Gaa 2012

Spot on.

Though the semi last whilst on the face of it was dire was fascinating.
I left Croker like a bull but subsequent viewing and conversations tapered my anger.

McGuinness implemented what we will call stage one. He indoctrinated a philosophy into a panel over the winter and league of 2011. So when he had decided on his panel that suited the tactics and organisation he wanted we ended up with a militarily drilled unit who played simple effective ball and were a nightmare to break down.

In Ulster when they came up against teams there was no response. No one was ready.
Fast forward to the QF v Kildare; Geezer got ready. A different Donegal showed up. And gave us one of the most remarkable games of the year. Donegal had already overachieved when hey won Ulster. Getting to a semifinal was super extra bonus territory.
McGuinness at every stage of a game tweaks and changes and makes subsitutions when they need to be made and doesn't suffer fools gladly.
The only thing for Donegal last year though is they wouldn't have gotten away with playing against Dublin the way they did Kildare. We would have murdered them. So they sat back and implemented the so called blanket defence.
It worked. Mostly. Eventually the better team willed the scores out and I think it was for the best that Donegal lost that game as we will see in the next couple of years.

This year they moved into stage two. This was flagged in the McKenna and the League. Despite the dislike for the McKenna it helped Donegal this year.
Stage two saw the consolidation of what they had become masters in. Organisation. Now they needed to play football.
And boy did they. And with an intensity like no one since Mickey's 2008 team.

And that's what's going on here. It's a well trodden path. How anyone thought it was surprising watching the Ulster Championship that Donegal wouldn't be where they are or there or there abouts doesn't know ball.
Anyone who would call Donegal negative against Kerry on Sunday is talking crap.

On a note about cynicism. That was one thing missing from Dublin's game. We started using it last year. Not to the extent of the Masters of the black art Corkerry. Can anyone honestly believe that Cork deserved to win that semi in 2010? No. But they dis because we were naive.

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Originally Posted by BonnieShels

On a note about cynicism. That was one thing missing from Dublin's game. We started using it last year. Not to the extent of the Masters of the black art Corkerry. Can anyone honestly believe that Cork deserved to win that semi in 2010? No. But they dis because we were naive.

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Dublin tried to match Cork physically that year and they got so tired in the last ten minutes of thet game they had to resort to consistant fouling just to keep parity with Cork who were pouring forward at the latter stage of the game. It had such an effect on the Dublin management they started training at 6 in the morning the following season.

The only team to beat Cork in the last 10 years ( apart from the Mayo abberation last year ) is Kerry, who know the way to beat Cork is to go man for man in the forwards and let thier superior footballing talent shine, the wide open spaces of Croker make this far easier than tight narrow Pairc Ui Chaoimh for this.

Taking Cork on physically is a bad idea I think - it plays into thier hands, Kerry showed by spreading the play and keeping the ball moving quickly they can be taken on. The Donegal / Cork clash will be interesting but McGuinness is going to need a few more tricks to get the better of this squad. Counihan is in the advantegous position of being able to switch things constantly because he has such a large capable panel at his disposal.

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Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

the wide open spaces of Croker make this far easier than tight narrow Pairc Ui Chaoimh for this.

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That must be one of those camera angle illusions. Pairc Ui Chaoimh is the full shilling.

I don't see that Cork have more strings to their bow than Donegal (that doesn't mean they don't).
One big difference from last year is that Cork don't fanny about with the ball in their own half going sideways and backwards, even when under no pressure. They are more direct with their running game and find their way down the left, through the middle and on the right. That and their free kick expertise stands them above most/all teams.
I don't know about Dublin yet, just too inconsistent over the 70 minutes, their game against Mayo should be every bit as intriguing as Cork v Donegal.
I'd like to see Mayo get through to the final but just the fear that we would witness another collapse should they get there, whereas the Dubs (God love them) can walk the hype.

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Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

Dublin tried to match Cork physically that year and they got so tired in the last ten minutes of thet game they had to resort to consistant fouling just to keep parity with Cork who were pouring forward at the latter stage of the game. It had such an effect on the Dublin management they started training at 6 in the morning the following season.

The only team to beat Cork in the last 10 years ( apart from the Mayo abberation last year ) is Kerry, who know the way to beat Cork is to go man for man in the forwards and let thier superior footballing talent shine, the wide open spaces of Croker make this far easier than tight narrow Pairc Ui Chaoimh for this.

Taking Cork on physically is a bad idea I think - it plays into thier hands, Kerry showed by spreading the play and keeping the ball moving quickly they can be taken on. The Donegal / Cork clash will be interesting but McGuinness is going to need a few more tricks to get the better of this squad. Counihan is in the advantegous position of being able to switch things constantly because he has such a large capable panel at his disposal.

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Out of all that you pick up on the Cork thang. :-)
Tut tut tut

For the Donegal Fans:



tp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAjQrnImT_k&sns=em

Tis a good tune alright. Fair played to Rory for that one.

I don't think I've looked forward to a game as much in so long.

Come on Donegal.

What a game of football. Pleasure to watch.

Massive congratulations to Donegal, a great display. Cork are up at the business end of every competition these days and Donegal had them reduced to rubble at the 50 minute mark, completely outplayed. 6 or 7 points would have been a fairer winning margin.

Donegal missed two kickable points just before the Cork goal.
The Cork goal was atypical of the performance overall but that's two games in a row they've let in a needless easy score.
They'll have to keep the concentration up for 70min next time.

A joy to watch. Great game of football overall. Reminded me of Kerry v Tyrone 2008.

They're nailed on for me. No idea what we could do to stop that intensity. And we all know that if Mayo beat us next week that they will
have shot their load.

Gonna be a great day out in Dublin in the 23rd regardless.

Think Dublin will still be favourites against Donegal. Like Cork they have a big squad and can match them Physically. Unlike Cork they don't have a tactical clown working the controls. Mcguinness must have been rubbing his hands when he saw the team sheet and Cork were playing with 7 forwards - talking about walking into an open trap. Game was up as early as the 45th minute.

Depressing day to be a Cork fan, when you think of the talent in this team and only 1 AI to show for it, and the window is probably gone now, or at least getting narrower.

Fair play to Donegal ....... they destroyed Cork and the football they are playing is unreal, dont think Dublin or Mayo would get anywhere near them. I think Dublin will win next week cause Andy Moran is out for Mayo and he the only guy in the full forward line that can win his own ball and thus cause problems.

Can someone explain to me how this is all negative? I don't think there's one thing about them that's negative.
Is it because they defend well and are economic with the ball in attack?
Reminds me of the puke football days. I remember feeling like I was watching a different game to everyone else.

A glorious day for the football fan and the ultimate advert for the sport.

After 2 mins today , I knew we were in trouble, Everytime a Cork player touched the ball he had his fist clinched waiting to give a pass. In my opinion , to beat the blanket defence you must be able to kick the ball over from 30/35 yards out and laugh away at the other 11/12 players inside you. Cork had the ability to do this on paper but got their tactics all wrong on the day. Hopefully Donegal go on and win it after todays fine display.

Tickets for All-Ireland final = €80

Number of Donegal people in Croke Park last weekend = 40,000

Number of tickets allocated to Donegal fans for the final = 13,500


Grab All Association at it again. Disgrace.

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Tickets for All-Ireland final = €80

Number of Donegal people in Croke Park last weekend = 40,000

Number of tickets allocated to Donegal fans for the final = 13,500


Grab All Association at it again. Disgrace.

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How do you know how many tickets ye are going to get given Mayo have yet to play Dublin ??????

Supposedly that's the number Donegal are to be given. Official word not released, Monday I believe it's confirmed, but that's the word on the street.

So that *2 = 27000
Not including season tickets and corporates it seems pretty low.

Dub v Mayo not sold out just yet.

I've my tickets. And should we get to the final I'm sorted too. Whoop.

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Supposedly that's the number Donegal are to be given. Official word not released, Monday I believe it's confirmed, but that's the word on the street.

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Ye will get more tickets if its Mayo obviously - the ticket distribution is determined by the number of clubs in each county, the more clubs the opponents have the less tickets ye will get. They will be like hen's teeth if the dubs win next Sunday.

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Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

Ye will get more tickets if its Mayo obviously - the ticket distribution is determined by the number of clubs in each county, the more clubs the opponents have the less tickets ye will get. They will be like hen's teeth if the dubs win next Sunday.

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Which we won't, cos we should.
Listening to Ray Cosgrove talk about 2006 saying it was the low-point of his career... he then said "including 2002". Says something really.
The deflation in 2002 was like nothing I'd ever experienced. Well, 2010 v Cork was 100,000 times worse but excluding that.
I actually in a mad way didn't really mind the defeat v Mayo simply because I thought they would go on and do the business against Kerry. Boy was I wrong.

The Swedish Milk maid, McDonald is on NewsTalk now.

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Originally Posted by BonnieShels

The Swedish Milk maid, McDonald is on NewsTalk now.

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Respect .... ye haven't a player that would lace his boots!

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Originally Posted by swinfordfc

Respect .... ye haven't a player that would lace his boots!

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Now now. That was said in love for the man. A god of the game. Great interview too.
He's up there with Stevie O'Neill, wee Peter, Charlie Redmond, Ja Fallon and Jason Sherlock in my pantheon.

You should know that my ire is always reserved for Donaghy and Cooper. I could lace them easily.

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Originally Posted by Real ale Madrid

Think Dublin will still be favourites against Donegal.

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Er, no guarantee the Dubs will beat Mayo, though I do hope they do...

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Originally Posted by BonnieShels

Now now. That was said in love for the man. A god of the game. Great interview too.
He's up there with Stevie O'Neill, wee Peter, Charlie Redmond, Ja Fallon and Jason Sherlock in my pantheon.

You should know that my ire is always reserved for Donaghy and Cooper. I could lace them easily.

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Fair enough .... That forward line of Mayo wont start on Sunday

I know. Thankfully.
I still think you have it over us.
Either way... It will be epic.
Cusack 305 boom.

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Originally Posted by BonnieShels

He's up there with Stevie O'Neill, wee Peter, Charlie Redmond, Ja Fallon and Jason Sherlock in my pantheon.

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No Michael Donnellan? Or is he above all those :)

Congratulations, Mayo. Thoroughly deserved. Played by far the best football for the first 50 minutes until they went haywire. Some terrific points taken. It's a very unusual pairing in the final. I'd love if they went on to win it now.

The time wasting today was horrific. McQuillan was afraid to let a football match break out. The best team won. But they have their work cut out in the final.

I thought Dublin were pretty disgraceful when they went 10 points down - how they finished the game with 15 men I'll never know.

Mayo was dead right to slow the game down when they had too.... All the majors team do it nowaday. Mayo play for only 55 mins and nearly got caught out, they have to do it for 70mins the next day. Dublin should have started with O'Gara and McManamon. They did damage in fairest - i cant under stand how Alan Brogan got through a test on that groin! - as soon as he kick the ball, he was gone.

What i hated the most today (it was the only thing) was that arse Brolly - who does he think he is! i met the C*** once and i swear if i ever see him again - i decked him. He talks rubbish and only ever won 1 all ireland medal and he thinks he can talk all his crap!

Yep Brolly is a ****. The RTE panel are going on about Donegal as if they are going for 5 in a row. A few weeks ago they thought they were useless. Delighted Mayo will be be big underdogs. Horan has done a fantastic job, his team are no longer innocent and soft.

I also don't think Mayo choked when they went 10 points up. They put an almight shift in and a number of key players went off injured. Dublin were bound to react but Mayo weathered the storm.

The complements and praise afforded to Donegal by Spillane and O'Rourke have surprised me in light of the negative opinions they held last year (and earlier in this year's championship, according to shakermaker).

I feared Mayo were going to bottle it yesterday. The game could so very easily have gone Dublin's way had they put away that glorious one-on-one goal chance at the end.

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

I feared Mayo were going to bottle it yesterday.

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They normally save that for the Final :)

96 was the year they should have won Sam. That Meath game still sickens my old man. Dodgy ref didn't help. 2004 and 2006 they just came up against a fine attacking Kerry team and couldn't live with em. Naive and paid with a hammering. I don't think they choked, they just came up against a superior team. Like Italy up against Spain in the Euro 2012 final.

1951 is a long wait. I think I'm gonna read the excellent House of Pain to get ready for the final.

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Originally Posted by JGKyne

They normally save that for the Final :)

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Tryical galway man :)
Enjoy the fun but it still be nice to meet ye sometime in the Connacht final, when ye ever reached it ;)

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Originally Posted by swinfordfc

Tryical galway man :)
Enjoy the fun but it still be nice to meet ye sometime in the Connacht final, when ye ever reached it ;)

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We're concentrating on the Hurling this year ;)

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Originally Posted by JGKyne

We're concentrating on the Hurling this year ;)

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And seriously, the best of luck in the final - i hope ye do it and bring "Liam" back to the west!

O'Gara's been fecking gash this year. In the games I've seen.

Well done Maigh Eo. Due to the 'wait' factor, Good luck in the final.