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[the Aussies performed the skills of our game better than us.]

the Aussies performed the skills of our game better than us.

Sorry to go on about the IR but I just don't agree with the above statement.

You can't ignore the fact that they only outplayed us after they'd bate the heads off us.

Our basic skills went out the window shortly afterwards, they went from strength to strength, as they're more used to dust ups and generally came out on top of the violent confrontations.

In the first match they didnt perform basic skills beter then us. Also they had the week between the games together traning and our players only met up again on the thursday.

Sure, you can probably always improve coaching but using the IR as an example of us being poor at certain skills is inaccurate IMHO.

Nah it comes mainly from medical associations, they had some doctor on the radio recently lambasting the GAA for the Guinness sponsorship of the hurling championship because of the damage yadda yadda ... meanwhile the main club rugby competition in European rugby is known as the Heineken cup not as the European cup, the Celtic league is now the magners league, and then during the autumn international the other day there was a whopping great Guinness logo in the middle of the pitch! and not a medical practitioner in sight nor sound of the radio ... never mind if the Kerry team or Kilkenny had started knocking back Champaign like the Munster players did after their recent win ... still not a dicky bird on the radio about the good ol'drugby boys, there isnt even a whimper when they box the heads off each other, which happens all the time in rugby, the commentators just laugh it off, very rarely do the national papers show the fights   ... double standards everywhere you look. 

Much as i'd like to see Galway or Waterford win, Kilkenny are looking like raging hot favorites for next year already. Can Ger bring through the recent uderage teams from Galway, can Waterford get another year out of Paul Flynn.

We managed it all the week before when physical intimidation was at a minimum. also the ladies were footpassing like good things as there was no rugby tackle in their game, the men were rushing everything in the second test and really seemed half panicked about everything they did. I've no doubt we'd have given a much better account for ourselves if the first 15 minutes hadnt been violent.

Caffrey and Billings have been there 6 years now. Question marks over the making of big decisions in big games remain.

A very valid point!

how is the younger Brogan brother ( is it Bernard? ) shaping up, saw him play a few times for Plunketts and he looked like a great prospect albeit a bit skinny, will he make it at it Senior Inter county level?

Young Brogan and Vaughan have all the potential. We will have to wait and see

I agree that Dulin could do with another top class forward to have a real chance of steping up a level.

Bernard Brogan was told he needed to work on his ball winning last year by the management team, his pace and finishing arent in question and after a year on the panel he's beginning to bulk up a bit. He roasted McNulty to two high balls which he finished very well in the quarter final v NaFianna, both were belters in fact., I'd say he'll get a run in the league.

Vaughan once again looked the real deal for his club until he got injured, he looked dangerious every time he gets the ball. I honestly think he is a more consistent free taker then Mossy, I know he missed those kicks against Mayo but to come off the bench and take a kick like that is almost unfair on the guy. With Crokes out of the club championship nice and early I think he'll get a good run in the league for the frist time.

After that it's young Connolly, but he's very young and needs to be left develop for another couple of years.

We've a problem at 3 imo as well

Yea, a fantastic hurler, scored some vital points-goals for cork in recent times. He'll be hard to replace, they're lacking ball winners up front now.

A poor International rules showing isnt a refelction of the standard of Gaelic football as its a different sport.
Too much though is given to this query, I havent heard many people question if maybe its due to the levels of professionalism improving in Australia.
Either way, I have seen enough this year to convince me Gaelic football is in a healthy state.
Whether we can compete with full time professionals is irrelevant as it doesnt apply in our sport.

Spot on. Our lads were also clearly rattled by the violence that mared the first 15 minutes. You had intercounty players unable to kick a simple pass.

Very true, especially given the quality of some of the recent Antrim underage teams.

Exactly. You couldnt have Antrim and Galway in it and still call it the Leinster championship ... could you? ... Brennan said there was a mood for more radical change when the recent changes were ratified. He told counties to bring motions to congress next year. It will be interesting.

I agree a bit of structure would be a good idea, some threads vanish too quickly just because they're not ulster football, not blaming anyone but maybe a seperate hurling section would be a good idea. Also maybe split club chat into provinces.

A while back Sambo reckoned that it would be better for Antrim and leinster  if we went into the Leinster championship. obviously this would be detrimental to Ulster Hurling and the work the ulster council are doing. any views??

As someone mentioned on another forum, there is definately an arguement for keeping the Munster championship as is and creating a CUL [Connacht, Ulster and Leinster] championship with Galway and Antrim and the strong Leinster counties. Could be of real benifit to everyone involved at all age groups. 

Definitely signs of improvement in Offaly alright, despite the relative lack of recent underage success.

Here's hoping one of Dublin, Wexford and/or Offaly can get to the level where we can upset the Cats from time to time, preferably all three!

I'm hoping Dublin can improve again next year and have a real crack at Wexford, Still a very very young Dublin team but we should be improve with every game and hopefully the lads will learn a lot for a Division One campagin. Cork are still the team to beat in Munster, Tipp and Waterford will take some beating.

they've gone a bit ott on the stripes but it migh look better in the flesh in three dimensions, very few dubs are that flat.