National League Final - Kerry v Derry

[Estimator]

I thought Duffy's refereeing was erratic at times.  He seemed reluctant to give a few lads a yellow card and when the opportunity arose to give players the second black card he didn't take it.  Then out of nowhere he produces one for McBride.

Aside from that didn't think Derry played particulary well.  When Kerry needed to score they did, when we needed to score we found it very difficult. A few lads took the wrong option up front as well and we kicked a couple short. Agree with CB about McCloy losing a couple a break balls that should have been his.

[Bogball XV]

I thought Duffy's refereeing was erratic at times.  He seemed reluctant to give a few lads a yellow card and when the opportunity arose to give players the second black card he didn't take it.  Then out of nowhere he produces one for McBride.

Aside from that didn't think Derry played particulary well.  When Kerry needed to score they did, when we needed to score we found it very difficult. A few lads took the wrong option up front as well and we kicked a couple short. Agree with CB about McCloy losing a couple a break balls that should have been his.

Yeah, Quirke should definitely have been yellow carded, there was also a lot of persistent fouling by Kerry which should have been punished by 2 blacks etc.
Given who McCloy was marking I think he did well enough, he was certainly dodgy at times, but without his physical presence they'd have been in for another goal or two.
Hardstation makes a good point about Lynn, but still he was busy and was always showing for the ball.
I think Skinner dropped deeper (to make up for the fact we had no half forward line) after Paddy came back on, which might be why people think he didn't play as well when paddy was on the field - in the first 10/15 mins with them both playing, the ff line looked pretty strong.

[Estimator]

Regarding Skinner, It looked like he moved to CHF when Murphy went off and Bumble came on.

[Fluffysocks]

I thought Duffy's refereeing was erratic at times.  He seemed reluctant to give a few lads a yellow card and when the opportunity arose to give players the second black card he didn't take it.  Then out of nowhere he produces one for McBride.

Aside from that didn't think Derry played particulary well.  When Kerry needed to score they did, when we needed to score we found it very difficult. A few lads took the wrong option up front as well and we kicked a couple short. Agree with CB about McCloy losing a couple a break balls that should have been his.

have to agree totally, the refereeing was very inconsistant. i felt sorry for mcbride, it was very easy to give the derry sub a yellow card at the end of the game compared to any of the kerry full back line in either half. kerry won a few very handy fews close to the end, particularly tadgh kennelly falling into chrissey mckaigue. why does diver have to dive all the time? very unimpressed with him yday, thought he got cleaning out by quirke, was at fault for kerry goal, and then subsequently out caught by dara o'se. although a big man diver can not outcatch these men therefore shud have been trying to break. gillis was much improved today, good tactical kicking out at times

[Oakleafer1993]

Was down yesterday. Said it before skinner plays better when flying solo without paddy - but that is not to say paddy should not play.
McCloy is growing in convince - but one poster was correct he bounced the ball several times and was robbed by Walsh. Nail McCusker would have been the man for tommy Walsh and Mcguckian or Sean Marty for Cooper. Happy enough considering all the players missing.
Barry Mcguigan was steady at the back - another alternative to Mcgoldrick. Not convinced with Sean Leo and McKeague - several times the latter was through for scorable chances - but turned and off loaded rather than having the confidence to stick it over the ball.
No harm to Joe diver he has no chance of starting on the championship team - he was jumping like a spear thrower!
Fergal Doherty did alot of unseen work - was back several times to intercept balls and made several clean catches at mid field. Conway may have been a better option at midfield rather than joe.

[Sonny Joe]

Funny type of game yesterday. I went down worried that we were short Lockhart, Muldoon and Patsy Bradley (who has been very good the past two games), when I heard that we minus Barry Mc Goldrick and Cartin, two half backs, I was very worried, and then heard that Gerard O'Kane had to do a fitness test to play, and was very obviously restricted during the game, we had alot to contend with never mind the unfortunate circumstances of Big Naills brother Conor. Derry couldn't have had a good build up into this game with all of that in the background. In the circumstances yesterday wasn't so bad. We know that were not so far away from Tyrone and Kerry. But the real acid test will come in 4 weeks time, because this is where we have not brought up our football to bear. The mangement will have found out for certain that a few players yesterday are not starting players. Also it vital that Doherty, Lynch, Paddy Bradley  and Muldoon get plenty of game time in the next few weeks to improve their match fitness. Kerry have some panel of players to work with, and this is an area they scored in yesterday, when Diver and Doherty were tiring due to lack of match fitness, we had very little to introduce with Patsy Bradley and Muldoon absent. Conway has yet to play a full game with Ballinderry I think. We should have a strong 24 for the Monaghan game, but the question for us derry folk is our lads ready to stand up and be counted in the championship

[Oakleafer93]

Sony Joe, in all honesty considering the circumstances surrounding Derry the last week and the number of players we had missing compared to a near enough full strength Kerry I believe we have every chance of doing well in Ulster this year. We lost the game in the lat 10 minutes when Kerry got too far away from us. Based on the above and the fact there was still just a kick of the ball in the game at the end I think this notin that Kerry are going to wipe the rest of the country out in this years run to Sam is absolute b*llocks. If they had of made any sort of shape they should have beaten us well.

[tbrick18]

Kerry never really got out of 2nd gear yesterday, but neither did Derry. Both team seemed to take it easy.
Given that Kerry probably had more a championship look about their team selection than Derry did, I'm reasonably happy with the result.
We were missing Lockhart, McCusker, Cartin, McGoldrick, Patsy Bradly and Muldoon. All 6 are Championship team starters IMO. Add to that Gerard O'Kane not fully fit, Mark Lynch was only playing is 2nd game in the league and Doc was just back from injury and we have also to see Jame Conway take part in a game after injury. I think most teams in the country would struggle after losing so many first team players.
I think Derry will improve a lot from yesterday given the players we have to come back. The main question though is will they be back in time for the match with Monaghan?

[GrandMasterFlash]

So what was the story with Paddy Bradley goin off and comin back on about 20mins later then? A waste of a sub IMHO.

[Oakleafer93]

So what was the story with Paddy Bradley goin off and comin back on about 20mins later then? A waste of a sub IMHO.

he got concussed in 1st half when him and Eoin collided (I thought it was quite funny...) anyway, he had blurred vision after that and came back on, it was evident he was disorientated and shouldn't have been brought back on. Wouldn't say it was a waste of a sub most of Derrys subs were on because 1/3 of the starting team weren't even named on the panel. But I agree he shouldn't have been reintroduced.

[Kerry Mike]

1984, 1997, 2004, 2006 , League and Championship Double winning Champions.

Win 5 more games this year and we can add 2009 to that list 

[longrunsthefox]

I'm tempted to wind you up but you seem to be a decent enough chap. Tir Eoghain Abu... good night 

[Oakleafer93]

1984, 1997, 2004, 2006 , League and Championship Double winning Champions.

Win 5 more games this year and we can add 2009 to that list 

Derry won the league in 92, Sam in 93...League in 08 Sam in 09?? 

[Kerry Mike]

Some pics I took from the game last weekend.

http://s211.photobucket.com/albums/bb43/mipix2007/Kerry%20v%20Derry%20Croke%20Park%20April%202009/?albumview=slideshow

[Puckoon]

Good pictures KM. Cheers.