Donegal v Kerry - 2025 All-Ireland Football Final

[Mario]

There's a lot of hindsight analysis. It's easy to say now not marking Paudie was stupid. I agree it was but also realise that doing it and man marking 2 players would destroy their zonal defence, the basis of their success all year and that just wasn't an option.

Until the last minute they stopped Kerry getting a goal so he might think it worked from that pov. Donegal played poorly, if they executed their game plan as they had done in other games it would have been closer. That's partly down to Kerry of course but I felt some Donegal players weren't at the races and made mistakes you'd never see them make. When they got it to 4 Mogan had a couple of stupid fouls to put the game beyond them. Clifford also scored some 2 pointers that were low percentage even for him. An even bigger mistake for me from McGuinness was not starting one of McGee or McFadden and taking off Gallen for Mcbrearty.

I think McGuinness will think a lot went wrong for him on the day and on another day those tactics might work with a change to the team selection.

[J70]

Personally i find mcguiness over rated in the sense that his management style wouldn't work in any other county. He relies heavily on donegal players buying into the believe that they are some how treated unfairly and forgotten about. He demands absolute dedication and sacrifice.

His path to the final was probably the easiest he could have wished for but did some amount of giving out when every time they lost apart from the final. As soon as any soccer job comes along he will be off however this may not happen as it has been proven his style and approach doesnt work in soccer.

They lost twice. The final and to your own boys when he admitted you were deserving winners on the night.

I've no idea where you're coming up with this perceived unfair treatment/forgotten county stuff being a major component of how he motivates his squads.

Declan Bonner, Paddy Carr and Aidan O'Rourke clearly missed a major trick if that's a big part of what motivates us Donegal people to succeed. Hope Kevin McHugh is listening across the street in Finn Park.

[Rossfan]

It was a first AI Final for nearly all the Donegal lads while Kerry were in their 3rd in 4 years.

Maybe the occasion might have affected some Donegal lads.

[thebuzz]

In my view it was as much Donegal playing badly as Kerry playing brilliantly. Maybe Kerry stopped them from doing so but if they had played as well as they did in the second half of their two previous matches it would have been a very close game. There were a lot of unforced errors which wouldn't be a Donegal thing.

[DaleCooper]

Have my money where my mouth is from Semi final winnings [donegal -3] [kerry-4].

Kerry -2 for Sam

Reasons : kerry are possessed this year. Their defence is underrated.

Despite some injuries they have some depth.

Really rate Dylan Geaney over Paul tbh despite him being raw.

Patton is vulnerable. Gallens form not great but semi will help him.

Kerry much more experienced side. Expect a less heralded player to produce a big display.

Shall wait and see what the Guru comes up with, kerry will take some beating.

Expected 4 point but this is some statement.
McGuinness just ignored the two pointers. Jack embraced them. Kerrys defence put in a serious shift.

Quality team hammer Donegal. Shin é

Kerry keep playing and beating teams whi are "having a bad day".

McGuinness couldn't even give Kerry proper credit and used the tiresome cliché. Kerry were imperious.

[SouthOfThe Bann]

Have my money where my mouth is from Semi final winnings [donegal -3] [kerry-4].

Kerry -2 for Sam

Reasons : kerry are possessed this year. Their defence is underrated.

Despite some injuries they have some depth.

Really rate Dylan Geaney over Paul tbh despite him being raw.

Patton is vulnerable. Gallens form not great but semi will help him.

Kerry much more experienced side. Expect a less heralded player to produce a big display.

Shall wait and see what the Guru comes up with, kerry will take some beating.

Expected 4 point but this is some statement.
McGuinness just ignored the two pointers. Jack embraced them. Kerrys defence put in a serious shift.

Quality team hammer Donegal. Shin é

Kerry keep playing and beating teams whi are "having a bad day".

McGuinness couldn't even give Kerry proper credit and used the tiresome cliché. Kerry were imperious.

Why does everyone have to create false narratives about Mcguinness I thought he was very magnanimous in defeat.

No excuses from him at all.

[befair]

Kerry were on a different level; better all over the field.The other contenders have a big hill to climb

[bennydorano]

Kerry were on a different level; better all over the field.The other contenders have a big hill to climb

It'll be a tall order ok but I reckon a big component of Kerry's year has been the spite, venom and siege mentality they have fostered. Can't recreate that every year. Next year they will be back to square one along with the rest. I certainly don't think it'll be a cake walk for them. Galway still have incredible talent available to them, Armagh & Donegal will be knocking about.

[Truthsayer]

All the superlatives follow an All Ireland final. Clifford the GOAT.. Kerry heading for the golden years again.. a few months ago the money was on Armagh-Dublin final.
Kerry will be beaten soon enough. Let them enjoy it for now..

[rodney trotter]

All the superlatives follow an All Ireland final. Clifford the GOAT.. Kerry heading for the golden years again.. a few months ago the money was on Armagh-Dublin final.
Kerry will be beaten soon enough. Let them enjoy it for now..

Tyrone would want to develop a few forwards over 6f if you are to knock Kerry off their perch..

[Truthsayer]

All the superlatives follow an All Ireland final. Clifford the GOAT.. Kerry heading for the golden years again.. a few months ago the money was on Armagh-Dublin final.
Kerry will be beaten soon enough. Let them enjoy it for now..

Tyrone would want to develop a few forwards over 6f if you are to knock Kerry off their perch..

There are other teams other than Tyrone... not Cavan tho 

[DaleCooper]

Tyrone will struggle. Lot of experienced heads v close to retirement and you cant just replace that overnight.

If they get a good run next year maybe last bite they'll have at it for a good few years.

[Truthsayer]

Tyrone will struggle. Lot of experienced heads v close to retirement and you cant just replace that overnight.

If they get a good run next year maybe last bite they'll have at it for a good few years.

Seems to be a consensus that Tyrone haven't much coming through which is strange having won three of the last four U20 All Ireland finals and this year's minor All Ireland. U21 & U18 was better to get players through. Don't know who thought it was a good idea to cut that year back.

[DaleCooper]

They simply do not have time to get guys blooded to compete with top teams & manage retirements of very experienced operators.

Sean O Se said the Tyrone game made Kerry focus on their kickouts because they got cleaned out. A shame the forwards were hopeless.

[DaleCooper]

Interesting from Gaelic statsman.



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