Dublin v Wexford

Hard luck Jim, ye had chances to win it at the end of normal time even with the Dublin comeback but couldn't just get it over the bar. Big second half performance by the Dubs, although the first half was one of the worst I've seen. They chipped away at the lead while Wexford couldn't add to their 10 points at the time, and once the goal went in Dublin's confidence grew immeasurably, the crowd finally found it's voice and they were sticking over points from all angles. Dublin, the fitter team with 15 players and better subs to bring on, were always going to win in extra-time. Pity for Wexford, they were quality in the first half.

I was at the game.

That was dire from the Dubs. Three points in fifty minutes is embarrasing for any respectable Dublin fan. It seems to me that Gillers picked five triers and made Brogan the focal point of the forward line. The lads were afraid to shoot as evidenced by O'Gara and Quinn panicking when presented with very straightforward goal chances. And Bernard was terrible (how many wides?).

Wexford were very bad as well but accurate free-taking saw them gain an advantage of seven points that they barely deserved. They should really have kicked on and closed at the game.

Boxty is also right, the Dubs do not know how to tackle and they were lucky to lose just the two men although that must be the death knell for Brennan's intercounty career.

As bad and all as Meath and Laois were, I'd still expect the winners to take the Dubs in the semis even with just eight days to prepare!

Poor game contested by two poor teams. No all Ireland contenders to see there today.
Hard luck to Wexford but they had their chances. B Brogan is a good player.

RMDrive wrote:Poor game contested by two poor teams. No all Ireland contenders to see there today.
Hard luck to Wexford but they had their chances. B Brogan is a good player.

A good player and no more RMDrive. He almost kicked the game away, when the pressure is on these lads are completely unpredictable, not too different to the Meath forwards!

Boxtyeater wrote:No All-Ireland in that Dublin team....Without the 2 Brogans and Keaney they're hopeless.
They are notorious high tacklers as their haul of cards show..indiscipline and the lack of a decent freetaker will be their downfall yet...

Totally agree. Dublin's traditional problem with discipline is there, and while today it worked in the end against a much smaller side, their lack of footballing ability will cost them against sides who can match them physically. Wexford were criticised on TV3 for retreating in the 2nd half, but I felt it was more a case of them being worn down by the heavy hitting of a bigger team. That won't be enough against the likes of Cork, Kerry, Tyrone or even Monaghan.

Very disappointing day for Gilroy, who saw his new system exposed through lack of suitable personnel. If anything happens to Bernard Brogan, the Dub 'fans' won't even have to wait until 50 minutes before heading for the exit.

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:
Boxty is also right, the Dubs do not know how to tackle and they were lucky to lose just the two men although that must be the death knell for Brennan's intercounty career.

That will be a blessing for the Dubs. I've never rated Brennan. Hs only contribution to any game i've seen him in is to run around hitting people.

Regarding Brogan being the focal point of attack, yes, it looked on TV to be exactly the same way hat Fermanagh played last night, with Ryan Carson the most advanced player, and Ward & O'Brien playing off him. If anything, Brogan was even more isolated than Carson, and McManamon and Keaney were just so far away from him in the first half.

Even in the current age of withdrawing players, the leaving of one player so isolated in attack is an unsual formation.

GAA-Fan wrote:Does anyone remember what Bastik was sent off for last year?

did he elbow one of the kildare lads in the head,or something like that.sweeney or smith maybe?

Dougal wrote:

GAA-Fan wrote:Does anyone remember what Bastik was sent off for last year?

did he elbow one of the kildare lads in the head,or something like that.sweeney or smith maybe?

Ulster football has nothing on him.

GAA-Fan wrote:

Dougal wrote:

GAA-Fan wrote:Does anyone remember what Bastik was sent off for last year?

did he elbow one of the kildare lads in the head,or something like that.sweeney or smith maybe?

Ulster football has nothing on him.

what did he do today?

Sligo would have walloped the best of the 4 teams playing in Croker today. Utterly abysmil

Dougal wrote:

GAA-Fan wrote:

Dougal wrote:

GAA-Fan wrote:Does anyone remember what Bastik was sent off for last year?

did he elbow one of the kildare lads in the head,or something like that.sweeney or smith maybe?

Ulster football has nothing on him.

what did he do today?

Very late tackle, straight Red. Looked like he used the elbow, never got the chance to see the replay.

new season same old problems for the Dubs seems the only thing that has changed is the sponsor on the jersey!!!!!

Dublins tackling today was poor to say the least - Bastick is a fooking clown who wouldnt wear the jersey again if i were manager as he is a loose canon, Brennan is another enigma well at least thats what i think he is because he certainly aint an intercounty footballer.

Dublin were lucky that Wexford were found wanting in the fitness department as another team would have put them away especially when they went a man down. Brogan was very fortunate with the second goal the way it landed on a plate for him but all in all a poor day at the Dublin office.

No pressure put on the opposition whe n they were on the ball for long parts of the game.
No reliable free taker
Midfield still an area for much concern
Brogan is the only outlet for scores - Keaney to a certain extent is another
I have my doubts about the manager too and his ability to turn a game around - in the same category as Paddy O' Rourke if you ask me (the out of my depth category)

Dublin are further away than ever from winning Sam. On the evidence so far it would be a shock if the victor this year came from outside of Kerry, Tyrone, Galway or Sligo.

Westmeath for Leinster!

Yeah - I was sitting there almost an hour in thinking of words to describe it. Abject, dismal, abysmal, embarrassing, shameful were a few. Alan Brogan came on at the start of the 2nd half and started encouraging the Hill to be more vocal ... FFS Alan give us something to cheer about. For an hour it was the worst Dublin performance I can recall - ever. Worse than the last two QFs. Bastick should not ever play for Dublin again. Brennan was a little unluckier - but stupid nonetheless. And Fennel too is a loose cannon - no point in having to change your 'top' midfielder in the first half cos he's walking a tightrope. BUt I have to say I kinda smile when people go on about Dublin's physicality - especially Ulster posters - when it is an inherent part of the game there. There are challenges by Dublin players parsed and double parsed - if it was an Ulster C'ship game they wouldn't merit a mention.

I too fear for Gilroy's knowledge and ability for the job. Just play 6 ****ing forwards and 6 f***ing defenders - its a simple game. Brogan (B) had a poor enough day by his standards but got us out of jail. Alan was ok and Keaney came good when needed. McAuley was superb but looks hugely unfit!

If we beat Wexford by 10 eyes would roll to heaven - same old. One of the only things I take from it is the way the players faced up to huge adversity. They showed character at least. And there is much better football in them too.

We are notoriously bad in our first outings but today was 100 times worse than that. Mossy probably won a starting place and Cullen may feature now too. Discipline needs addessing - badly. A shocking day and a win that was not celebrated one bit in Chez Jayo. Good to see Matty back and scoring some crackers - but Wexford left that one behind them.

Dubs clam down.
ye won a game we should of.
start of a road that will end with sam
Some lads were **** so what part of the learning curve club or county
Only manger that was **** today
Were where our 14 men where was the extra man
Down to 13 men, job is to play keep ball and create the open space u14 **** cost us a chance for a first leinster for 55 years (as bad as that game was meath laois was worse!)

Annoyed, Disappointed gutted but still puprle and gold and I hope to jaysus London hammer the **** of of us to get out of the bullshit qualifiers

Just to like to say unlucky to wexford we robbed you yesterday but thanks for giving us a tough game of football..
Hopefully giller has learned something from this game that Dublin don't have the players to play the blanket defence football or whatever you wan't to call it...We can only play 1 way and that is attack with the 2 brogans and keaney we have the players to give teams problems .We just need players to up there work ethic..

Football is still a game of 15 against 15 i always believed Dublin needed a full back line after last year and i believe that line done well yesterday..Midfield is a big worry can't see why he took fennel off..But hopefully Mcgee will step up to the mark for the next day as he is our best midfielder by a long shot...It looks like giller will have to bring back some of the old guard for the next game...Could never understand why he said he had to cull the squad from last year when all he had to do was freshen it up with new blood maybe Giller should learn to keep is mouth shut to the media..I hope to god thats the last we see of bastick..

My team for the next game would be

1 Cluxton
2 Fitzsimons
3 Rory O Carroll
4 Philly Mc

5 Henry
6 Cullen
7 Cahill

8 Mcgee
9 McConnell..

10 Corkery
11 Keaney
12 Flynn

13 Bernard Brogan
14 Mossy
15 Alan brogan

Its only the first game of the championship better to have these problems now

BELIEVE

Thomas Clarke wrote:I wonder were GaaTipster's Dubs among those booing their own side off at half time.

Dublin actually look worse than they did last year against Kerry, and the year before against Tyrone. 6 points is a decent lead in these conditions.

Some phenomenal free-kicking from Forde & Barry.

Tc i don't question the support you have for your county ..Why should you question mine.............

As for the booing it annoys me to see it-ive asked myself should they do it ?even though i can understant how annoyed this team were making the fans--BUT My answer would always be NO....

Relax Mullins, just a bit of slagging. I don't doubt that you and Jayo were there til the end, but it is very poor form to hear the boos and see fans leaving after 50 minutes. On another website, there are Dubs on there defending it. Poor stuff, and the team deserve better.

I know we debated back in March about whether or not Gilroy would play so defensively in the championship, and keep the new lads he was trying, but we got our answer yesterday. Gilroy does not trust the likes of Cullen, Quinn etc, and even then only used them as a last resort in extra time.

As for how Dublin play from here on, I'm not convinced that Gilroy will change too much just yet. The defensive system was not put in place to beat Wexford, but rather the likes of Tyrone, Cork & Kerry. I suspect that Gilroy will stick with it for a while longer and, while it wouldn't be my preferred tactics, I can see why he is reluctant to return to what failed so spectacularly in 08/09. Still, success playing this way will be limited, as you don't have the personnel to do it properly.

To be fair a lot of the Dubs streaming from the hill after 48 minutes looked to be young wans just there for the gander. Wexford left it after them big style. Anyone else think Forde should have passed in the last kick of normal time instead of going for the spectacular? Dubs looked very fit... And to think we laughed when we saw the pics of the Dubs out training at 7am at the beginning of the season. Won them that game. I'd expect them to take Leinster now.

Jonsmith wrote:To be fair a lot of the Dubs streaming from the hill after 48 minutes looked to be young wans just there for the gander. Wexford left it after them big style. Anyone else think Forde should have passed in the last kick of normal time instead of going for the spectacular? Dubs looked very fit... And to think we laughed when we saw the pics of the Dubs out training at 7am at the beginning of the season. Won them that game. I'd expect them to take Leinster now.

big time, 2 player advantage and you boom a ball. you have the time and the players to work it in closer for a score/free

Another funny one yesterday was in the first period of extra time and Mattie took a line ball from the Cusack side. He encroached the pitch and the linesman raised his flag immediately. The ball went in around the square but was cleared - with the linesman still trying to get the ref's attention. Dublin went down and got a point and I was watching the linesman-ref interaction closely and as he was running back out the ref was talking to the linesman and obviously told him to let it go - but he shouldn't have technically.

Thomas Clarke wrote:Relax Mullins, just a bit of slagging. I don't doubt that you and Jayo were there til the end, but it is very poor form to hear the boos and see fans leaving after 50 minutes. On another website, there are Dubs on there defending it. Poor stuff, and the team deserve better.

I know we debated back in March about whether or not Gilroy would play so defensively in the championship, and keep the new lads he was trying, but we got our answer yesterday. Gilroy does not trust the likes of Cullen, Quinn etc, and even then only used them as a last resort in extra time.

As for how Dublin play from here on, I'm not convinced that Gilroy will change too much just yet. The defensive system was not put in place to beat Wexford, but rather the likes of Tyrone, Cork & Kerry. I suspect that Gilroy will stick with it for a while longer and, while it wouldn't be my preferred tactics, I can see why he is reluctant to return to what failed so spectacularly in 08/09. Still, success playing this way will be limited, as you don't have the personnel to do it properly.

Tc i've been watching the Dubs along time i have never seen such a shambolic display in all my days..Even the beatings we took in 08-09 we had more than 3 points on the board after 50 mins....

If he sticks with that system and when we get beating in this years championship the fans will call for his head and they will get it.......Yesterday was shocking simple as that....

I agree there mullins - it was the worst 50 minutes I have seen from a Dublin team and that includes the last two QFs. Clueless, no heart, appaling football - I could go on. I am sick of this 'systems' talk. Football is an easy game - its 15 v 15. Play 6 forwards and 6 defenders - mark man to man. If your opposition pulls a man back then go with him and have 7 forwards - simple really.

I do feel a bit sorry for Gilroy in a way, as he has taken on a poisoned chalice. The reality is that Dublin probably don't have the players to win an all-ireland, yet that is what he is expected to deliver.

Pillar Caffrey was much derided, and he did make mistakes, but it is doubtful if those mistakes were sufficiently great and sufficiently numerous to cost Dublin an all-ireland during his time there. The truth is probably that he got as much as could be realistically expected out of a fairly good side, who had the misfortune to come on the scene in an era with 2 outstanding sides.

So, what can Gilroy do? Last year he tried to continue to play like they did before, perhaps with even less structure than Pillar did. He won a 5th Leinster title, but suffered at the hands of Kerry, just as Caffrey had at the hands of Tyrone.

This year, to try and deliver an all-ireland within his 3 year term, he has changed things, playing a totally different style of play. It was endured during the league when things were going well (not by yourself Mullins, admittedly, but JC, among others, was an advocate), but now, at the first slip up, it been rejected en masse by the Dublin support.

Now the supporters want a return to the old, swashbuckling style, which brought them 5 Leinsters, but no all-ireland appearances. The fans want a return to that style of play, but will soon demand an all-ireland to accompany it. The trouble for Gilroy is that he can easily deliver the style, but not Sam.

Personally, I think that Gilroy has made a mistake. He has changed systems with the right intentions, but has not considered the players available to him. Dublin don't, at the minute, have the right players to play with a sweeper and isolated forwards. If they did, they'd be right to play that way, but they don't. To me, it looks like change for the sake of change, rather than a well-thought out strategy. For all their faults, I preferred the old Dubs.