Messages

Even on one leg!

 

Some great scores in the game but no real bite. Referee not helping as he has blown for very little contact and failed to use the advantage numerous times, the goal chance being the most glaring but far from the only one.

This ref had what I thought was a great game reffing the league final
He let the game flow.
Today he is doing the opposite pulling for every simple contact, how can refs be so inconsistent

He was poor enough in the league final and hasn't shown anything in the championship to prove he is good enough to be called in at that level.  The lost goal showed he can't read the game even when 20 yards from the incident he immediately blew his whistle because he was bursted having had to run a fair part of the pitch to reach that point. Surprised he had enough in him to blow the whistle.

He missed a Dublin penalty in the league final too!

I'm sure it's been mentioned elsewhere but Canavan's analysis are top notch.

Except when he chooses to chase a personal agenda and mentions McGeeney telling him that he couldn't tackle and then highlighting Armagh's poor tackling.

"Kieran McGeeney once said I couldn't tackle, well he needs to teach his team how to tackle".

Good grief! How long was he holding that one?

Yeah noticed that.

I'm sure it's been mentioned elsewhere but Canavan's analysis are top notch.

[Are you in favour of amalgamation of lesser populated counties so and kiss goodbye to the county structure altogether?]

I've nothing personal against the Dubs; Jim Gavin seem a very good manager to e and he and the County Board are merely trying to maximize their advantages over every other team in the land. Wouldn't any other county do the same if they were given the chance?

The population of Dublin is increasing rapidly, whereas rural depopulation is a fact of life in many other counties. Tough tity as far as everyone else is concerned unless and until some hard decisions are taken..
What pisse me off bigtime is the cute hoorism of a large number of Dublin supporters; Kerry could sit back and takes lessons from them.
I mean you'll hear that Dublin' superiority in every imaginable way can be put down to the hard work of their volunteer coaches.
Who's codding who?
Every county has its volunteers and I am certain that a far higher percentage of the local community muck in to support their local club than you'll find in Dublin.
Another porky:It's just that Dublin have an exceptional bunch of talented players and when they are gone, they're gone, never to return, or something like that. What about Fenton, Small, McCarthy etc. etc.
Where are they coming from?
Look, the list is a long one but facts are facts no matter what spin is put on them.
According to Simon Coveney 40% of the population and 50% of the resources are located in the greater Dublin area and those figures are increasing rapidly.
By 2030, Dublin will have 50% of the population according to Coveney and no amount of BS can explain away the fact that it is a case of Goliath against David every time they play an intercounty game.

Leave aside coaches / money, what is your solution to the population issue.
Split Dublin into what 4? Are you in favour of amalgamation of lesser populated counties so and kiss goodbye to the county structure altogether? Speaking broadly of course, but if you're using population as your guide, you can't have one without the other.

You are bang on. The Dubs can't be blamed for everything that's wrong with the present system. Dublin is a victim of circumstances, same as every other county. The intercounty model that came into existence in 1884 is no longer fit for the purpose intended, Dublin won't be the only county that will resist change, whenever it comes, but there just has to be a radical overhaul of the present model, sooner rather than later..

Dublin as a victim. I've heard it all now Lar. Fingal already operate as a county in the stick fighting, ffs it's an actual county in the eyes of the State.

I'd stop a long way short of feeling sympathy for the Dubs but that doesn't mean that they don't have problems, lots of problems coming down the line. No matter how rosy the future for Dublin appears to be, the stats are a cause for serious concern.

On the intercounty scene, Dublin has every possible advantage over the 31 others and to suggest otherwise is flying in the face of reality. But that's the sexy side of Gaelic football but there is another and it's, arguably, more important.
Next Sunday, I'd say well over 90% of Roscommon people will be behind their team and very much aware of what's going on. Galway figures will be more or less the same. Maybe no All Ireland by either to be won but the GAA is alive and well at community level in both counties.
No more than 10% of the population in Dublin give a damn about Gaelic games and that percentage is falling. I'm talking here about the volunteers who mark pitches, look after juvenile teams, support fundraisers and the likes.
"Underrepresentation" was a buzz term as far back as the early nineties when a report, commissioned by Central Council, was published. It was set up to look into issues peculiar to Dublin and report back with solutions to those problems.  It also had the remit to carry out a  compare and contrast study with other counties. The report was shelved, which was a great pity, because of resistance from vested interests.
Today, the overall problems are even worse. Having just one team to represent over 40% of the Republic's population cannot be good for the long term interests of the Association.
The fuss about unfair funding for coaching is misplaced, IMO. Giving Dublin a vastly disproportionate share of the kitty will serve to increase the already wide gap between Dublin and the rest but it isn't designed to entice a single individual into the Association at any level.
Elitist footballers is all very well but you need elitist competition to match them or the whole exercise is pointless even detrimental to the overall progress of the GAA throughout the land.

I'm not a football fan and don't even watch it so I have zero axe to grind with any football county. That said, the GAA is in the process of slowly killing one of this country's national games. It isn't at fault for the population difference between Dublin and the rest of the country but common sense would say that, to try to provide as competitive a championship as possible, this imbalance should be at least partially offset by an improvement in funding in other areas of the country. With all the funding going into Dublin and the massive difference in population, a behemoth is being created that will perpetually dominate. Not even Dublin fans will find it exciting to see Dublin win loads of All Irelands in a row but it is difficult to see who will stop them. They know they are in the quarter finals every year with minimal effort in Leinster. Even in the quarters they are unlikely to meet anyone who can put it up to them because these are sides who already lost in their provinces. Realistically who, of the qualifiers, is going to make them sweat this year? Maybe, maybe, Mayo but they look like they've gone off the boil. So Dublin pretty much know they can plan for August and September every year. The most recent example of an ultra-dominant team in the GAA is Kilkenny but Kilkenny's population is infinitely smaller than Dublin's and so, naturally, Kilkenny were always going to hit a patch where the players just weren't there, which is where we find ourselves now. How realistic is it though that you won't find 15 players who are good enough in a population of well over a million? Add to that the coaching and training facilities there are in Dublin and it isn't a stretch to see Dublin absolutely dominating for years to come and the gap becoming bigger not smaller. At intercounty level that will kill football because people, including Dubs, will lose interest. Kilkenny's run was always going to come to an end, I can't see the same thing happening with Dublin because all the advantages are with them.

But sure Lar pointed out above that the 'GAA population' of Dublin is closer to 10% of the county. Might even be a stretch.

I've nothing personal against the Dubs; Jim Gavin seem a very good manager to e and he and the County Board are merely trying to maximize their advantages over every other team in the land. Wouldn't any other county do the same if they were given the chance?

The population of Dublin is increasing rapidly, whereas rural depopulation is a fact of life in many other counties. Tough tity as far as everyone else is concerned unless and until some hard decisions are taken..
What pisse me off bigtime is the cute hoorism of a large number of Dublin supporters; Kerry could sit back and takes lessons from them.
I mean you'll hear that Dublin' superiority in every imaginable way can be put down to the hard work of their volunteer coaches.
Who's codding who?
Every county has its volunteers and I am certain that a far higher percentage of the local community muck in to support their local club than you'll find in Dublin.
Another porky:It's just that Dublin have an exceptional bunch of talented players and when they are gone, they're gone, never to return, or something like that. What about Fenton, Small, McCarthy etc. etc.
Where are they coming from?
Look, the list is a long one but facts are facts no matter what spin is put on them.
According to Simon Coveney 40% of the population and 50% of the resources are located in the greater Dublin area and those figures are increasing rapidly.
By 2030, Dublin will have 50% of the population according to Coveney and no amount of BS can explain away the fact that it is a case of Goliath against David every time they play an intercounty game.

Leave aside coaches / money, what is your solution to the population issue.
Split Dublin into what 4? Are you in favour of amalgamation of lesser populated counties so and kiss goodbye to the county structure altogether? Speaking broadly of course, but if you're using population as your guide, you can't have one without the other.

Keeper over carried surely?

[No one from outside seems able to accept that at the moment Dublin have a batch of players that are once in a lifetime talented.]

Speaking of red lines...

No one from outside  seems able to accept that at the moment Dublin have a batch of players that are once in a lifetime talented.

The fact that Aer Lingus sponsors them doesnt make Cluxton the player he is.

The likes of him and a few others will never come around again.

They will (started already) fade and whats coming down the line is no where near as special - Kildare are already beating Dublin at underage.

Arrra, g'wan outa that!
No one from the inside seems to accept that the same "once in a lifetime players talented players" got stuffed in the Leinster semi final in 2010 by the most piss-poor Meath team of all time - an embarrassment to the great Meath warriors that went before them. Remember they became Leinster champions thanks to a certain Mr. Sludden. Prior to that game Dublin had clocked up a string of Leinsters but were not serious AI contenders in any of them.
In the wake of that defeat, the "Blue Flag" initiative was undertaken and the rest is history by now. Many of those who played on that fateful day against Meath are still chugging away and if you count in those who have retired since, the number who went on to starting bagging Celtic Crosses in 2011 and subsequent years  covers just about everyone who lost that game.
So much for the talent of the players.
If talent alone was all that was needed, why are Dublin spending so much on team preparation?
Sure, I've heard the mantra that once those super players retire, they can never be replaced and Dublin will slip back into the pack once again.
Tell me, where have McCaffrey, McCarthy, Small, Fenton, Kilkenny and Costello come from? They were hardly found under a stone, were they?

Emmmm, they did beat Tyrone in the wake of the Meath debacle and only lost to Cork by a point but that doesn't suit your little story

Now, now you're being catty.

I didn't make any mention of what happened next because it has no bearing on the point I was labouring to make.
Dublin got tanked by an abject Meath in 2010 yet went on to win the AI the following year.Basically, the players were the same in both years  but the the outcome was markedly different and has been since then. My point here is that you and other say Dublin just happen to have super players at present and when they are gone, they are gone, sort of.
. If I accept that, the millions spent om preparing the team since then has been a waste of time and money since sheer, naked talent is the sole cause of their present form.
Where are the likes of Kilkenny, Costello and the rest I've mentioned coming from if not from a superb coaching and development structure?
Do you honestly believe that when Clucko and Berno and Dermo and the rest retire, Dublin will sink back into the pack once more?

They're already back in the pack though Lar. The pack being Kerry, Tyrone, Dublin and Mayo.

If it wasn't for Own goals, keeper having a nightmare, CoC missing the free, we wouldn't be talking about this

[No one from outside seems able to accept that at the moment Dublin have a batch of players that are once in a lifetime talented.]

Speaking of red lines...

No one from outside  seems able to accept that at the moment Dublin have a batch of players that are once in a lifetime talented.

The fact that Aer Lingus sponsors them doesnt make Cluxton the player he is.

The likes of him and a few others will never come around again.

They will (started already) fade and whats coming down the line is no where near as special - Kildare are already beating Dublin at underage.

Arrra, g'wan outa that!
No one from the inside seems to accept that the same "once in a lifetime players talented players" got stuffed in the Leinster semi final in 2010 by the most piss-poor Meath team of all time - an embarrassment to the great Meath warriors that went before them. Remember they became Leinster champions thanks to a certain Mr. Sludden. Prior to that game Dublin had clocked up a string of Leinsters but were not serious AI contenders in any of them.
In the wake of that defeat, the "Blue Flag" initiative was undertaken and the rest is history by now. Many of those who played on that fateful day against Meath are still chugging away and if you count in those who have retired since, the number who went on to starting bagging Celtic Crosses in 2011 and subsequent years  covers just about everyone who lost that game.
So much for the talent of the players.
If talent alone was all that was needed, why are Dublin spending so much on team preparation?
Sure, I've heard the mantra that once those super players retire, they can never be replaced and Dublin will slip back into the pack once again.
Tell me, where have McCaffrey, McCarthy, Small, Fenton, Kilkenny and Costello come from? They were hardly found under a stone, were they?

Emmmm, they did beat Tyrone in the wake of the Meath debacle and only lost to Cork by a point but that doesn't suit your little story

Speaking of red lines...

No one from outside  seems able to accept that at the moment Dublin have a batch of players that are once in a lifetime talented.

The fact that Aer Lingus sponsors them doesnt make Cluxton the player he is.

The likes of him and a few others will never come around again.

They will (started already) fade and whats coming down the line is no where near as special - Kildare are already beating Dublin at underage.

[For a team that plan everything meticulously I don't believe that this was an off the cuff reaction to deflect attention from a big win]

There certainly seems to have been a big surprise in the media yesterday about Jim Gavin's strange interview. I really only got to watch it in detail last night and even the way it started off was very peculiar in that he was almost denying there was a problem and that he was doing interviews in the more public domain of the auditorium.

It really looked like a staged performance to get a reaction or as some say to difuse away from their huge win over Westmeath. It so reminds me of how Mickey Harte used to do impeccable interviews back in the early 2000s where he spoke openly and honestly like Gavin likes to appear but then it all went pear shaped.

I think part of it is that RTE have 3 Kerry men now on the TSG panel and he maybe felt he had to lay down a marker than he would stand by his player no matter what. However, like I said yesterday I think he's just drawn more attention to Connolly and his past and maybe this is a big ploy to force some fans to think Connolly is just not worth the hassle any more and Dublin can win without him anyway. Most of expect Dublin to get to the AI final again this year without Connolly and so maybe Gavin's plan was to show that Dublin GAA are better off without all the hassle he brings to the table.

Listening to Brolly last night and it's hard to take the man seriously at any level as he spouts so many tall tales and exagerrations of the truth. Most of what he said of Spillane was untrue and I don't get the big deal being made of him reading out a script. I mean so what if he did read something out of his notes, as long as it was accurate. Was his point about if it was Gooch then would it have been different?
If Gooch had of pushed the linesman then he too would have been punished the same in my eyes.

If it was pre-rehearsed press conference which I do think it was, there is no way Gavin simply dreamt it up as a reaction to beating Westmeath by 31 points. It was thought up between the suspension being issued and Sunday's match. For a team that plan everything meticulously I don't believe that this was an off the cuff reaction to deflect attention from a big win.

I think you may be on to something in relation to the number of Kerry men in the media. He referenced Spillane particularly who was definitely wearing his county hat. The more serious matter imo of the failed drugs test got no media attention whatsoever and was swept under the carpet by most pundits with comments such as 'ach sure he's a lovely fella' so there is a certain element of hypocrisy here.

I also don't believe that Dublin are better off without Connolly. They will sail into a qf/sf depending on the draw but in those last 2/3 matches they will need to have the manic aggression needed to win 3 in a row. Connolly is proven at that level and whilst they have some fine players on the bench, they are not proven serial winners like Connolly.

Do you think Dublin were expecting a tight game v Westmeath? There was every possibly that this was going to be a turkey shoot. Gavin's outburst is so utterly ludicrous that there must be a motive behind it because if he genuinely feels that Connolly's been hard done by here then he really has lost the plot.

Sure he said he accepted the ban?

With Scully going to half forward. Happy enough to see Kilkenny playmaking in midfield.

Just as long as the midfield play making is going in the right direction. Watching all those slow, lateral hand passes of his, make me lose the will to live. 

Completely agree it is dreadful to watch.

But when (if) Dublin find themselves 3/4 points up, the onus is on the opposition to come out and play. If the other teams commits players forward, maybe KK would be more direct.

Some teams won't try and attack even if they are on a loser doing what they do.

Dublin could really do with Costello and O'Callaghan stepping up this year, pity about injuries.

Remain to be convinced by McCarthy in midfield.

Mannion in the hfs! Hopefully goes into the corner.

Expect Dublin to win....they'll probably be 5-7 points up and Westmeath still won't come and play...such is modern football.

Apologies for not being clear, repeating myself.

My issue is with the 360 turn by the ref and linesman.

They both knew exactly what happened and must've felt no action was required - no card.

Fast forward and it finds itself in the ref's report. Why the change of heart? Was there outside influence - media etc?

Connollys entitled to a fair process but this is not the case here. Send him off, otherwise as the officials had a clear view, it should not appear in the report.