The Sam Maguire

**passinginterest** · 30/05/2008, 3:23 PM

Lots of positive talk from the Wexford camp. I've never been so confident of a Wexford team winning in any sport. No talk of 'we'll give them a good game' or 'sure we'll try our best', it's all 'we expect to win', 'we've prepared to win', 'we're pushing on to the next level'.

Truly believe it'll be a comfortable Wexford win.

I'll be back here crying on Sunday evening if I'm wrong.

**Kingdom** · 30/05/2008, 4:04 PM

Originally Posted by passinginterest

Lots of positive talk from the Wexford camp. I've never been so confident of a Wexford team winning in any sport. No talk of 'we'll give them a good game' or 'sure we'll try our best', it's all 'we expect to win', 'we've prepared to win', 'we're pushing on to the next level'.

Truly believe it'll be a comfortable Wexford win.

I'll be back here crying on Sunday evening if I'm wrong.

Its one thing talking the talk etc...
The only reason I believe it will be Meath is there was a steely, determined, fcuk-them-all look about them against Carlow. Even when they were gazillions ahead, there was no showboating. I haven't read a paper in a day or three, but I heard mention that the suspended players would not be starting on Sat if they became eligible. Thats a good tactic.
Also does anyone think that its stupid that they played their first games in Croker and now its off to Dr Cullen for the next one?

**bennocelt** · 31/05/2008, 8:40 AM

looking forward to this weekends games

meath - wexford. should be a cracker. Wexford can win it but should we all be discounting those meath boys so easily?

wicklow - laois. another cracker. 4/1 for wicklow looks a decent punt me thinks

donegal - derry, another good game, derry to win

**Superhoops** · 31/05/2008, 9:33 PM

Just back from a great game in Carlow tonight, Laois v Wicklow. Laois just deserved to win but did their best to lose it.

Wicklow had an awful first half but came back into it in the second half. They had 4 goal chances but unfortunately took none of them. However, they walked away with some pride after a great second half performance when they looked likely to be drubbed after the first half.

Laois had two class players on the pitch tonight Tom Kelly and Ross Munnelly and these were the difference between the teams.

**Sam_Heggy** · 01/06/2008, 9:36 AM

Donegal - Derry should be a great game, I expect the usual hard hitting game but each team has some classy forwards. Bradley is key for Derry and McFadden is massive for Donegal.

Hard to predict but ill obviously go for the biased approach

**shakermaker1982** · 01/06/2008, 4:58 PM

well done to Wexford - what a comeback! Derry did their best to break the record number of wides in 35 minutes in the first half but played well in the 2nd half. Easy enough win for them in the end

**geysir** · 01/06/2008, 8:43 PM

They will be showing the Wexford highlights on the Sunday Game.
Meath are the bottlers of the year, sure they were only a bit of a flash in the pan, winning just one game of note in the last 2 years

I enjoyed the Wicklow (Micklow) game, pity they were so wasteful against a poor enough Laois, at least they gave it a lash in the 2nd half and went out feeling they should have won.
The standard in Leinster isn't great.
Looks like it will be up to Ulster to stop the Kerry 3 in a row.
Anything but a Kerry 3 in a row.

**geysir** · 02/06/2008, 12:23 PM

Looks like we can finally consign that Kerry players sideline punt against Dublin to the archives. The new standard is Matty Forde, the economy of excellence, the greater the pressure the greater the calmness. Two balls, one from each side of the pitch (one 45 - one from play), hit with height, accuracy and with an acre of distance to spare.

Line up for the first Leinster S/F
Wexford meet Laois who look more like a work in progress than contenders.

Colm Coyle the Meath manager, gave the best GAA RRS conspiracy post match interview. First it was a Wexford man on the disciplinary board now it's a Laois referee who would prefer his county to meet Wexford, the most ridiculous thing I have heard in ages. Meath GAA fans must be cringing with embarrassment to have this man leading the county.

Monaghan did well to get rid of this chancer (after just a few months) who brought nothing of substance to them when he took over the management of a county determined to rise above GAA mediocrity.

**beautifulrock** · 02/06/2008, 3:57 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

Colm Coyle the Meath manager, gave the best GAA RRS conspiracy post match interview. First it was a Wexford man on the disciplinary board now it's a Laois referee who would prefer his county to meet Wexford, the most ridiculous thing I have heard in ages. Meath GAA fans must be cringing with embarrassment to have this man leading the county.

Noticed that alright but he forgot to mention how his team managed to throw away a 10 point half time lead. Heads will role after this for sure, not convinced he has the team behind him either. Although it must be a tough job managing a team these days as fellows seem to come and go as they please.

**Rovers fan** · 02/06/2008, 11:13 PM

I'm bored so I'm gonna make a few predictions!

Gaelic:

Connacht:galway
Leinster:dublin
ulster:armagh
munster:cork

All ireland:kerry

Hurling:
leinster:kilkenny(no prizes for this one!!)
munster:cork

All ireland:Tipperary

**passinginterest** · 03/06/2008, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by passinginterest

Lots of positive talk from the Wexford camp. I've never been so confident of a Wexford team winning in any sport. No talk of 'we'll give them a good game' or 'sure we'll try our best', it's all 'we expect to win', 'we've prepared to win', 'we're pushing on to the next level'.

Truly believe it'll be a comfortable Wexford win.

I'll be back here crying on Sunday evening if I'm wrong.

Well I'm not crying anyway. Looks like I picked up on the winning attitude at least, even if it wasn't the comfortable win I predicted.

They only played for about 25 mins of the game and it was enough to show the serious quality team they have become. They had a problem with first half performances in the league too, and managed to correct it in the later stages, I think they'll fly out of the blocks against Laois in the semi final. It's time to break the hoodoo now, having lost 4 semis in a row.

Laois are not as strong around the middle as they used to be, and that's where Wexford are probably most vulnerable, so I can see Wexford taking it by 3-4 points.

most likely a Leinster final against the Dubs, anything could happen there.

**Jinxy** · 03/06/2008, 2:19 PM

Originally Posted by passinginterest

Well I'm not crying anyway. Looks like I picked up on the winning attitude at least, even if it wasn't the comfortable win I predicted.

They only played for about 25 mins of the game and it was enough to show the serious quality team they have become. They had a problem with first half performances in the league too, and managed to correct it in the later stages, I think they'll fly out of the blocks against Laois in the semi final. It's time to break the hoodoo now, having lost 4 semis in a row.

Laois are not as strong around the middle as they used to be, and that's where Wexford are probably most vulnerable, so I can see Wexford taking it by 3-4 points.

most likely a Leinster final against the Dubs, anything could happen there.

It was actually more like 15-20 mins. Wexford have good forwards but I doubt you will ever find yourselves in a situation like that again when the opposition tem spontaneously combusts and loses a 10 point lead. I was disgusted with the result as we just sat back and invited you to attack, for which I blame Coyle moreso than the players. The big turning point was the substitution of Brian Meade. Up until then we were winning everything at midfield. I guess the lesson is that a 10 point lead with 20 mins to go doesn't mean you are home and hosed so don't make substitutions just to give lads a run! That said, congratulations to Wexford. The fans around me were a decent bunch and didn't rub it in at the end. Its a change that we were on the receiving end of a near-impossible comeback. Can't say I enjoyed the experience!

**Rovers fan** · 08/06/2008, 4:13 PM

Anyone watch the dubs on tv3? It was painful listening to them commentators.

**geysir** · 09/06/2008, 9:36 AM

The big game yesterday was in the Munster hurling Championship. Looked to be a good tight exciting game. The Cork captain Sean Og was interviewed afterwards, didn't know what was next, back door, qualifiers, never been there before.

It was a no win game for Dublin. I thought they did well. Margins of victory don't mean a lot, what matters is that they had Louth well beat after 45 minutes. The Dubs have some good new players and a few to come in. Louth's best player Pat Keenan in MF had been out for months injured, still forced Dublin to vary the kick outs.
The Ulster game between Tyrone and Down sprang a few surprises, open play and great fielding by Down throughout the game. Nothing to worry Kerry. Apart from 15 minutes Tyrone are not firing yet, whether it's players not fully fit, injuries, management slow to make changes during the game, no Canavan or O'Neill, or all of these, they look very beatable.

**EAFC_rdfl** · 09/06/2008, 10:16 AM

Delighted to see Cork beat after their antics at the start of the year, but to say it was a great game is exaggerating, a lot of poor play & Tipps fitness saw them pull away in the last 10, great atmosphere tho.
As for TV3, Matt Coopers opening line was a sort of preview to the stuff that was to follow: he announced that should the Dubs win they'd be into a leinster final against Westmeath!!! Laois & Wexford must be a bit p*ssed with that

! No real change from Dublin from last year, they get into a good lead than fall relax for the last ten, they won't get away with that against a better team than louth

**Ash** · 09/06/2008, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by EAFC_rdfl

Laois & Wexford must be a bit p*ssed with that

! No real change from Dublin from last year, they get into a good lead than fall relax for the last ten, they won't get away with that against a better team than louth

If we play as bad as we did against Offaly they might get a handy run through!

**Maz** · 09/06/2008, 10:26 AM

I would love Westmeath to beat Dublin...Westmeath Wexford final would be nice and different

**EAFC_rdfl** · 09/06/2008, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by Ash

If we play as bad as we did against Offaly they might get a handy run through!

Originally Posted by Maz

I would love Westmeath to beat Dublin...Westmeath Wexford final would be nice and different

no harm to the rest of Leinster but I don't see much in Dublins way to winning Leinster, but I was on about when they meet a better team from outside the province, who are both physically and mentally strong enough to match them, thats where I see them stumbling again. the problem with teams like Louth is they are beat before they go on the pitch, a good example was playing just 2 in the full forward line yet still getting over run every time the Dubs attacked. there's 3 or 4 teams in Ulster, as well as Cork Kerry Galway and maybe Mayo who will match dublin this year IMO.
did Dessie make it in time for the match Ash, and was it worth the effort or was his mind on the wedding cake he was missing!!??

**beautifulrock** · 09/06/2008, 10:45 AM

Hurling was exciting but as pointed out not a grat game, doubt I ever saw so many wides in a game from both teams Tipp look strong and you can see the cofidence that the league win has given them. Dubs did all that was required and a little bit more, they have seemed to acquired another midfielder in the Mullins mode whic is not a bad thing. Brogan could be the forward of the Championship. Didnt see the Ulster game sadly. Crowd wise some great numbers, weather and the Dubs helped.