Donegal v Kerry - 2025 All-Ireland Football Final

[AustinPowers]

There was very little in that. Murphy jumped to try to intercept a handpass over his head and caught Rafferty, who was going around him, as he was landing (left hand caught left shoulder). At a stretch, yellow, but it would have been a very soft one. Any other player and no one would have said a thing. Rafferty was straight back onto his feet.

https://www.balls.ie/gaa/michael-murphy-incident-donegal-meath-635893

I was talking about the dirt element of it, but, yeah, it was borderline in terms of technically being a body check. He definitely caught him. Red, absolutely nowhere even close.

Maurice Deegan and  the BBC  pundits all said it was a black card.

[DaleCooper]

The telling action by Murphy was him immediately putting hands up looking at linesman. No innocent man does that move.

He just let himself follow through and catch Rafferty.

[JoG2]

I remember one of the Dubs v Kerry finals and poor aul Gooch spent half his day running after Philly McMahon, but the new rules allow Clifford to wait and see what comes his way.
Like most here, I think that Donegal have the legs and the system to deal with him (as best anyone can hope to) but there's others who can do damage. Kerry have more of an edge at the back too. They also have the ability to kick longer than most teams so it might pin Donegal back a bit.

On the flip some of the Kerry forwards will need to do more running towards their own goals than usual. You won't get David Clifford doing it, but Seanie O'Shea and Paudie Clifford might be dragged deeper.
Their fitness is insance and Murphy directing it all on the field is huge. They also can get scores from everywhere and their bench is awesome.

It's going to be brilliant.

Donegal are as porous at the back as anyone. They've had a serious deal of cards in the AI series so far, Kerry can will very likely cut through them time and time again on Sunday week

Donegal's only real tough game since winning Ulster was the versus Tyrone which they lost. This wont do them any favours when facing Kerry. Murphy has been lucky all year getting away with serious tackles and fouls, most recently taking out the Meath attacker without even so much as a ticking off. His luck might run out in the final.

Kerry wins this one in my opinion.

Guaranteed that the "Kerry Media Mafia" will be all over this in their columns this week and next

 

Michael Verney, in his podcast with Dick Clerkin and Kevin Cassidy, was talking about the online campaign to influence the referee on Murphy ahead of the final. I guess this board is part of that. There's a few lads here appear a bit obsessed.

J70, ah come on man. If ANY other player in the county was getting away with red and black cards all year it would be the same

[imtommygunn]

The Kerry mafia will be all over it in the media now too even though either Clifford no angel... (David not as bad as Pauline).

Tbh there is dirt in murphy. Some of his tackles he does seem to put in to hurt.

[greatpoint]

There were plenty of challenges let go by the referees over the weekend, Kerry in particular seemed to get away with a lot compared to Tyrone. Bit odd to focus on Murphy again.

Morris got no card for pulling McHugh to the ground in the same game

[toby47]

The Kerry mafia will be all over it in the media now too even though either Clifford no angel... (David not as bad as Pauline).

Tbh there is dirt in murphy. Some of his tackles he does seem to put in to hurt.

And rightly so. Would you want him in your team? Yes. If he was in your team would you want him doing the same thing? Yea.

[Wildweasel74]

McHugh done a swan lake and dive,yes Morris had his arms round him but McHugh made a big deal out of it and ref ended up giving no card at the finish.

[Whitnail]

Donegal man here , just watched the podcast featuring joe brolly and i feel  that he's over stated our chances tbh . Don't think we can shut down that kerry full forward line adequety enough  to win the game.  I hope i'm wrong about that.

We are a resolutely methodical team built on elabourate hand passing moves and when scores don't come at the end of it we tend to get fustrated ala the galway semi final last year. Just need something a little different for kerry who  definatey won;t shoot the number of wides that meath did.

[twohands!!!]

There were plenty of challenges let go by the referees over the weekend, Kerry in particular seemed to get away with a lot compared to Tyrone. Bit odd to focus on Murphy again.

Morris got no card for pulling McHugh to the ground in the same game

He didn't pull him to the ground - he pulled him back and then McHigh fell/went to ground.

Another evidence of the badly written GAA rules  - it should be a black card offence but the way the rules are written it wasn't a black card offence. Referee got it spot on.

[tonto1888]

There was very little in that. Murphy jumped to try to intercept a handpass over his head and caught Rafferty, who was going around him, as he was landing (left hand caught left shoulder). At a stretch, yellow, but it would have been a very soft one. Any other player and no one would have said a thing. Rafferty was straight back onto his feet.

https://www.balls.ie/gaa/michael-murphy-incident-donegal-meath-635893

I was talking about the dirt element of it, but, yeah, it was borderline in terms of technically being a body check. He definitely caught him. Red, absolutely nowhere even close.

Maurice Deegan and  the BBC  pundits all said it was a black card.

I thought so too, nt that that matters haha. Dont think it would have a made a difference anyway

[tonto1888]

The Kerry mafia will be all over it in the media now too even though either Clifford no angel... (David not as bad as Pauline).

Tbh there is dirt in murphy. Some of his tackles he does seem to put in to hurt.

And rightly so. Would you want him in your team? Yes. If he was in your team would you want him doing the same thing? Yea.

you want them to be hard hitting, which Murphy can be. This year tho he seems to be doing quite a bit of close fist tackling and getting away with it

[Wildweasel74]

He's been getting away with closed fist tackling for yrs. Who he think he is? Mattie McGlennan standard tackle!

[bennydorano]

Paul McGrane was kat for it

[greatpoint]

There were plenty of challenges let go by the referees over the weekend, Kerry in particular seemed to get away with a lot compared to Tyrone. Bit odd to focus on Murphy again.

Morris got no card for pulling McHugh to the ground in the same game

He didn't pull him to the ground - he pulled him back and then McHigh fell/went to ground.

Another evidence of the badly written GAA rules  - it should be a black card offence but the way the rules are written it wasn't a black card offence. Referee got it spot on.

RTÉ certainly believed he was dragged down.

I'm surprised that Tyrone fans are now content and have no complaints about the refereeing in their game against Kerry last weekend.

[tyrone08]

There were plenty of challenges let go by the referees over the weekend, Kerry in particular seemed to get away with a lot compared to Tyrone. Bit odd to focus on Murphy again.

Morris got no card for pulling McHugh to the ground in the same game

He didn't pull him to the ground - he pulled him back and then McHigh fell/went to ground.

Another evidence of the badly written GAA rules  - it should be a black card offence but the way the rules are written it wasn't a black card offence. Referee got it spot on.

RTÉ certainly believed he was dragged down.

I'm surprised that Tyrone fans are now content and have no complaints about the refereeing in their game against Kerry last weekend.

Ref was horrible to us but cant complain as we are not allowed to. Ref easily cost us 3 points. Never seen a ref pulling back for free when playing advantage after point was already scored.

Tyrone would have been beaten regardless of ref but that feck he has retired. Awful ref even going back to all those dublin games.