Tír Eoghain vs Áth Cliath '08

[DUBSFORSAM1]

4-9 dublin     9-4 Tyrone. on Betfair

Same as a few others. Tyrone have nothing to lose and against an undoubted good side but as O neill has said a side with a soft underbelly that annually seem to implode. Dublin can waltz through leinster with all the panache you like but in the heat of the knock out stages they have been found wanting. Another factor is the line. Pillars decision making is slow to say the least, if this is anyway a tight game im hopeful that Tyrone can come out on top

So you watched any Dublin games this year by any chance??? McConnell taken off against Westmeath, Nolan against Wexford, Andrews against Westmeath etc...players who are struggling are removed very quickly now.

[INDIANA]

gaaman , what have tyrone done since 2005?- not  alot
Have they replaced canavan and o neill?- no
are all their players fit? -no
as has been said before this ain't the 2005 tyrone model, some tyrone people here are living in the past. still have a lot of very good players but This tyrone team doesn't frighten us and if we play to form we're quite confident of getting a result. Don't agree tyrone's defence is the weak link either- thats the strong link i think.dublin by about 4 points i think.

[tyrone86]

God it's class the way a couple of wins can really boost morale amongst players and posters on this site in particular ! 

A copule of weeks ago it was over - end of the road - now we've a chance against Dublin ! 


If Mickey Harte pulls this one off, it will surely be his biggest ever achievement ( the winnig AI finals excpeted of course )  - he'll go down as the best manager in history. Can he do it ? 

Talk about losing the run of yourself. That's crazy talk. In 2008, we've avoided relegation from Division 1 primarily due to the ineptness of Kildare and Laois, we threw away a sizable lead again a limited Down team, Louth were extremely poor and Westmeath and Mayo are teams that are no better than 11th or 12th best in the country and now we're playing a Dublin side that, despite a couple of huge wins, have had question marks hanging over them at the business end of the last few seasons. Going on current form, if Tyrone win it'll be a slight surprise but it certainly doesn't enhance Mickey's reputation to the best manager in history.

Let's be realistic, Tyrone got to a QF last year and the only difference between now and then is that instead of a half fit Stephen O'Neill on the panel you've got Brian McGuigan trying his damned to get to the level he was at before his 2 serious injuries. And like a half fit Stevie last year, people are expecting too much of McGuigan too soon.

At the start of the year anything less than a QF would have been considered a failure. On any given day Tyrone have the potential to beat any team in the country. I have no doubt they are capable of beating Dublin however, in their harte of hartes (pardon the pun) does anyone believe that going on current form, or without Stevie O'Neill, Tyrone have the consistency required to win an All-Ireland? I very much doubt it.

[Gaaman]

gaaman , what have tyrone done since 2005?- not  alot
Have they replaced canavan and o neill?- no
are all their players fit? -no
as has been said before this ain't the 2005 tyrone model, some tyrone people here are living in the past. still have a lot of very good players but This tyrone team doesn't frighten us and if we play to form we're quite confident of getting a result. Don't agree tyrone's defence is the weak link either- thats the strong link i think.dublin by about 4 points i think.

Indiana,  I do agree with some of your points in that Tyrone haven't replaced Canavan and O'Neill with the same quality.  Since 2005 Tyrone have won an Ulster title.  But tell me this.  What have Dublin done this past 10 years??  OK they have won lenister, but come on..this has become less of a challenge than Kerry winning Munster.  At least Kerry are guaranteed one tough runout in Cork.  Maybe you can tell me why people are making Dublin favourites for the All Ireland because I'm not seeing it.

[Fuzzman]

Interesting loads of ye are dropping Brian now but nobody mentioning Mulgrew.

He looks like he's beefed up a good bit and he likes Croker me thinks

[Tyrones own]

Interesting loads of ye are dropping Brian now but nobody mentioning Mulgrew.

He looks like he's beefed up a good bit and he likes Croker me thinks

I was of the belief he was carrying an injury.
Horses for courses also...

[redhandluke]

Expect the Dubs to turn this into a physical encounter and would expect something along the same lines as what the Dubs pulled in Omagh in the infamous Battle of Omagh.

Expect Pillar to play Kevin Bonner to ruffle a few feathers - limited footballing ability but great at stirring it up.

Croker will need a strong ref for this game - will be interesting to see who they choose - Pat McE would probably be the best choice, othrwise would expect the game to turn into an ugly dog-fight.

God forbid Paddy Russel or Bannon are anywhere within 100 miles of Croker on Sat week!

[tyssam5]

Don't think it should go that way, at least not by Dublin's doing. Two reasons, unlike previous years they now reckon they have a better team than Tyrone and secondly I think they realise that their hardman act got a bit out of hand and was distracting them. Course Pillar may not be as smart as me and might send them out to hammer shite out of Tyrone and make it a physical 50.50 game! 

[Zapatista]

I love all this talk about how Tyrone haven't replaced O'Neill or Canavan. The Tyrone and Dublin supporters and the media can talk like this forever if they want. I am confident Harte knows they have been replaced. He is wise enough to know that it will be 15 against 15 and won't even cast a backward glance at Canavan and O'Neill and will have full concentration on the job at hand. All the talk is diverting pressure off the current forwards and leaving opposition defences with a false sense of security. Harte knows what he has to do and he knows who he has to do it. Underestimate us at your peril.

[orangeman]

God it's class the way a couple of wins can really boost morale amongst players and posters on this site in particular ! 

A copule of weeks ago it was over - end of the road - now we've a chance against Dublin ! 


If Mickey Harte pulls this one off, it will surely be his biggest ever achievement ( the winnig AI finals excpeted of course )  - he'll go down as the best manager in history. Can he do it ? 

Talk about losing the run of yourself. That's crazy talk. In 2008, we've avoided relegation from Division 1 primarily due to the ineptness of Kildare and Laois, we threw away a sizable lead again a limited Down team, Louth were extremely poor and Westmeath and Mayo are teams that are no better than 11th or 12th best in the country and now we're playing a Dublin side that, despite a couple of huge wins, have had question marks hanging over them at the business end of the last few seasons. Going on current form, if Tyrone win it'll be a slight surprise but it certainly doesn't enhance Mickey's reputation to the best manager in history.

Let's be realistic, Tyrone got to a QF last year and the only difference between now and then is that instead of a half fit Stephen O'Neill on the panel you've got Brian McGuigan trying his damned to get to the level he was at before his 2 serious injuries. And like a half fit Stevie last year, people are expecting too much of McGuigan too soon.

At the start of the year anything less than a QF would have been considered a failure. On any given day Tyrone have the potential to beat any team in the country. I have no doubt they are capable of beating Dublin however, in their harte of hartes (pardon the pun) does anyone believe that going on current form, or without Stevie O'Neill, Tyrone have the consistency required to win an All-Ireland? I very much doubt it.

This could be said for a lot of teams - so nothing new there. Honestly I think this would represent one of MH's biggest ever triumphs if he were to win this one.

[rrhf]

It would be because Tyrone havent defeated a quality team in championship football this year. No offence but Louth, Westmeath and a very poor Mayo team wouldnt engender false hope in me, I cant believe how many Tyronies on here now believe that we are capable of taking this Dublin team.  I think we are playing poorly and in fots and starts.  To me this is dangerous against a team like Dublin who could have you away in one of those 10 minutes spells where Tyrone have went missing this year.  Make no mistake about it, if a fired up Mulligan is fit to make his way on to the pitch in a close game with 20 minutes to go Id be very confident, but to expect a win is too much.  The Dubs overhyped as they are look capabale of playing dazzling football, have all the motivation and have a higher degree of momentum and hunger. Tyrone are flatter slower and are still persisting with a couple of below par players.  Would you rather get beaten on Saturday week V the Dubs, an AI semifinal V Armagh or an All ireland final V kerry or are Tyrone a serious potentially ai winning force this year.  The fall out with Stevie O Neill will cost Tyrone this years ALL Ireland, looking at where they are now and at the mediocre level of opposition left. After this years season is over I suggest we relook at where we are going in Tyrone football in a year w elost Stevie O neill, Niall Mc Ginn, Kyle Coney,     

[orangeman]

It would be because Tyrone havent defeated a quality team in championship football this year. No offence but Louth, Westmeath and a very poor Mayo team wouldnt engender false hope in me, I cant believe how many Tyronies on here now believe that we are capable of taking this Dublin team.  I think we are playing poorly and in fots and starts.  To me this is dangerous against a team like Dublin who could have you away in one of those 10 minutes spells where Tyrone have went missing this year.  Make no mistake about it, if a fired up Mulligan is fit to make his way on to the pitch in a close game with 20 minutes to go Id be very confident, but to expect a win is too much.  The Dubs overhyped as they are look capabale of playing dazzling football, have all the motivation and have a higher degree of momentum and hunger. Tyrone are flatter slower and are still persisting with a couple of below par players.  Would you rather get beaten on Saturday week V the Dubs, an AI semifinal V Armagh or an All ireland final V kerry or are Tyrone a serious potentially ai winning force this year.  The fall out with Stevie O Neill will cost Tyrone this years ALL Ireland, looking at where they are now and at the mediocre level of opposition left. After this years season is over I suggest we relook at where we are going in Tyrone football in a year w elost Stevie O neill, Niall Mc Ginn, Kyle Coney,     

I'm not sure about that RRHF - Even with Stevie the Dublin game would be a bridge too far - too many of this team are as you say slower and flatter ( maybe even fatter ! ) -

Niall has gone to soccer - Kyle going to Oz - Stevie retired ! Shit happens.

[maddog]

The fall out with Stevie O Neill will cost Tyrone this years ALL Ireland, looking at where they are now and at the mediocre level of opposition left.     

Are you saying with Stevie O Neill on board that Tyrone would win the All-Ireland?

[rrhf]

Theres no reason why they coudnt.  They are as good or as flawed as any team left.  Tyrone are creating as many chances and having as many attacks as any team left in the competition.  No team left is the finished article, With their current level of creativity Stevie would be worth 5 a game.  Its not Canavan that Tyrone cant replace, Tyrone cant replace Stevie, his replacement is at Derry City putting in crosses after the local Swifts sold him.

[orangeman]

Theres no reason why they coudnt.  They are as good or as flawed as any team left.  Tyrone are creating as many chances and having as many attacks as any team left in the competition.  No team left is the finished article, With their current level of creativity Stevie would be worth 5 a game.  Its not Canavan that Tyrone cant replace, Tyrone cant replace Stevie, his replacement is at Derry City putting in crosses after the local Swifts sold him.

Is that cos Canavan is irreplaceable ?