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

**Thomas Clarke** Sun Sep 23, 2012 9:10 pm

A very good summary Emmet, and impressive in how quickly you've put it together!

Here are a few of my own observations:

1) I thought it was an ok game. There was some excellent football but, to my eyes, the result was never in doubt.

2) In the first 20 minutes I thought that Donegal's size and power was very evident, and the smaller Mayo players either couldn't get to the ball, or couldn't hold it under pressure. In addition to this, I'd venture that a couple of the Mayo players were not as keen on bending their backs as their opponents (ahem, Alan Dillon).

3) James Horan was caught out by the positioning of Michael Murphy. I'm certain that Kevin Keane was put on the Donegal captain in the anticipation that Murphy would quickly drift out the field, allowing Cafferky and Higgins to remain inside. However, when Donegal dominated early possession around the midfield and fired it into Murphy, it spelled disaster for Mayo. Like Mayo's previous 2 finals, this game was over in 10 minutes.

4) Donegal's positioning of Karol Lacey worked early on, allowing him to make use of the space vacated by Alan Dillon. However, when Mayo began to push up on Donegal, all the Donegal half backs and midfield found life much more difficult and made some very basic mistakes on the ball.

5) Just like the Lohans and McNultys in previous AI Finals, the McGees were outstanding in the fullback line.

5) Despite Richie Feeney's efforts, Donegal had the better subs, and Christie Toye and David Walsh helped them close out the game.

6) When you consider where he found them, Jim McGuinness' revolution is the most incredible managerial achievement in gaelic football in years.

7) A great plan doesn't have to contain an element of surprise. Donegal's tactics have been the same all year, even down to the predetermined mass substitution of the 3 half forwards (Bradley, McLoone, McBrearty). Just because you know what is coming at you, doesn't mean that you can stop it.

8. Michael Murphy's 'Thanks a million' is this year's version of Michael Dara McAuley's 'Unbelievable'. Still, his words were better than Ger Canning's 70 minutes of nonsense - it really is time to put him out to pasture.

9) Congratulations to Omar and RMD! enjoy every minute of it. Your boys are, without any doubt, the best side in Ireland.

10) And, to round out the 10, a quick mention on the minors. Dublin are emerging as the dominant force in underage football, something that should worry the rest of the country. Meath were, as I said after the semi final, a very poor side. Their manager, however, was even worse. To send a crowd of youngsters out in an AI Final with the intention of keeping the score down is a disgrace. I wouldn't have him near a side again.

**emmetryan** Sun Sep 23, 2012 9:15 pm

Thanks TC, working on the minor now. I'm glad I had a rooting interest as that was an awful game.

banjo Sun Sep 23, 2012 9:53 pm

Thomas Clarke wrote:A very good summary Emmet, and impressive in how quickly you've put it together!

Here are a few of my own observations:

1) I thought it was an ok game. There was some excellent football but, to my eyes, the result was never in doubt.

2) In the first 20 minutes I thought that Donegal's size and power was very evident, and the smaller Mayo players either couldn't get to the ball, or couldn't hold it under pressure. In addition to this, I'd venture that a couple of the Mayo players were not as keen on bending their backs as their opponents (ahem, Alan Dillon).

3) James Horan was caught out by the positioning of Michael Murphy. I'm certain that Kevin Keane was put on the Donegal captain in the anticipation that Murphy would quickly drift out the field, allowing Cafferky and Higgins to remain inside. However, when Donegal dominated early possession around the midfield and fired it into Murphy, it spelled disaster for Mayo. Like Mayo's previous 2 finals, this game was over in 10 minutes.

4) Donegal's positioning of Karol Lacey worked early on, allowing him to make use of the space vacated by Alan Dillon. However, when Mayo began to push up on Donegal, all the Donegal half backs and midfield found life much more difficult and made some very basic mistakes on the ball.

5) Just like the Lohans and McNultys in previous AI Finals, the McGees were outstanding in the fullback line.

5) Despite Richie Feeney's efforts, Donegal had the better subs, and Christie Toye and David Walsh helped them close out the game.

6) When you consider where he found them, Jim McGuinness' revolution is the most incredible managerial achievement in gaelic football in years.

7) A great plan doesn't have to contain an element of surprise. Donegal's tactics have been the same all year, even down to the predetermined mass substitution of the 3 half forwards (Bradley, McLoone, McBrearty). Just because you know what is coming at you, doesn't mean that you can stop it.

8. Michael Murphy's 'Thanks a million' is this year's version of Michael Dara McAuley's 'Unbelievable'. Still, his words were better than Ger Canning's 70 minutes of nonsense - it really is time to put him out to pasture.

9) Congratulations to Omar and RMD! enjoy every minute of it. Your boys are, without any doubt, the best side in Ireland.

10) And, to round out the 10, a quick mention on the minors. Dublin are emerging as the dominant force in underage football, something that should worry the rest of the country. Meath were, as I said after the semi final, a very poor side. Their manager, however, was even worse. To send a crowd of youngsters out in an AI Final with the intention of keeping the score down is a disgrace. I wouldn't have him near a side again.

yea spot on tc

**Loyal2TheRoyal** Sun Sep 23, 2012 10:51 pm

Give up this game Thomas Clarke and follow hurling or some other sport. Point 10 probably contains two of the most ridiculous things I've had the misfortune of reading in years.

**Thomas Clarke** Sun Sep 23, 2012 11:10 pm

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:Give up this game Thomas Clarke and follow hurling or some other sport. Point 10 probably contains two of the most ridiculous things I've had the misfortune of reading in years.

I remember a time when you liked my posts. Sad

**GAA-Fan** Sun Sep 23, 2012 11:27 pm

Think I will put £100 on Donegal retaining Sam next year.

**Thomas Clarke** Sun Sep 23, 2012 11:54 pm

GAA-Fan wrote:Think I will put £100 on Donegal retaining Sam next year.

Only one side has done it since 1990. And even that was with a different manager both years.

banjo Sun Sep 23, 2012 11:55 pm

GAA-Fan wrote:Think I will put £100 on Donegal retaining Sam next year.

i think the days of teams retaining sam are gone , it takes a hug effort to even get to the final never mind win it , each and everyone of these players will be pulled from every quarter and this will have a huge impact , along with hunger and miles on the clock

**GAA-Fan** Mon Sep 24, 2012 12:14 am

I do think Donegal can do it, they have been in Armagh and Tyrone's shadow for well over a decade and now they finally have their chance to shine, and they are and I think will retain the title.

After watching the game I was questioning whether Armagh are good enough, Donegal has shown that it only takes one man to make a difference afterall.

**bocerty** Mon Sep 24, 2012 11:42 am

GAA-Fan wrote:Think I will put £100 on Donegal retaining Sam next year.

waste of £100 GAA Fan, they have now acheived what theu set out to do 2 years ago when Jim took over. The hunger next year will not reach the heights of the last two.

**Parouisa** Mon Sep 24, 2012 11:55 am

Congratulations to Donegal - worthy champions and definitely the team of the year and deserve their Sam.

It was a strange final with the early goals - Murphy's was a real cracker though as some have pointed out he should never have been left one on one with Kevin Keane. For the second goal Cillian O'Connor should have had a free at one end but then poor Keane should have held the ball off the post. I feared another Mayo massacre but thankfully they steadied and made a good fist of it from there on.

Hard to judge Donegal on this. In truth it was not one of their best performances of the season (by their own high standard) and they turned over more ball than I can remember in any other game. I'd say a few counties were looking on thinking what might have been.

With regard to retaining it I am not sure. Jim Mc or not it will be very hard for the players to retain the focus and the hunger just won't be there naturally. I wouldn't be backing them to retain - its a very hard task and a big ask.

**bocerty** Mon Sep 24, 2012 12:05 pm

thought Donegal shaded it, it was interesting to see them deviate again from the controlled posession game they have used all year bar the last 2 games.

Mayo got it back to 3 and had a number of chances to bring the game at least level but didnt take them. They responded well though chasing a game agaisnt Donegal is never a good thing.

But to win games you need luck, McFadden had buckets of it for his goal, not only did it come down of the upright but the Mayo defender should have had it away. Also the lead up to the 2nd goal should have seen Mayo awarded a free in for a foul on O'Connor. Given the other 'fouls' Deggan was blowing this was certainly a foul.

I thought Deegan was giving some soft frees away particularly to Donegal in the first half.

**bocerty** Mon Sep 24, 2012 12:16 pm

i see some comment from Dick Clerkin down the right hand side of the screen (twitter stuff) referring to the post match press conference. Whats that all about???

**Parouisa** Mon Sep 24, 2012 12:18 pm

McGuinness refused to do it until Bogue was removed. He then took 2 questions on that issue (Cassidy) and said he would leave if they did not return to asking about the match.

**bocerty** Mon Sep 24, 2012 12:23 pm

no harm to McGuinness but he was bang out of order with that one. I have to say he is a guy i find hard to like and even more so after hearing of this arrogance.

**Thomas Clarke** Mon Sep 24, 2012 12:47 pm

bocerty wrote:no harm to McGuinness but he was bang out of order with that one. I have to say he is a guy i find hard to like and even more so after hearing of this arrogance.

To be fair Boc, I don't see what the Cassidy questions had to do with anything. His side had just won the AI, and I can understand why he didn't want to talk about something he drew a line under 9 months ago.

**emmetryan** Mon Sep 24, 2012 1:19 pm

As promised, my tactical review of the minor final is now up [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

**Parouisa** Mon Sep 24, 2012 1:33 pm

Thomas Clarke wrote:
bocerty wrote:no harm to McGuinness but he was bang out of order with that one. I have to say he is a guy i find hard to like and even more so after hearing of this arrogance.

To be fair Boc, I don't see what the Cassidy questions had to do with anything. His side had just won the AI, and I can understand why he didn't want to talk about something he drew a line under 9 months ago.

But has he the right to bar someone from a Press Conference because the guy wrote a book?

**Thomas Clarke** Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:08 pm

Parouisa wrote: But has he the right to bar someone from a Press Conference because the guy wrote a book?

As his role is unpaid, he has the right to ignore whoever he likes. And the book in question, by all accounts, cast aspersions on his managerial style.

I'd like to say that Id've let it go but, in Jimmy's situation, I'm not sure that I would have.

**Parouisa** Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:14 pm

Most of that is accepted TC but as a county manager he is open to criticism (or praise!) and comment from media and indeed fans or whoever - it goes with the territory. If there were aspersions cast on his managerial style then winning Sam surely answers that quite emphatically.

I don't see how he has the right to have someone thrown out of a post-match press conference. That guy has a job to do too.

**bocerty** Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:28 pm

He can ignore him by all means but to ask him to leave the press conference is a bit on the arrogant side.

He could easily have put the ball back in Bogues court during the press conference by firing a few awkward questions/remarks his way in an indirect fashion and making him feel uncomfortable. He who laughs last and all that.

Plus i doubt his role is unpaid.......

**bocerty** Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:36 pm

Thomas Clarke wrote:
bocerty wrote:no harm to McGuinness but he was bang out of order with that one. I have to say he is a guy i find hard to like and even more so after hearing of this arrogance.

To be fair Boc, I don't see what the Cassidy questions had to do with anything. His side had just won the AI, and I can understand why he didn't want to talk about something he drew a line under 9 months ago.

To be fair Boc, I don't see what the Cassidy questions had to do with anything. His side had just won the AI, and I can understand why he didn't want to talk about something he drew a line under 9 months ago.[/quote]

come on TC you could have put your mortgage on the fact that the Cassidy question was going to come up win lose or draw.

Its easy to deflect that away without coming across as an arrogant control freak.

**Thomas Clarke** Mon Sep 24, 2012 3:12 pm

bocerty wrote: come on TC you could have put your mortgage on the fact that the Cassidy question was going to come up win lose or draw.

I'll put it like this Boc: If you were at the press conference 10 minutes after his side won the AI, and were allowed to ask McGuinness 1 question, would it have been about Kevin Cassidy? I'd suspect not, as normal people don't think that way.

I think the media, as we all agreed on another thread here, often look for controversy where there is none. They are not acting in the interests of the public, but rather in their own interests.

**Parouisa** Mon Sep 24, 2012 3:25 pm

I am no fan of the media at all but Bogue was there as correspondent for the Belfast Telegraph. IMO McGuinness had no right to have him removed before the conference started and Croke Park should not have acquiesced either. All Ireland final day and all it entails is a lot bigger than a personal spat between McGuinness and a writer. He may have set a dangerous precedent here.

**bocerty** Mon Sep 24, 2012 4:07 pm

Thomas Clarke wrote:
bocerty wrote: come on TC you could have put your mortgage on the fact that the Cassidy question was going to come up win lose or draw.

I'll put it like this Boc: If you were at the press conference 10 minutes after his side won the AI, and were allowed to ask McGuinness 1 question, would it have been about Kevin Cassidy? I'd suspect not, as normal people don't think that way.

I think the media, as we all agreed on another thread here, often look for controversy where there is none. They are not acting in the interests of the public, but rather in their own interests.

thats exactly it TC, says more about the journalists than anything that they would ask such a question given they were only aloowed 1 or 2 each. Remember Brian Cody tearing into Marty Morrissey a few yeras ago after he asked a stupid question after the hurling final. But Jim is a guy who strikes me as having enough in his armoury to deflect such questions back to the clown that asked it without coming across like he was Alex Ferguson or the like. In some ways Jim lowered himself to their standards.

Bogue had as much right to be there as anyone else

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