Team of the decade

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

Surely Oisin the Great should be the first name on the team of the decade, winning all Irelands at County and Club level (not too mention numerous Ulster Championship county and club medals) and becoming the top scorer ever from Ulster in the championship?

No.

[ziggysego]

Herald.ie
Team of Noughties is Tyrone, end of story
By Kevin McStay
Wednesday September 02 2009

THE great football debate concerning which side can be considered the 'Team of the Decade' has abated.

Which probably has something to do with the recent elimination of Tyrone from this year's championship. And following Kerry's laboured win over Meath to clinch a sixth All-Ireland final appearance in-a-row, there is now a sense the debate has concluded and there can only be one answer.

Fantastic

So, it must be Kerry then? The team of the noughties? Let's look at the numbers: as mentioned, they will be appearing in final number 6 on the trot on September 20. it will be their eighth final this decade all told and of course they have won four of them already. Kerry have never missed out on the Last Eight since their introduction in 2001 and have yet to be beaten in a quarterfinal either.

These are fantastic numbers in any man's language but they establish only one matter of fact: Kerry are the most consistent team of the decade.

Let's broaden the debate a little and consider other angles. Kerry's four All-Ireland wins were against three Connacht teams - Galway in 2000, Mayo in 2004 and again in 2006 and they hammered their Munster rivals Cork when they met in 2007. Thus, Kerry have yet to beat an Ulster or Leinster team and while Leinster have not got a representative into a final this decade, Ulster consistently took on and beat the Kingdom.

In fact, Ulster have dominated the aristocrats to such an extent, the Kerry strike-rate in winning All-Irelands this decade is only average: Played 7, Won 4 and the possibility exists that Cork will set the win-rate to 50-50 this year! Consider Tyrone's efforts: Played 3, Won 3, a 100 per cent record when they make it to final day.

In fact if you go head-to-head with this debate and examine when they met in major games, it is obvious Tyrone hold a major advantage: Played 3 (semi-final of 2003 and finals of 2005 and 2008), Won 3. For all victories Tyrone were in control throughout, and won both convincingly and comfortably. They won by +7 points (0-13 to 0-6 in 2003), +3 points (1-16 to 2-10 in 2005) and +4 points (1-15 to 0-14 in 2008). What more evidence is required?

Well, a little more can be added but only to further underline Tyrone's dominance. Mickey Harte took on all the football brains the Kerry men could find and faced down three different managers: Páidí ó Sé, Pat O'Shea and Jack O'Connor. Harte and his men had to deal with the tragic loss of Cormac McAnallen just as this team was about to reach maturity.

Planned

He lost Brian McGuigan for long periods and Brian Dooher also - all events they faced up to and got over. Kerry had to deal with the planned and natural retirements of Seamus Moynihan, Mick McCarthy (did they really deal with his retirement?), Dara ó Cinneide, MF Russell and a few others. All planned.

Let's call a spade a spade then: we accept that comparisons are extremely difficult across different eras but this exercise concerns two teams who fought it out over ten years. When they met Tyrone dominated in all respects and when they didn't bump into each other, Kerry tended to make hay.

If I asked you who might fill third place for this Team of the Decade debate I fancy you would go for Armagh and there might be little argument from me or others.

Now, one last time for the record: Tyrone won their three finals beating Armagh and Kerry twice. Kerry won their four beating Galway, Mayo (twice) and Cork. Enough said.

- Kevin McStay

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

Kevin's having it too cushy, boy does he want to rise Kingdom ire! 

He has a point though, as the man might say himself. 

[In the Onion Bag]

This is a silly argument.
Its clear to all but the blinkered that Queen Victoria's favourite holiday destination county is clearly the team of the decade. Tyronies should, with the grace of 3xtimes winners, humbly admit the fact.

[Mike Sheehy]

Its clear that the sympathy vote is kicking in for Tyrone. Being patronized like this is surely the final insult to Queen Elizabeths boys.

[cornafean]

Kerry's record in All Ireland finals this decade is a bit like the Dubs' record in Leinster finals and AI quarter-finals. If they meet mediocre opposition, they tend to hammer them. If they meet decent opposition and the game is anyway close, they bottle it and lose. The achilles heel of this Kerry team is their habitual tendency to shit on themselves whenever the going gets rough in All Ireland finals.

[blanketattack]

Kerry's record in All Ireland finals this decade is a bit like the Dubs' record in Leinster finals and AI quarter-finals. If they meet mediocre opposition, they tend to hammer them. If they meet decent opposition and the game is anyway close, they bottle it and lose. The achilles heel of this Kerry team is their habitual tendency to shit on themselves whenever the going gets rough in All Ireland finals.

So you wouldn't consider Kerry-Galway in 2000 as being close?

As for Kerry's record in close games, in 2007 Kerry did well in close games. They were level with Cork with a minute to go and won by two points, they beat Monaghan by 1 point and Dublin by 2 points while in the final it was close up until the 2nd half when Donaghy scored a goal.

[cornafean]

So you wouldn't consider Kerry-Galway in 2000 as being close?

I would. However that was all of nine years ago, and could be cited as the exception that proves the rule. On the other hand, Kerry surrendered a significant lead in the second half of the drawn final that year and were very, very lucky to survive with the draw. Indeed had Derek Savage passed that last ball across to Padraig Joyce, the 2000 result would have been the same as the 2002 final.

[cornafean]

As for Kerry's record in close games, in 2007 Kerry did well in close games. They were level with Cork with a minute to go and won by two points, they beat Monaghan by 1 point and Dublin by 2 points while in the final it was close up until the 2nd half when Donaghy scored a goal.

Kerry do well in close games most years, with the exception of All Ireland Finals where they have not won a close game for almost a decade. The 2007 final was not a close game. Granted, Kerry led by only 3 at the break but Cork never looked like winners once Gooch scored his early goal.

[blanketattack]

So you wouldn't consider Kerry-Galway in 2000 as being close?

I would. However that was all of nine years ago, and could be cited as the exception that proves the rule. On the other hand, Kerry surrendered a significant lead in the second half of the drawn final that year and were very, very lucky to survive with the draw. Indeed had Derek Savage passed that last ball across to Padraig Joyce, the 2000 result would have been the same as the 2002 final.

Yes *if*.
If Eoin Brosnan's shot in '02 was a few inches to the right and Declan O'Sullivan's shot in '08 was an inch to the left Kerry would have won both games.
Using *if* can't really be used as proof.

[cornafean]

Its still nine years ago. Kerry have not won a close All Ireland Final since. In the meantime, they have shit on themselves three times in finals. What was it that Oscar Wilde said about misfortune and carelessness?

[GalwayBayBoy]

Kerry's record in All Ireland finals this decade is a bit like the Dubs' record in Leinster finals and AI quarter-finals. If they meet mediocre opposition, they tend to hammer them. If they meet decent opposition and the game is anyway close, they bottle it and lose. The achilles heel of this Kerry team is their habitual tendency to shit on themselves whenever the going gets rough in All Ireland finals.

So you wouldn't consider Kerry-Galway in 2000 as being close?

In fairness they very nearly did bottle that game. Kerry were 7 points up at one stage but Galway slowly drew level and we missed a scatter of chances to win it in the last couple of minutes. Left it behind us really and I didn't think I'd be saying that when we were 7 points down.