Leinster club final

[Lone Shark]

I feel like I'm back in Cam with herself's family. All around me people are saying that Brigids came oh-so-close to beating Cross last year, and that if only they had played more long ball in on top of Kilbride they'd have won. I have to stay quiet so as not to cause a row when with the in-laws, but I was at the game and I didn't see that at all. I wanted Brigids to win for the sake of all the people I now know in the club, but I though Cross always had that match under control and the reason Senan didn't get much ball was because Frankie wasted a mountain of it. If Brigids got a few more scores, I think Cross would too.

From what I've seen of Brigids so far this year, which is only three games I'll grant you, they don't seem to be any better than they were last season and as was mentioned, Cross will be ready for Kilbride this time around. I think they'll beat Garrycastle but the outright price doesn't look wrong to me since they will be 2/1 in the final against either Crokes/Cross, and rightly so.

Also, in terms of people thinking Crokes are over-rated, bear in mind that in the last fifty years, club sides have only won the Kerry championship nineteen times. What that means is that the Kerry team that represents the county in the club championship is often not the best team in Kerry, and sometimes has to play club championship football having been out of training for ages. When you get a club team that is good enough to win the Kerry County Championship instead of just the Kerry Club championship, they are usually very strong.

I do think 5/2 is too short but anyone who thinks that Brigids would or should be favourites against Crokes in a one off game is way off the mark. In fact I'll have an even money bet with anyone here, any stakes you like, that if Brigids get to the final and Crokes are waiting for them, they will be at least 6/4 with all the main bookmakers.

[Captain Obvious]

It's obvious if Croke's beat Cross they will be odds on in the final as result little pressure on the other two sides.

[LeoMc]

Bronson also plays, they between them have 12 or so All Ireland medals. Not bad.

But dare to dream and you'll get good odds and you could win big money

You think "Paddy" Power don't have a niche knowledge of local football?

Charles?

[Syferus]

It's obvious if Croke's beat Cross they will be odds on in the final as result little pressure on the other two sides.

I feel like I'm back in Cam with herself's family. All around me people are saying that Brigids came oh-so-close to beating Cross last year, and that if only they had played more long ball in on top of Kilbride they'd have won. I have to stay quiet so as not to cause a row when with the in-laws, but I was at the game and I didn't see that at all. I wanted Brigids to win for the sake of all the people I now know in the club, but I though Cross always had that match under control and the reason Senan didn't get much ball was because Frankie wasted a mountain of it. If Brigids got a few more scores, I think Cross would too.

It has to be made clear that Brigids, even this season, refuse to use Kilbride correctly - he was dragged out for frees that Frankie would be fully capable of taking and not removing one of the best big men in the country from the fray. The most bizarre sight of the entire year for me me was when Brigids got a last gasp free in the game against Cross - needing a goal - and for a reason only known to God and Noel O'Brien Kilbride marches out to take a drop in. Yeah. Not so much.

Brigids genuinely do not play enough direct football through their inter-county-level spine of Dominican, Mannion, Frankie and Kilbride. Frankie is obviously a great passer but half the time when he gets the ball in the half forward line his best weapon, Kilbride, is pretty much parallel to him, and that's obviously tactics. Playing Kilbride a little deeper and more directly would benefit McHugh too, who is hardly a small man himself.

Cross had more guile and cuteness when it came down to it, but any of the Cross supporters and they'll willingly tell you Kilbride could have caused alot more damage in that final. It was a final where it was never not in the mix, nevermind one where Cross where able to have something in reserve.