GAA

[Niall K]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=33672.msg898045#msg898045 date=1246407514]
[quote author=Niall K link=topic=33672.msg897609#msg897609 date=1246350968]

I could be clutching at straws but I do believe there is an All Ireland in this Dublin side and maybe the backdoor route is the way of getting it.

[/quote]

You do have a chance, undoubtedly. I think you could be argued to be second favourites, but you consistently fail when it comes to the big challenges, and I'm not sure the mindset's there to win when it really counts.

Also, I worry about your ability to score. I know that's ironic given the tally you amassed the other day, but against quality defences when chances are at a premium, you need to rely on more than the two or three good forwards you have. Look at Galway's full-forward line the other day, Kerry's front 6 when everyone's fit, Kildare's scoring ability on Saturday, etc etc. I'm not sure if you have enough firepower to really make a difference.

That, and the fact you'd need Tyrone to have an off-day to win it. Still, getting rid of Caffrey has helped, and you've got a genuine chance.
[/quote]

Im not sure I agree about the lack of firepower bit Ryan. Granted we need the Brogan Brothers at full pelt from now on but we've enough players who can contribute.

The big plus this year is that we have a bit a quality to spring from the bench if needs be. We havent had that in a long time.

We are somewhat like LFC in the fact that with each passing year it gets harder and harder to make that final step. Players and management are going to have to get everything right and be able to hold their nerve as the season progresses.

It may not happen this year but Im pretty confident that over the next couple of years I will be celebrating on both fronts

 

[Whaddapie]

Ryan, I.R.: FFS, lads... THINK about it.

 

[Ryan]

Whadda - I geuninely haven't got a clue what you're on about. I suspect I'm not alone either.

 

[Whaddapie]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=33672.msg899135#msg899135 date=1246579820]
Whadda - I geuninely haven't got a clue what you're on about. I suspect I'm not alone either.
[/quote]

Ry, last season you hit me with a line not too dissimilar from my (tongue in cheek) offering above, for giving the Dubs less credit than you've done here...

Remember?

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Whaddapie link=topic=33672.msg899177#msg899177 date=1246595362]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=33672.msg899135#msg899135 date=1246579820]
Whadda - I geuninely haven't got a clue what you're on about. I suspect I'm not alone either.
[/quote]

Ry, last season you hit me with a line not too dissimilar from my (tongue in cheek) offering above, for giving the Dubs less credit than you've done here...

Remember?
[/quote]

Maybe I'm being thick mate, but I have absolutely no idea what you're trying to say here. Your sentence(s) don't make any sense.

 

[Paddy]

YAY!

Go on Monaghan!

 

[Whaddapie]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=33672.msg899179#msg899179 date=1246595574]
[quote author=Whaddapie link=topic=33672.msg899177#msg899177 date=1246595362]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=33672.msg899135#msg899135 date=1246579820]
Whadda - I geuninely haven't got a clue what you're on about. I suspect I'm not alone either.
[/quote]

Ry, last season you hit me with a line not too dissimilar from my (tongue in cheek) offering above, for giving the Dubs less credit than you've done here...

Remember?
[/quote]

Maybe I'm being thick mate, but I have absolutely no idea what you're trying to say here. Your sentence(s) don't make any sense.
[/quote]

They make perfect sense...

Last season.

I claimed that I thought the Dubs were a good team.

And could win.

Though I made it clear I didn't expect it.

You lit into me.

About how I and my ilk rated them too highly.

Always claiming tyat they'd win, that they were thebest team out there, year in, year out, etc...

And we went round and round about being anti-Dublin for the sake of it, and such stuff.

But you obviously don't remember it, so never mind.

 

[Ryan]

I'm with you now mate.

The Dubs are a chance this year, espeically if they come up against that piss-weak Cork side I watched yesterday at some stage. They'll do well to beat Kildare this week mind you.

They're still massive underdogs if they come up against a Tyrone side that absolutely dismantled them last year.

 

[Whaddapie]

Agreed.

But maybe the underdog tag will suit them a little better than the favourites one
has recently...

Of course, why anybody had them ranked as favourites in the first place is beyond me.

 

[Rosco]

I kinda agreed with Niall about the back door possibly being a good thing but I think what happened today might even be better for us. Down to 14 men after 20 minutes we produced a display full of character to come back from behind after half time. The bench won us that game today, Cullen and Whelan had very good games when they came on. Henry had a superb second half too.

Bernard Brogan might be the best point taker we've had for a few years now. He's very consistent off both sides.

 

[Ryan]

As good a win as Dublin have had in many years. I think Kildare threw it away slightly, but you gotta hand it to the Dubs. As Ross says, Bernard Brogan was excellent, he's deadly off either side and Dublin have lacked that badly when it comes to the big games. The two goals they got were horrendous though, it's hard to pick which so the two was the more shocking defensive abberation.

I thought Barry Cahill was the best player on the pitch, alongside Brogan. Strong mention to Convery too, who almost single-handedly brought Kildare a result. There's no way on Earth he'll be allowed the freedom to run off the half-back line like he was for most of yesterday.

P.S. What a win in the Qualifiers for Down!

 

[ILD]

Why is the GAA thread solely about football?

Being a Kilkenny man I can't discuss it. Pft.

 

[Niall K]

One of the most entertaining games I have watched in years a credit to both sets of players.

Really impressed with Dublin. In previous years they would have crumbled when Kildare drew level with about ten minutes to go but instead they kicked on and pulled away again.

As I said previously the fact that the bench is so much stronger played a huge part in this win. Cullen, Whelan and Ryan all came on and made a difference. The effort the team put in after going a man down was great to watch.

They still have a bit of work to be done defensively and cant afford to be giving away 14 or 15 points from play again. But so far this season the positives definitely outweigh the negatives.

On another note how bad were Kerry on Saturday I know you cant write them off but there really seems to be something missing this year.

 

[Rosco]

I missed the Kerry game but the general consensus was that they were lucky to hang on. Apparently Donaghy might be out for the rest of the Championship too, picked up a knee injury.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=33672.msg905133#msg905133 date=1247508190]
I missed the Kerry game but the general consensus was that they were lucky to hang on. Apparently Donaghy might be out for the rest of the Championship too, picked up a knee injury.
[/quote]

they were very very luck Ross.

But they won. Plenty of sides have come from fucking horrendous qualifiers/provincial championship games over the last few years and gone onto win Sam; Kerry, Tyrone, and Armagh being three prominent ones.

They'll have to go improve significantly and quickly though if they're gonna go much further though.

Dooher back for Tyrone this weekend too I see. They're the side to beat still.

 

[Ryan]

Beaten by fucking Wicklow in a game we should have won. Ah well, at least it's the end of Carr and hopefully his useless fucking son. Bring back Pete McGrath.

Another lucky win for Kerry. Had Sligo any balls whatsoever they'd have taklen the game to them, and not stuck with a sweeper system when they were playing with the aid of a gale force wind.

Pretty easy Ulster Championship win for Tyrone, hardly getting out of 2nd gear. Bigger tests to come.

 

[Rosco]

I wasn't going to mention that result.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=33672.msg908752#msg908752 date=1248069144]
I wasn't going to mention that result.
[/quote]

The Down one?

Pffft, I'm over it now. At the time, the remote was nearly embedded into the fucking plasma. Not sure why I got so annoyed, Down are fucking shite, and I should be used to them letting me down like this.

Two goal chances, two frees from inside the 45 to win it in injury time, and totally dominated the second half and we still couldn't win. Hopeless.

 

[Rosco]

Didn't see it myself, but Wicklow have steadily improved under Mick Dwyer and they've already had some good results this season.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Rosco link=topic=33672.msg908756#msg908756 date=1248069794]
Didn't see it myself, but Wicklow have steadily improved under Mick Dwyer and they've already had some good results this season.


[/quote]

Micko and the entire population of Aughrim celebrated on the pitch after it like they'd won the the All-Ireland, the Lotto, Eurovision, and the Rose of fucking Tralee all in one.

 

[ILD]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=33672.msg908754#msg908754 date=1248069531]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=33672.msg908752#msg908752 date=1248069144]
I wasn't going to mention that result.
[/quote]

The Down one?

Pffft, I'm over it now. At the time, the remote was nearly embedded into the fucking plasma. Not sure why I got so annoyed, Down are fucking shite, and I should be used to them letting me down like this.

Two goal chances, two frees from inside the 45 to win it in injury time, and totally dominated the second half and we still couldn't win. Hopeless.
[/quote]

Did anyone spot Paul Mcgrath in the crowd? Wonder did he play any GAA in his day.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=ILD link=topic=33672.msg909210#msg909210 date=1248116415]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=33672.msg908754#msg908754 date=1248069531]
[quote author=Rosco link=topic=33672.msg908752#msg908752 date=1248069144]
I wasn't going to mention that result.
[/quote]

The Down one?

Pffft, I'm over it now. At the time, the remote was nearly embedded into the fucking plasma. Not sure why I got so annoyed, Down are fucking shite, and I should be used to them letting me down like this.

Two goal chances, two frees from inside the 45 to win it in injury time, and totally dominated the second half and we still couldn't win. Hopeless.
[/quote]

Did anyone spot Paul Mcgrath in the crowd? Wonder did he play any GAA in his day.
[/quote]

Yeah, he did. He talked about it a lot in his quite wonderful autobiography 'The black pearl of Inchicore'.

 

[Ryan]

Very VERY interesting draw in the Qualifiers.

Amongst others:
Tyrone V Galway
Dublin V Kerry

This is the test Dublin needed. It's all fair and well humping the shit out of Westmeath, but Kerry are a different animal. Tey've been shite so far this year, and we're lucky again over the weekend by all accounts, but they're still Kerry and that alone is enough to intimidate Kerry to an extent.

Dublin can win, whether they do or not is another point.

 

[ILD]

Waterford had a lasp gasp win against Galway. Dan Shanahan changed the game when he came on.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=ILD link=topic=33672.msg912565#msg912565 date=1248643619]
Waterford had a lasp gasp win against Galway. Dan Shanahan changed the game when he came on.
[/quote]

Well isn't he the manaman?

 

[ILD]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=33672.msg912566#msg912566 date=1248643705]
[quote author=ILD link=topic=33672.msg912565#msg912565 date=1248643619]
Waterford had a lasp gasp win against Galway. Dan Shanahan changed the game when he came on.
[/quote]

Well isn't he the manaman?
[/quote]

You're better than that.

 

[Irish_Red]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=33672.msg912556#msg912556 date=1248641160]
Very VERY interesting draw in the Qualifiers.

Amongst others:
Tyrone V Galway
Dublin V Kerry

This is the test Dublin needed. It's all fair and well humping the shit out of Westmeath, but Kerry are a different animal. Tey've been shite so far this year, and we're lucky again over the weekend by all accounts, but they're still Kerry and that alone is enough to intimidate Kerry to an extent.

Dublin can win, whether they do or not is another point.
[/quote]

Galway are out, Tyrone play Kildare which should be good match, Kerry are still not firing on all cylinders so the Dubs have to be favourites, if the match is next weekend I fancy the Dubs to win with a lot to spare.

 

[Ryan]

[quote author=Irish_Red link=topic=33672.msg912646#msg912646 date=1248684105]
[quote author=Ryan link=topic=33672.msg912556#msg912556 date=1248641160]
Very VERY interesting draw in the Qualifiers.

Amongst others:
Tyrone V Galway
Dublin V Kerry

This is the test Dublin needed. It's all fair and well humping the shit out of Westmeath, but Kerry are a different animal. Tey've been shite so far this year, and we're lucky again over the weekend by all accounts, but they're still Kerry and that alone is enough to intimidate Kerry to an extent.

Dublin can win, whether they do or not is another point.
[/quote]

Galway are out, Tyrone play Kildare which should be good match, Kerry are still not firing on all cylinders so the Dubs have to be favourites, if the match is next weekend I fancy the Dubs to win with a lot to spare.
[/quote]

No idea why I typed Galway, when I knew full well they were playing Kildare.

Anyway.

 

[Friend no. 2]

Feckin thread is all football (which being from Kilkenny I'm not a fan of). On the hurling side Waterford were blessed to scrape through in a bad game against mediocre opposition (Joe Canning aside). Kilkenny will absolutely batter them (again) and Tipp should have no problems putting Limerick away, leaving what could be quite a decent final. It's very hard to foresee anything other than a Kilkenny win though.

 

[Rosco]

[quote author=Ryan link=topic=33672.msg912556#msg912556 date=1248641160]
Very VERY interesting draw in the Qualifiers.

Amongst others:
Tyrone V Galway
Dublin V Kerry

This is the test Dublin needed. It's all fair and well humping the shit out of Westmeath, but Kerry are a different animal. Tey've been shite so far this year, and we're lucky again over the weekend by all accounts, but they're still Kerry and that alone is enough to intimidate Kerry to an extent.

Dublin can win, whether they do or not is another point.
[/quote]

Don't forget we beat Kildare with 14 men.

Anyway the point being , I've got tickets