but coming through a game like that gives you so much momentum …you are building and building whereas Dubs had it too easy… they looked shell shocked in possession at times…I remember Macaulay going through one time and Gallagher just took the ball off him in a way I haven’t seen anyone do it to him before… he was on the deck wondering what the fook just happened…
It’s an advantage coming through those type of games but you still have to come through. That’s where the dangers lie.
[QUOTE=“Julio Geordio, post: 1009547, member: 332”]My thoughts from maybe the greatest weekend of football in my life time.
Kerry Mayo was utterly absorbing, they talk about Donegals physicality but the other game was ferocious, some seriously hard hits. Ultimately I think Kerry just about deserved it.
Jimmy is rightly getting great accolades for his team but you’d have to hand it to Fitzmaurice who has gotten a lot right this year. I was very impressed by how Kerry finished out the game, they look very well prepared.
Fitzgearld and Crowley have added huge energy to Kerry’s half backline, with Crowley in particular carrying a lot of ball out of defense. He destroyed Aidan O’Shea as well.
Kerrys midfield was fantastic and Moran has been a huge addition this year. Moran and Maher were phenomenal for the entire 90 mins. I don’t know how they kept going. Seamie O’Shea didn’t burn a ball. There was serious fears Moran would never recover after injury but that performance yesterday was simply outstanding.
Higgins for me did a superb job on O’Donoghue, he blocked him down 3 times and just generally kept him out of the game. Not taking away from O’Donoghue who was ice cool dispatching penalties and hit some great scores off the few scraps he got.
Donaghy rolled back the years with a masterful performance and was the most influential figure for me. Apart from the goal I can’t remember him kicking the ball, but his strength (that one handed catch was awesome) and awareness were a joy to behold. Mayo never got to grips with him.
Mayo’s inability to exploit Kerry’s extremely weak fullback line was their undoing. Neither of the O’Sheas performed to the required standard.
The atmosphere in Limerick seemed electric and was a great boost to the local economy, 36,000 would have been lost in Croker.
Horan’s time was up. Maybe someone else can get them over the line. They aren’t really short of much bar a bit of tactical nous and mental strength.
A special shout out to that beast from Mayo who took 5 or 6 stewards to drag him off the field.
Jimmy is some man in fairness. Their funneling back and lightening counter attacks were just awesome. How naive were Dublin though? What the fuck did they think Donegal were going to do? A man for man defense in this day and age is insane. Their half back line went way too far forward. The forwards absolutely shit the bed in the last 20 mins as well. The two Brogans were very poor. Only for Flynn and Connolly it would have been an embarrassing afternoon.
A very interesting aspect of Donegal’s performance for me was that they went 15 on 15 for Cluxton’s kick outs, a full court press if you will. That meant Cluxton couldn’t find his men easily and instead was forced to kick 50/50 ball out. This meant that huge space was there in front of Dublin forward line if Dublin could win kickouts and let it in. They rarely managed it though, largely thanks to two superb displays in midfield for Donegal, and their ferocious work rate on breaking ball. It was a high risk strategy that paid off.
Donegal were unbelievably clinical with the ball they got.
O’Gara is shit.
The final will be intriguing and is tough to call. Kerry won’t be as stupid defensively, or as well beaten in midfield. Kerry’s major weakness is in their fullback line, which Donegal aren’t really setup to exploit. They’ll allow the Kerry half backs to screen in front of the fullback line.
Not sure how Kerry will breakthrough Donegal’s defensive screen though. Long range point kicking, and high ball into the FF line are probably the answer. Someone mentioned earlier that you should run the ball at them, but I don’t think that’s an answer, they don’t give away many frees and the sheer number of bodies makes it almost impossible. The absolute last thing you want to do is try and play ball in front of your forwards though. They cut out an unbelievable amount of that ball yesterday and all the backs need to do is break it out to the waiting masses. Donaghy and Geaney under high ball might be the tools to beat the blanket.
Final point on MOTM I thought it was wrong in both games, just giving it to the lad with the highest score is retarded.
Crowley, Higgins, Donaghy, Moran, Maher were all more deserving for me.
In the Donegal game McHughs two goals were absolutely vital undoubtedly, but there were far better performances, the two Donegal lads in midfield were outstanding and Flynn and Connolly hit probably 5 scores that would be in the top 10 points of the championship.[/QUOTE]
People are talking about Peter Crowley like this is his first year and he has appeared out of no where. He was wing back the last two years.
He has been much improved this year.
I dunno!
[QUOTE=“thedancingbaby, post: 994107, member: 48”]Monaghan won’t get within 10 points of Dublin.
Donegal best equipped to trouble the Dubs.
[/QUOTE]
Dublin will start as favourites to win next year. From now on Gavin needs to adjust game-plan and funnel players back/hold the centre half position. In second half once Donegal broke midfield there was no cover in front of Dublin full back line and at times it was 5 on 3.
Donegal followed Kerry approach of going man on man for Dublin kick outs - other teams will learn from that.
Kerry will have learned a lot from watching yesterday in terms of how Donegal play and set up. The final should be another fascinating game.
He has always been a brilliant player. He was a star at collages level. Was very good last year too. Probably hasn’t gotten the recognition he deserves due to the fact that he is from Kerry and is not playing with a shite Leinster, Ulster or connacht county.
Football still comes down to winning midfield, ie. win kickout possession
[QUOTE=“TheUlteriorMotive, post: 1009700, member: 2272”]Dublin will start as favourites to win next year. From now on Gavin needs to adjust game-plan and funnel players back/hold the centre half position. In second half once Donegal broke midfield there was no cover in front of Dublin full back line and at times it was 5 on 3.
Donegal followed Kerry approach of going man on man for Dublin kick outs - other teams will learn from that.
Kerry will have learned a lot from watching yesterday in terms of how Donegal play and set up. The final should be another fascinating game.[/QUOTE]
I would have said Donegal won midfield but on checking the stats via Dublin matchtracker on twitter it says that Dublin won 19 of their 22 kickouts?
Is the advantage in being positioned to challenge the possession immediately and putting the player in possession and next receiver under pressure?
really?..eventhough he is only back in the Kerry team for the 2 matches against Mayo…he was excellent last year against the dubs…
what are you on about??..he was lauded for his performance against Dubs last year…
[QUOTE=“TheUlteriorMotive, post: 1009700, member: 2272”]
Kerry will have learned a lot from watching yesterday in terms of how Donegal play and set up. .[/QUOTE]
Donegal didn’t do a whole lot different than they normally do so I can’t see this being much of an advantage…they just switched the personnel…If anything Donegal would have seen that Kerry , for all the talk of tactics,don’t have a whole lot more than booting high ball into Donaghy and o donoghue playing off him…I fully expect the two Magee’s to just swarm around donaghy and totally frustrate him…
Armagh and Monaghan have shown the way to beat Donegal in the last two years. Pack the defence and patiently build your attacks, avoid carrying the ball into tackles is crucial as well.
So are we looking at a game of puke football for the final? as Kerry like to pack the defence aswell *…
- eventhough we are not allowed say that and they have to be referred to only as purists…
[QUOTE=“scumpot, post: 1009722, member: 182”]So are we looking at a game of puke football for the final? as Kerry like to pack the defence aswell *…
- eventhough we are not allowed say that and they have to be referred to only as purists…[/QUOTE]
Do you think the way Donegal played yesterday was puke football?
[QUOTE=“scumpot, post: 1009722, member: 182”]So are we looking at a game of puke football for the final? as Kerry like to pack the defence aswell *…
- eventhough we are not allowed say that and they have to be referred to only as purists…[/QUOTE]
It’s not puke football. I find it very engaging and I’m fully expecting a close and cagey game.
I queried in a previous post as to why people are talking about him as if he has come out of nowhere and pointed out that he was wing back last year. In my previous post I stated that he has always been an excellent player. I agree 100% with you, my point is that he doesn’t seem to get the same plaudits or recognition as inferior players playing with other weaker counties.
No definitely not but you need a team as naïve as Dublin to make those tatcics entertaining…if 2 teams sit back that is stinking fare to watch IMHO…
fair enough but Kerry will never suffer from not getting the plaudits …never ever in a million years …
He has been outstanding for UCC for two Sigersons. Morgan made a hard footballer out if him, Fitzmaurice seems to be polishing the edges.