This is a fantastic TFK debate. Lads have dug in and are not for turning.
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Both Ashutosh and AI would struggle with the concept of putting Kerry into Leinster⌠thatâs where youâd need a real human domain expert at the wheel.
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I can advise on some of the largesse of the hurlers expenses. Practising shots over the shoulder from the sideline results in a substantial amount of sliothars going missing.
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Maybe some talk about the actual match is overdue.
Dublin are in better form than Galway. Getting incrementally better for the last 3 games with key men like Donal Burke, Brian Hayes and Hedgo finding form at the right time. As is often the case nobody is really sure what the fuck Galway are going to do probably including themselves. If they really hit form they will take some stopping but since the Kilkenny match itâs been fits and starts.
Injuries will play a big part too. Rory Burke, Cathal Mannion and Aran Island all playing will push the dial towards Galway. Rushe and O Donnell would be needed to give us a chance of holding them.
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In fairness every team nowadays are absolute fuckers for this carry on. No respect for a sliotar at all. I blame Davy with his fucking sliotar pyramids.
Isnât it Donoghueâs of Clarinbridge that provide the team buses for Galway GAA teams? Would have thought theyâd be getting fairly good rates there.
Citylink have been driving Galway teams since Bus Eireann got out of the private hire business
After years of not being allowed play a Leinster game at home this is your argument.
Galway compete at both codes at all levels. Definitely to a far better extent than Dublin do. Despite the doping. So how many of galways quarter, semi and all Ireland finals at all levels have been played at home. Now how many of Dublins have been. Iâll wait for your answer.
On psychiatrists to try and sort out the fragile papier mache heads.
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Youâre a moron.
Havenât you more important things to worry about, like getting off with your cousin?
Oh right so they didnât look for and receive financial help or preferential treatment. Well thatâs cleared up. Hope you clean up on Saturday watching/rifling through cars
The facts donât really back that up.
Dublin have won 9 all irelands this century. I know you remember because you pissed and moaned about every one of them while coming up with all sorts of outlandish sour grape excuses. Galway have won 2.
You still havenât told me what galway soent the extra half million on? At least Tipp have an all ireland to show for their largesse.
There really is no matching the absolute seeth that @maroonandwhite has for our nationâs capital. It really is impressive.
Heâs actually correct re McDonagh. Considering the publicity he has gotten for over 25 years, he gives absolutely fuck all to Galway GAA. A notoriously tight man. Dexcom wanted to get on board and were willing to pay very well to do so. McDonagh wasnât having any of it.
I understand that the county board generates a lot of income from streaming club games across both codes.
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So how many of those all Irelands, semis and quarters did Dublin play away from Dublin? Iâve asked this twice. Itâs easier to keep ignoring that inconvenient truth.
Galway spent extra money on sending competitive teams at all levels all around the country. Dublin, despite the financial doping an the extra efforts by the GAA and government to help the poor creatures out arenât nearly as competitive across both codes. And have little to no travel on comparison.
Sour grapes? The simple fact that without the special favours and financial doping that Dublin remember cried out and begged for, ye would have continued to be a had joke. Having all the advantages and constantly falling flat.
I was talking to a senior Dublin club player in Canada last year. He said I wish there was no funding, that Dublin team was full of top class players and would have won anyway. Maybe he had a point, maybe they would have done fine in a fairly run championship. Unfortunately weâll never know.
The remarkable thing that is that while we were flat out fielding teams all at grades we actually turned a healthy profit. I know a few years ago they could show we had the best attended club hurling championship in the country. Not sure where the football ranks.
Dexcom fired 10+ million at connacht rugby because they were basically locked out of involvement with Galway GAA by supermac. While the attendances are ok, and streets ahead of Dublins paltry fairweather following per capita, they could actually be way higher of they got rid of pearse stadium and moved to an accessible for all site. A lot more work to do but it appears things are running far better.
Even your own county men can see that you are completely blinded by your own bias. Nobody is talking about funding anymore. They realise it was a red herring because its still in place and we are not winning anymore.
Can you not just accept dublin had a great team that got old? Same as the Galway hurlers in the 80s and their footballers in the 90s. Even Tipp and Mayo people would have the graciousness to acknowledge the greatness of those teams. Your constant need to try and tarnish the reputation of these great players doesnât reflect well on you.
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Few thoughts on the weekends games: 3 50-50 games which is a rarity. You couldnât call either provincial final or the Joe McDonagh with any real conviction.
⢠Carlow v Laois: I have a slight leaning towards Carlow on the basis of their potent forward line which hit Laois for 4 goals when the teams met in the Round Robin. Now Laois have changed keepers since then and apparently the incumbent has a massive puckout, but relying on a lad who was out foreign for 10 years and plays out the field for the club because of the presence of Enda Rowland in goal doesnât exactly inspire confidence. Not only are they missing Rowland nowadays but theyâre also without Paddy Purcell and Cha Dwyer who both stepped away last year. Laois have undoubtedly regressed from their zenith of 2019 when they beat Dublin and got within 10 point of Tipp in an All-Ireland quarter-final. Traditionally youâd expect Laois to have the upper hand on Carlow but the latter have a bit of a tradition of their own in HQ of late. I can recall them losing a Christy Ring final to Antrim in 2006 but since then theyâve won Christy Ring finals there circa 2009 and 2017 and a couple of Joe McDonagh finals in 2018 and 2023. The 2018 Joe Mc was won while Mouse Kavanagh was travelling in America which made it all the more impressive. Laois may be the more rounded team but Iâm backing Carlowâs firepower to make the difference. The aforementioned Mouse, James Doyle and Chris Nolan are still Liam McCarthy level forwards (even if Mouse is slowing down a bit), while the likes of Paddy Boland, Jon Nolan and Ciaran Whelan are a capable supporting cast too. Acquiring Pat Bennett as manager was a good move by Carlow too given he delivered Ferns only Wexford senior hurling title in 2022. Despite @ChairmanDan protestations, in the next 5-10 years Carlow will be competing in Christy Ring finals to go back up to Joe McDonagh rather than McDonagh to go back up to Liam McCarthy so they may enjoy this one while they can. But they will I think, Carlow by 2.
Dublin v Galway is devilishly tough to call. Dublin have quietly managed to shore up the defence after being criticised for being so exposed when conceding 4 goals against Offaly the first day out. I havenât heard it commented on anywhere but they havenât conceded a goal across 3 games against Wexford, Galway and Kilkenny which is a noteworthy feat. Iâve been leaning towards Dublin since this pairing was finalised but then you think of a Galway forward line containing Aran Island, Jason Rabbitte, Conor Whelan, Cathal Mannion and Rory Burke which causes you to waver again. It essentially all boils down to contrasting opinions on Michael Oâ Donoghue. Is he the messiah who brought Galway back to the promise land and is finally regenerating the team which won that title or is he a spoofer as moles in the Dublin camp have suggested? Certainly Niall Oâ Ceallachain has made a better fist of managing Dublin after Oâ Donoghueâs half hearted attempt at it.
Of course Galwayâs capitulation at the hands of Clare in the U20 final doesnât bode overly well for their fortunes on Saturday evening. Despite all the hype around Niland I wouldnât put him in the same league as a 20 year old Joe Canning at all. At the same age Canning was basically taking on all-comers against Cork when scoring 2-12. That 20âs result coupled with the looseness at the back in games against Dublin and Wexford suggests that Galway can be exposed defensively. Something which big John Hethereton, Cian Oâ Sullivan, Donal Burke and a rampaging Brian Hayes should be capable of availing of. I think Galway have the better team on paper but Dublin are probably the better team and will shade this just. Dublin by 3.
Finally, the wrong thread for Cork v Limerick but Iâll throw up a quick prediction. The absence of Ciaran Joyce and presumably Darragh Fitzgibbon swings the pendulum in Limerickâs favour. A game they probably wouldâve won in the Round Robin but for the red card and they darenât lose to Cork AGAIN in white heat championship or questions will really be asked about a mental block. The league final gives them the template for victory here. Iâll go for Limerick by 1 but these sides are bound to meet again in an All-Ireland final. Funnily enough if it is Cork who enter the at the All-Ireland quarter-final stage then I could see a world where Galway or Clare prevent them reaching a 3rd consecutive All-Ireland final but not Dublin. Limerick to win the battle on Sunday but I still have an inkling that itâs Cork to win the war.
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âAran Islandâ will want an ocean of space.
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Your knowledge and enthusiasm for sport is admirable. I used to have a negative enough stance on teachers but having the likes of you, @fenwaypark and @backinatracksuit teaching our kids bodes well for the future.
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