Messages

Harsh and uncalled for....
Dublin bought into the hype, it happens time and time again, but what group of footballers could be protected against it.  Their heads on billboards all over the capital.  Too much for amateur players to contend with.  But beyond that what was confirmed was that the Dubs have a soft underbelly and this was the first time we witnessed that in 4 years, it is there... just hadn't been tested. 
But despite that the Dub lads have attacked so well and scored some amazing totals this year and deserve enormous credit for trying it this way but many feel that its not the way Gaelic football is meant to be played... otherwise we would all be at it.  It needs defenders that are teak tough, midfielders that cover back and can win their own ball.  I expect a "What now for Dublin" thread to  highlight all this.

A lot of us signed up to the idea that Dublin, like anyone else, could lose a one off knock on any given day. It happened.

Like Donegal losing 2013, defeat does not mean a huge overhaul. Ye learn and ye try come back. Hard to understand how we've a soft underbelly when we've bagged 2 x AIs. What does that make everyone else?

He is, and retired or not, lads having a go at amateur players when they are just on the troll and trying to rub it in, would seem to me to be the very opposite of the kind of behaviour the Association tries to promote. Some lads here would want to look in a mirror.

The Troll aside , some of the stuff said on here about players are out of order.  We need a 'give respect get respect' GAA style programme.   

Alan Brogan ‏@alanbrogan13  · 4m 
Not sure where it came from but I have not retired, my family and teammates will be the first to know that.

Am hearing that too. Did that come out after the RTE report?

About time tbh. He's been done for a couple of years now.
Might want to take the brother with him. He's no interest.

Super player in his day though. Can't see him totally walking away from the panel.

Stupid thing to hear from a GAA fan. There are not that many class acts in our game and they should all be appreciated.

No no..

They were the best team ever in 2012.
They were finished in 2013..

We need Joe Brolly to advise.

It's rumoured Alan Brogan has retired.
He looked absolutely devastated at the end.

Would be a shame. To me could at least be an impact player for another year and would be great influence to the younger lads like Kilkenny when he comes back

samesies...looked bucked at the end emotionally. Great player. Will be missed.
Hat off to Donegal, that was some performance yesterday. The hunger , especially after the Mayo game last year. Incredible stuff. Donegal had some real stand out players, but the man who epitomised their drive and will to win was Paddy McGrath. He was everywhere. Fine player


Hard to call the winner.

No problem losing to Donegal with the way they played the game yesterday. They got everything right and practically all players were at least 8/10 perfomers. Can only really say for us that Connolly , Flynn (outstanding) and Paddy Andrews (too late a sub imo)  played at their best.  Could have done with Ger Brennan in that he would've brought a bit of discipline to our ,too often, vacant CB area. Lessons to be learned.

Got to go with Donegal for the final if they reproduce that in 3 weeks. They were outstanding.

It's rumoured Alan Brogan has retired.
He looked absolutely devastated at the end.

Would be a shame. To me could at least be an impact player for another year and would be great influence to the younger lads like Kilkenny when he comes back

Some other thoughts

Good
The unassailable trust in themselves and each other that the lads have
Ryan McHugh looks like he was made for this stage - easy to forget that this is his first year established on the team
The impact of our subs (Toye, McBrearty)
Flynn - just class
The new sound insulation they put in front of the hill is working really well
Michael Murphy - he's not bad is he?
17/25 success rate - according to @dontfoul, that's the best in the last 3 championships

Bad
Rory O'Carrolls antics all day long - a disgrace
Joe's performance
The Donegal lad blowing the whistle

what did Rory O' Carroll do?

Starting to wonder if you were at the game? I could list some of the things he was at but don't want to go down that road - my point is don't pretend (like the majority) that dublin are whiter than white!!!!

Sorry but ridiculous to single out ROC for anything yesterday. Plenty of digs and what not going on all over. Made no difference to anything. Better team won but if that doesn't satisfy enough, then yes try single out one player ,who happens to be a Dub, for  a bit of tarnishing

Bit a rain and drizzle (irish style) tomorrow afternoon it seems..

"Sunday morning and early afternoon will be mainly dry and bright, with some hazy sunshine in places during the morning. However, outbreaks of rain and drizzle will spread from the west during the afternoon and early evening, the rain becoming scattered and patchy during the evening. Warm and close, highest temperatures 19 to 21 Celsius, with winds becoming moderate south to southwest and freshening later on southeastern coasts."

Keep it up Dont Matter...great stuff.

if a little repetitive. Copy and pasting heaven.

On a realistic level if Mayo are to win an AI soon it won't be with a Mayo manager.

It needs to be from a county who knows how to win AI's

Not sure if that would change their fortune. A very decent squad of players but too many cameo type players this year. Likes of Moran & Dillon (and a few others). Fine players but in big matches today you have to contribute all the time you are on the pitch. One forward scoring in a half of football in a semi final is not good enough.  If they could do what Kerry did and unearth a couple of pacey young forwards to give some new dimension it would make a difference.

Still thought they were unlucky today. Some tough calls against them.

Is it true Dublin have offered to move this game to Clones to stop all the whinging?

Why not. Good record up there , nice trip up.

Sure the GAA itself would have no issue with halfing the near sell out payday that is Sunday.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2014/0828/639933-gavin/

Dublin football manager Jim Gavin has rejected the notion that Sunday's All-Ireland football semi-final showdown with Donegal is a defining game for Gaelic football.

Gavin insisted that the All Ireland final should still be played.

Fair enough article and he's right.

 'Top gear'  officiial site has less cars and more GAA talk than this thread..

[Load of the lads still studying]

Doubt there are actually any rumours. All open information. As said Dublin GAA have full player profile.
Bryan Cullen is well known as a fitness coach (didn't he get a role with Leinster rugby?) Phil Mc in similar profession. Fair few teachers (Ger B, Kev Nolan, Flynner and of course Clucko). Load of the lads still studying.

LOL - I see that and a good few of them over the average student age! 

PS - The day of the tradesman inter county player is definitely over. I wonder how many of the top 5/6 teams have a brickie etc on board?

Average age of a student ain't what it used to be. Know loads of lads who, years ago, would have fathered 10 kids by now but they are still officially students. Or on some sort of work study programme.