AISF Aug 23rd Tyrone v Cork

[AZOffaly]

It's funny, the guy has won AI medals and most of the honours in the game, but everytime I see him, I remember that incident first.

Unforgivable act and never forgotten even after all these years in Kerry either, nearest thing I saw a full blown riot that day in the stands and on the field that I have seen at a GAA match, I still have vivid memories of the Bomber charging out from his full forward spot and tearing into Counihan.

I read a good quote from the late Enda Colleran (RIP) in the Tribune on Sunday. When that game was on the Sunday game, he said Counihan's action 'should only take place over a candlelit dinner, and only by agreement'.

I thought it was very good

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to agree with Spillane here.
But as Hardy would say, Ahem!
Tyrone didn't contend 'only' with a Munster team convincingly on Sunday.

I'm not talking about this year specifically Timmy, my point is more than in any given year it's likely that the Ulster Champs will have had a number of tough games to emerge (either through the front door or the back), but where the Munster Champs may have had one (usually yourselves against Kerry, an no disrepect to Limerick, Tipp, Waterford or Clare), and that the Munster Council actually operated a seeding system at one point so that you could only meet Kerry in the Provincial Final made something of a mockery of the Munster as a Championship.

Obviously we had an easy enough run of it in Ulster this year, whilst yourselves had a couple of tough games. I'm talking more about the general case, and whether there's merit in what I'm saying or not (I'm not convinced myself) the only way that it'll ever be proved one way or the other is when each team plays an identical number of games to reach the same stage of the competition. Like I say, that's another discussion.

[Billys Boots]

It's funny, the guy has won AI medals and most of the honours in the game, but everytime I see him, I remember that incident first.

Unforgivable act and never forgotten even after all these years in Kerry either, nearest thing I saw a full blown riot that day in the stands and on the field that I have seen at a GAA match, I still have vivid memories of the Bomber charging out from his full forward spot and tearing into Counihan.

I read a good quote from the late Enda Colleran (RIP) in the Tribune on Sunday. When that game was on the Sunday game, he said Counihan's action 'should only take place over a candlelit dinner, and only by agreement'.

I thought it was very good

I remember it well for two reasons: (a) I couldn't believe it was happening, and (b) my Da (a silent man mostly) getting outraged and roaring at the telly encouraging Bomber to killl him. 

[TirEoghaingodeo]

You havent a clue sheehy, your level of hatred for tyrone and to a lesser extent Armagh is incredible, you were slabberin a while ago about the pony being disrespected and that the minors would keep that in mind? what the feck was that all about? it didnt do them much good though did it.

Tyrone are worthy champions, they owned kerry for years and you havent the class to admit that. Tyrone are a tremendous team, were a tremendous time any way you cut it and you have been the most negative gobshite on this board on the run up to this game.

I hope Meath bate youse, failing that Cork will hammer ye by 8 or 9 points and i think that would be even funnier. I would have been aneutral in the AI but if you somehow make it I will be hoping that Cork bate ye up and down the field.

be quiet you nutter. You're always liable to go off on your little rants. You,  with your head stuck up Tyrones arses. I suppose you have no choice given the epic failure of your own county..what is it again 1 AI out of 7 Ulsters ? pathetic

I'm not sure what team you support yourself Sheey, but in keeping with your logic, i'm fairly confident they're a shower of cnuts

Shut up you british cnut

I know i shouldn't rise to this idiot, but what a tr**p.
Gutted about sunday, just reminded me of the '03 semi-final, with tyrone playing the role of kerry. This group can hold their heads high, 3 sams is dreamland when we think of all the disappointments over the years, and i think that reports of our demise are greatly exagerated. So many players had an off day, and although a lot of this was down to cork and their hunger, workrate and accuracy, many just weren't at the races. No better man than Mickey to put the finger on why.
looking forward to McKenna cup and league, and hopefully the blooding of some of the younger lads.
All the best to Cork in the final

[redhugh]

Tyrone just were not at the races , and were shown up by the better team. This Tyrone team owe us nothing ,and I would be of the firm belief that most of them will be back with a vengance next year. Best of luck to Cork,had great craic with a lot of the crowd on Sunday.

[tyroneman]

Tony, tony, tony im sure philly jordan and his da can compare notes on cork bathed in the glow of the 3 senior county all ireland medals on the mantlepiece. Just like geezer, mcgrane, marsden...oops

[timmykelleher]

I'm not talking about this year specifically Timmy, my point is more than in any given year it's likely that the Ulster Champs will have had a number of tough games to emerge (either through the front door or the back), but where the Munster Champs may have had one (usually yourselves against Kerry, an no disrepect to Limerick, Tipp, Waterford or Clare), and that the Munster Council actually operated a seeding system at one point so that you could only meet Kerry in the Provincial Final made something of a mockery of the Munster as a Championship.

Obviously we had an easy enough run of it in Ulster this year, whilst yourselves had a couple of tough games. I'm talking more about the general case, and whether there's merit in what I'm saying or not (I'm not convinced myself) the only way that it'll ever be proved one way or the other is when each team plays an identical number of games to reach the same stage of the competition. Like I say, that's another discussion.

There's a bit of a duopoly in Munster and nearly always has been.
However how many teams from Ulster have won the Ulster championship this decade?

Taking out the top 2, are Donegal, Down, Fermanagh, Monaghan, Derry, Antrim stronger than Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Waterford.
In the past there you would have had to say Absolutely. In the 90s Donegal, Down and Derry both won Ulster championships and an all-ireland each.
This decade you would have to say yes but I don't think it's so clear cut.
Monaghan may have given Kerry a scare or 2. Derry seemed to be on the brink of a breathrough once or twice. But what have the second tier in Ulster actually won.
In Munster Tipperary had the beating of Cork in a Munster final and threw it away. Similarly limerick have hammered Cork and should have beaten them this year and last. They have also run Kerry close in the near past. So the Ulster second team is stronger but if they are of a similar level to munster and none of them actually make the breakthrough of a provincial championship then is Ulster that much harder?

Looking at the top 2 in each province you would have to say Kerry are top dogs in munster. Most of the team of the decade debate swings around their # of all-irelands versus the number of head to head wins Armagh and Tyrone have against them. But where do Cork fit in? And is getting past Cork in Munster the equivalent of beating one of the top 2 in Ulster.

In the 80s Mick O'Dwyer used to plámas us with the line that the toughest game they got on the way to the all-ireland was against Cork. Pure horse manure but would there be a grain of truth in it if applied to the past few years. We have beaten Kerry as many times, 4, as anyone this decade and they have recently been the only ones to beat us. How would Cork fare against Tyrone and Armagh has been an unanswered question for a while. They have answered that for 2009 on Sunday. Obviously we will never know what would have happened if they had met in previous years. (Although losing to Fermanagh may give an indication    )If it's an all munster final this year, it will be the second of the decade. What does that say about the relative strengths of the provinces?

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

If it's an all munster final this year, it will be the second of the decade. What does that say about the relative strengths of the provinces?

All fair points, but that particular one cuts multiple ways: either Munster is the strongest province, or the Ulster teams are too knackered by the time they get out of the province, or whilst not the best overall province Munster has the best two teams in 2009 (and 2007)...

Such are the anomalies of the current structures that there are (almost) endless conjectures, and therein lies the confusion.

[timmykelleher]

I think, ahem! Timmy you have unfinished business before slaging Tyrone. We have dealt with Kerry in All Ireland finals. That All Ireland final debacle in 2007 was, ahem!   torturous. Hope youse get it rite this time

Not slagging Tyrone.
I have a huge respect for them.
Beating Kerry in an all-ireland is a major achievement.

Not as important as beating them in munster but an achievement nontheless 

[DuffleKing]

Tony, tony, tony im sure philly jordan and his da can compare notes on cork bathed in the glow of the 3 senior county all ireland medals on the mantlepiece. Just like geezer, mcgrane, marsden...oops

The number of all ireland medals you have is not a gauge oof your quality as a player

[INDIANA]

If it's an all munster final this year, it will be the second of the decade. What does that say about the relative strengths of the provinces?

All fair points, but that particular one cuts multiple ways: either Munster is the strongest province, or the Ulster teams are too knackered by the time they get out of the province, or whilst not the best overall province Munster has the best two teams in 2009 (and 2007)...

Such are the anomalies of the current structures that there are (almost) endless conjectures, and therein lies the confusion.

No confusion really. Currently ulster is very average in terms of standard. Has definitely slipped a bit. The standard overall in the country is very even with the exception of 2 teams. Kerry and Cork are a fair bit ahead of the rest of the country at the minute. next are the likes of tyrone. After that anybody could meath anybody. Meath would have to beat kerry to give themselves a place at the top table.

[timmykelleher]

If it's an all munster final this year, it will be the second of the decade. What does that say about the relative strengths of the provinces?

All fair points, but that particular one cuts multiple ways: either Munster is the strongest province, or the Ulster teams are too knackered by the time they get out of the province, or whilst not the best overall province Munster has the best two teams in 2009 (and 2007)...

Such are the anomalies of the current structures that there are (almost) endless conjectures, and therein lies the confusion.

This is heading back to the "peaking" discussion again.
I don't agree with the bold text above.
Going by this logic if Dublin weren't knackered because of their exertions against Longford they would be looking at 5 in a row now.
I would imagine provincial champions get similar levels of free weeks before their 1/4 finals.
If they get caught here due to staleness, a back door team improving from regular games, peaking too soon, being knackered, picking up injuries etc. then bottom line they weren't good enough.
It's up to management and fitness coaches to get them right despite whatever games they had previously.

The years Tyrone and Armagh won was because they were the best teams that year. Not because they had an easy run through their provinces that particular year.
Unfortunately the same applies to Kerry 

[timmykelleher]

After that anybody could meath anybody.

I didn't realise meathing someone had now entered standard lingo.
Poor old Mayo got a right meathing in the 1/4 final :-)

[ONeill]

I'm telling ye boys, Tyrone were drugged. Jordan, McMahon and Cavanagh....who next. Isn't Chambers a Derry company? Them and their complementary croissants on your seat.

[ONeill]

Dooher to mull over Tyrone future


Brian Dooher says he won't rush into any decision about his future as a Tyrone player.

The 34-year-old double All-Ireland winning captain completed his 14th season with the Red Hands in Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Cork.

But while there is speculation that he may retire, Dooher says he will take time to decide whether he will commit to the cause once again in 2010.

"I'll not worry about that yet. That's well down the line," he said.

Dooher believes the Rebels can move on and win the title.

He added that their 1-13 to 0-11 win over the reigning champions will give them the confidence to mount a massive challenge in next month's final against either Kerry or Meath.

"They are in an All-Ireland final now, and it will take a good team to beat them.

"It will take a big performance to beat them if they play that way again."

   
The Tyrone skipper conceded that the All-Ireland champions were never able to compete with a fired-up and fiercely committed Cork side at Croke Park.

"Cork were the better team, it's as simple as that, we have no qualms about it.

"We were on the back foot the whole way through. We couldn't live with them."

And while Cork's physical presence gave them a distinct advantage, Dooher believes the Rebels had the upper hand in every aspect of the game.

"They were a big physical side, but they played better football than us.

"It was nothing to do with their size, they were the better team every way.

"They were bigger than us, and that didn't help, but they won every battle all through the field.

"We were chasing the game the whole way through.

"They were on our coat tails the whole time and we could never get a chance to get going ourselves."