Tom Cunniffe speaks...

[sid waddell]

2012 was bay far and away the best chance so far mayo had of winning an all ireland  donegals peformances since have shown that .
but i dont think failure to win sam was the reason H&C  were removed , it was more down to the fact the players did not like the way they went about their business and the attitude towards the players and Training in general . and i think that was more H than C.

That's a bold statement. There have been so many this is a tough call. 2013 and 2016 (draw) saw two of Dublin's worst performances of recent times. Maybe that was down to Mayo but regardless, Dublin were really there for the taking both days. Fat Larry blazing wide in '89. Pat Holmes left on Maurice in '97. My personal favourite though is 1996. Meath were a really raw outfit and only hung on in there through pure guts and determination. Ball bouncing over the bar, Liam McHale beating up fresh air.....

I don't think it's even open for debate that 1996 was the best chance Mayo had to winning the All Ireland. Donegal 2012 for me weren't going to get beaten by any team, they put all into that year and were arguably the most impressive winner of the last decade.

That donegal team were the weakest champions in the last decade

Nonsense. The most determined and focused group of champions of the last decade in my opinion and all of their All Ireland series games was good games to watch unlike some of the recent winners games.

There have rarely been more impressive champions in an individual year than Donegal in 2012.

Seven games, seven wins, and against serious opposition, too - Cavan, Derry, Tyrone, Down, Kerry, Cork and Mayo. And they were seven convincing wins.

And nobody should be in any doubt they'd have beaten Dublin in 2012 either - they proved that in 2014 when despite not being the same force they were two years previously they beat a far superior Dublin team to 2012 all ends up.

[Owenmoresider]

2012 was bay far and away the best chance so far mayo had of winning an all ireland  donegals peformances since have shown that .
but i dont think failure to win sam was the reason H&C  were removed , it was more down to the fact the players did not like the way they went about their business and the attitude towards the players and Training in general . and i think that was more H than C.

That's a bold statement. There have been so many this is a tough call. 2013 and 2016 (draw) saw two of Dublin's worst performances of recent times. Maybe that was down to Mayo but regardless, Dublin were really there for the taking both days. Fat Larry blazing wide in '89. Pat Holmes left on Maurice in '97. My personal favourite though is 1996. Meath were a really raw outfit and only hung on in there through pure guts and determination. Ball bouncing over the bar, Liam McHale beating up fresh air.....

I don't think it's even open for debate that 1996 was the best chance Mayo had to winning the All Ireland. Donegal 2012 for me weren't going to get beaten by any team, they put all into that year and were arguably the most impressive winner of the last decade.

That donegal team were the weakest champions in the last decade

No, Cork 2010 were worse, had that All Ireland handed to them.

[Syferus]

2012 was bay far and away the best chance so far mayo had of winning an all ireland  donegals peformances since have shown that .
but i dont think failure to win sam was the reason H&C  were removed , it was more down to the fact the players did not like the way they went about their business and the attitude towards the players and Training in general . and i think that was more H than C.

That's a bold statement. There have been so many this is a tough call. 2013 and 2016 (draw) saw two of Dublin's worst performances of recent times. Maybe that was down to Mayo but regardless, Dublin were really there for the taking both days. Fat Larry blazing wide in '89. Pat Holmes left on Maurice in '97. My personal favourite though is 1996. Meath were a really raw outfit and only hung on in there through pure guts and determination. Ball bouncing over the bar, Liam McHale beating up fresh air.....

I don't think it's even open for debate that 1996 was the best chance Mayo had to winning the All Ireland. Donegal 2012 for me weren't going to get beaten by any team, they put all into that year and were arguably the most impressive winner of the last decade.

That donegal team were the weakest champions in the last decade

No, Cork 2010 were worse, had that All Ireland handed to them.

100%.

Cork and the Turtle only one that one because they had a blessed run at the AI - us with stars in our eyes led them with 52 minutes on the clock, then Down in an AI final. It was like the Graham Canty retirement tour.

[magpie seanie]

2012 was bay far and away the best chance so far mayo had of winning an all ireland  donegals peformances since have shown that .
but i dont think failure to win sam was the reason H&C  were removed , it was more down to the fact the players did not like the way they went about their business and the attitude towards the players and Training in general . and i think that was more H than C.

That's a bold statement. There have been so many this is a tough call. 2013 and 2016 (draw) saw two of Dublin's worst performances of recent times. Maybe that was down to Mayo but regardless, Dublin were really there for the taking both days. Fat Larry blazing wide in '89. Pat Holmes left on Maurice in '97. My personal favourite though is 1996. Meath were a really raw outfit and only hung on in there through pure guts and determination. Ball bouncing over the bar, Liam McHale beating up fresh air.....

I don't think it's even open for debate that 1996 was the best chance Mayo had to winning the All Ireland. Donegal 2012 for me weren't going to get beaten by any team, they put all into that year and were arguably the most impressive winner of the last decade.

That donegal team were the weakest champions in the last decade

No, Cork 2010 were worse, had that All Ireland handed to them.

They were the worst champions I've seen.

[macdanger2]

In 09 they were very good though, should have won it that year

[Jinxy]

2012 was bay far and away the best chance so far mayo had of winning an all ireland  donegals peformances since have shown that .
but i dont think failure to win sam was the reason H&C  were removed , it was more down to the fact the players did not like the way they went about their business and the attitude towards the players and Training in general . and i think that was more H than C.

That's a bold statement. There have been so many this is a tough call. 2013 and 2016 (draw) saw two of Dublin's worst performances of recent times. Maybe that was down to Mayo but regardless, Dublin were really there for the taking both days. Fat Larry blazing wide in '89. Pat Holmes left on Maurice in '97. My personal favourite though is 1996. Meath were a really raw outfit and only hung on in there through pure guts and determination. Ball bouncing over the bar, Liam McHale beating up fresh air.....

I don't think it's even open for debate that 1996 was the best chance Mayo had to winning the All Ireland. Donegal 2012 for me weren't going to get beaten by any team, they put all into that year and were arguably the most impressive winner of the last decade.

That donegal team were the weakest champions in the last decade

Nonsense. The most determined and focused group of champions of the last decade in my opinion and all of their All Ireland series games was good games to watch unlike some of the recent winners games.

There have rarely been more impressive champions in an individual year than Donegal in 2012.

Seven games, seven wins, and against serious opposition, too - Cavan, Derry, Tyrone, Down, Kerry, Cork and Mayo. And they were seven convincing wins.

And nobody should be in any doubt they'd have beaten Dublin in 2012 either - they proved that in 2014 when despite not being the same force they were two years previously they beat a far superior Dublin team to 2012 all ends up.

Would have to agree.
By far and away the best team in the country that year.

[rosnarun]

2012 was bay far and away the best chance so far mayo had of winning an all ireland  donegals peformances since have shown that .
but i dont think failure to win sam was the reason H&C  were removed , it was more down to the fact the players did not like the way they went about their business and the attitude towards the players and Training in general . and i think that was more H than C.

That's a bold statement. There have been so many this is a tough call. 2013 and 2016 (draw) saw two of Dublin's worst performances of recent times. Maybe that was down to Mayo but regardless, Dublin were really there for the taking both days. Fat Larry blazing wide in '89. Pat Holmes left on Maurice in '97. My personal favourite though is 1996. Meath were a really raw outfit and only hung on in there through pure guts and determination. Ball bouncing over the bar, Liam McHale beating up fresh air.....

I don't think it's even open for debate that 1996 was the best chance Mayo had to winning the All Ireland. Donegal 2012 for me weren't going to get beaten by any team, they put all into that year and were arguably the most impressive winner of the last decade.

That donegal team were the weakest champions in the last decade

Nonsense. The most determined and focused group of champions of the last decade in my opinion and all of their All Ireland series games was good games to watch unlike some of the recent winners games.

There have rarely been more impressive champions in an individual year than Donegal in 2012.

Seven games, seven wins, and against serious opposition, too - Cavan, Derry, Tyrone, Down, Kerry, Cork and Mayo. And they were seven convincing wins.

And nobody should be in any doubt they'd have beaten Dublin in 2012 either - they proved that in 2014 when despite not being the same force they were two years previously they beat a far superior Dublin team to 2012 all ends up.

Would have to agree.
By far and away the best team in the country that year.

Mayo had a nightmare start and showed for the rest of the game and since that Mcguinness' system was a gimmick esp when he did not have an even quality of player all around the Pitch . probably McGuinness finest achievement was to win a final with 10 players who were mediocre at best and by the following year they really were a busted flush. much of that was to do with 2012 being Murphys  one really  exceptional year, while not the one man team that say Tyrone were with Peter canavan they were not too far off it

[magpie seanie]

2012 was bay far and away the best chance so far mayo had of winning an all ireland  donegals peformances since have shown that .
but i dont think failure to win sam was the reason H&C  were removed , it was more down to the fact the players did not like the way they went about their business and the attitude towards the players and Training in general . and i think that was more H than C.

That's a bold statement. There have been so many this is a tough call. 2013 and 2016 (draw) saw two of Dublin's worst performances of recent times. Maybe that was down to Mayo but regardless, Dublin were really there for the taking both days. Fat Larry blazing wide in '89. Pat Holmes left on Maurice in '97. My personal favourite though is 1996. Meath were a really raw outfit and only hung on in there through pure guts and determination. Ball bouncing over the bar, Liam McHale beating up fresh air.....

I don't think it's even open for debate that 1996 was the best chance Mayo had to winning the All Ireland. Donegal 2012 for me weren't going to get beaten by any team, they put all into that year and were arguably the most impressive winner of the last decade.

That donegal team were the weakest champions in the last decade

Nonsense. The most determined and focused group of champions of the last decade in my opinion and all of their All Ireland series games was good games to watch unlike some of the recent winners games.

There have rarely been more impressive champions in an individual year than Donegal in 2012.

Seven games, seven wins, and against serious opposition, too - Cavan, Derry, Tyrone, Down, Kerry, Cork and Mayo. And they were seven convincing wins.

And nobody should be in any doubt they'd have beaten Dublin in 2012 either - they proved that in 2014 when despite not being the same force they were two years previously they beat a far superior Dublin team to 2012 all ends up.

Would have to agree.
By far and away the best team in the country that year.

Mayo had a nightmare start and showed for the rest of the game and since that Mcguinness' system was a gimmick esp when he did not have an even quality of player all around the Pitch . probably McGuinness finest achievement was to win a final with 10 players who were mediocre at best and by the following year they really were a busted flush. much of that was to do with 2012 being Murphys  one really  exceptional year, while not the one man team that say Tyrone were with Peter canavan they were not too far off it

Totally disagree with that assessment of Donegal though if McGuinness had managed Mayo we wouldn't be seeing folk talking about "the curse" on Countdown on Channel 4!

[imtommygunn]

Poor indiana is still having nightmares about 2011 i think.

That was a great Donegal team in 2012. Their performances were as good as any you'd see but I think they trained so much the bodies of the same guys couldn't go through it again without several breaking. Mayo were the only team to really give them a game but the early goals killed them.

[Jinxy]

Yeah, a good few of that Donegal team had a fair few miles on the clock before McGuinness came along.
Very hard to maintain that level of physical intensity over a few seasons.

[thebuzz]

 
Totally disagree with that assessment of Donegal though if McGuinness had managed Mayo we wouldn't be seeing folk talking about "the curse" on Countdown on Channel 4!
[/quote]

If McGuinness had managed Mayo, and had the same drive to win an All Ireland with them as he had with his native county, there is very little doubt that he would have taken them over the line.

[JoG2]

2012 was bay far and away the best chance so far mayo had of winning an all ireland  donegals peformances since have shown that .
but i dont think failure to win sam was the reason H&C  were removed , it was more down to the fact the players did not like the way they went about their business and the attitude towards the players and Training in general . and i think that was more H than C.

That's a bold statement. There have been so many this is a tough call. 2013 and 2016 (draw) saw two of Dublin's worst performances of recent times. Maybe that was down to Mayo but regardless, Dublin were really there for the taking both days. Fat Larry blazing wide in '89. Pat Holmes left on Maurice in '97. My personal favourite though is 1996. Meath were a really raw outfit and only hung on in there through pure guts and determination. Ball bouncing over the bar, Liam McHale beating up fresh air.....

I don't think it's even open for debate that 1996 was the best chance Mayo had to winning the All Ireland. Donegal 2012 for me weren't going to get beaten by any team, they put all into that year and were arguably the most impressive winner of the last decade.

That donegal team were the weakest champions in the last decade

Nonsense. The most determined and focused group of champions of the last decade in my opinion and all of their All Ireland series games was good games to watch unlike some of the recent winners games.

There have rarely been more impressive champions in an individual year than Donegal in 2012.

Seven games, seven wins, and against serious opposition, too - Cavan, Derry, Tyrone, Down, Kerry, Cork and Mayo. And they were seven convincing wins.

And nobody should be in any doubt they'd have beaten Dublin in 2012 either - they proved that in 2014 when despite not being the same force they were two years previously they beat a far superior Dublin team to 2012 all ends up.

Would have to agree.
By far and away the best team in the country that year.

Mayo had a nightmare start and showed for the rest of the game and since that Mcguinness' system was a gimmick esp when he did not have an even quality of player all around the Pitch . probably McGuinness finest achievement was to win a final with 10 players who were mediocre at best and by the following year they really were a busted flush. much of that was to do with 2012 being Murphys  one really  exceptional year, while not the one man team that say Tyrone were with Peter canavan they were not too far off it

this bit belongs in the 'corny one for Friday' thread !

[imtommygunn]

rosnarun you need to check that memory. Murphy wasn't even Donegal's best player that year never mind being a one man team. Lacey got POTY.

[muppet]

What was so bad about the Holmes & Connelly regime though?
I think it's reasonable enough for Cunniffe to suggest that maybe the issues could have been worked out without going straight for the nuclear option.

They don't have anyone that can kick a point off the weak foot.
They should work on that.

Barney McAleenan talking to Mickey Linden about 4 mins 30 in
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM05noFIJ1g 

Mickey scored a point off his weak side when they put Meath to the sword in 1991.

If this was fixed years ago Mayo might have won a few all Irelands recently
The Dubs are only marginally better than them
Ochón agus ochón ó

Cillian scores 2-2 off the left in this montage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wvl0HHV5b0

Maybe you should concentrate on winning a match in Croker with any feet.

[Syferus]

What was so bad about the Holmes & Connelly regime though?
I think it's reasonable enough for Cunniffe to suggest that maybe the issues could have been worked out without going straight for the nuclear option.

They don't have anyone that can kick a point off the weak foot.
They should work on that.

Barney McAleenan talking to Mickey Linden about 4 mins 30 in
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM05noFIJ1g 

Mickey scored a point off his weak side when they put Meath to the sword in 1991.

If this was fixed years ago Mayo might have won a few all Irelands recently
The Dubs are only marginally better than them
Ochón agus ochón ó

Cillian scores 2-2 off the left in this montage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wvl0HHV5b0

Maybe you should concentrate on winning a match in Croker with any feet.

I remember the day O'Connor got the hat trick in the Connacht final..






..against London.