Re: Dún na Gaill V Maigh Eó..All-Ireland Final..23/09/2012. Official Thread...

**Parouisa** Mon Sep 17, 2012 2:12 pm

Interesting take on Mayo there Emmet. If you read it without knowing what team is being analysed it seems almost identical to the Dublin tactics of 2011 to me. Not something I would have considered to be the case at all!

I am not sure Mayo's defensive 'system' will cope with Donegal's runners. When Dublin finally got the running game going and the quick ball forward, the Mayo defence were all over the place.

**Thomas Clarke** Mon Sep 17, 2012 2:53 pm

Parouisa wrote: I am not sure Mayo's defensive 'system' will cope with Donegal's runners. When Dublin finally got the running game going and the quick ball forward, the Mayo defence were all over the place.

I think that this is the key point in predicting who will win here. Mayo have looked very good at times all year, but the best side they met (Cork in the league final) dominated them physically and swatted them away very easily. I know they stood up to Dublin for 50 minutes, but Dublin never really got going this season, and yet still th Dubs had the winning of the game in the dying seconds.

Unless Aidan O'Shea and Barry Moran have the game of their lives at midfield and guarantee the lion's share of possession, Donegal will be physically too powerful for Mayo.

**Parouisa** Mon Sep 17, 2012 3:10 pm

Yes to be quite truthful Dublin were very poor all year. Both Meath and Laois got within 3 points of them and neither are particularly good sides to be brutally frank. Not taking away from the Mayo win but Dublin were a shadow of the intense team that won Sam a year ago and the Mayo win (and near collapse) has to be put in that context.

**OMAR** Mon Sep 17, 2012 5:32 pm

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**emmetryan** Tue Sep 18, 2012 7:34 am

There is the small matter of the undercard on Sunday, the Minor Football Final. Here's my tactical preview of that one [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

**emmetryan** Wed Sep 19, 2012 9:05 am

My penultimate preview of the week is now live, a look ahead to Saturday's FBD 7s in Kilmacud Crokes. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

**emmetryan** Thu Sep 20, 2012 7:22 am

And now for the big one, my tactical preview of the All-Ireland Final [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

**RMDrive** Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:27 pm

**RMDrive** Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:28 pm

**RMDrive** Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:29 pm

**RMDrive** Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:30 pm

**RMDrive** Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:30 pm

**emmetryan** Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:31 pm

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say you're excited for Sunday

**RMDrive** Thu Sep 20, 2012 11:33 pm

emmetryan wrote:I'm going to go out on a limb here and say you're excited for Sunday

I may be getting slightly into it all right! Very Happy

[Thanks for the reply (elsewhere) on the play-by-play suggestion btw. I'm going to have a look at the ones from the final tomorrow.]

**bocerty** Fri Sep 21, 2012 11:47 am

heard a good Mayo song on the radio the other day done to the tune of Flo Rida's Whistle - cant upload from You Tube at work maybe someone else will fire it up

**bocerty** Fri Sep 21, 2012 11:52 am

score predictions for the game folks.

Presuming most think Donegal are going to win????

What are the definites for the game if there can be any on All Ireland final day!!!! Will the same Donegal turn up are will nerves play a part???

Its a tough one to call, there are more uncertainties than certainties possibly. Could the football end in a draw too.

Its intriguing stuff and I'm sure like i was when Tyrone were in finals the excitement and the nervousness are starting to get to fans from both counties.

I am going to go for Donegal 1-12 0-13 Mayo

**OMAR** Fri Sep 21, 2012 12:19 pm

I'll sit on the fence here

Donegal 2-18
Mayo 1-8

**OMAR** Fri Sep 21, 2012 12:37 pm

Clearly there are thousands of permutations as to how this plays out. However I'm narrowing down to three

1. We see a first half like Cork V Donegal - however Mayo forwards continue the vein of form they had against Dublin and have a very high conversion percentage - Mayo lead 10- 6 at half time and
batten down the hatches in the second half and hold out by 2 points 1-15 to 1-13
2. Both teams sit back and play on counter - but there is no counter as both teams have 12 behind the ball at all times - Game ends up like The Dublin v Donegal semi final last year - Lot of fouls outside scoring area
Slim few chances and it becomes a free taking shoot out - Game is draw or a one point win for whoever holds their verve score 10-9
3. Donegal play their "third quarter" game right from the start and move up another grear from the previous games - Mayo forwards are forced to take first few chances from 50 yard snapshots and kick some bad wides. - Donegal keep scoreboard ticking and get a counter attack goal early in first half from Either McGlynn or Thompson. Mayo forced to chase the game and Donegal nail them on the counter - Mayo heads drop and second half is like the Ulster Final Donegal winning by 10 points plus

I'm hoping for 3
rocker

**bocerty** Fri Sep 21, 2012 1:00 pm

OMAR wrote:I'll sit on the fence here

Donegal 2-18
Mayo 1-8

not confident at all then OMAR Very Happy

**bocerty** Fri Sep 21, 2012 1:05 pm

OMAR wrote:Clearly there are thousands of permutations as to how this plays out. However I'm narrowing down to three

1. We see a first half like Cork V Donegal - however Mayo forwards continue the vein of form they had against Dublin and have a very high conversion percentage - Mayo lead 10- 6 at half time and
batten down the hatches in the second half and hold out by 2 points 1-15 to 1-13
2. Both teams sit back and play on counter - but there is no counter as both teams have 12 behind the ball at all times - Game ends up like The Dublin v Donegal semi final last year - Lot of fouls outside scoring area
Slim few chances and it becomes a free taking shoot out - Game is draw or a one point win for whoever holds their verve score 10-9
3. Donegal play their "third quarter" game right from the start and move up another grear from the previous games - Mayo forwards are forced to take first few chances from 50 yard snapshots and kick some bad wides. - Donegal keep scoreboard ticking and get a counter attack goal early in first half from Either McGlynn or Thompson. Mayo forced to chase the game and Donegal nail them on the counter - Mayo heads drop and second half is like the Ulster Final Donegal winning by 10 points plus

I'm hoping for 3

3 would be ideal in that it would easy enough to watch but i think 2 is more likely. A bit of shadow boxing going on between the 2 trying to work out what they others thoughts are. The first 15 could dictate how the rest of the game will be played out.

I can see both going ultra defensive to be honest, lots of fouling and breaking up the play, they just wont want to lose this one.

I'd say there is some sympathy out there for Andy Moran missing out on the game, just curious to know are there many out there who would have any sympathy for Kevin Cassidy or Conor Mortimer????

Cassidy has claimed he had the opportunity to return this year but for the greater good of the team he chose not too!!!

**Thomas Clarke** Fri Sep 21, 2012 1:18 pm

Emmet Ryan's preview has this one sussed, having borrowed my point about Mayo being dominated physically in the League Final by Cork (good man Emmet, as I recently was told, if you're going to steal, steal from Tiffany's! Wink

).

Donegal are the better side here - stronger, better organised and with more top players - and they should win comfortably. However, breakthrough victories rarely come easily, and this game could degenerate into a dour dogfight. Tyrone played some fabulous football in 2003, but their last 100 minutes was jittery and nervous, and they stumbled over the line. Same with Cork in 2010, who almost lost to Down, a side that they've beaten by at least 12 points in each of 4 subsequent meetings.

Mickey Linden alluded to this phenomenon many years ago, saying that his first AI Final was like a blur, but in 1994 he felt that he knew going into the game exactly what he needed to do, and exactly how he was going to do it. Breakthrough's rarely come with style, but Donegal should still emerge as champions.

**Thomas Clarke** Fri Sep 21, 2012 1:19 pm

bocerty wrote: ...just curious to know are there many out there who would have any sympathy for Kevin Cassidy or Conor Mortimer????

Couldn't happen to more deserving fellas.

**bocerty** Fri Sep 21, 2012 1:42 pm

Thomas Clarke wrote:
bocerty wrote: ...just curious to know are there many out there who would have any sympathy for Kevin Cassidy or Conor Mortimer????

Couldn't happen to more deserving fellas.

no sympathy at all TC?

I would have some sympathy fro Cassidy - only a small bit mind you - given that his decision was made for him in that he was removed from the squad, his own fault you could argue.

As for Mortimer i wouldnt have much for him, instead of knuckling down and doing a bit of hard work and forcing his way back into the team he chose to walk away thinking he was bigger than the team and that they would suffer in his absence. Alas it wasnt the case and he is bound to regret his decision.

**Thomas Clarke** Fri Sep 21, 2012 2:05 pm

bocerty wrote:
Thomas Clarke wrote:
bocerty wrote: ...just curious to know are there many out there who would have any sympathy for Kevin Cassidy or Conor Mortimer????

Couldn't happen to more deserving fellas.

no sympathy at all TC?

I would have some sympathy fro Cassidy - only a small bit mind you - given that his decision was made for him in that he was removed from the squad, his own fault you could argue.

Cassidy wouldn't be the most popular man in Tyrone, Boc. Justly or unjustly, we'll never know for sure.

**Real Kerry Fan** Fri Sep 21, 2012 2:21 pm

I think it is hard on Kevin Cassidy, one of Donegal best players over recent years. I note from todays papers that Jim McGuinness invited him back earlier this year but he declined because mainly the squad had started training etc for the year. Good that they have made up their differences. Conor walked out, no more need to be said. Mad

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