Messages

Given the energy shortage, combined with the out of control debt, corporations like Allianz may not be with us much longer.  Certainly Israel's days are numbered.  The problem will solve itself in the end.

Until then, I commend anyone boycotting anything to do with the Jewish squatters in Palestine.  For those who don't, such is your choice and I won't judge you on it.

Regarding the GAA, all we can do is point out the bad association and encourage it to seek better partnerships(if it's possible in the 21st century western economy to find any good options).

Christ after that Midwest commentary, Mayo should be made give back Sam. The two men sounded like they were trapped in a field with a maniacal bull charging at them. The pity its gone global with Tommy goals passing the ball over the bar (better safe than sorry as the man sez) when Kobe could have scored one of the most sensational goals in GAA history for the global audience.

LOL!  The gentlemen doing the play by play seem to have forgotten that fans might be listening who needed the game described to them in a coherent way that they could understand.  Clifford WIDE, that's all I could comprehend and I had the advantage of seeing the final 2 minutes.

Agree thought McNally was excellent. To be critical he let the steps go abit much and Beirne got away with a double bounce, evened out though with Kerry defenders getting lucky a few times coming out and grabbing the Mayo forward tackling them

The Mayo goal was brilliant, however it all began with ROD doing a graceful Fred Astaire impersonation.

The foul on ROD which led to the missed 2 pointer: I thought it should have been a black card.  The Kerry defender simply tackled him down.

Very happy for Mayo.  I thought they had Kerry "on the ropes' twice in the second half and let them off the hook both times.  Though the second time the goal that went off the crossbar was rotten luck.

If Clifford had made that 2 pointer, with 2 minutes left, to tie it we might be lamenting another Mayo near miss.

tbh this is what troubles me about the new rules.  Mayo were clearly the better team, yet a bad bounce here or a shot there and the better team might not have won today.  Yes it is very entertaining under the new rules, however it still has a Roller Derby feel to it.  But if the team we want to win does win then it's all good!  Right?

Not to take anyth

Well done Mayo.

It's good to see a team with no real inhibitions giving it a real cut at it irrespective of the wides and mistakes, they kept going all out attack at every opportunity and forced their will on Kerry.

The best way to win IMO.

Well done the referee. Yes he made mistakes, the double bounce point, Murphy buying the odd free out when it looked like he'd be dispossessed, etc, but in all he let them at it and had no bearing on the game and that's the best outcome for a referee in that they just blend into the game and not front and centre of it

Well done Mayo.

It's good to see a team with no real inhibitions giving it a real cut at it irrespective of the wides and mistakes, they kept going all out attack at every opportunity and forced their will on Kerry.

The best way to win IMO.

Well done the referee. Yes he made mistakes, the double bounce point, Murphy buying the odd free out when it looked like he'd be dispossessed, etc, but in all he let them at it and had no bearing on the game and that's the best outcome for a referee in that they just blend into the game and not front and centre of it.

Not to take anything away from Mayo, however the referee was key.  He allowed Mayo to attack Kerry ball carriers relentlessly - as any good referee should have done.  Often when Kerry defenders were under pressure I expected them to get a free out.  I suspect there are many high profile officials who would have given Kerry benefit of doubt a few times.  Not yesterday.

It was great officiating.

I understand the logic that the high quality in Munster aid the Munster teams.  However Munster dominance is due to one simple fact: they've more talent.  It's a poor reason to abolish the provincial format.

Posters are complaining about there only being roughly 10 hurling counties that can seriously compete for the championship.  If one is honest about Gaelic football, is there even 10 counties?  Many years it seems like there's just two - Kerry & Dublin.

Another perspective is that the CFL(in Canada) has only been a nine team league, yet it's perfectly competitive.  Do the math: 9 teams means each team, in theory, wins once every nine years.

Right now Munster is in a very good place.  Limerick dominant but will have a player turn over, plus the challenge of maintaining a desire to win.  Clare also must retire veterans but have excellent young talent coming up.  One never has to worry about Tipperary.  They win AIs even when they shouldn't!  Equally great winning tradition in Cork.  Yes, psychologically, they are Drama Queens.  If they weren't we'd be worrying about Cork dominance, not Limerick dominance.  Poor Waterford.  Good teams but victims of geography.

The big complaint about Leinster was Kilkenny domination.  That's now ended...though I'm never one to write KK off.

Hurling is in a very good place right now.  Just sit back and enjoy it.

League champs, Munster champs, now AI champs.  A near perfect season for Limerick.  That February loss to Waterford feels like it happened last century.

Disappointing final but the positive to one sided finals is that there's no question the best team wins.  We did get two great Semi Final games(unless one is a Cork fan).

Fair selection?

Sunday Game team of the year...Pfft!  They must base their selections on two weekends of games.

Munster teams have won the last 9 All Ireland hurling championships. Have won every All Ireland since round robin was introduced in 2018, the strength and competitiveness of Munster championship a big advantage it appears

Munster teams Have won 13 of last 15 U20 hurling titles and Have won last 6 minor All Ireland titles.

This year Munster has nearly swept everything in both sports.  U20, Minor and now Senior Hurling.  Can Mayo prevent a total sweep?

A poor first half from Galway.  It took them 17 minutes to score from play!

I thought you were allowed three full forwards in hurling.  It appears Galway are playing with one.  That's not a winning attacking strategy.

Limerick are, simply, dominant.  My sole criticism is that they've left Galway in the game.  It's going to take some miraculous halftime adjustments for this thing to be turned around.  Nevertheless, if Galway can continue to linger close by they might get an inspirational lucky break towards the end.

Yes that's very wishful thinking.

As mentioned, they last met in the final in 2018.  Back then Galway had the veteran team looking for another title, while Limerick were the young team with something to prove.  Is this Galway's opportunity to turn the tables?

Should be interesting to see if Gillane makes up for a very average campaign with a big finish.

Bravo Dublin!  That was a fine effort today and a very impressive three game run.  Take away Kerry's two goals and they are in big trouble.  No sour grapes on how controversial they were.  I think we can all agree that Kerry were lucky to win today.

Yet another thing against Mayo in the Final: will Kerry get all the breaks again?  Great teams make their own luck.  Is that fair?

On the other hand, Kerry looked flat much of the game and were certainly outworked by Dublin.  Reminded me of the Kerry team in the league final.

Now I'm wondering what if "tired" Kerry had been required to come north for their Armagh match.  Have to admit that it still bothers me that the Ulster champion ends up having to play a knockout game in Killarney.  So much for rewarding a provincial champ!

Wasn't it 2023 when Kerry squeaked past Derry and Jack O'Connor admitted they weren't the better team that day and were lucky to win.  Then their luck ran out in the final.

Obviously Dublin won't do it but has any team ever won the AI championship the same year they were relegated in the league?

Hate to be a party pooper but I'd say it's over.  With the wind, Kerry should win going away, like Mayo did yesterday.  Good effort from Dublin but they needed a significant lead to have a chance.  now they have to hope Kerry have a stinker of a second half...not likely.

McConville reckons wind has changed? He mightn't be fully sharp today though.

Wind or no wind, Dublin need to dominate possession 2nd half.  Have it for at least 20 minutes.  Deny Kerry the ball and see if frustration sets in.  The packed defence won't work.  Got to be more aggressive and risk being ripped apart.

Hate to be a party pooper but I'd say it's over.  With the wind, Kerry should win going away, like Mayo did yesterday.  Good effort from Dublin but they needed a significant lead to have a chance.  now they have to hope Kerry have a stinker of a second half...not likely.

I know both team's shooting was poor, yet for the incredible intensity it was a classic championship game.

I believe five Clare starters played on the 2013 team which defeated Limerick.  They can be proud of their great performance today.

It was a shame about the controversy. I thought it was more important how the referee let the teams play.  Didn't kill the game with his whistle.  I thought it was the game of the year.

Well at this juncture in the sport all the guys are top fitness wise. Would agree Kerrys kickout movement and understanding is like something like youd see in NFL.

Would love to know how many set plays and running patterns can be called upon and how the signalling works.

This is what puzzles me.  Given how important it is to win your own kick out, and the dire consequences when you get it totally wrong, why aren't teams running set plays - like a QB passing to a WR?

Bill Walsh and Joe Montana would script the first 20-30 offensive plays before each 49er game.  Can't GAA teams prepare in a similar way?

Is it impractical to huddle quickly before each kickout then send the 11 players out to run a set play like wide receivers?

Comparing GAA to NFL in terms of setting up a playbook is something of a stretch.

In NFL:

after each stoppage, all defensive players line up in roughly the same formation.

Roughly half of those players hold a horizontal line at the restart, and will never go deeper than that line.

It is perfectly within the rules for attackers to block the runs of defenders.

And even with the advantages created here in terms of set plays, teams go 4 and out more often than they score.

Thank you.  American football I know.  Gaelic football I don't know.  That's why I asked if my criticism was practical.  It all seems so easy sitting in front of the tv set!

Losing ones own kickouts appears to be the biggest handicap in the new game.  By now I would have hoped teams would figure this out.  Perhaps some problems don't have easy solutions...or no solutions at all.

From a GAA perspective, I do wonder if they want kickouts to have, at times, a Keystone Kops look to them.  I've written before that I believe this makes everyone look bad.  Cheap goals off botched kickouts seem like being in a kissing booth with the ugliest girl in town.