I don’t have a problem with any of that.
After an hour of consideration of my previous statement I now think that Down are ready and that they will beat Kerry.
Reasons:
i) Better midfield
ii) Benny Coulter will destroy Tommy Griffin
iii) An aray of free scoring forwards
iv) Dan Gordon has what it takes to quieten Kieran Donaghy
v) Their full back line has tightened up considerably since they played Donegal, conceding only one goal in four matches, Damien Rafferty is a good man marker and will be able for Cooper
vi) Kerry lack ledershipwithout O’Se and Galvin
vii) Tradition - Down never fear Kerry
As for Dublin: who’s going to score? The Brogans and who else? I just cant see it. Corkery? Henry? I’ll say one thing for O’Gara - he has confidence in himself which is a hugely valuable commodity in a forward but against Justin McMahon and the sweeper system they employ I expect his limitations to be brutally exposed.
Tyrone are light years ahead in terms of class and know they can beat Dublin at will. Dublin will have to dominate breaking ball at midfield to have any chance. Tyrone’s interchangeability in terms of positions is what we will have most problems with I think. Any of their defenders can attack, they know exactly where they are in relation to each other in terms of covering and positioning, and Dublin have given away a lot of space down the flanks in the games so far. That’s manna from heaven for the likes of Jordan, Harte and McMenamin. They don’t have one player that we can focus on in terms of closing down the way they can focus on Brogan. Their pressing game is also much better than ours.
I’m extremely pessimistic. If Dublin get within six they’ll be doing well. I’d predict something like 0-15 to 0-9 for Tyrone.
I agree with you Kerry are there for the taking, and your analysis of Down is correct, up to the point of their corner backs. I’m not disagreeing they have improved, but i haven’t seen their last 2 games, and they weren’t against much, so it remains to be seen can they up it another level. I’d love to see them do it, as i’ve fierce time for Down Football.
On Dublin, if i were Gilroy i’d be lavishing the praise on his backs. I would also then adopt a policy of guys staying in their positions no matter what Tyrone do. Tyrone love to pull you out of shape, but if you stay disciplined you can negate this somewhat. These tactics will also show great confidence from Gilroy in his players, especially the backs. It may not win them the game (as scoring forwards wise Dublin are limited) but in the overall picture it will bring them on a ton. o’ Gara won’t get a hop of McMahon i’d say, doesn’t have the skill to bother him, and strength wise i’d say there isn’t much in it. If i were him i’ll pull a stroke and take O’ Gara out to the wing, he seems to be an athlete, and i think he could over power Harte or Jordan. I would make Dublin very physical out there, and play the 2 Brogans and possibly even Conal Keaney inside. Dublin will do well midfield, so if they get enough ball into a scoring full forward line they would give them a chance. Or maybe leave Henry doing what he is doing, and play a 2 man Brogan full forward line.
My big problem with Dublin is their half backs. Signs of Cahill improving, but i know you don’t agree, but Brennan is a disaster waiting to happen. This is a huge tactical battle for Gilroy, but he shouldn’t over complicate it.
Kildare - Meath is a tricky one, Kildare are showing some right good form now, Meath everyone hates again and i think they could be mentally a bit funny. Kildare could sneak it.
Cork will put Canty full back on Shine and that will be it, Cork by 7-10.
Feel free to flag this as an exclusive.
Saturday
Kerry v Down
Dublin v Tyrone
Sunday
meath v Kildare
Roscommon v Cork
Strange.
I would have thought they would put the Leinster and Munster matches together.
Its not confirmed yet Farmer, just what I’ve heard from a source.
I believe its rumoured to be so as its not a Bank Holiday “oop nort”.
I suppose it makes sense from a capacity point of view (that;s if the Dubs bandwagon get back on track).
Kerry will only bring a few thousand and not sure about Down to be honest.
Kildare and Meath should bring a large following, while the rossies will surely bring a good crowd on the back of their provencial win, while Cork will only have the usual couple of thousand.
Croke Park is too big.
:unsure:
Can’t see to many Dub supporters going to the Dublin/Tyrone match especially after the last 2 quarter finals and the teams performances so far in the championship this year. I think last years mauling at the hands of Kerry killed the bandwagon in Dublin. 
Cork game due to be on the following week according to local sources, a double header with the hurling, at least thats what they are looking for.
Don’t see Rosscommon agreeing to this.
Taz - It seems to me it was the Meath hammering that killed the bandwagon.
The band wagon is very much back up and running after saturdays victory. Eoghan O’Gara is the second coming
Nah Caoimhaoin, the bandwagon was long gone by the Meath hammering. You can tell because for any other Dublin/Meath match you would have a full house and it was nowhere near a full house that day. Since the hammering by Kerry last year the interest in the Dublin team has not been what it was in the previous years which for the real Dub supporter is a good thing. Basically the crowd that you are getting at the Dub matches now are the real Dub supporters, very few scumbags that would jump on bandwagon are around now, thank fuck. 
But I reckon if we beat Tyrone this weekend I am sure some overtime will be put in on getting the bandwagon back up and running.
Me hole he is the second coming. As other people have pointed out when the lad solo’s the ball the ball goes above his head, I have also noticed that when he bounces the ball he bounces it so that it goes over his head. The lads heart is in the right place but he is no Vinny Murphy.
That comment was very much in jest. He’ll be comfortably handled by any fullback with a bit of upper body strength.
without having seeing Down play in years I think they have a decent chance of taking Kerry. Down will be going in with serious confidence after the hiding they gave Sligo and Kerry are incredibly vunerable. Take out 3 - O’Sullivan, Cooper and Donaghy and it is an incredibly poor Kerry team. Cork will hammer Roscommon. That could be a massacre of Donegal proportions. Tyrone should comfortably see off Dublin. Gilroy’s ploy of playing rugby players will be found out against vastly superior footballers Think Kildare are on a nice run and will take Meath by a point or two.
Cant see Tyrone being stopped this year.
Saturday July 31
GAA Football All Ireland Senior Championship 2010 Quarter Final
Kerry V Down, 2pm, Croke Park
Tyrone V Dublin, 4pm, Croke Park
Sunday August 1
GAA Football All Ireland Senior Championship 2010 Quarter Final
Roscommon V Cork, 2pm, Croke Park
Meath V Kildare, 4pm, Croke Park
Are Kerry 10 for 10 in quarter finals does anyone know off the top of their heads? Fairly certain they are. Thats not by accident either. They were meant to be vulnerable last year at the 1/4 finals too and look what happened.
Down are decent, a coming team, and in a province where Tyrone are at a different level to all others, are the next best team coming, but they’ve got a few weaknesses there still, more than kerry anyway thats for sure. Their forwards could cause trouble, but hard not to see Kerry have enough.
Saturday looks a sweet, sweet double header as the Kerry-Down match is the most interesting of the other ties. Bar was opened on the Hill for the first time this year on Saturday which makes it much more tolerable to stand through two matches. Is there a minor match beforehand?
these posts are hilarious
The worst part of it is the lad is being serious.