Sorry, mate, I mentioned the possible three-peat of the 2013 quarter-finals three hours ago.
Sorry, pal.
No. worries, bro.
Were you at the match? Did you enjoy the day? Seems like it was a great occasion to be at.
Yes, pal. I had a great day, a lovely day in Clones, the best stadium in the country for the biggest occassion in the game.
Not sure how the match came across on TV but I found it enthralling and thought Monaghan played superbly. Having Eoin Lennon back for them is crucial this year and I also felt Owen Duffy has a great game. McManus the clear choice for MOTM though, a superb forward.
Murphy is a magnificent player but he can be shut out of a game quite routinely if you put a big physical man marker on him. McBrearty didn’t look right to me today, he was carrying an injury into the game.
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Sounds like a case of getting excuses in early in case Galway beat Donegal. Galway had a much more taxing proposition in the Connacht championship than anything Donegal had to face in Ulster - Mayo. Galway (like Donegal) have also disposed of Armagh and Derry, comfortably enough as well.
Tyrone have been miles off the pace for years and are nowhere near All Ireland contenders.
That’s great to hear.
I got half a notion late last night that I might get the bus to Monaghan and then share a taxi to Clones or even thumb a lift, but alas, I woke up too late this morning. I’m kicking myself now as Ulster final day in Clones is the best day out bar none in the GAA and today’s edition was a belter. There really is nothing like the walk down a packed Fermanagh Street and up the hill to the wonderfully atmospheric arena that is St. Tiernach’s Park. I can almost smell the burger vans and Buckfast from here. I’ve already cleared my busy schedule for the third Sunday in July next year so I can attend.
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Tyrone are slowly but surely turning into Meath early 00s. Replacing great players with decent ones.
Those of us who backed them for the All Ireland at 25/1 are quite happy
They have a better chance than ye anyway.
I wouldn’t rule them out. Gas the way people are so definite about a teams demise after one game. I have the feeling Donegal got their training wrong, they just were dead, over training does that to teams and can make very good teams look ordinary. A very light week now this week and a bit of re-focusing and they could slip Galway. And if they do they will take beating.
However I fancy Galway.
The championship only begins now really. Straight knock out from here on in. Who knows by the time they most likely lift their 38th All Ireland on 20 September, Kerry might even get a player onto that team.
Donegal have had 4 tough games in Ulster and they’ve had a lot of miles on the clock over the past few years. I wouldn’t totally discount them but I think they will have a lot of work to do and they looked flat today, it’s very similar to the 2013 seasons where they had a long season in 2012 and needed to be at their best for their opening game against Tyrone.
Similar feat this year, Dublin, Kerry and Mayo can guage themselves for the last 8 years as they know there will be little challenge in their provinces. That’s not the case for Ulster teams.
Of course they can gauge it. If they lose anywhere a long the way to the provincial final they’d only meet shrapnel anyway given that the other three contenders are trotting through their provinces.
Monaghan just happen to be a decent team.
extremely old and tired comments on ulster. They played the prelim last year as well and it did them no harm.
Anything over 12/13 days is absolutely loads to get down and back up for games. 3 weeks seems to be optimum. Donegal have had plenty time to recover.
Cork now have a far harder route than anyone, but that’s the way it is. If you want the easier route, win your games. Cork left Munster behind them and will probably pay for it. They will have a match sharpeness and momentum advantage over Dublin though. Not likely to be enough, however as ever the Dubs are a little vulnerable at this stage.
I genuinely think its Dublins to lose with probably only Mayo to really challenge. Kerry can be exposed, Cork were well in control up to half time last night but were not clinical enough. Dublin and Mayo will destroy them if they are like that, and its a common theme with Kerry this year. The amount of goals they are shipping is phenomenal for a top team.
As an aside, the black card has completely failed, there is more cynicism than ever in the game now.
Refereeing, as McIvor said yesterday, has not moved with the rest of the game. Some appalling refereeing across the games in the last few weeks.
Tony Leen ruled Kerry out of winning the All-Ireland last night.
I’m ruling Dublin out right now.
Haven’t been tested yet.
things are certainly not 100% with Kerry. Mind you that hasn’t stopped them before.
No, they didn’t play the prelim last year. Wrong, incorrect, false.
Down and Tyrone was the prelim last year. They played Derry in the QF then had a handy semi-final against the worst team in Ulster. On the other side Monaghan had to deal with Tyrone and Armagh last year before facing Donegal in the final.
Cork don’t have a harder route, they had to beat one Div 3 side to qualify for the last 12 and now they will play a side relegated from Div 2 in a qualifier game to make the QF. Tyrone have had a nice handy route in the qualifier and the back door has served them well but they have had a lot of breaks in the draw which they’ll be grateful for.
I agree on the black guard. A ridiculous rule and has increased the level of cynicism with a higher number (no empirical evidence) of players going to ground on impact in an effort to draw a black card.
It’s a fucking shambles of a rule.
2 personal fouls should mean a red card end of.
absolutely. They’ll have to hold their hands up.
Hard to see anyone from their side of the draw - Westmeath, Fermanagh, Sligo, Tyrone or Monaghan stopping them from getting to the final. Monaghan possibly the best chance.
If Kerry are in the final, they’ll be tough to beat.
I’d take Tyrone, Galway, Cork and Westmeath to make it through to the quarters.