Donegal v Kerry - 2025 All-Ireland Football Final

[JoG2]

I remember one of the Dubs v Kerry finals and poor aul Gooch spent half his day running after Philly McMahon, but the new rules allow Clifford to wait and see what comes his way.
Like most here, I think that Donegal have the legs and the system to deal with him (as best anyone can hope to) but there's others who can do damage. Kerry have more of an edge at the back too. They also have the ability to kick longer than most teams so it might pin Donegal back a bit.

On the flip some of the Kerry forwards will need to do more running towards their own goals than usual. You won't get David Clifford doing it, but Seanie O'Shea and Paudie Clifford might be dragged deeper.
Their fitness is insance and Murphy directing it all on the field is huge. They also can get scores from everywhere and their bench is awesome.

It's going to be brilliant.

Donegal are as porous at the back as anyone. They've had a serious deal of cards in the AI series so far, Kerry can will very likely cut through them time and time again on Sunday week

[tiempo]

Had a good chuckle at Eamon Magee describing how they would take turns on running Paddy Bradley up the pitch. Bradley would be wrecked with each Donegal man saying "again Paddy, again!"


There is something great about brutal training with a group of lads, knowing youre pushing to the limit and beyond. I envy the Donegal lads tbh.

When i think of the sessions that went through my hips and knees i consider myself very lucky to never have had a major injury, though the joints are creaking now due to a bit of wear and tear

Gruelling sessions are a thing of beauty if you've got that sort of mania, i catch myself in random places wondering how other normal people would have coped, plenty wouldn't, its a character test that typically pays itself forward in terms of personality and resilience

We ran up Slieve Gullion one Sunday morning during pre-season, as the body dumps blood out of your other organs to prioritise your heart lungs and legs, the stomach contracts and you invariably need a shit, one of the lads had the joy of shitting and vomiting simultaneously as the shock to the system hit, hard to fathom now exactly how fit you were in your prime

[AustinPowers]

I think I'll skip lunch...

[seafoid]

Will be on holidays for the final and the lead up to it, so won't get much of a chance to discuss it.

It's a weird feeling though. Delighted to be there, but there's also a tiny bit of melancholy.

We have an excellent squad of players, but is it a whole lot better than, say, the group we had in 02-09? I know you had other two ultra-strong Ulster teams then, and in Tyrone, one of the best of the past 40 years, but it's hard to avoid the fact that so much of this is purely down to McGuinness. What would he have done with a squad featuring many of the players from the 11-12 team, but also with Brendan Devenney and Adrian Sweeney up front along with Colm McFadden (the counter obviously being that a very young Murphy only came into the squad in 07, while McBrearty wasn't around until 11.) .

And the obvious other question being would we be in an AI final now without him?

It's easily possible that Kerry would be with another manager other than Jack O'Connor, impressive and all as his managerial CV is.

But we had a very similar squad in 2022 when Declan Bonner's last season saw miniscule Donegal support, despite us coming so close in Ulster, because people were so fed up with the negative, fearful football Bonner was overseeing. The following season we were a laughing stock whom no one wanted to manage (or in some cases play for) due to the political toxicity within the county.

And the fact is, our two AI wins (as well as our other final appearance), and ten of our twelve UIster titles, were delivered by just two legendary Donegal managers.

So I'm hoping that Jim can conjure up another tactical masterplan to get us over the line, while at the same time also very cognizant that we have to enjoy this thoroughly no matter what, as these days are few and far between, even for a relatively successful county like ours. We might have, by our standards, superb squads of footballers for five years every decade to come, but without a top class manager to harness the talent, chances are it could be two or three decades again before we get back once Jim is gone.

Will be on holidays for the final and the lead up to it, so won't get much of a chance to discuss it.

It's a weird feeling though. Delighted to be there, but there's also a tiny bit of melancholy.

We have an excellent squad of players, but is it a whole lot better than, say, the group we had in 02-09? I know you had other two ultra-strong Ulster teams then, and in Tyrone, one of the best of the past 40 years, but it's hard to avoid the fact that so much of this is purely down to McGuinness. What would he have done with a squad featuring many of the players from the 11-12 team, but also with Brendan Devenney and Adrian Sweeney up front along with Colm McFadden (the counter obviously being that a very young Murphy only came into the squad in 07, while McBrearty wasn't around until 11.) .

And the obvious other question being would we be in an AI final now without him?

It's easily possible that Kerry would be with another manager other than Jack O'Connor, impressive and all as his managerial CV is.

But we had a very similar squad in 2022 when Declan Bonner's last season saw miniscule Donegal support, despite us coming so close in Ulster, because people were so fed up with the negative, fearful football Bonner was overseeing. The following season we were a laughing stock whom no one wanted to manage (or in some cases play for) due to the political toxicity within the county.

And the fact is, our two AI wins (as well as our other final appearance), and ten of our twelve UIster titles, were delivered by just two legendary Donegal managers.

So I'm hoping that Jim can conjure up another tactical masterplan to get us over the line, while at the same time also very cognizant that we have to enjoy this thoroughly no matter what, as these days are few and far between, even for a relatively successful county like ours. We might have, by our standards, superb squads of footballers for five years every decade to come, but without a top class manager to harness the talent, chances are it could be two or three decades again before we get back once Jim is gone.

A great post. What football  means to Donegal. From McEniff to McGuinness.  Fáilte go Toraigh Sam Maguire. Máirtín Beag being unable to pay for his dinner in New York.

[tyrone08]

I remember one of the Dubs v Kerry finals and poor aul Gooch spent half his day running after Philly McMahon, but the new rules allow Clifford to wait and see what comes his way.
Like most here, I think that Donegal have the legs and the system to deal with him (as best anyone can hope to) but there's others who can do damage. Kerry have more of an edge at the back too. They also have the ability to kick longer than most teams so it might pin Donegal back a bit.

On the flip some of the Kerry forwards will need to do more running towards their own goals than usual. You won't get David Clifford doing it, but Seanie O'Shea and Paudie Clifford might be dragged deeper.
Their fitness is insance and Murphy directing it all on the field is huge. They also can get scores from everywhere and their bench is awesome.

It's going to be brilliant.

Donegal are as porous at the back as anyone. They've had a serious deal of cards in the AI series so far, Kerry can will very likely cut through them time and time again on Sunday week

Donegal's only real tough game since winning Ulster was the versus Tyrone which they lost. This wont do them any favours when facing Kerry. Murphy has been lucky all year getting away with serious tackles and fouls, most recently taking out the Meath attacker without even so much as a ticking off. His luck might run out in the final.

Kerry wins this one in my opinion.

[Estimator]

I remember one of the Dubs v Kerry finals and poor aul Gooch spent half his day running after Philly McMahon, but the new rules allow Clifford to wait and see what comes his way.
Like most here, I think that Donegal have the legs and the system to deal with him (as best anyone can hope to) but there's others who can do damage. Kerry have more of an edge at the back too. They also have the ability to kick longer than most teams so it might pin Donegal back a bit.

On the flip some of the Kerry forwards will need to do more running towards their own goals than usual. You won't get David Clifford doing it, but Seanie O'Shea and Paudie Clifford might be dragged deeper.
Their fitness is insance and Murphy directing it all on the field is huge. They also can get scores from everywhere and their bench is awesome.

It's going to be brilliant.

Donegal are as porous at the back as anyone. They've had a serious deal of cards in the AI series so far, Kerry can will very likely cut through them time and time again on Sunday week

Donegal's only real tough game since winning Ulster was the versus Tyrone which they lost. This wont do them any favours when facing Kerry. Murphy has been lucky all year getting away with serious tackles and fouls, most recently taking out the Meath attacker without even so much as a ticking off. His luck might run out in the final.

Kerry wins this one in my opinion.

Guaranteed that the "Kerry Media Mafia" will be all over this in their columns this week and next

[AustinPowers]

I remember one of the Dubs v Kerry finals and poor aul Gooch spent half his day running after Philly McMahon, but the new rules allow Clifford to wait and see what comes his way.
Like most here, I think that Donegal have the legs and the system to deal with him (as best anyone can hope to) but there's others who can do damage. Kerry have more of an edge at the back too. They also have the ability to kick longer than most teams so it might pin Donegal back a bit.

On the flip some of the Kerry forwards will need to do more running towards their own goals than usual. You won't get David Clifford doing it, but Seanie O'Shea and Paudie Clifford might be dragged deeper.
Their fitness is insance and Murphy directing it all on the field is huge. They also can get scores from everywhere and their bench is awesome.

It's going to be brilliant.

Donegal are as porous at the back as anyone. They've had a serious deal of cards in the AI series so far, Kerry can will very likely cut through them time and time again on Sunday week

Donegal's only real tough game since winning Ulster was the versus Tyrone which they lost. This wont do them any favours when facing Kerry. Murphy has been lucky all year getting away with serious tackles and fouls, most recently taking out the Meath attacker without even so much as a ticking off. His luck might run out in the final.

Kerry wins this one in my opinion.

Guaranteed that the "Kerry Media Mafia" will be all over this in their columns this week and next

It's been talked about  as far back as the Ulster preliminary round against Derry. Still, it  continues to happen.

Kerry would be correct  pointing it out until Sunday week. Any  county would do the same

[DaleCooper]

The ageism on display against Murphy is shocking. As you get older neuron firing speed slows, so that explains mistimed tackles. Referees understand this and as an inclusive organisation must give some leeway for the aged.

[J70]

Michael Verney, in his podcast with Dick Clerkin and Kevin Cassidy, was talking about the online campaign to influence the referee on Murphy ahead of the final. I guess this board is part of that. There's a few lads here appear a bit obsessed.

[tyrone08]

Michael Verney, in his podcast with Dick Clerkin and Kevin Cassidy, was talking about the online campaign to influence the referee on Murphy ahead of the final. I guess this board is part of that. There's a few lads here appear a bit obsessed.

Can you actually not see how he does get away more with bad tackles than other players do? No harm in admitting it when its clearly obvious to everyone. Put it this way if Kerry tackle the Donegal lads the way Michael Murphy tackles opposition players would you be happy with it and say nothing?

[blanketattack]

Every other year Kerry played an Ulster team in the final, the Ulster team seemed to have 100% of the support of the rest of Ulster, (well, maybe a few Derry people were neutral when it was Kerry v Tyrone).
This year it doesn't seem as unanimous.

[Armagh18]

Every other year Kerry played an Ulster team in the final, the Ulster team seemed to have 100% of the support of the rest of Ulster, (well, maybe a few Derry people were neutral when it was Kerry v Tyrone).
This year it doesn't seem as unanimous.

Shows how disliked that Donegal side are. I'd support Tyrone over them.

[J70]

Michael Verney, in his podcast with Dick Clerkin and Kevin Cassidy, was talking about the online campaign to influence the referee on Murphy ahead of the final. I guess this board is part of that. There's a few lads here appear a bit obsessed.

Can you actually not see how he does get away more with bad tackles than other players do? No harm in admitting it when its clearly obvious to everyone. Put it this way if Kerry tackle the Donegal lads the way Michael Murphy tackles opposition players would you be happy with it and say nothing?

He's gotten away with some closed fist tackles such as against Derry back in the prelim quarter final. However, it's every time go goes in for a tackle some boys are crying for a red at this stage. Or else crying about him chatting to the ref, as if their own teams don't do the same.

You get tired of it from certain sets of rival supporters, whether it's Murphy, Ryan McHugh, Declan Bonner, pro-Donegal referees. There's always something to whinge about.

But carry on.

[bennydorano]

Every other year Kerry played an Ulster team in the final, the Ulster team seemed to have 100% of the support of the rest of Ulster, (well, maybe a few Derry people were neutral when it was Kerry v Tyrone).
This year it doesn't seem as unanimous.

See a Donegal song doing the rounds, opens with you can forget about your G stands for Geezer, R for Rian O'Neill. Cheeky f**kers

[Armagh18]

Every other year Kerry played an Ulster team in the final, the Ulster team seemed to have 100% of the support of the rest of Ulster, (well, maybe a few Derry people were neutral when it was Kerry v Tyrone).
This year it doesn't seem as unanimous.

See a Donegal song doing the rounds, opens with you can forget about your G stands for Geezer, R for Rian O'Neill. Cheeky f**kers

Ah good enough tune in fairness, let them enjoy it.