All Ireland senior football final 2012 Donegal v Mayo

[J70]

just watched the two semifinals again. god the Cork Donegal game was painful to watch. the referee could have give 100's of frees the quality of the game was a serious notch down from the Dublin Mayo one.
any  nerves i had  before i re-watched them are well gone.
Cork despite playing like headless chicken had the winning of the game right up till the last minute Donegal failure to score more than 2 points , both from placed ball, left the door wide open hopefully Mayo would be as polite as cork.
I think all Ireland final day is going to hit Donegal like a steam train . at present they feel all they have to do is collect the cup in Dublin but once the ball is thrown in they'll realise they still have to fight for it do they have the Hunger to fight that which they assumed was theirs already......
We in Mayo know the hard way all bets are off and all clocks are reset on Final day.  we l have hope but hope knowing it'll take blood sweat and tear to win and that we can expect no favours from any one.
this script has yet to be written

What the hell are you basing this on?

Some of you Mayo lads really are talking some awful shite on this thread!

[rosnarun]

forward play was vastly superior in Mayo dublin game, watch it again some truly shocking misses in the cork donegal game.  even with the massed defence cork had more than enough chances to kill off Donegal
when you hear young lads on about wanting to be remembered in 50 years time you know they think its already won. mindset is already fucked.

[J70]

forward play was vastly superior in Mayo dublin game, watch it again some truly shocking misses in the cork donegal game.  even with the massed defence cork had more than enough chances to kill off Donegal
when you hear young lads on about wanting to be remembered in 50 years time you know they think its already won. mindset is already fucked.

A 19 year old kid talks in an interview about how he doesn't go out boozing with his mates because he wants to be one of the best footballers around and be remembered in years to come and that means the Donegal team already thinks they have it won?

We'll see on Sunday. I think you Mayo boys are going to be seriously disappointed if you think Donegal are going to flop due to arrogance. I would have been seriously worried about this in the past through bitter experience, but not under McGuinness.

And yes, whatever about Cork, Donegal had some shocking misses in the semi. The rest of their play was superb though. Some of the play in the second half were probably the best I have ever seen from Donegal, except for perhaps the 1992 final.

[emmetryan]

I've put together a tactical preview of the All-Ireland Final for anyone interested http://action81.com/blog/?p=6196

[ross matt]

Intriguing final. Both sides reaching the AI due mainly due to collective effort, intelligent play and unselfishness. Both led by two of the most professional young managers in the game.

For me it all hinges on how loose the Dublin defence were. Mayo's angled and long range shooting was very impressive but will they get as much time on the ball from Donegal?

Donegal could have been caught at the death by both Cork and Kerry but yet should have won both matches by far more. However it does show even they have lapses at the back.

I think Mayo midfield will prevent Donegal from getting the massive and unexpected foothold they had there against Cork. Moran is the most improved footballer of 2012 and O'Se has added a huge work ethic to his natural talent.

Both counties have massive support but there will be more hype and expectation in Donegal. No matter what McGuinness does some of this may get to some of the players. Mayo supporters have learned the hard way that hype leading up to an AI final can lead to severe pain afterwards. Their camp will be totally focussed.

I would be quite happy to see Donegal win. Great county with great supporters and they have been fascinating to watch this season as opposed to how dour they were last year.

However (even though us poor Rossies would never hear the end of it!) I would dearly love Mayo to get over the line this time. No county deserves it more and there is alot to admire about their players and manager plus their style of play. I also hold the old fashioned view that it would be a great boost for Connacht.  It's obviously going to be a great tight contest but I think they are in a great position to finally take Sam this time.

[omagh_gael]

I've put together a tactical preview of the All-Ireland Final for anyone interested http://action81.com/blog/?p=6196

Interesting read Emmet. Keep up the good work!

[Lar Naparka]

Here's the link to the report on Lee Keegan's injury that I mentioned in my last post:
http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/donegal-fans-hit-by-60000-ticket-tax-3233312.html

The bit about Lee is near the end.

"Meanwhile, Lee Keegan (pictured) is unlikely to make the Mayo team as he continues to recover from the broken finger that ended his All-Ireland semi-final against Dublin.

Mayo won't finalise their team until later in the week, but Keegan looks to have run out of time. Chris Barrett and Richie Feeney are vying for the vacant position."

Am I the only one that is worried about this.

3 of our top players spring and summer were Andy, Boyle and Keegan. Yeah we have a good panel but this is diluting things a lot. Meanwhile Donegal are in rude good health and probably in a position to pick their preferred 15. We may be starting without 3 automatic choices if fit. f**k it anyway.

Of course I'm worried but I'm hoping this is just guff talk and that both will make a 'miraculous' recovery and take their places without a bother on them.
It's part and parcel of the routine leading up to the final each year that a county or maybe both will have serious doubts about the chances of a player or two being fit enough to play and I'm guessing that Mayo may be up to the same thing.
If not, we have pretty decent replacements to step in. Barrett and Feeney won't let the side down and that's for sure. But the problem then would be that we would have fewer options on the bench to spring when some of the players are tiring.
There's no telling what's going to happen but my money is on James fielding the side that started against Dublin.

[ballinaman]

Boyle must have got a right dose if it's still at him 3 weeks later. f**k it anyways.

[Mayo4Sam]

I've put together a tactical preview of the All-Ireland Final for anyone interested http://action81.com/blog/?p=6196

This man has been right for most of the championship, hopefully he falls down here!

[Lar Naparka]

I've put together a tactical preview of the All-Ireland Final for anyone interested http://action81.com/blog/?p=6196

This man has been right for most of the championship, hopefully he falls down here!

Arra, the cutest hen lays out sometimes. 
Fine analysis as usual but I know he got it wrong this time.
Keep the faith!

[Geoff Tipps]

Boyle must have got a right dose if it's still at him 3 weeks later. f**k it anyways.

Yeah have heard he has no chance of making it.

[Mayo Mick]

I've put together a tactical preview of the All-Ireland Final for anyone interested http://action81.com/blog/?p=6196

Including Mortimer as a key absentee makes me discount this analysis. Emmett has watched more of Donegal and does not really understand our game and our ability to raid quickly and efficiently in bursts. Expect us to strike quickly before Donegal settle. Then we will see if Donegal can chase a game.  We will win this game.

[seafoid]

There is an awful lot of shite written and spoken about Mayo. Hopefully Sunday can put it all to rest.
Aidan O Shea hits the nail on the head.


http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0919/1224324158304.html

The more analytical might be of the view that Mayo haven't actually done anything new in reaching a final through an unexpected semi-final victory. Their high scores in the past two matches against Dublin and Down can be ascribed to less-than-resolute defending. Centrefielder Aidan O'Shea addressed this point to the media when asked if the team had to prove their consistency to the public at large: "Not really. If we win the next day people will say, 'ah they were bound to win one eventually'. You're not going to get the credit anyway so it doesn't really make a difference to us."

He clarified this by adding that all of their successes to date have been explained away as the failings of others.

[fearsiuil]

One of the better Mayo songs courtesy of a few Balla lads
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN3sc2t1gVc

That Mike Denver one is cringeworthy

[emmetryan]

I've put together a tactical preview of the All-Ireland Final for anyone interested http://action81.com/blog/?p=6196

Including Mortimer as a key absentee makes me discount this analysis. Emmett has watched more of Donegal and does not really understand our game and our ability to raid quickly and efficiently in bursts. Expect us to strike quickly before Donegal settle. Then we will see if Donegal can chase a game.  We will win this game.

For what it's worth my analysis of Mayo in 2012 is based on 6 games, of which they won 5. My analysis of Donegal is on 7 games, of which they won 6.

I included Mortimer on the issue of depth. His absence is entirely his own fault and on merit he should not start. When you take into account the greater loss of Andy Moran, Mayo's options in reserve get depleted. I did not see this as sufficient a problem for them to lose to Dublin however on Sunday the loss of talented forwards who offer something different, including Mortimer, is a concern. It was not the primary reason I picked Donegal to win but it was a factor and to exclude the issue would have been remiss on my part.