AI Quarter Finals 2012

Bowl A Bowl B
Donegal Down
Mayo Kerry
Cork Kildare
Dublin Laois

Cork v Kildare

Dublin v Laois

Mayo Down
Donegal Kerry

RMDrive wrote:Cork v Kildare

Handy route for Dublin to All-Ireland Final. Laois, then Mayo or Down.

Kildare, Dublin, Donegal and Down to progress - initial reaction.

Dublin the huge winners here, with probably the 3 weakest sides all on their half of the draw.

Yeah, very tough side with Cork, Kildare and Kerry.

Not the draw donegal wanted at this stage
But we have never played them so bring it on.
Hotel booked for saturday night -preferred option for a sat or sun game
Dubs will be happy.

OMAR wrote:Not the draw donegal wanted at this stage
But we have never played them so bring it on.
Hotel booked for saturday night -preferred option for a sat or sun game
Dubs will be happy.

By my calculations, had Meath won today, Donegal would be facing them and not Kerry.

Dublin would be playing Kerry. As I keep saying it all comes down to luck. How very different the next week could be for a lot of teams.

Had Meath not conceded too soft goals before half-time in the Leinster Final, they'd have a quarter-final date with Laois in Croke Park next week, followed by Mayo/Down for a place in an All-Ireland Final.

should be donegal , cork , mayo and laois

Loyal, there is hardly a side in Ireland who can't say 'if only', but the truth is that 'it didn't'.

In 2 League & Championship seasons under Banty, Meath's record is 8 wins, 14 losses and 2 draws, or to put it another way, you have won 33% of your games, none of which has come against Donegal, Cork, Kerry, Dublin, Tyrone, Mayo, Down, Armagh or Laois (i.e. the better sides in Ireland). The best team Meath have beaten are Kildare, although you also lost to them 3 times in the same period. Meath are in division 3 of the league, and next year will be playing against the likes of Wicklow and Fermanagh.

No offence to Meath, but your hyping of them has no foundation, and your claims that results are basically due to luck is ridiculous. Perhaps next year may be different but, as of now, Meath are nowhere near the top table.

It is easy for you Thomas Clarke to quote your statistic on this forum. People might buy into it but it means nothing to me. I have watched and attended the games, and I believe what I see. Meath are a good team.

I would also re-iterate my point that luck plays an important part in the outcome of these championships. The analysis does not do justice to the margins. The pattern of many games are decided by small, small moments.

just reading res of dubs they think they are in the final already , this will be dublins demise they will be caught by laois as their eyes will be on the third week of september , last year they played with hunger and passion this year they think its their right of passage and they will be caught because of it

Eight teams left
Four of the top five in one half of the draw
Dubs plus the outside three in the other half
Perfect place for the dubs keep building improve gradually quietly and under the radar - 4 point victories no point in going mad

whilst the other four kick lumps off each other

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:It is easy for you Thomas Clarke to quote your statistic on this forum. People might buy into it but it means nothing to me. I have watched and attended the games, and I believe what I see. Meath are a good team.

I would also re-iterate my point that luck plays an important part in the outcome of these championships. The analysis does not do justice to the margins. The pattern of many games are decided by small, small moments.

The stats were to support my point of view. I've always believed that to be a better way to articulate one's opinion, as opposed to the approach you appear to favour in this instance.

I have seen Meath 5 times this year, all on television. Purely subjectively, as you don't like stats, I wasn't impressed, although that may have been because I didn't see them at their best (they lost 4 of those 5 games).

Tbh that is the draw I would have picked out myself. Once Laois came out the other 2 ties were a formality and so too the semi set-up.

The thing that concerns me most about Dublin this year is the mindset - and as Banjo points out this is the most dangerous draw they could have got in that context. If they play with the right attitude there is a final in their grasp. Looking at them this year that may be a big if .....

Can see it being a stand-alone fixture on the Monday with a 5pm Saturday game (Cork v Kildare most likely as KE will bring a good crowd) and a double header on Sunday.

Mayo would have to be happy with the draw - I reckon they were hoping for Down or Laois and they must be favs. Cork v Kildare is interesting but I think Cork will have a bit too much for KE and last year's shock to Mayo willl leave them very focussed. The most intriguing is Kerry v Donegal - a draw I'd say Kerry did not want. Conflicting reports as to whether Galvin got a straight red or two yellows - seems he will be ok to play. This is good news for Donegal IMO - he is nowhere near the influence he was. Kerry - having finally broken the Tyrone hoodoo will not relish the Donegal style at all. I hope Donaghy gets plenty of grief! I would fancy Donegal here. Kerry will not relish the intensity at all.

didnt see this comin g didnt know draw was on,donegal kerry very interesting what will jim do against a free scoring kerry forwards,kildare cork cork have to many scoring forwards to lose this one mayo down mayo should win this dublin v laois interesting boxty will rue leitrims loss so near yet so far

Thomas Clarke wrote:

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:It is easy for you Thomas Clarke to quote your statistic on this forum. People might buy into it but it means nothing to me. I have watched and attended the games, and I believe what I see. Meath are a good team.

I would also re-iterate my point that luck plays an important part in the outcome of these championships. The analysis does not do justice to the margins. The pattern of many games are decided by small, small moments.

The stats were to support my point of view. I've always believed that to be a better way to articulate one's opinion, as opposed to the approach you appear to favour in this instance.

I have seen Meath 5 times this year, all on television. Purely subjectively, as you don't like stats, I wasn't impressed, although that may have been because I didn't see them at their best (they lost 4 of those 5 games).

This is like the Kauto Star retirement argument.

I know I am/was right - I gave up arguing my point though. I only frustrate myself trying to convince others different.

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:I. Meath are a good team.

I would also re-iterate my point that luck plays an important part in the outcome of these championships.

Call it then so...

Meath are/were abysmal.

The Uutimate winner is the one who leaves the ring with the trophy....

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:
This is like the Kauto Star retirement argument.

I know I am/was right - I gave up arguing my point though. I only frustrate myself trying to convince others different.

Actually, it's nothing like the Kauto Star argument, although he too is on a 33% strike rate over the last 2 years.

As for arguing your point, well you haven't. You have stated it, but not backed it up. Poor posting Loyal, and a worrying trend in recent times. I know you have restyled yourself over the last 6 months in the mould of Patrique, but he always made enough sensible posts to ensure that the wind-ups were worth reading. You need to find that balance.

Mayo may well be happy to have drawn Down, but the feeling is mutual around the Mournes, as they are probably the most beatable side out of the teams we could have faced. I was relieved to see Down overcome the 6 day turnaround, and hopefully the ship has been steadied slightly after last Sunday's debacle. We were extremely fortunate to draw Tipp, but I feel Down are deserving of a quarter final place.

Amazing how much is at stake, and how much a win or a loss will define our season. We now head into a winnable game, and provided the injury list does not grow, Down will have a good squad to choose from. If Mayo bring the intensity of their last quarter final appearance, and Down bring the intensity of their own last appearance in a quarter final, it could be an excellent encounter. Relishing the prospect of a good open game!

BA - if Down make the mistake of thinking this Mayo team are like their predecessors they are in for a big shock. James Horan has done wonders with the county in terms of instilling steeliness and getting rid of the soft underbelly. I think Mayo are comparable to the likes of Donegal - I see them as serious dark horses. They have good players in all lines on the pitch and in Dillon, Moran and O'Connor have a serious scoring threat. If we beat Laois I honestly expect to be playing Mayo.

Considering we could have been drawn against Dublin, Mayo, or Cork. Mayo was the probably the most favourable. Mayo's performance against Cork last year was a remarkable display of intensity and steely determination.

Mayo play a good style of football, and are the best team in the West by a considerable distance. They are not as systematic in their style as some of the other teams, and that may well suit Down.

The concession of goals has been Down's Achilles heel. In games where they have worked hard, and remained competitive, goals have killed their momentum. If they do not concede soft goals, I see the game being very tight, and could go either way.