochford showed a lack of respect putting AOS on him seeming to think he only has aerial ability.

Donaghy directly contributed to 2-3. a further point occured when he was involved in the build up passing move. Another when he balooned his shot in the 69th minute and Kerry scored from the break.

He destroyed O'se - no doubt about it. O se I think only once was within touching distance when KD received it. For the first goal AOS is not within an asses roar - Higgins is closer but no tackle goes in on Donaghy and he sets up the goal even running on for the return pass to finish himself but he s not needed. AOS is as effective as a bollard in the same position.
For goal 2-  its typical of the threat. Firstly a pass out to AOS on the wing which was not as bad as some are saying - he appears to be way to casual and certainly it would have been possible to win that ball. In any case the ball goes in . SOS actually breaks it but  od course its nigh on impossible to break the ball of Donaghy with any accuracy and Kerry runners ensure they goal here.

How anyone could say it was anything other than a daft decision for AOS to pick himself Rochford to pick AOS at fullback is beyond me.  As said earlier the weather would have meant fewer long ball opportunities, Vaughan I think would have negated and probably stopped the first goal and a couple of the points.
There were also another couple of opportunities set up by Donaghy as well as a poor enough wide from himself.

Its actually stunning how much space and time Donaghy had on the ball - that would not happen against the Dubs or Tyrone.

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.

Im presuming that McQuillan won;t play the extra 1 minute for this delay

Never a penalty

It was a penalty certainly as definite as the Dublin oner