Football Championship 2014.....

Lee Keegan will play in the AI semi-final replay after a successful appeal hearing.

Yet another embarrassing day for the GAA disiplinary process. What Keegan did was petulant though not particularly dangerous, but it was a red card offence according to the rules. I'm not a big fan of David Coldrick, but he got this call right and shouldn't be undermined by a soft-hearted committee. Black cards are no longer issued because 3 were rescinded in one night after the Tyrone/Monaghan game, and now the likelihood of a deserved red card being shown in a big game will also be reduced - referees will be afraid to enforce any rules, for fear of being contradicted a few days later.

The GAA disciplinary process features a interminable series of appeals from which a player will almost always find eventual reprieve, seemingly even when the rules confirm that they have transgressed. I like Lee Keegan as a player, but he should not be lining out in the AI semi-final. The GAA, yet again, are making up and redefining rules as they go along. A total joke.

I'm in complete agreement with this post. The whole episode is a scandal. The much touted black card rule has descended into farce at this stage. It'll be interesting to see how Joe McQuillan copes on Sunday.
Who's doing the replay tomorrow, not Marty Duffy I hope.

Gaa_lover wrote:
Kerry had not one but two chances to win that semi final by a point and I think it kinda shows how much Kerry are in transition that they couldn't close out the game with extra man and four point lead at half time. Dillon,Andy Moran are still major players for Mayo

Valid points GL but despite the transition phase, Kerry's concept of the game remains steadfast - get it forward quickly. You'd have to give Fitzmaurice a lot of credit for the manner he's wrung the very last drop out of his veterans, Donaghy being the master-stroke last Sunday. They could ask Mayo harder questions in the confines of the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday. Mayo still lack the cutting edge forward - the man with the composure to find the right ball. Kerry don't have that deficiency.

In other news, this venue (Limerick) is causing the Mayo hoors no end of grief on another forum. Short of having it on Hook Head, these numptys are on the verge of conniptions (courtesy JS) about getting there.
Bear Grylls may be summoned yet, such is the angst...

In other news extra, I'm on the Lower Hogan on Sunday, row 328, much the same as last year. And to show how modern and hip I am, guess what, I'm attending Electric Picnic on Saturday in Stradbally. A Junior Boxty is lashing out a few choons (well, the band are) and the brother thinks I'm stone daft. He's hitting the Picnic with us (freebies X 4) and will manage to squeeze his not inconsiderable bulk into a pew in the Hogan on Sunday. Whatever they say about me, I can show visitors anything they want. As long as it suits me.

I've had a blinding 3 weeks, replete with the lynch-pins of rural Ireland, weddings (1) wakes (2) funerals (3) and mighty sessions from Rosses Point to Terry's in Monaghan town, the Briar Rose in Cork city to Jimmy's of Riverchapel in Wexford.** We fitted in Albert's funeral as well, being the staunch followers we are, a grand oul' day despite the rain. The Dauber and myself brought the house down with a bit of mischievery in the Ashling Hotel in the evening.

The country and it's people may be on their knees, but as the brother says "The aul' lad wudda been proud of you Boxty, no Boxty ever gave an inch"..Sad in a way, in the midst of all this revelry and horsing about, his 10th. anniversary occurred on Aug. 22nd. But in my own way, while having no direct involvement, I orchestrated the wedding to ensure the bro was here for the anniversary....We had 2 Jemmys each.....

** We have accommodation/relations, of 1 sort or the other, complimentary across the nation - lest you think we're on a jolly of some sort...


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Coincidently in the past fortnight I've been in Austies ( Rosses point ), Terry's Monaghan and the Hi-B Cork

Keegan got off because Coldrick wrote it up as a kick with minimal force rather than an attempted kick with minimal force (cause he didn't connect).

RMDrive wrote:Keegan got off because Coldrick wrote it up as a kick with minimal force rather than an attempted kick with minimal force (cause he didn't connect).

So I hear.

As well as the rules and appeals process being farcical, I also think that counties need to show some integrity. It would have been nice if James Horan or the Mayo County Board had decided to take their medicine, instead of devouring the rule book in order to find a loophole. To be fair, it's not just Mayo - most clubs/counties have this 'anything if it helps us win mentality', my own included - but it is time for them all to try to win in the spirit of the game, rather than twisting words in order to gain an unfair advantage.

Lee Keegan tried to kick an opponent. There is no place for that in any sport. He should not be playing in the AI semi-final, but the desparation of his county combined with the ineptitude of GAA officialdom means that he will be lining out tomorrow.

Boxtyeater wrote:I'm in complete agreement with this post. The whole episode is a scandal. The much touted black card rule has descended into farce at this stage. It'll be interesting to see how Joe McQuillan copes on Sunday.
Who's doing the replay tomorrow, not Marty Duffy I hope.

Cormac Reilly the same ref as the Cork v Mayo quarter final he'll probably blow up early again if Mayo are in danger of letting a lead slip...

Same as for the Dubs [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] gavin goes for experience good stuff

How will donegal deal with pace

Thomas Clarke wrote:Lee Keegan will play in the AI semi-final replay after a successful appeal hearing.

Yet another embarrassing day for the GAA disiplinary process.  What Keegan did was petulant though not particularly dangerous, but it was a red card offence according to the rules.  I'm not a big fan of David Coldrick, but he got this call right and shouldn't be undermined by a soft-hearted committee.  Black cards are no longer issued because 3 were rescinded in one night after the Tyrone/Monaghan game, and now the likelihood of a deserved red card being shown in a big game will also be reduced - referees will be afraid to enforce any rules, for fear of being contradicted a few days later.

The GAA disciplinary process features a interminable series of appeals from which a player will almost always find eventual reprieve, seemingly even when the rules confirm that they have transgressed.  I like Lee Keegan as a player, but he should not be lining out in the AI semi-final.  The GAA, yet again, are making up and redefining rules as they go along.  A total joke.

Might give the kingdom a lift to see of the biggest moaners in the country at the moment

champers wrote:Same as for the Dubs [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] gavin goes for experience good stuff

How will donegal deal with pace

They will set up same as 2012 AI final. Murphy will play on 14 and they will see what ROC is made of.
If Murphy doesn't hit the onion bag inside 20 minutes it's plan B which is 15 inside 15

OMAR wrote:
They will set up same as 2012 AI final. Murphy will play on 14 and they will see what ROC is made of.
If Murphy doesn't hit the onion bag inside 20 minutes it's plan B which is 15 inside 15

This is the only way I can see a Donegal win - goals, and plenty of them. I think that Donegal will have to score at least 2 goals more than Dublin to have a chance. They need their star man to have a massive game, and McFadden & McBrearty have to be far better than they've been up til now.

Kerry much the better side today Mayo feed off scraps throughout and were extremely lucky to bring that game into extra time. Mayos much talked about strength in midfield were destroyed by David Moran who stood out the most.

Was a high drama contest but for all the errors and poor wides kicked it wasn't the classic that some thought. A Kerry side in transition with o Sullivan Sheehan etc not fully fit and Cooper injured will not be good enough to win the final but I suppose their management have done great to get them this far.

A few thoughts on an epic game of football today:

- You have to admire Kerry and Eamon Fitzmaurice.  They have remained competitive during a rebuilding phase, and have unearthed a number of lads who will ensure that they are still among the top sides for many years to come.  They have so many strong, aggressive lads who can catch and kick.

- James Horan took over a Mayo side at a low ebb and made substantial progress over his 4 years.  Unfortunately, his run has come to an end, and it's time to let someone else take the reins.  The lazy analysis is to look at the likes of Andy Moran, Alan Dillon and Keith Higgins and say that their team will now fade away, but they have a youthful nucleus and a number of good underage players still to bring in.  If they really want to, they can come again.

- Cormac Reilly will come in for a lot of deserved criticism, but his biggest mistakes concern Shane Enright. Already on a yellow card, Enright should have seen black (i.e. red) for his part in the Mayo penalty, but Reilly bottled it.  2 minutes later Enright took Aidan O'Shea out after he had played the ball for the 2nd Mayo goal, and again should have received a second card.  This would have left Kerry trailing by 6 points and, more importantly, a man.

- David Moran gave one of the all-time great midfield performances today.  He was in possession almost twice as often as any other player on the field, and his use of the ball was immaculate.  Injuries and lack of drive seemed set to derail his career but, at 26, Moran now looks set to become one of the game's top players.

- Alongside Moran, Anthony Maher played in midfield for the whole 100+ minutes.  There was no moving them into full-forward for a break or the likes.  They stayed there the whole game, fending off whichever Mayo opponents came their way.  And people in Tyrone try to tell me that you don't need midfielders anymore...

- Cillian O'Connor is a top footballer. He free-taking, his eye for a goal and, just as impressively, his tackling are all of the highest order.

- Kieran Donaghy looks like he has jumped in a DeLorean and gone back to 2007.  However, 10 minutes last week should have been enough to tell James Horan that Ger Cafferky couldn't handle Star, yet he left him out there for almost the whole game today.  Tom Parsons, Barry Moran, Jason Gibbons - someone of that stature should have been sent back simply to tussle and contest with him.

- This was a war of attrition, with star men on both sides leaving the game due to injury. In the end, Kerry's greater strength in depth, coupled with their most disciplined tactical shape in extra time, were decisive.

- I'm delighted that this game was in Limerick.  A half-full Croke Park would never have had an atmosphere like that.  This was an absolute classic.

Thomas Clarke wrote:

- James Horan took over a Mayo side at a low ebb and made substantial progress over his 4 years.  Unfortunately, his run has come to an end, and it's time to let someone else take the reins.  The lazy analysis is to look at the likes of Andy Moran, Alan Dillon and Keith Higgins and say that their team will now fade away, but they have a youthful nucleus and a number of good underage players still to bring in.  If they really want to, they can come again.

I expected Horan to step aside last year as the only way was down this year. Horan has been the very reason Mayo have been competing in the first place. He built the spine of his side around the 2006 AI U-21 team and in 07,08,09 they won U-21 Connacht titles, those four sides have provided the majority of their current senior panel the next manager will have a much older panel with much more mileage and baggage to deal with. Mayo's U-21s they haven't reach a Connacht final since 2009 which would suggest the talent coming through isn't as it was before Horan arrived. The odd minor player from their last few sides will make the step up but as Tyrone have shown you need more than a few good minor teams/players to stay at the very top in senior level.

Year after year when a big game is there to be won Mayo do not have a forward that takes the game by the scruff of the neck.

That aside I agree with comment that horan must be most naive manager in football

aside from today in 2012 in two league games and in previous county final Michael Murphy scored a goal inside 60 seconds from a long ball which were carbon copies of the opening goal in the AI final and he was marked by a player 3/4 his size. ( Kane )

Yesterday as already stated - how could he not have had a tactic for Donaghy ?
Also at the start of the second half Moran/Maher won 6 Mayo kick outs in a row each of which were kicked to the same place - surely at some stage in training there is a plan B ?
Then to top it all his plan B for Donaghy was Kane - the player who still has nightmares from marking Murphy under high ball in 2012

Thomas Clarke wrote:

OMAR wrote:
They will set up same as 2012 AI final. Murphy will play on 14 and they will see what ROC is made of.
If Murphy doesn't hit the onion bag inside 20 minutes it's plan B which is 15 inside 15

This is the only way I can see a Donegal win - goals, and plenty of them.  I think that Donegal will have to score at least 2 goals more than Dublin to have a chance.  They need their star man to have a massive game, and McFadden & McBrearty have to be far better than they've been up til now.

Yes word around the camp fire is McGuinness has a simple view on this - Donegal need 2 goals in opening quarter - anything else they will be too far behind by half time.

Beautiful sunny day here, a cloudless sky, not a breath of wind. If you can't do it in this weather then forget about.... The fry down, all's looking Jakey,,,,

Bet Dublin at their own game unreal stuff by Donegal built on belief, McGuinness and your team take a bow.

Local club fixtures meant that I only saw the first half hour of this game, but even by that stage you could see that Donegal meant business. I'll watch the rest of it later in the week but, from what I've heard, Donegal were well worth their win.

Despite my earlier comment about needing at least 2 goals more than Dublin to win, I genuinely didn't see Donegal pulling this off. I'm delighted that I was wrong, however, and it must have been a day like no other for their fans. Just as I thought of Omar and RMD after the Mayo disaster last summer, I was thinking about them again today as I followed the updates on Twitter. I also thought of former poster Parouisa, and was delighted for all three of those mentioned. Champers, I feel bad for, as he'll not have seen this coming either.

RMD and Omar, enjoy your night. This will be one of the most very special days in your lives as Donegal supporters. Well done to Donegal's heroic players, and their incredible manager.

A surreal experience. I went to the game with a small degree of hope but not much optimism. To it was obvious
1) We needed to play at a level that we hadn’t played at since 2012
2) We could not concede a goal
3) We needed to score 2+ goals
My expectation was that achieving this three was possible but unlikely – but there was cause for hope.
Some of the emotions
a) Great result for minors – maybe it might be our day
b) Jaysus – 4 points in 4 minutes – We can’t defend a line outside the 45 so if they keep scoring like that we are goosed. They are killing us with turnover – more physical than us in tackle
c) OK 4-2 could be worse considering that we haven’t been inside their 45 in 10 minutes
d) They have 8 points inside 20 minutes – That’s as many as they had in 70 3 years ago
e) Well At least we have the minors – this could get horrible – Walsh can’t move why is he still on
f) Good save – that was game over
g) That’s better – seem to have found an extra gear – At least we are going to go down with some pride. Toye has brought some energy to everyone
h) Game on !
i) Need to keep this up – they will still score 20 points at this score rate
j) Yes ! – They can’t mark McHugh
k) Yes! – Even McFadden is finding form – bet he makes this free
l) Jaysus – Cant believe Brogan missed that – They are rattled
m) Not MCGee – Jaysus if there is anyone we need for last 10 minutes its him
n) Just need to keep out a goal and we are home.
o) 2 minutes REF !– 2 minutes REF !
Some observations
a) We did not concede a free inside 60 yards until the 45th minute
b) We had 2 wides in second half (one of those was Murphy’s free from 60 yards in the 68th minute which was better wide than in Cluxtons hands
c) Neil McGee was outstanding – Look in slow motion at his block on Brogan – Never took his eye off where he wanted to go.
d) IF O Gara had played the ball 3 feet further forward it was game over
e) O Gara is not an intercounty footballer- Especially not for a team with Dublin’s resources – His inability to kick the ball being a fairly big weakness
f) Connolly and Flynn outstanding for Dublin – B Brogan was well shackled
g) McHugh, Murphy, Big Neil all outstanding
h) Dublin missed 3 easy point chances before the hour mark – would have brought them within touching distance
i) McGuinesses’ tactics were fascinating - some of the detail outside of the broader plan
a. He rotated the lone front man – Murphy, Neil, M Fadden, McBreaty all did their shift inside before going back into the fray
b. He made Donegal come out first even though Dublin were listed in programme
c. There were times when the obvious ball was to hoof to Murphy who was screaming at the edge of the square but they would hold it up and wait for a run after Murphy created space by moving to endline.
d. Durcan kicked past midfield and Murphy/Neil would punch the ball into space on the Dublin 45
j) ROC and Fitzimmons are not good enough to go man to man at this level – the fact that one of these is lauded as the best FB in the country is bizarre. The first goal Murphy beat both of them on his own

Hoping for the best in the Final - I'd see it as 50/50 at this point - My main hope is that 2 McGees plus Karl Lacey are a better trio than than Mayo put up to nullify forward threat - But Kerry's midfield is my main worry.

Dublin will be back - A goal in the first 20 minutes and it could have been a 20 point win - but thats the margins

a brilliant game and one that will be remembered for a long time like last years Hurling final and replay.

Like most others i didnt really see Donegal winning and after 20 minutes it was a case of how many Dublin would win by. And yet like Omar said above the introduction of Toye seemed to re energise the Donegal lads. And yet when i seen a 36 years old coming on against a young fit fast Dublin team i did scratch the head.

The game plan of Jimmys was under serious pressure early on and Donegal could have been forgiven for ditching it but like McStay said on Sunday game and possibly Brolly too its impossible to maintain that level of long distance point scoring for 70 minutes so maybe Jimmy knew sooner or later they would run out of luck. Either way he got one over on Gavin and it was fascinating to see the level of planning that went into it.

e) O Gara is not an intercounty footballer- Especially not for a team with Dublin’s resources – His inability to kick the ball being a fairly big weakness

MDMA isnt much better with his feet and he was FOTY last year!!!!!!

Great stuff there OMAR on what was a mighty day for Donegal. A great occasion and great to be there yet again for the 3rd. year in a row at enthralling semi-finals. Followers take note - Boxty invariably attends cracker semi-finals. The Donegal support was massive, colourful, raucous and appreciative of their heroes.
A fine cut of a lassie of about 25, bedecked in Dublin regalia, about 3 rows behind me made a tit of herself for 55 minutes hurling the foulest abuse at Donegal, McGuinness and her neighbours. Unsavoury but what can you do except get on with it.
Great banter in the aftermath, we had a few conny pints in a maelstrom of fans of both teams. Mighty analysis, no poor-mouthing, camaraderie at it's best until----Minister Joan Burton sashayed past. Cue united forces of dog's abuse hurled in her direction....

Jimmy rode the high-wire for 20 minutes but then spotted what I thought proved to be the achilles heel - the Dublin half-back line overdone the high line and it was a matter of exploiting this weakness. The couple of good points steadied Donegal, they saw the gap in the ditch and motored through. Murphy did very well to contest the aerial delivery but the plaudits go to young McHugh who travelled 60 yds. more in hope than anything else. He repeated the trick again after the break and the oft-maligned Colm Anthony drove home the stake. McGuinness won the tactical battle, used his troops outstandingly and got the result.

Gavin had a bad day at the office. O'Gara offered nothing in real terms, he's no Kieran Donaghy. He failed to correct the midfield/h/b line issue that allowed Donegal a stranglehold and was helpless once the gap began to widen. The Cormac Costello experiment backfired and McManamon, when introduced, was shuttled down cul-de-sacs. The vaunted bench was exposed as a myth. Great to apply trimmings but incapable of dragging a game out of the fire. Cooper had a nightmare on a variation of opponents, ROC is overhyped but still, Connolly and Flynn fought to the end when many others had jacked it in.

Great game, great day. Well done to Donegal.

YES tc very disappointed at losing yesterday and yet so proud of the Dublin team and the enjoyment they have given the last few years.2 all Irelands in 3 years ain’t bad in the back of my head I sort of felt gavin didn’t freshen the squad up enough this year and I just thought it might catch us in the end,once Dublin went 5 points up Donegal started to push up on cluxton and suddenly the game changed.there is no shame in losing to Donegal who would have thought its quite possible they might share the last 4 all Irelands with Dublin

Dublin play the game the way dubs love it to be played, but the one problem I have with gavin is he should keep quiet about going man for man and saying Dublin only attack and take chances everyone knows you need a defence I won’t criticise any of the players as every single one of them yesterday gave their all. Could we have won it, maybe but a little bit of panic set in and we took the wrong options Some things dublin have worked so well for us in the past did not work as well and on small things can change games
It will be all over in 3 weeks and then its back to the drawning board for all

It will be a long winter and yet I have no doubt that both the players and the management will come back next year stronger than ever. Some things will have been learned from this year and I know that there are more all Irelands to come from this great group of players.

We are still the team everyone wants to play and beat We Are Dublin Believe
Best of luck to Donegal in the final you bate us out the gate yesterday and locked it well done no gripes best team won on the day

OMAR wrote:

OMAR wrote:Frank McGlynn - player of the year 125/1
Dublin 4/6 to win Sam


I'm opting for value

The donegal for Sam and Mcglynn for POY now 10/1 and 66/1 from 16/1 and 125/1 last week.
Dublin 4/9.
Dublin certainly deserved red hot favorites but 96% to 4%( rounded) dublin:Donegal seems heavy to me

The double 2125/1 now 60/1

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In the absence of input from EmmetRyan who appears to gave moved onto greater things in them worlds if journalism and craft beer some stats from the game

Donegal with highest conversion rate in 3 years and 75 games of recorded stats - 68pc