Ulster Final 2013: Dún na nGall vs Mhuineacháin

Thomas Clarke wrote:I find this 'All Ireland or bust' mentality really nauseating.  It is such an arrogant viewpoint, and is typically only found in those with no understanding/appreciation of what it means to come from a small county.

These guys have burst a gut since January and are very near THE real Holy Grail. I know what my focus would be as a sportsman. It has nothing to do with being from a big county or arrogance or lack of appreciation or understanding. Dublin hurlers nor their fans are not exactly multi-medal winning arrogant people who think Liam or bust. But I am glad the lads were not interested in parading Bob but more interested in giving the final push for Liam a real go. They may not be successful but they will know that they gave it their very best shot. I would much prefer that.

So your post and usual twisting is equally nauseating to me.

Kerry, i fail to understand your mentality on this, perhaps it due to the fact you come from a largely successful county that twists your viewpoint.

Goals should be changable due to a teams progress through the day, however they must also be and remain realistic. Monaghan will not win the All Ireland and no one will know that more than Malachy O'Rourke, yes they'll give it their best shot but ultimatley it won't be good enough. Perhaps if you came from a county that was starved of football success for as long as Monaghan then you would be a little more sympathetic.

bald eagle wrote:Monaghan will not win the All Ireland and no one will know that more than Malachy O'Rourke, yes they'll give it their best shot but ultimatley it won't be good enough.

BA, do you honestly believe that? Did you see the game? Why would Monaghan not believe they can win Sam when they dismantled the All Ireland champions by 6 points and held them to scoring 7 points. I can't see how any neutral would write them off, let alone themselves.

It has nothing to do with sympathy either - more to do with hunger for more success. Absolutely fair play to Monaghan but I think they should seek more and thats my opinion.

Dunno why some people have turned nasty on this thread and suggested things that were never said. But then thats their style (sic) constantly.

As a matter of interest BE, who do you think HAS a realistic chance of winning Sam at this point from the 12 left?

KerryKatriona wrote:Disagree. But aim low and you will hit more targets.  

I wouldn't mind if the celebrations were already arranged but they weren't - they were impromptu.  There will be plenty of time to celebrate when they go out of the C'ship.  They can all bring the AC to their clubs and go on the tear when they get their medals.

It's like celebrating climbing Everest when you are halfway up. Would have thought the older guys would be the ones who didn't want this kind of thing cos they must know that Sam is at least as near a possibility as they have ever had.

If the Anglo Celt is such a big deal it must be quite unfulfilling to win Sam through the back door.

would that not be a bit like celebrating your birthday 3 months after it has passed.

Also why would you pre arrange celebrations - going into a game like that your whole focus has to be on the game not what your going to do after it

I'm beginning to view this thread from a local perspective and consider the following:

Q: Were Fenagh to win the Intermediate Championship, would impromptu celebrations be put on hold in the quest for Connacht and subsequently A/I honours ?

A: They would in their hole.

All this guff about abstaining from a few points in the aftermath of a noble victory is no more than petty jealousies from the "better-off" brigade, those who are frequently dining at the top table.
The beauty of the GAA is that the small man can have his day, off and on. In the current case, Monaghan may have had 2 days, as one of Irelands finest clubs, the revered Monday club, had it's first decent outing of the Summer with a spirited revival in fortunes.
Mushrooms, chickens and the diesel business took a break and workers therein hopefully enjoyed it.

Let them do what they want and don't be worrying yourself about them, or indeed giving your wit for those who endorse their behaviour.
We have enough Noonans, Howlins and Reillys hurling austerity about FFS.

A county club championship and a provincial championship are a lot different. In fact, a county team and a club team are a lot different.

I don't get the argument being made here. Monaghan are in a quarter-final and should prepare for it as if it were another Ulster Final.

I don't know what has gone on in Monaghan in the last few days but I would hope nobody went overboard. All celebrations should have been out of their system by Tuesday if they're been realistic about their next game.

Bald Eagle - I think you're the only one talking about All-Irelands. Monaghan's next game is their most important one. If I understand your posts correctly, you are implying Monaghan should just turn up, fulfil the fixture, and continue on with their celebrations. That's ridiculous.

Also fail to see how you can endorse mad celebrations yet claim they will give it "their best shot". Makes no sense.

I don't fully get it either to be honest.
They have gone through a winter/ spring of preparation training and conditioning to a point where they faced a team who were being regarded as the most prepared of any era.

They gave that team a spanking

Surely their ambition cannot end there.
On zsunday morning Donegal were 2nd favourites and close to favourites for Ireland. Monaghan beat them. Not through luck, not through a bad decision but because tney were hungrier and better prepared.
If they can beat Donegal why would they not expect to beat Cork,Tyrone,Meath,Cavan,laois,galway
With less than a a 25pc chance they play Cork?

They got to Croker in late noughties and were unlucky enough to draw Kerry, tyrone etc at full pelt and at that they gave Kerrya tight run.

A decent draw and then they play Mayo

Theres a long winter there and the evenings will be shorter for drinking

this whole crack about celebrating is a bit mad is it not. They were well entitled to celebrate given what they had achieved. They were massive underdogs and no one give them a hope bar themselves perhaps. Anyone who thinks that Monaghan had designs on winning an All Ireland needs their head examined.

I would compare what they done to Wigan winning the FA Cup last season. Two teams whose goal for the league was to stay up (in Monaghans case promotion would no doubt have been a target) and then hope for a run in the FA Cup / Ulster Championship.

Both made it to their respective finals against the odds where they were up against arguably the toughest opponents (on paper) they could have met. Both went into their finals as massive underdogs, all the opposition had to do was turn up they were only there to make up the numbers. Both teams played really well better than could have been expected and managed to come out on top through hard work and no shortage of skill and hunger.

Wigan never got to celebrate the win as they had relegation battles to fight and so the parties were put on hold, they subsequently went on to get relegated and i can only imagine that the end of season party wasnt much fun despite the fact they had won their first FA Cup in 81 years. In many ways their relegation overshadowed what they achieved and i am sure many of the players feel slightly aggrieved that the celebrations were diluted somewhat by the relegation.

The same could happen Monaghan, say they hadn't celebrated and they go out the next day and lose a game by the tightest of margins or even get a hammering and some guy says right lads lets celebrate the Ulster Final win, given how competitive these guys are and the work they put in to lose a game would be gut wrenching and the celebrations just wouldn't be the same.

a day or two partying now has it out of their system they can pack that up put it behind them and move on and i dont see what harm was done

As usual Loyal, you only see what you want when reading posts. Where exactly did i say that Monaghan should turn up, fulfil the fixture and carry on celebrating?

Bocerty off on a tangent. Nothing to do with anything.

Bald Eagle - that's what you are implying, yes.

Omar has this one sussed. Really and truly, there isn't even an argument here.

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:Bocerty off on a tangent. Nothing to do with anything.

Bald Eagle - that's what you are implying, yes.

Omar has this one sussed. Really and truly, there isn't even an argument here.

I thought that Boc's analogy was a good one.

I don't think anyone is saying that Monaghan will go through the motions, but rather that their 2 main goals for this year have been accomplished. They will obviously now set new goals, but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't celebrate what they have already achieved. They have not been boozing it up, but instead have been sharing in the joy of their fellow countymen & women. Who's to say that this won't inspire them to even more success?

I recall the Ulster GAA Writers dinner in 2003. It was 2 weeks before the AI final. The Armagh lads turned up, sat with Big Joe at their own table, and left immediately after the dinner. The Tyrone lads stayed for the night and mingled with everyone. They were enjoying the build up, rather than being afraid of it, and it seemed to work for them. Malachy O'Rourke is a top operator, and I'm sure that a couple of days of being congratulated won't make or break Monaghan's prospects from here on in.

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:Bocerty off on a tangent. Nothing to do with anything.

Bald Eagle - that's what you are implying, yes.

Omar has this one sussed. Really and truly, there isn't even an argument here.

But where did i say that Loyal?

Thomas Clarke wrote:
I recall the Ulster GAA Writers dinner in 2003. It was 2 weeks before the AI final. The Armagh lads turned up, sat with Big Joe at their own table, and left immediately after the dinner. The Tyrone lads stayed for the night and mingled with everyone. They were enjoying the build up, rather than being afraid of it, and it seemed to work for them. Malachy O'Rourke is a top operator, and I'm sure that a couple of days of being congratulated won't make or break Monaghan's prospects from here on in.

I was at the awards dinner that year in Donegal was likely speaking to you if it is the same night we are talking about. I was sat at the same table as one of my childhood favourites Ger Houlihan (brilliant man), had a great nights craic with the Tyrone lads after but was a bit sickened at how 'Our Lougie' was up their arses! I found Mickey Harte to be extremely personable and he have me a lot of time (yes i was sober!), Big Joe i found to be extremely ignorant & uptight! In fact, Mickey gave me his phone number and has always been willing to give advice when asked.