[quote=“farmerinthecity, post: 825748, member: 24”]What do you make of Donnacha Walsh being allowed to walk through unopposed for Kerry’s second goal?
Or Paul Mannion outjumping his corner back (who didn’t even challenge him) for the first Dublin goal?
Or the 3 Kerry players going for the same ball and allowed Michael Dara McAuley to burst through the lot of them in order to set up McManamon for Dublin’s second goal?[/quote]
Mannion was simply a case of one player being sharper to the flight of the ball and realising it was dropping short quicker than the other. Superb forward play /opportunism and brilliant poise from him the way he tomahawked it past Kealy.
Michael MacAuley’s diving palm to McManamon at the end was simply outstanding given the effort he’d expended during the game. Absolutely heroic stuff.
Not really sure how Walsh was left so utterly isolated but presume several Dublin players got drawn to Gooch and the defensive system broke down. I imagine the sheer quality of his play from the outset attracted them to him.
All I know is that the pace of the game was above anything I’ve seen in the flesh so I can completely understand communication breakdowns and spaces opening up. It was an absolutely spellbinding game.
Farmer, I think when people build up games too much then the reaction is often that they’re exaggerating and to search for better examples. That game is talked up more because of the out and out attacking nature of both teams, the number of excellent goals, and the shoot out nature of the match. I actually think Donegal were excellent to watch last year, and so-called defensive teams, when they play well by good teams and with an attack to match can be excellent to watch. The style of the mayo Dublin game though was a breath of fresh air.
Also, Coopers display was phenomenal because he defied people’s expectations of the modern game. We had some saying he couldn’t play centre forward, he didn’t have the physique, he can’t fulfil the needs of that position in the modern game etc, but Cooper showed that talent and skill can overcome the emphasis on size and physique, and that a team doesn’t have to follow the standard template for certain positions -Cooper brought so much else at 11 that it outweighed his lack of physique/tackling/tracking back or whatever else he didn’t do. Again, it was a breath of fresh air.
[quote=“farmerinthecity, post: 825748, member: 24”]What do you make of Donnacha Walsh being allowed to walk through unopposed for Kerry’s second goal?
Or Paul Mannion outjumping his corner back (who didn’t even challenge him) for the first Dublin goal?
Or the 3 Kerry players going for the same ball and allowed Michael Dara McAuley to burst through the lot of them in order to set up McManamon for Dublin’s second goal?[/quote]
You could pick out plenty of mistakes in any great match.
The goal in the Tyrone-Kerry match in 2008 for example was shambolic.
[quote=“glasagusban, post: 825755, member: 1533”]
Also, Coopers display was phenomenal because he defied people’s expectations of the modern game. We had some saying he couldn’t play centre forward, he didn’t have the physique, he can’t fulfil the needs of that position in the modern game etc, but Cooper showed that talent and skill can overcome the emphasis on size and physique, and that a team doesn’t have to follow the standard template for certain positions -Cooper brought so much else at 11 that it outweighed his lack of physique/tackling/tracking back or whatever else he didn’t do. Again, it was a breath of fresh air.[/quote]
He is the greatest player I have seen. Very close call as to whether himself or Canavan was better but Cooper’s sustained brilliance over 12 seasons shades it whereas as Canavan’s brilliance was more sporadic.
[quote=“glasagusban, post: 825755, member: 1533”]Farmer, I think when people build up games too much then the reaction is often that they’re exaggerating and to search for better examples. That game is talked up more because of the out and out attacking nature of both teams, the number of excellent goals, and the shoot out nature of the match. I actually think Donegal were excellent to watch last year, and so-called defensive teams, when they play well by good teams and with an attack to match can be excellent to watch. The style of the mayo Dublin game though was a breath of fresh air.
Also, Coopers display was phenomenal because he defied people’s expectations of the modern game. We had some saying he couldn’t play centre forward, he didn’t have the physique, he can’t fulfil the needs of that position in the modern game etc, but Cooper showed that talent and skill can overcome the emphasis on size and physique, and that a team doesn’t have to follow the standard template for certain positions -Cooper brought so much else at 11 that it outweighed his lack of physique/tackling/tracking back or whatever else he didn’t do. Again, it was a breath of fresh air.[/quote]
I know you don’t really get this, but Gooch played a completely different game Sunday to the one he played all year. Kerry knew they’d be inviting Dublin too high if he played the way he was. They also knew they needed him close to goal and they had to start well.
As soon as someone actually marked him he was beaten. A lesson that won’t be lost on managers next year.
He had a great first half, was well beaten in 2nd.
[quote=“caoimhaoin, post: 825765, member: 273”]I know you don’t really get this, but Gooch played a completely different game Sunday to the one he played all year. Kerry knew they’d be inviting Dublin too high if he played the way he was. They also knew they needed him close to goal and they had to start well.
As soon as someone actually marked him he was beaten. A lesson that won’t be lost on managers next year.
He had a great first half, was well beaten in 2nd.[/quote]
We weren’t talking about all year. So did he have a great game or not then?
Of course we were talking about all year. How do you think people felt he’d struggle to play the no. 11 game he was trying to play. He has been pretty average at best, non existent at worst in the last 3 second halves. The match lasts for 70 mins.
They mentioned before the game on Sunday that in the Cavan match Cooper had 36 possessions and either scored or successfully completed a pass 35 times. They are phenomenal stats, and exactly the type of stats you want for your center forward.
I was responding to farmers post about the Kerry v Dublin semi final. On the Kerry v Dublin semi final thread. Generally discussing how good that aforementioned individual game was. You may have been talking about something else.
[quote=“caoimhaoin, post: 825747, member: 273”]I have judged all 3 fairly. Connolly was patchy but his decision making against Meath and Cork was a disgrace. That doesn’t change. Last Sunday he stood up when needed an delivered, yet he still nearly blew a few chances. To take the free with the left was audacious but also he was probably the only guy to kick it at that stage. I really liked that brashness. I have adjusted my view on him, but he is still capable of blowing up. We just have to accept him for what he is.
Buckley played well in 3 of 4 games in his first year. That’s not too bad really. One bad perfoances is not reflective of a player. You are very reactionary to a player having one good or bad game. There is more to come from Buckley.
O Sullivan has always been a very good player, he was poor at midfield for a good while. Made a massive step against Cork, showed great flexibility the last day and he destroyed Gooch.
I think I have been balanced and realistic about all the players.[/quote]
You are balanced kev…you’ve a chip on both shoulders…
you would hear none of it when I flagged O Sullivan’s performance against kildare even after I tried to explain to you BEING AT THE MATCH I could see the work he was getting through…but you knew it all…
You are constantly on here belittling Connolly and questioning his character as a footballer to be counted when needed…All you have to do is watch the last 10 minutes of 2011 All Ireland final and him dropping out to half forward and setting up the last 3 points Dublin scored to know what he is like when the game is in the balance…Again on sunday , while not being outstanding for 70 minutes, he stood up in second half and was counted…i would say he’s not a very likeable character off the field but you seem to let that judge him totally a s a footballer on it which is very narrow minded on your part…
this “You are very reactionary to a player having one good or bad game” is complete bollox because I actually questioned your praise of Buckley before the game and now again after…
[quote=“farmerinthecity, post: 825744, member: 24”]Anyone else think Sunday’s match is being overrated? Colm Keys called it the greatest match ever in today’s Indo.
Football is as much about defending as it is about attacking which makes a mockery of Spillane’s rant at half time about the match overcoming the cancer (or words to that effect) of the defensive mindset.
Some seriously porous defences on show last Sunday.
Also people saying Gooch in the first half gave the best display ever seen in Croke Park. He missed at least one very kickable point. Also his pass for Walsh’s goal was nothing special - he just got his head up. When you compare it to Bernard Brogan’s first half against Cork in the 2010 semis then I don’t think Gooch surpasses it.[/quote]
+1 mate.
Both defences were shocking the other day, which led to a very open game of football, but not the greatest. I think the standard has been so dire this year anything half way decent was going to get people over reacting. But how bad if it encourages more of the same.*
The only thing that saved Kerry from a hammering earlier was the 3/4 min break they got when Cooper was down injured. They had conceded 5 in a row to then and been completely overrun. The break allowed them to gather themselves
First half was outstanding. The second less so. Great game but think Farmer mad a decent point about lack of defending. Mayo have plenty to work with.
Also think Sid is on the money. COC will start. If its popping out that easy will pop in as well. Hel get jabbed and strapped and play for as long as he can. Will do serious damage to it probably but doubt that’s. factor in the decision for him at this point
Both defences were shocking the other day, which led to a very open game of football, but not the greatest. I think the standard has been so dire this year anything half way decent was going to get people over reacting. But how bad if it encourages more of the same.*
*Never gonna happen[/quote]
Name some greater ones and provide reasons why said games were greater.
I don’t know was it the greatest game of all-time but it was damn close, and may well be the greatest, as it pretty much ticked every box.
The quality of play was brilliant, the pace frantic. It had six goals, five of which were of at least reasonably high quality (and four were brilliant), a comeback, the lead changing hands late on, and a dramatic finish. As a spectacle it was amazing.
It had everything you could possibly want and to call it the greatest of all-time is far from hyperbole. I can’t think of one game which I could definitely say was better than this one.
Dublin v Mayo 2006 comes close, but the quality of these two teams is better. Tyrone v Kerry 2005 is also close, but this was more dramatic and played at a higher pace.
Meath v Kildare in 1997 is the only match I’ve been at that was as exhilarating, but even that didn’t really become an all-time classic until it went into extra-time.
I think, all things considered, it may well be the greatest of all-time.
