a reasonable person would have sent me a pm telling me about the typo so i could fix it,
I’d doubt it
he’s way off the pace for a major game, only gets a run out when a tie is well and truly over.
He should be on about 10 minutes after half time.
Galway/ Tyrone double nailed on 2015
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I think galway-mayo
Fuck Mayo
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Please God. Be some hoore of a party up Whesht
The Wests Awake would be top of the charts
Leaving aside all the wumming which I hope to engage in much more of between now and Sunday, I think Tyrone have a real puncher’s chance against Kerry.
Kerry clearly have more quality but tactically I do think it’s set up for Tyrone who have the running power to exploit Kerry’s defence, which has been shown to be vulnerable to that type of attack. On the other hand Tyrone will go full Donegal metal jacket on Kerry’s attack, which will either be missing O’Donoghue or carrying him. Going to be interesting to see how Kerry line up in attack if O’Donoghue is out.
Kerrys defensive stats are worrying for them. They’ve been leaking goals all year - 6 goals in 4 championship matches to date, 15 goals in 11 matches if you include the league. Tyrone have conceded 1 in 6 championship matches.
I think Tyrone have also shown consistently over the last couple of years that they are able to step it up and compete very well with the top four or five teams in Ireland. They’ve caused Dublin as much trouble as anybody since 2013 and should have relegated Kerry back in March. I wouldn’t underestimate either the historical baggage of this fixture, allied to the clear belief in Kerry that they are on a good thing to win.
The ingredients are certainly there for a shock. At this stage I’d be calling it as a one or two score game either way. I’m not sure I’d back Kerry to prevail in such a scenario.
The weather and conditions will play a factor. Good weather and a firmed up pitch is a good advantage to Tyrone, wet and soft conditions will benefit Kerry.
I’ll be very interested to see how Kerry line up in attack. On paper, it’s an embarrassment of riches even without O’Donoghue. Kerry’s only championship experiences against a proper massed defence are the two matches against Donegal in 2012 and 2014. They were beaten more comprehensively than the scoreline suggests in 2012 and I think their performance against Donegal last year was hugely over rated and they should have lost the game.
If O’Donoghue is out I think they’ll line up:
O’Brien-Sheehan-Walsh
Cooper-Donaghy-Geaney
I think they’d be mad not to start Donaghy, and I’d be very surprised if he’s not back at full forward. The positioning of Cooper and Sheehan is their big selection poser I think. Cooper could be gobbled up inside and in my view would be much more suited to playing deeper. But what’s Sheehan’s role in that case? Perhaps Kerry will flood midfield to stop Tyrone running at them and perhaps draw their defence out a bit too? I expect Darran O’Sullivan to be held in reserve for the second half.
Current weather forecast for Sunday is for scattered showers.
I think starting Donaghy would play into Tyrone hands. And I doubt they will. JOD looks likely to play.
To be honest the more I think about this, I suspect Tyrone could actually have a chance here.
They have a chance obviously, but not a very big one. They’ll keep it tight close to h-t. Kerry will kick a few just before h-t to bring it level or close to level. Will stay a 2-4 point game till last 10/15 and Kerry will win by 7,8,9 points in the end.
Kerry can match there athleticism. But have a far better midfield and 5 better forwards. If Peter Harte is given a job I think it will take away from Tyrone significantly, and unfortunately for Tyrone he probably will have to get a job. Probably on Stephan O’ Brien.
Geaney is a big loss for this game though, this was his sort of game.
You can’t rule out their mastery of the dark arts though, they have an unbelievable ability to drag down superior opposition to their level by any means necessary. You’d grudgingly admire it really. The puck into Goochs face that time under the Canal end was masterfully planned and executed. It’s some talent to have. Any team with that string to their bow will always have a shot.
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This kerry team match that though. Very mentally strong. They have plenty filth themselves only they can use it liberally as they only need it on special occasions.
Kerry will go wide and try and draw Tyrone players away from the D and the defensive line. However if kerry swing over a couple from the wings that will make them think twice. Once kerry are kicking dead they’ll be happy because all they have to do is press up on kickouts and you’d fancy their midfield to win60/40 or better.
The more I analyse it the more sure I am of putting some money on kerry beating the spread.
I honestly don’t know why you wouldn’t start Donaghy in this kind of a match given that he was a key weapon for them against Donegal last year and their only forward to make any sort of headway against them in 2012. He’s a kickout option, you can move him around and play him half-forward also. Starting Donaghy forces Tyrone to reshuffle their defence and put Justin McMahon on him as he’s their only man who can get near Donaghy height-wise.
Kerry hogged the sidelines a huge amount in the league match back in April (Monaghan in the first half of the Ulster final against Donegal similarly went wide very effectively) and used Donaghy aerially against Justin McMahon with quite a lot of success. He gives you the extra option that other players don’t. Spreading the play wide can drag players out and open up space inside. In that situation a high diagonal ball inside to a big man can be hugely effective. For me saying Donaghy shouldn’t start is like saying Aidan O’Shea shouldn’t start for Mayo.
It should also be said that Tyrone cut lanes through the centre of the Kerry defence in that match, had several goal chances and should have won. In fact Kerry have consistently had problems in this area under Fitzmaurice.
I think it would be a mistake for Kerry to start O’Donoghue. Real chance they could do serious damage to him if he’s not right. Cillian O’Connor wasn’t a threat from play against Dublin two years ago when in a similar state with his shoulder, and he had an extra weeks rest. Asking a huge amount of him to get through two matches unscathed if they start him.
We’ll run them to the ground in the last 10 minutes, they don’t have the pace around the middle of the field to deal with the speed Donnelly, McCann, Harte and McNabb break at. Enright is getting a lot of plaudits for his displays this year but I’ve seen him a few times, he’s not great - I don’t think he will be able for McCurry or McAliskey, I would expect him to pick up McAliskey and I think if space opens up McAliskey will take him to the cleaners.
We’ll beat them, of that I am very confident.
But you did think Kildare would beat Kerry so it’s safe to say you’re not the best judge of what it takes to beat them.
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