Provincial finalists

Bit harsh TC! You cannot take away the fact that Down were in Croke Park in late September last year. I myself think it was a one hit wonder and have said so but they beat Kerry fair and square in the QFs and went on to do something we have not done since 1995 - so kudos there.

This Cork team are getting a bit older but better. A lot of the pressure is off. Don't forget they carried the bridesmaid's tag for years. Now O'Leary, Miskella, Canty etc have the Crosses so they can play with more abandon - and they are. The big difference is in Goolding and Donncha O'Connor - and their team mates in the forwards. Donncha is a very good player and yet the classic 'confidence' front player - and now he has found his feet. They are scoring freely and look like they are enjoying their football. Don't forget these lads have won the last 3 National titles. A serious team ... I'd like to avoid them for now ...

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Bit harsh TC!

Perhaps Jayo, but is any of it untrue?

Down over-achieved last year, and were no better than a top 8-10 side. They have fallen back considerably this year, and it is hard to argue that they would beat any of the remaining sides in the Championship. Bluearmy told us to ignore the Armagh game, and the Clare game, and the Leitrim game. He told us to ignore the U-21 championship as well. His faith in lads he knows blinded him to the evidence in front of him.

Down have a long road to travel to an all-ireland title over the next couple of years, especially if Clarke goes.

Thomas Clarke wrote:Down have a long road to travel to an all-ireland title over the next couple of years, especially if Clarke goes.

They do indeed TC but in fairness they were more than a top 8-10 side last year - luck or otherwise. Its all about the day in August or September and they beat Kerry well. Kildare fell the same way they will fall this year - I can see it already - a good manager but far too conservative. Tbh the power base is in Munster (Cork and Kerry, but well done Limerick) and the rest will need to hit top gear to stop Sam travelling deep South again ...

Well I think yesterday banishes bluearmy's argument that Down are contenders, yes they were facing probably the best in the Country but they were miles off, despite playing some scintillating football at times in the first half.

Down aren't bad but are outside the top 4 who have a chance of winning the AI, they remain in the chasing pack with the likes of Kildare and Armagh. Perhaps they need more power in their side, as pointed out before they do seem to fade away as games go on. Last year, while a great run indeed gained on merit, seems to have been a one off.. Hopefully Down can improve and become genuine contenders while retaining their style, I certainly wouldn't mind seeing more games like the first half we had yesterday.

Quarter-Finals
1. Kerry -vs- Limerick
2. Donegal -vs- Kildare
3. Dublin -vs- Tyrone/Roscommon
4. Mayo -vs- Cork

Semi-finals
Winner 1 vs Winner 4
Winner 2 vs Winner 3

So one of Cork/Kerry gone by the final. I guess one of them will meet Dublin/Kildare/Tyrone in the All-Ireland Final.

I can see Dublin being in their first All Ireland final in 16 years.

Not unhappy with the draw - The whole point of getting this far is new challenges etc. (Though we did meet Kildare in the first year of the qualifier system) - After the drubbing of 2009 we did not want Cork. On the assumption that Tyrone come through A Donegal v Tyrone Round 2 was something that nobody would wish - Aside from it being a guaranteed war of attrition the Donegal system is somewhat of a one trick pony and could well have been overcome by Tyrone at the second time of asking. Whilst on paper Limerick would be the preferred draw - at the same time from a Hype perspective it would have been somewhat of an Anti-climax.
So its the Kildare Juggernaut - A heavy scoring team where a lot of the scores are coming from outside the inside forward line- Also to date the fittest team on view finishing strong in every game -an area where Donegal have benefited - So a mobile midfield - an ability to score from outside the 40, and a team that will run for 70 minutes - on paper the perfect antidote to "Chers system".

Wonder what the fixtures will be - I would guess that the attendances on a stand alone basis would be Dublin, Donegal, Mayo and Kerry in that order in which case you would assume that the Dublin and Kerry games will be a double header - Do the games have to be in Croker? ie will they drag Kerry and Limerick half the Length of the country ?

Best of luck Omar, but it's Kerry, Mayo, Kildare and Tyrone in the All-Ireland semi-finals for me. Although I could be wrong.

Mea Culpa to any rossies out there
Presume this means that Dublin don't play next weekend

Anyone know the story here ?

Does one of the other three games get put back a week ?
They will hardly play a single header in Croker next weekend?
They could play a treble header but that means a game at 6 pm which I can't see
or else Cork V Mayo and Donegal V Kildare in a Croker double header - with the Kerry Limerick game in Thurles or Parc Ui Chaoimh ?

OMAR wrote:Mea Culpa to any rossies out there
Presume this means that Dublin don't play next weekend

Anyone know the story here ?

Does one of the other three games get put back a week ?
They will hardly play a single header in Croker next weekend?
They could play a treble header but that means a game at 6 pm which I can't see
or else Cork V Mayo and Donegal V Kildare in a Croker double header - with the Kerry Limerick game in Thurles or Parc Ui Chaoimh ?

Might bring Tyrone and Roscommon to Croker and play two double headers? I wonder will the extra week inconvience the Dubs? Could turn out to be a bad draw for Dublin - has to be Tyrone who emerge victorious.

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:Best of luck Omar, but it's Kerry, Mayo, Kildare and Tyrone in the All-Ireland semi-finals for me. Although I could be wrong.

I wouldn't argue Loyal (haven't got my head round the Mayo bit yet)- Kildare will be favourites and deservedly.
But in terms of a game that I will look forward to Kildare is the draw I wanted.

Our last two Qf's have ended in defeat to Cork and Ive worn that T shirt
No upside in a game against Limerick - If Ulster is as poor as some commentators feel Limerick could beat us-
and if not it would be a case of "stiffer tests to come"
Losing to Tyrone would hardly be a novelty either -though its 1-1 in the last ten years. but they would be gunning for revenge and second game reversals are more the norm than the exception - and again if we won we wouldn't be much wiser.

So Kildare is a fresh challenge -contrasting styles -plenty to think about and analyse in advance - They will bring a good crowd and if we win -then we will have something to think about - If we lose it looks like a better day out than the other three options.

OMAR wrote:

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:Best of luck Omar, but it's Kerry, Mayo, Kildare and Tyrone in the All-Ireland semi-finals for me. Although I could be wrong.

I wouldn't argue Loyal (haven't got my head round the Mayo bit yet)- Kildare will be favourites and deservedly.
But in terms of a game that I will look forward to Kildare is the draw I wanted.

Our last two Qf's have ended in defeat to Cork and Ive worn that T shirt
No upside in a game against Limerick - If Ulster is as poor as some commentators feel Limerick could beat us-
and if not it would be a case of "stiffer tests to come"
Losing to Tyrone would hardly be a novelty either -though its 1-1 in the last ten years. but they would be gunning for revenge and second game reversals are more the norm than the exception - and again if we won we wouldn't be much wiser.

So Kildare is a fresh challenge -contrasting styles -plenty to think about and analyse in advance - They will bring a good crowd and if we win -then we will have something to think about - If we lose it looks like a better day out than the other three options.

Well one thing I noted both times we played Kildare - and it's probably obvious to all - but they don't shoot well when put under pressure. Now I've already sung the praises of the Meath backs on this forum but you talk about fresh challenges - it'll certainly be a fresh challenge for Kildare forwards trying to break the Donegal crowding in the region '30m to 45m'. Anxious times if you're a Kildare supporter too. We will have take the winners very seriously, that's for sure.

Mayo will not keep the ball kicked out to Cork - they will suffer another annihilation - trust me. Kildare will beat Donegal because the wide open spaces of Croker will not suit Mc Guinness' teams style. Agree that if you pressurise Kildare forwards they are not as prolific but they will still score more than Donegal IMO - about 6 or 7 more. Tyrone should beat Roscommon but I would not put the house on it. And those jammy hoors Kerry will saunter past Limerick. I expect two double headers next weekend. Dublin and Tyrone will be the same weekend as the KK v Waterford semi. Doubt they'll change the semis to have a Dublin double header though.

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:Quarter-Finals
1. Kerry -vs- Limerick
2. Donegal -vs- Kildare
3. Dublin -vs- Tyrone/Roscommon
4. Mayo -vs- Cork

Semi-finals
Winner 1 vs Winner 4Winner 2 vs Winner 3

So one of Cork/Kerry gone by the final. I guess one of them will meet Dublin/Kildare/Tyrone in the All-Ireland Final.

Cork's dream of back to back Sams derailed by the draw....If someone could have beaten Kerry for them......

Word in Tyrone is we have a date in Croke Park next Saturday night with one of the Q/Fs played as a double header alongside it. Gives Dublin and extra week off though!!!!!!

Have to say i heard a rather unsavoury story of goings on in the Tyrone v Donegal game recently. Seems a certain member of the Donegal team thought it would be rather funny to spend the whole game reminding young Peter Harte of a certain tragic incident which happened earlier in the year. I know we have our own culprits when it comes to that craic but this one overstepped the mark big time.

Despite some bad injury probs this Cork team are a lot stronger. For years they were the nearly men but now they have Celtic Crosses and two Leagues too. They are playing with a huge confidence all over the park and whereas even two years ago the Munster Final win would have caused doubts, this year it seemed as if they were not bothered either way. I would expect Cork to have the measure of Kerry in Croker this year - and it is a likely semi. The flakiness is gone.

Thomas Clarke wrote:

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Bit harsh TC!

Perhaps Jayo, but is any of it untrue?

Down over-achieved last year, and were no better than a top 8-10 side. They have fallen back considerably this year, and it is hard to argue that they would beat any of the remaining sides in the Championship. Bluearmy told us to ignore the Armagh game, and the Clare game, and the Leitrim game. He told us to ignore the U-21 championship as well. His faith in lads he knows blinded him to the evidence in front of him.

Down have a long road to travel to an all-ireland title over the next couple of years, especially if Clarke goes.

we are all guilty of that offence TC thats what its like to be a sports fan!!!! If he was calling the Down men useless showers would that not be worse.

You only have to take our own fans in Tyrone for a perfect example, before last nights game we were past it now everyone is talking about quarter finals, semi finals and possibly even a final - fickle or what????

bocerty wrote:Word in Tyrone is we have a date in Croke Park next Saturday night with one of the Q/Fs played as a double header alongside it. Gives Dublin and extra week off though!!!!!!

Have to say i heard a rather unsavoury story of goings on in the Tyrone v Donegal game recently. Seems a certain member of the Donegal team thought it would be rather funny to spend the whole game reminding young Peter Harte of a certain tragic incident which happened earlier in the year. I know we have our own culprits when it comes to that craic but this one overstepped the mark big time.

Bocerty i agree with you/but sadly what goes around comes around..I heard some stories about Tyrone players in the past i would hardly call it craic

I think the gaa should try to stomp this out..

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Mayo will not keep the ball kicked out to Cork - they will suffer another annihilation - trust me. Kildare will beat Donegal because the wide open spaces of Croker will not suit Mc Guinness' teams style. Agree that if you pressurise Kildare forwards they are not as prolific but they will still score more than Donegal IMO - about 6 or 7 more. Tyrone should beat Roscommon but I would not put the house on it. And those jammy hoors Kerry will saunter past Limerick. I expect two double headers next weekend. Dublin and Tyrone will be the same weekend as the KK v Waterford semi. Doubt they'll change the semis to have a Dublin double header though.

Are you on the committee picking the venues for the Quarter finals, you seem to have the inside track. I cant seem to remember Mayo suffering an annihilation this year or even last year or even within the last five years but again you seem to be a bigger GAA expert then me.

mullins wrote:

bocerty wrote:Word in Tyrone is we have a date in Croke Park next Saturday night with one of the Q/Fs played as a double header alongside it. Gives Dublin and extra week off though!!!!!!

Have to say i heard a rather unsavoury story of goings on in the Tyrone v Donegal game recently. Seems a certain member of the Donegal team thought it would be rather funny to spend the whole game reminding young Peter Harte of a certain tragic incident which happened earlier in the year. I know we have our own culprits when it comes to that craic but this one overstepped the mark big time.

Bocerty i agree with you/but sadly what goes around comes around..I heard some stories about Tyrone players in the past i would hardly call it craic

I think the gaa should try to stomp this out..

I have it under good authority that the story you refer to is bull s hit.

mullins wrote:

bocerty wrote:Word in Tyrone is we have a date in Croke Park next Saturday night with one of the Q/Fs played as a double header alongside it. Gives Dublin and extra week off though!!!!!!

Have to say i heard a rather unsavoury story of goings on in the Tyrone v Donegal game recently. Seems a certain member of the Donegal team thought it would be rather funny to spend the whole game reminding young Peter Harte of a certain tragic incident which happened earlier in the year. I know we have our own culprits when it comes to that craic but this one overstepped the mark big time.

Bocerty i agree with you/but sadly what goes around comes around..I heard some stories about Tyrone players in the past i would hardly call it craic

I think the gaa should try to stomp this out..

not condoning it all Mullins regardless of who is at it - but from what i have heard this was bang out of order, i would certainly hope the Tyrone lads never stooped this low!!!!

Peter Solan the Great wrote:

mullins wrote:

bocerty wrote:Word in Tyrone is we have a date in Croke Park next Saturday night with one of the Q/Fs played as a double header alongside it. Gives Dublin and extra week off though!!!!!!

Have to say i heard a rather unsavoury story of goings on in the Tyrone v Donegal game recently. Seems a certain member of the Donegal team thought it would be rather funny to spend the whole game reminding young Peter Harte of a certain tragic incident which happened earlier in the year. I know we have our own culprits when it comes to that craic but this one overstepped the mark big time.

Bocerty i agree with you/but sadly what goes around comes around..I heard some stories about Tyrone players in the past i would hardly call it craic

I think the gaa should try to stomp this out..

I have it under good authority that the story you refer to is bull s hit.

well if you heard it PSTG then it must be right!!!!!!!

bocerty wrote:

mullins wrote:

bocerty wrote:Word in Tyrone is we have a date in Croke Park next Saturday night with one of the Q/Fs played as a double header alongside it. Gives Dublin and extra week off though!!!!!!

Have to say i heard a rather unsavoury story of goings on in the Tyrone v Donegal game recently. Seems a certain member of the Donegal team thought it would be rather funny to spend the whole game reminding young Peter Harte of a certain tragic incident which happened earlier in the year. I know we have our own culprits when it comes to that craic but this one overstepped the mark big time.

Bocerty i agree with you/but sadly what goes around comes around..I heard some stories about Tyrone players in the past i would hardly call it craic

I think the gaa should try to stomp this out..

not condoning it all Mullins regardless of who is at it - but from what i have heard this was bang out of order, i would certainly hope the Tyrone lads never stooped this low!!!!

I know your not condoning any of it/but players should report these verbal incident's after a match even if their not reported...lip read these fookers and catch them

Peter Solan the Great wrote:

mullins wrote:

bocerty wrote:Word in Tyrone is we have a date in Croke Park next Saturday night with one of the Q/Fs played as a double header alongside it. Gives Dublin and extra week off though!!!!!!

Have to say i heard a rather unsavoury story of goings on in the Tyrone v Donegal game recently. Seems a certain member of the Donegal team thought it would be rather funny to spend the whole game reminding young Peter Harte of a certain tragic incident which happened earlier in the year. I know we have our own culprits when it comes to that craic but this one overstepped the mark big time.

Bocerty i agree with you/but sadly what goes around comes around..I heard some stories about Tyrone players in the past i would hardly call it craic

I think the gaa should try to stomp this out..

I have it under good authority that the story you refer to is bull s hit.

HOW COME

Peter Solan the Great wrote:Are you on the committee picking the venues for the Quarter finals, you seem to have the inside track. I cant seem to remember Mayo suffering an annihilation this year or even last year or even within the last five years but again you seem to be a bigger GAA expert then me.

I didn't fooking say this year or last year - but Mayo annihilations in Croker are part of what we are! Any yes I know ye beat us in a semi but this is a particularly bad Mayo team who should have lost to London and won a pi55 poor Connaught C'ship. Ye will not get within as asses roar of Cork. Wise up mossbags.