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Was there a rumour doing the rounds that most of the Kerry players are refusing to take part because of remarks Tohill made on the Sunday game?

Might be time for bed all right

http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd378/GMcK76/GAA%202010/MourneUltimatum.png

Lost in Enniskillen and Aughrim it is all coming back and he remembers what he was born to do. Now he is just 70 minutes away from bringing it all home.

Apologies if this doesn't work I am experimenting on Photobucket.

Sorry exaggerated a bit. It was 17.50 a day.

http://www.tribune.ie/archive/article/2005/jul/10/eastern-mysticism-and-northern-spirit/

Apart from your half forward line don't think Down are that far ahead of Armagh. Down got the better deal on the manager side.

Down have had players coming though a few years but McCartan has been able to make it gel. People have talked about Derry having players coming through for a few years but it has never materialised.

Bit jealous myself but will be cheering the boys in Red ( sorry yellow) against Cork

McGeeney goes higher and higher in my estimation.

In the face of stupid journalism and obvious heartbreak he did not overplay the incidents that went against his team and went out of his way to emphasise how well Down played singling out individuals for praise.

Much is made of him not smiling much, spending £20 a day on fruit etc but he is a winner and has a touch of class about him. Compare his reaction to Jack O'Connor after Down beat Kerry,who had less to whine about.

On the field for Armagh he left everything out on the field everytime and despite some initial cynicism about rough house tactics he seems to have won over the Lillywhites ( was speaking to few Kildare fans in the Clonliffe inn yesterday and they are not letting us have him any time soon). The players cannot speak highly enough of him either.

Always remember reading that Cormac McAnallens father told how McGeeney wrote a 3/4 page letter to them when Cormac died.

Class act.

This Down team have more pace thoughout the team than Down in 1994 and I think Down are in a perfect position going into this final.

Cork don't seem to handle the pressure well, against Dublin there was a real lack of leadership throughout the team until O'Neill came on.

Cork are strong but their slow side to side handpassing will suit Down who will hit Cork at pace on the break. Dublin nearly beat Cork with 1 forward. Down have 5 forwards capable of scoring a few points each ( John Clarke has been just ok the last few games but he gives Down a focal point in attack).

The fact that this is their 1st final will not phase Down. They are Down and although the hype round Newry etc will be unreal McCartan will keep their feet on the ground. The fact that they have never lost a final will be used as a positive.

Cork have been knocking on the door the last few years and the tag of favouritism will not sit well with them.

Cork playing v Tyrone last year would win but they have yet to hit those heights this year. Down by 2.

Have an Ulster team ever been favourites for an AI ( apart from 2003)?

By the way would Jimmy White being ref make it the team that never lost a final reffed by the man who never won 1? I'll get my coat.

Best team won on the day. Few calls went Downs way undoubtedly but when they were on top at midfield they made hay as they have more natural forwards.

Great pace from the likes of Hughes, Poland. Great to see half forwards taking on their men at speed.Clarke was very good, composed on the ball and great vision but he's not the messiah ( or a very naughty boy) as some are making out.

Downs full back line was vulnerable but not tested enough by Kildare. Best compliment I could pay Fitzpatrick and King is that Rodgers wasn't missed.

Kildare were relentless in the last 10/15 minutes when the game seemed dead. Great credit is due to McGeeney and the team for the spirit they showed. They started well and finished well but will know that as individuals and as a team they were just not good enough for long enough.

Should be targeting Leinster next year and another semi final before we take McGeeney home.

Great picture, sums up the GAA brilliantly Doyle emptied the tank yesterday, out at midfield taking frees. Could'nt have gave anymore on the day.

Brilliant game yesterday, excitement in closing stages was something else

Agree that this year has been the most exciting championship since 2005. There were 3 great teams at the peak of their powers that year. Armagh were better in 2005 than 2002.

We have slipped back since 2006 and with many of the old soldiers for Kerry and Tyrone nearing the end there has been a definite levelling off.

There have been some grat games this year, even the Louth/Meath game was compulsive viewing despite the bad taste in the mouth it left.

Down/Dublin/Kildare progressing this year must give hope for maybe 10 counties that with the rub of the green and good management they can make great strides in the next few years.

Don't know much about the club scene in Mayo in terms of possible managers but looking at it from the outside.

1) Micko would probably be a retrograde step. This would just be a circus when a low key overhaul is what is called for. This was Dublins quietist buildup in years and Gilroy took them as close to the final as they have been in 15 years.

2) According to Newstalk Maughan is the favourite with a local bookies. Is this based upon his previous spell?
Has football moved on from Maughans methods of the 1990s?

3) Talent wise you would put Mayo in the top eight in the country. Every team they seem to have a decent minor or U21 team yet players who looked good at underage level like Parsons and O'Shea have yet to break through as they promised.

If Mayo could add a bit of steel and cynicism to their team, not neccesarily the best footballers and find the right man to harness this they could be back in business next year.

The likes of MOM, Jimmy Magee and Stuart Hall are legends and their like will probably never be seen again in terms of their description of games.

MOM can be irritating when you tune in and want to know the score in a game. Sometimes you can pick up whether a team is winning/ losing by a little/lot within 30 seconds but you can be waiting for a while before you get the actual score even as scores go over/in.

Cheered for Down in 1991 and 1994 so may as well continue. Might head down on Sunday.

Would be good to see Geezer taking Kildare to the final though, preparation for Armagh in 2013 (ahem).

I also think the winners of this weekends game will beat Cork. I would have more faith in Kildare beating Cork than Down, but Down would still have a great chance.

Saw odds last week of Kildare/Kilkenny double of 6/1.

Reasons for this.

1) Dublin pushed Cork to the pin of their collar. Kildare/Down are better set up than Dublin and with better players 1-15 and on the bench.

2) Unless someone wins by 10 points or more this weekend the winners will go in as underdogs which is always worth something.

Incidentally apart from 2003 obviously,every Ulster team has been underdogs for a final and apart from Tyrone in 1995 all have won.

3) Cork are not playing as well as last year. I really expected with Kerry gone they would have really came out and put on a display v Dublin. They do not seem to handle the pressure well and the pressure will definitely be on to win the final.

There was no forward bar Kerrigan ( and O'Neill when he came on)demanding the ball. There seemed to be a few hiding as there was in last years final. Cork have a lot of good forwards but no marquee player who can grab a game by the scruff of the neck.