All-Ireland Football Championship 2010

[Kingdom]

Of the qualifiers I'd be hoping to avoid Cork and Kildare. I'd be happy with either Sligo/Down or Louth/Dublin. Saying that, if the beaten Prov finalists miraculously all won, that would make for an interesting set of q/f's and then s/f's.

Tyrone Vs Qualifier
vs
Roscommon vs Qualifier

Kerry vs Qualifier
vs
Meath vs Qualifier

[Charlie Darwin]

This Limerick-Cork game has suddenly become very interesting. Hope they can match the intensity of the last five minutes in extra time.

[dantheman]

Great win for Down last night, was at match. Albeit Sligo were apppalling, still we did what we had to do.

Lets hope for Roscommon, or maybe Meath. Anyone but Tyrone. Not again

[Real ale Madrid]

Quarter Final Fixtures

Saturday 31st July
2.00pm Down v Kerry
4.00pm Tyrone v Dublin

Sunday 1st August
2.00pm Cork v Roscommon
4.00pm Kildare v Meath

Some great games there - 2 really competitive games on Saturday. I think it will be Cork v Tyrone and Kerry v kildare in the semis.

[elroy]

Two good games today, certainly were needed after some awful games last week. Great to see Kerry in particular and Tyrone beaten. Its wide open now, you'd have to fancy Cork if they can rediscover the form of last year.

[culloty82]

About the only time I'll ever be glad to see the Dubs win a game! Seriously though, they've improved tremendously in the space of a few weeks, but assuming Cork win tomorrow, they should have the experience to win it out. Very strange hoodoo that Down have over us, just about old enough to remember '91, a mix of the old guard and new players, but like today they never looked convincing. Hard to call Meath-Kildare, but you'd expect the royals to edge it, when they've been at this stage the last few years.

[paudie]

2 big shocks today. Down did to Kerry what Cork should have done to them when ahead earlier in the year.

Good win by the Dubs. Tyrone didn't help themselves with a lot of bad wides but they got the goal at the right time. Title is wide open now.

[Charlie Darwin]

By my reckoning, only two of the eight sides that competed the provincial finals remain - really goes to show the value of the qualifiers. Championship is basically wide-open now, although Down are probably the form team.

[drummerboy]

Cork have to be favourites now. Supposedly they have being training really hard so as to peak at end of August.

[paudie]

Cork upped their game a lot in the second half to win by nine points in the end. We'll need to improve again for Dublin

[culloty82]

In fairness, when this Cork team has been on the go for five years ago, they've probably learnt that they only need to peak on the big occasions, so I wouldn't doubt that you'll be ready for the Dubs. Wouldn't rule Kildare out though, they seem to play 50% better again with each passing week.

[shakermaker1982]

Kerry were probably better off losing to Cork a few weeks back and then fine tune their way through the qualifiers.

Wide open championship and it's hard to pick a winner.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Should you not be off chasing a referee around a pitch somewhere?
An Mhí, Leinster chumps 2010!

Or those cheats reading the H*nry book of sportsmanship??
Anyway, Karma!

Thanks Kildare. Here's to An Dun v.Dubs in the final....
Though would expect the Langers to win it. :eek:

[Jinxy]

Over 82,000 people in Croke Park yesterday.
Anyone watching?
Anyone at all.....

[Charlie Darwin]

I'm still searching for pieces of my broken heart on the sitting room floor.

[Jinxy]

Dublin left it behind them alright.

[paudie]

Was at it. Don't know we won.
Actually I do. Dublin panicked in the last 10 minutes.

Cork tactics seem to consist of playing in way that makes it as difficult as possible to win games. We have to vary the play and play the occaisonal long ball. We have probably the best players (certainly the most experienced) and definitely the best squad but I wouldn't have huge confidence of winning the final, no matter who we are playing.

[Kingdom]

This really is turning into an exciting championship. I really hope Cork don't win, not because it's Cork, but because if they do win, the shackles are off them, the pressure is released and if they had a man on the line who knew what to do, they could be a dominant team for a few years.
Goulding, O'Neill, Sheehan, Kelly, Kerrigan, and finally donnacha O'Connor, they've as good a set of forwards as is around. Which makes how they're struggling (albeit still winning) all the more stranger?

I'm really looking forward to the game this weekend, and I hope Kildare go on to win it. They've some of the best, knowledgable and loyal supporteres around, who love their football from club to county. such a long wait too.

The all-stars are going to be messed up this year. Can't think who's going to get picked.
McVeigh in goal is nailed on I'd say. Brogan, Kavanagh, O'Connor, Kissane, McAuley, all probably are there or there abouts. After that it's a lottery. Gooch might be the sole Kerry rep, but I'd say there's a good chance there won't be a Kerryman for the first time since the dark days of 2003.

[paudie]

Gooch will win an All star all right.

[strangeirish]

Anyone else think Kildare were hard done by? The Down goal and the Kildare point that wasn't.

[paudie]

Anyone else think Kildare were hard done by? The Down goal and the Kildare point that wasn't.

They were but Down were the better team. From a Cork point of view I'd have preferred Kildare to win.

Should be a good final.

[culloty82]

Hope you're not superstitious or a stats man Paudie, but the four other times we've lost to Down, they've gone on to lift Sam.

[dantheman]

Twas a thrilling finish ysterday, I was still shaking about 15 minutes after the match. Kildare battled well, but the better team won

[paudie]

Hope you're not superstitious or a stats man Paudie, but the four other times we've lost to Down, they've gone on to lift Sam.

Bit of a stats man all right.

Corks win/loss record in All ireland Football finals is enough to give me cold sweats even before Down's record comes into it!

[paudie]

http://www.sportsmanager.ie/cake/gaa2/cork/news/23219/Cork_Senior_Football_Team_v_Down

Cork team named.
Canty playing. Only change from the semi is Eoin Cadogan in at corner back for John Miskella.

[Jinxy]

I think Cork will win by 4 or 5.

[GUFCghost]

Lookin' pretty good for down at half-time.

[culloty82]

I'll be gracious and congratulate the Rebels - before the match I'd have expected Down to edge it by a point or two, and at half-time, only one side had shown up. Fair to say that Canty's introduction transformed the flow of the game and Goulding's free-taking was perfect. Kerry have to find a few new players between now and next year, but when they do, the cup will only be on loan!

[junglegym]

Congratulations to the team who finally did it. It's been a hard couple of seasons following ye.
Delighted to see Nollaig O Loaire win that illustrious Senior medal to add to his minor medal. I suppose the defeats in the previous years gave the lads the extra push to go on and win today. I think myself everyone on the isle bar Down thought they deserved one so well done lads.;)
There is a lot of younger lads aswell on that team lucky enough to come along at the right time and take the holy grail so hopefully the future in Corcaigh is bright and you'd never know we might go on to beat the auld enemy in Croke Pk. next year
Goulding or O Connor for Man Of The Match.

[dantheman]

As a Down man I am gutted, but the best team won. Cork deserve their day, well done Cork

[elroy]

Not a great game by any means, Cork grinded out a result when needed (similar to many of their performances this year). The changes made to midfield in particular after half time made a big difference. I think Cork were the physically stronger and fitter team as well and that stood to them in the dying mins. Having said that credit to Down, they kept plugging away and may well have snatched a draw with a bit of luck.

Delighted for Cork though, they have had plenty of bad days so they deserve this one. Will they now push on as a more confident assured unit?? Im not so sure. Next years championship is on paper shaping up to be very interesting. A hungrier Kerry and Tyrone, Champions Cork and developing sides in Dublin, Kildare and Down. Surely the likes of Mayo cant have such a poor year next year.

[paudie]

I've been at the 4 losing finals since 1990 so I'll admit there was tear in my eye at the final whistle yesterday.

Great performances from Goulding, Walsh, O'Connor, Noel O'Leary, Shields as well as Nicholas Murphy and Graham Canty when they came on. Our better squad won the day but Down have some great players.

Championship is wide open next year.

[BonnieShels]

Ready for the draw? Tomorrow!