Replying To KingdomBoy1:  "The Dubs propaganda machine has kicked into gear proper this week with diamonds from manager Jim Gavin blaming cold play for Dean Rocks black card.

Also Charlie Redmonds attack on Jim McGuinness for calling Jim Gavin out on the Diarmuid Connolly fiasco.

And then last night I read Alan Brogan going to town on Nial Morgan for goading a player when the Dubs team under Pillar took that art to new heights them selves in the naughties.

Who's next on the Dubs propaganda hit list? Let's watch this space."

Replying To oneoff:  ""Kerry obviously trained and were one of the fortunate teams not to get caught." That's quite a claim to make. What do you have to back it up?"

Replying To mightydubs:  "Can't say how happy i am to see mayo caught out, they where cleaned out in midfield and bar durcan and moran they where hopeless, hopefully that'll be that with that team. Where was Keegan tonight"

Replying To BarneyGrant:  "[quote=avonali:  "Co-morbidity, which is related to class, is the central issue. This is a particularly opportunistic virus.My point is that the way people are peddlling figures in here misses part of the issue. If you want to tackle this virus you cannot depend on vaccines and protocols exclusively. It's not just about severing the chains of transmission. If I'm not making myself clear read one of the the scientists yourself. link"

Replying To DUBJOHN:  "Was just about to post that ! Dublin on a bad day would hammer either of these teams, we'll get the usual Meath aren't afraid of Dublin nonsense from certain posters on here!"

Replying To maroondiesel:  "Why did the senior game not go to extra time?"

Replying To TheUsername:  "Well now, a festival of color and atmosphere in the home of those raised on songs and stories on Saturday, as the two war horses that have defined this decade in football, took center stage in front of over 82k in Dublin 3. So much for football being dead. I often feel Semi finals are a far better atmosphere than finals and so it proved as Croker rocked to one of the biggest occasions in modern football, Dublin Vs Mayo. Dublin lined up pretty much as advertised, Stephen Cluxton; David Byrne, Jonny Cooper, Michael Fitzsimons; Jack McCaffrey, James McCarthy, John Small; Brian Fenton (1-01), Michael Darragh Macauley; Niall Scully (0-01), Con O'Callaghan (2-00), Brian Howard (0-01); Paul Mannion (0-05), Dean Rock (0-06, 6f), Ciarán Kilkenny. Mayo similarly: Rob Hennelly; Chris Barrett, Brendan Harrison, Stephen Coen (0-01); Lee Keegan (1-00), Colm Boyle (0-01), Patrick Durcan (0-02); Aidan O'Shea Séamus O'Shea (0-01); Fionn McDonagh, Donal Vaughan, Matthew Ruane; Cillian O'Connor (0-03, 2f), Diarmuid O'Connor, James Carr (0-01). Despite much talk of their demise, as expected Mayo came roaring out of the blocks, bringing the intensity, physicality, force of will and mania only a Mayo team Vs Dublin, with the a huge crowd behind them can bring. The Dubs cautiously feeling their way into the game to see how they could do damage and where the threats would come from. The curious case of the match ups became clearer with Keegan going on King Con, SOS going on Fenton and Boyle going on Kilkenny and Durcan going on Jack. The biggest fear for us Dubs was pretty much having things are own way leading up to this game in the championship and Mayo were determined that, that state of affairs came to an end early doors Saturday and so it proved. To put it simply Mayo were the better team in the first half, they brought pace, intensity physicality and sheer will and determination. Something you dont always attatch to Mayo is game management but at times they held the ball and worked the score rather then give into rush of bloods to the head. This was backed up by huge intensity, Jack McCaffery, Brain Fenton and a few other knocked of their groove and forced into giving away turnovers as uncharacteristic mistakes were forced. Mayo tackling was just simply brilliant. With Dublin struggling without their usual oxygen, Mayo made hay, Durcan got forward for a couple of points, COC knocked a couple of frees and even one from play, while S O Shea, Boyle and Carr also kicked over to let Dublin know there would be know gaurd of honor toward a final coming from Mayo. Dublin were blowing hard as they went in at half time, with an uncharacteristic six points on the board, thanks mainly to Dean Rock frees and a gift from Rob Hennelly to Mannion, which probably should have raised a green flag. Im on record as saying last week that unless Mayo went in five points + ahead at half time they hadn't a chance. I will openly admit that logic went out the window as i milled about the concourse at half time and i was worried very worried, such was the loss of the groove Dublin were knocked off. After years of being gifted, watching this team i should have known better. What followed was the brilliance of Dublin at their very apex as every power was utilised to just completely destroy Mayo, in what is becoming known as the 12 in 12. Dublin came out putting over 1-5 before Mayo had the opportunity to put over a wide, im not sure what you with that, as it renders the opposition irrelevant. In the blink of an eye the game ended as Kilkenny, Con, Fenton and Mannion went about their work Dublin went from two down to 1-11 to 0-8 in front. Mannion and Con in particular putting on an exhibition of goal and point scoring forward play. It wasnt to end there, in the 46th minute, got his second goal in 11 minutes as he bamboozled of all players Lee Keegan. To create a 9 point difference between the team as Mayo legs started to get wobbly. This was then backed up with Dublin winning most ball in the middle, a facet that had been hugely missed from the first. This set up wave after wave of Dublin scores, as they progressively increased their lead. With the game well won, Dublin dropped the intensity level and ran the bench, with Murch, Cian, Costello, Philly, Andrews and Dermo entering the fray. Two lovely receptions given, the stadium came to its feet for Tom Parsons, absolutely brilliant to see him back and hes been missed. What an achievement to work his way back from that awful injury. The second was the homecoming of Dermo, not even Eric Lowdness spoilt the party this time. And so with the benches were run, all that remained was to manage the game, Dublin seemed to stay at the same intensity as Mayo wained and the final nail in the coffin came as the imperious second half Fenton snuck in and cracked the final goal. After the game you could see the huge respect both held for each other. In analysis i have seen plenty of obituaries written about Mayo (as usual) since. I actually think Mayo have been very unlucky this year, injuries have been horrible, as has the relentless run in the back door. With different circumstances i think they could have gone down to Killarney and won, that was a kicker really, As was the game Vs Roscommon. It just goes to show you, you are better off not playing hard and loose with the championship, just win when you can and should on a game by game basis. That might sound rich i admit given Dublin and Kerry have advantages in their provinces. If mayo beat Roscommon though their path way is far more different. Some good young players, D O Connor, Ruanne, Carr, Durkan etc. They are building, there. Will be one or two that go but not the mass exodus people are talking about. I wouldn't be surprised to be in exactly the same position playing them next year. In fact with no injuries they will fancy their chances next year. All in, a national title in the bag its a good year from Mayo in Horans first season. As for us, things are getting real now. The only people who seem not to see what the fuss is about is the Dublin team itself. Absolute great white shark stuff, circle the opposition, let them expend their energy and then boom, full tilt, end the game and sit back and pick them off. On the players themselves, Fenton, Kilkenny, Con and Mannion in that 12 in 12 spell were brilliant. Each one getting better and better. They got much of the headlines and deservedly so, they are majestic. But i want to highlight two players i thought were terrific and very close to my man of the match, Davy Byrne put in a terrific shift, both defending and providing a platform for progressive play driving into space. Secondly Brian Howard, he is absolutely superb, he is absolutely key for Dublin, fielding, workrate physical presence, he has the best feet in Ireland and can turn defense into attack in one side step or change of direction, vision, skills, creativity, work rate - what a player. He really is the most underrated and unacknowledged player in Ireland. Kind of like James MC Carthy up to a couple of years ago. Im glad hes our wouldn't swap him for the world. Else wise many good performances, the defense kept us in it first half so big shout out to Cooper and Fitzey, Cluxton just breaks the opposition hearts watching him play, when everything is going mental he just plays like he doesnt know what the fuss is about. What a leader. Thought MDM, had a poor first half, but came on in the second, Scully equally a tale of two halfs. Jack was held brilliantly by Durcan - who should be nailed on for an All Star, while Small gave us what Small does ultimate commitment and hard as bails approach. All in you have to be delighted with that second half performance, its as good as Dublin played this year and maybe in a long lg time. I dont know how you stop them because it has nothing to do with the opposition. Dublin clocking up 8 points before the opposition can get their hands on the ball. So a big step made toward the goal of winning another this year, Mayo will be a big miss from the biggest day, but Kerry parachute in there, so not so bad. Am very pleased Tyrone are out, they are the team i was most weary off left in it. 70 mins away, to keeping Sam for another year, which is the goal, next up we welcome Kerry to the home of those raised on songs and stories, cant wait. ;)"

Replying To Gaa_lover:  "Fresher and younger side are Kerry. The conditioning advantage that Mayo had for 5 or 6 years is now gone and what is left is a lot of bodies with loads of mileage on the clock. Time doesn't stand still for any man or team!"

Replying To mayotyroneman:  "Outside of the competing counties there is actually zero interest in this game. I live in Tyrone and people are more concerned about the upcoming county quarter finals...in my home county of mayo people seem to have forgotten that the all Ireland is still being played for...my parents are from Galway and they are more concerned about who is going to be county managers next year and my wife is from Tipperary and they are still revelling in their hurling success..the country really couldn't care less"

Replying To Jack_Goff:  "Meath's football bandwagon has completely collapsed since Dublin started dominating us. The meath team hasn't been too bad on average the last 15 years but losing to your main rivals everytime you play them bar one championship match and one O'Byrne Cup game takes it's toll. Now, any sensible meath person recognises we'll never reach the heights Dublin are at, so we're down to the hardcore when it comes to travelling to Croker. I think next year there will be big crowds in navan for our league matches but we won't travel in numbers. I boycotted the leinster final. Next year I'll extend that to any leinster match that isn't in navan. I can see a stage where I'll only go to league matches. The AI final hasn't happened yet and it feels like the season has already ended. There's no buzz anymore."